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IOC Marks 30 Years Since Baden Baden
President Jacques Rogge and IOC colleagues from as far away as Singapore are en route to Germany for the 30th anniversary of the 9th Olympic Congress and 84th IOC Session, both in Baden Baden.
The pair of 1981 gatherings helped paved the way for the creation of the IOC Athlete’s Commission as well as a marked increase in the involvement of Olympians within the governance of the Games.
Honorary IOC member Walther Troeger, himself secretary general of the German NOC at the time, tells Around the Rings the Congress in particular marked the transition of the Olympics from a competition among amateurs to one in which primarily professionals compete.
IOC vice presidents Ser Miang Ng of Singapore and Thomas Bach of Germany are among the Olympic movers and shakers expected to join Rogge in the southwestern spa town.
Check back Wednesday for more of Troeger’s thoughts on the importance of Baden Baden as well as a report from the anniversary ceremony itself.
Coke Opens Sochi Bottling Plant
Coca Cola’s largest plant in Russia will provide product for the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
The IOC worldwide partner announced Monday the opening of a beverage plant in Rostov-on-Don, just north of Sochi, as well as the creation of 400 jobs in the area. The company plans to invest $3 billion in the Russian market over the next 5 years.
"We make every effort to remain an integral part of economic development of Russia and we continue to invest in our business, creating new jobs and stimulatinggrowththroughoutour entire supply chain," Coke chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent said at the opening ceremony.
"Today’s plant opening once again highlights our intention to put long-term investments in place within the Russian economy."
According to Coca-Cola, the facility is also environmentally conscious and has the most powerful water cleaning system in Russia.
New Digs for Georgian NOC
The Georgian National Olympic Committee has inaugurated new offices in the Sololaki districtof capital Tbilisi.
Joining NOC president Gia Natsvlishvili at the inauguration ceremony were Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava, sports minister Lado Vardzelashvili and a number of Georgian Olympic champions.
The IOC was represented by Prince Albert of Monaco. Raffaele Pagnozzi, secretary general of the European Olympic Committees, and Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, also attended.
"This is a landmark day. We are inaugurating a new building and we hope that we will be celebrating new victories here," Natsvlishvili told the Olympic audience, according to an EOC report.
"Four years ago nobody could anticipate this event. The scheduled 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi greatly contributed to this occasion."
Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died tragically on opening day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, was also remembered in other speeches at the ceremony.
Written by Matthew Grayson, Mark Bisson and Ann Cantrell.
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