IOC President, 2012 Leaders, Olympic Sponsors Take Message to Davos

(ATR) Jacques Rogge, Sebastian Coe and TOP sponsors are among Olympic dignitaries mingling with the world's business leaders this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Rogge is not speaking at the Forum, but he has a number of meetings with Olympic stakeholders. He was also guest of honor at a Coca-Cola reception where he spoke about the IOC’s strong and historic relationship with the TOP sponsor.

Coe used the Davos platform Thursday to promote the economic and legacy benefits of this summer's Games, claiming that organizers had invested responsibly in Olympic preparations amid the global recession.

"When we were bidding, we were bidding at the high water mark of the global economy but we were still talking about delivering the Games responsibly," Coe told delegates, according to a report in Britain's The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"The beauty of the Olympics is that they are all different. Cities do not set out to compete with one another. The opening ceremony will be proportional but we will be respecting the fact that there will be over 200 nations present and over 100 heads of state," he added.

"It will be a fabulous opening ceremony, an opportunity to showcase Britain."

The double Olympic 1500m champion outlined how London had used opportunities from staging Games as the catalyst for social, economic and community change. He pointed to London's upgraded public transport system and regeneration of the east end of London as legacy benefits that would be enjoyed by future generations.

"We wanted to use the Games to address social, economic, and sporting priorities in some of our most under-developed communities, which is what we have done. We have used the Games to build a new city in an old city," he added. "This has transformed some of the poorest communities in the U.K.

"The Games will provide London with much needed new housing, education, health and medical facilities, low carbon energy sources, transport upgrades and new and fully accessible sporting venues that will engage young people in sport and physical activity, and all the benefits that result from this, for decades to come.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games will last 60 days, but the legacy from the Games will last for 60 years," Coe said.

Globally-speaking, he noted that more than 12 million young people were benefiting from access to high-quality sport, play and physical education opportunities thanks to International Inspiration, London 2012's legacy program.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson also spoke about the gains to be made from the Olympics.

Johnson joined Coe as one of the guest speakers in a lunchtime Davos session, announcing plans for London to host a two-day festival of cycling next year to attract tourists, generate jobs and showcase the city beyond the Games. Showing a video about the London Olympics,he spoke about the transformation of a deprived area of London into the Olympic Park and emphasized the thousands of Olympic-related jobs that had already been created.

Despite a downturn in economic growth, rising unemployment and spending cuts, Cameron said his Coalition government was pursuing an unashamedly pro-business agenda.

"My message to you – in this special Olympic year for Britain – is that we are a country that is absolutely committed to enterprise and openness," he said. "Come to Britain. Invest in Britain. Be part of this special year in a truly great country."

Coca-Cola, General Electric and Visa are among the 100 "Strategic Partners" lending their knowledge to the Forum and helping set the agenda of meetings. Coke chairman and CEOMuhtar Kent spoke Wednesday during the "Global Growth Context" session on what policies, sectors and countries will drive growth this year.

Also on the list of Davos partners are various sponsors of upcoming Olympics, including Accenture, Adecco, Ernst & Young, PwC and Volkswagen.

Reported by Mark Bissonand Ann Cantrell.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.