(ATR) A who’s who of international sports governance have taken time from their busy schedules to celebrate the Olympic values embodied by the city of Lausanne.
The House of Switzerland, located close to the rowing and canoe/kayak venue in Lagoa, hosted "Let’s chill in Rio" - a winter-themed event honoring the Olympic city, home of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
IOC President Thomas Bach was the guest of honor and was joined by delegates from the Lausanne speakers who spoke of the importance of Lausanne as the heart of the Olympic movement.
"Lausanne is proud to be the Olympic capital," Mayor of the City of Lausanne, Grégorie Junod said.
"Lausanne is deeply attached to the values promoted by sport and Olympism. It is a great place to develop a career in sport and build a better world through research and innovation."
In 2015, the IOC and Lausanne authorities celebrated the 100th anniversary of the IOC’s arrival in Lausanne. They marked the occasion signing an agreement to a new lease running for another century, until 2115.
At the time, Bach described their relationship by saying: "Between Lausanne and the Olympic movement, it is a love story."
This love was definitely evident in the passionate speeches delivered at Swiss House, with a strong focus on Olympic ideals such as respect, friendship and excellence. Meanwhile guests enjoyed drinks served in frozen ice glasses, Swiss inspired cuisine and local music.
In four years time, the Swiss won’t need to bring their culture and ideals to the world – the world will come to them. Lausanne will have the opportunity to not only be the administrative hub of the Olympics, but home to the action as well, as host of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
"The Winter Youth Olympic Games will be an incredible celebration of youth and sport," Junod said.
"The city has a long tradition in organizing winter sporting competitions and the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games will be a great success."
Names in Bold Face
Thomas Bach, Claudia Bach, IOC members Denis Oswald, Rene Fasel, Patrick Baumann, all Swiss … former IOC Pres. Jacques Rogge … UCI Pres. Brian Cookson … SportAccord President Francesco Ricci Bitti ... IOC members Anita DeFrantz, Gunilla Lindberg, Issa Hayatou (Cameroon/FIFA vp) … IOC Olympic Games Exec Dir Christophe Dubi … IOC adviser for Rio Gilbert Felli … Annamariza Ribeiro from Brazil NOC … retired FIFA exec Walter Gagg … David Simon of the LA Sports Council ...Beng Choo Low, WBSC and Olympic Council of Malaysia … Lars Haue Pedersen of TSE … Lars Lundov of Sport Event Denmark … Joseph Cassar, sec gen of the Maltese Olympic Committee … Albania NOC sec gen Stavri Bello … Mara Xenou of MX Sports … Mike Laflin of SportCal
Written by Alice Wheeler in Rio de Janeiro.
Forgeneral comments or questions, click here.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about theOlympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribersonly.
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”
