Bach Looks to Future at IOC Centenary Celebrations

(ATR) Thomas Bach paid tribute to the founder of the Olympics and envisages a bright future for the IOC in Lausanne.

The German IOC president honored Pierre de Coubertin as he launched festivities on Friday to mark the IOC’s centenary in Lausanne. On this day in 1915, De Coubertin inked an agreement to establish the IOC headquarters in what is now fondly referred to as the Olympic capital.

Bach paid tribute to the legacy of the founding father of the Olympic Movement at the Bois-de-Vaux cemetery where he is buried.

"Pierre de Coubertin himself decided to establish the IOC in Lausanne. It was the right decision to take then and it still is now. One century later, the Olympic Movement continues to flourish in the city," he said.

"Though we are already implementing the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, it is certain that Coubertin, a visionary and reformer at heart, would have loved to take part in this new stage in the future of the Olympic Movement and offer us sage advice."

The IOC president kicked off anniversary celebrations that will take place across the city throughout 2015 in the presence of Ueli Maurer, Swiss federal councillor and head of the department of defence, civil protection and sport, Lausanne mayor Daniel Brélaz and state councillor Philippe Leuba.

Bach then held a press conference at the Olympic Museum at which he thanked Lausanne authorities, the Canton of Vaud and Switzerland for helping the IOC, many of its international sports federations and Olympic values to thrive in the city.

He also praised former IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch for creating the Olympic Museum and Bach’s predecessor Jacques Rogge for implementing plans to renovate the museum in a multi-million dollar project. It reopened in December 2013 after a two-year revamp.

Noting that 46 international sports organizations have made their home in Switzerland, he spoke of the economic impact of these bodies.

A new study commissioned by the IOC, the City of Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud reveals that they contribute an estimated $1.1 billion annually to the Swiss economy. It was conducted by the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology.

The study shows that the IOC and the international sports organizations employ 2,150 people in Switzerland and account for 32,000 business overnight stays per year.

Over the past 100 years, Bach said the IOC "wrote many important and fascinating chapters, and I am looking forward to the next one."

Bach said the IOC was investing $204 million into expansion of the IOC’s headquarters in Lausanne, which will see its administration of 500 people brought together at a single location in Vidy. The project announced last year is being developed by Danish architectural firm 3XN.

"At a time when we are speaking about the future of our movement with Olympic Agenda 2020, the new headquarters is a bridge between the roots of the IOC in Lausanne and our vision for the future," Bach said.

Through this project, the IOC will remain in Lausanne for another 100 years; the city of Lausanne has granted the IOC a lease until 2115.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori sent his congratulations to the IOC president as anniversary festivities kicked off Friday.

"There is no doubt that over the past 100 years, the IOC has made a significant contribution to the development of sports and promotion of international peace through the furtherance of the Olympic Movement," he wrote. "Tokyo 2020 strongly supports the efforts of the IOC and we will remain committed to delivering a successful Tokyo 2020 Games."

A Year-Long Celebration

The celebration today kicks off a year-long schedule of festivities.

The Centenary Exhibition, set up on the Belle-Epoque ship Helvetie, will highlight key milestones in the history between Lausanne and the IOC. The exhibition will be open to the public through Oct. 15.

A photo exhibition at iconic sites in Lausanne, Around the Rings has learned, will run through Oct. 15 as well.

The list of sites include theCasino de Montbenon, the IOC headquarters in Vidy, the House of International Sport, the Lausanne train station and the Olympic Museum.

An "Olympic Day Run" will take place on June 26 with a course that passesOlympic landmarks in the city and ends at the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.

The IOC headquarters and the Olympic Museum are among several "Olympic locations," the IOC says, that will mark an "Open Day"June 27-28.

The city of Lausanne also plans to engage youngsters in sport activities throughout "Olympic Week," Oct. 12-15.

Reported by Mark Bissonand Nicole Bennett

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