Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7th January 2013: Andy Roddick, the former World Number One Tennis player and US Open Champion, has pledged his support to the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Bid during a visit to the Argentinean capital city.
Roddick also played an exhibition tennis match with Mauricio Macri, the Mayor of Buenos Aires City, and former Argentine tennis players José Luis Clerc and Gastón Gaudio, as part of the bid’s celebrations to mark ‘six months to go’ until the International Olympic Committee decides the Host City for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
The event was held in Roca Park, one of the proposed sports venues in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Plan, where Jose Luis Clerc, winner of 25 ATP titles, runs a tennis school for children.
100 local children were involved in the bid’s celebration event and they participated in a Tennis skills clinic alongside Roddick, Jose Luis Clerc and 2004 French Open Champion, Gastón Gaudio. The event is further evidence of Buenos Aires’ on-going commitment to get more youngsters excited about sport and taking part in physical activity.
Andy Roddick, 2003 US Open Champion, said: "I have always been a great supporter of the Olympic Movement and the spirit of Olympism. I have been lucky enough to represent my country at two Olympic Games and each time it has been a great honour.
"In many parts of the world the values of Olympism can help young people believe in themselves and inspire them to achieve and prosper in the future – not just in sport, but in all aspects of their lives. Olympians of the past owe it to the stars of tomorrow to give young people this opportunity.
"During my visit to Buenos Aires, I am impressed by this city’s passion for sport, their enthusiasm for Olympism and their commitment to become a Host City for the Youth Olympic Games. Buenos Aires and Argentina as a whole have a great sporting heritage. The city has excellent sports facilities that will enable athletes to perform at their very best. It would be a great choice for 2018."
Jose Luis Clerc, winner of the 1981 ATP Sportsmanship Award, said: "I’m convinced that the Youth Olympic Games is an excellent tool to get youngsters involved in competitive sport and it would be of great benefit to Argentinean and world sport if Buenos Aires won the bid to host the 2018 YOG.
"I have witnessed the passion our country has for sport and I know Buenos Aires would host a passionate and dynamic YOG that is also culturally enriching."
Mauricio Macri, Mayor of Buenos Aires City, said: "Here in Buenos Aires and across Argentina we are immensely proud of our sporting heritage and our commitment to Olympism. Today, we can again reaffirm that the national and city governments fully support Buenos Aires’ bid for the 2018 YOG.
"It’s also fantastic to have the backing of tennis superstar, Andy Roddick, along with Jose Luis Clerc and Gastón Gaudio. With such enthusiastic support from these international sports stars, every day we feel more motivated to pursue our dream to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2018."
Francisco Irrarazaval, Buenos Aires Under-Secretary of Sport and Chief Executive of the Buenos Aires 2018 Bid Committee, said: "We know that there is still a lot of hard work to be done, but with less than six months to go until the IOC decision in Lausanne, this is an important step in the journey of our 2018 YOG bid and our goal to inspire young people in Argentina, South America and across the world to participate in sport and become the next generation of Olympic Champions.
"We are delighted that a global sports star like Andy Roddick has endorsed our YOG bid. It is a privilege to welcome him to Buenos Aires for this celebration event with so many eager young sports fans – it showcases our passion for sport, our hosting capabilities and our unwavering commitment to help all Olympic sports grow in new regions of the world."
For more information contact: VERO Communications
Sujit Jasani
sjasani@verocom.co.uk
+44 [0]20 7379 4000
+44 [0]7940 375282
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatimtexts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-relatedorganizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
20 Years at #1:
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
