EOC to Join Romania NOC Centenary Celebrations

(ATR) European Olympic leaders will take part in the Romanian NOC’s 100th anniversary event in Bucharest next week.

The EOC's executive committee meets on Sept. 12 when events to mark the milestone are planned.

"I offer my warmest congratulations to president Alin Petrache and the whole Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee ahead of their centenary," EOC president Pat Hickey told Around the Rings.

"Over the past 100 years Romania has been an outstanding contributor to European sport and the Olympic Movement.

"My colleagues on the EOC Executive Committee and I look forward to joining the celebrations with the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee in Bucharest next week. It will be a great honor to stage our meeting there during such an historic occasion."

Former Romanian NOC president Octavian Morariu, who became an IOC member last year, will lead the celebrations with his successor Alin Petrache.

Morariu quit the NOC post in April after 10 years in order to meet his new IOC commitments. He was appointed to the IOC's international relations commission and the program commission.

Romanian Olympians will be among the many guests at the centenary celebrations. The NOC has invited 300 medal-winning athletes to participate.

"We want to mark the anniversary as it deserves. We will be proud and happy to have them with us," Petrache was quoted on the NOC website. "We are proud of those who have brought us Olympic medals."

Reported by Mark Bisson.

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