Austrian President Heinz Fischer (left) and IOC President Jacques Rogge (right) will attend the Austrian national Olympic committee centennial on Friday. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)IOC President Jacques Rogge is among the guests at the Austrian national Olympic committee's 100th anniversary celebrations on Friday. Austrian President Heinz Fischer will open the gala celebrations at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
Rogge's short address will be followed by speeches from European Olympic Committees President Patrick Hickey and Leo Wallner, IOC member in Austria and president of the Austrian NOC.
Other IOC members attending are Pal Schmitt of Hungary and Germany's Walther Troger. Raffaele Pagnozzi, secretary general of the EOC and Italian NOC, will also be present along with representatives from the NOCs of Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
About 30 Austrian Olympic champions from past Summer and Winter Games – including a gold medalist from the 1936 Berlin Olympics – are scheduled to make an appearance as part of the celebrations.
In his speech, Hickey will praise the Austrian NOC for its significant contribution to the Olympic Movement over the years.
The Austrians may have more to celebrate next month when the IOC announces the host city for the inaugural 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
The IOC announced Monday that Innsbruck, host of the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, and Kuopio, Finland were the two finalists for the YOG. The Austrian city achieves more favorable ratings than its Finnish rival in an IOC Evaluation Commission report.
IOC members will choose between the cities in a postal vote with the result due to be announced Dec. 12.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to compete with Kuopio for the right to bring the IOC’s vision for the Winter Youth Olympic Games to life,” Wallner said. “As one of Europe’s leading winter sport destinations – and one of the world capitals of winter youth sport culture – Innsbruck enjoys a significant advantage with all but one of the venues needed for the Games in place, including the bob and luge track.”
…Briefs
… Giya Natsvlishvili was elected as president of the Georgian National Olympic Committee on Friday. Natsvlishvili defeated Bezhan Khurtsidze and Levan Akhvlediani for the position. Natsvlishvili’s term lasts through the 2012 Olympics. He replaces Gogi Topadze who served as interim president since 2007.
…The head of the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) announced the NOC is looking at a bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
"Given what is happening with the global economy there is a lot to contemplate" said Larry Romany, president of TTOC. "But we [TTOC] believe that T&T can stage a fantastic Games; the concept that we have in mind will be modern, compelling, dynamic and creative."
Romany said a series of successful events would determine if the country The Sport and Olympic Council of Swaziland has created a new logo for the organization.bids to host the Games.
"Hosting the Summit of the Americas in April, the Caribbean Games in July and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November will test the country's resolve and public opinion. Between the three events T&T will welcome 11,000 visitors. Our capacity, infrastructure, vision, logistics for major international event hosting will be tested."
The Commonwealth Games Federation will vote on the host of the 2018 Games in 2011.
…Rwanda has begun preparations for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Rwandan national Olympic committee chief Ignace Beraho told local media that national games boards have been asked to submit their plans for the Games.
"We have informed boxing, swimming and athletics federations to draw their plan of actions such that young and gifted talents can be picked and prepared purposely for 2010 Games.
"Talent detection should be the best policy that we must adopted[sic] to ensure that we have the best possible representation at the Games."
…The Sport and Olympic Council of Swaziland has approved a new logo for the organization. Unveiled by CEO Victor Shabangu, the new logo consists of a shield representing the nation and the Olympic rings.
With reporting from Mark Bisson and Ed Hula III.
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