Winter Olympic Bid Cities for 2014 Enter Final Phase/Some interesting Speakers for Thursday
Rogge addresses gathering of world-wide
sports leaders in Beijing (© IOC/Julliart)
The participants were treated 15 minute presentations from the three Winter Olympic Bid Cities. All three had strong offers and handicapping the results for these type of Olympic decisions is virtually impossible.
The IOC released comments made by the IOC President Jacques Rogge at the Sportaccord Opening Ceremony. Of particular interest were his comments on the role of sport in society and the need for the IOC and the International Federations to help make these sports more relevant to youth, who these days have a large number of choices in their lives in deciding what they want to do. He closed by making a point about the value sport provides as a social movement in our society.
24 April 2007
“Coming not far behind on the list of challenges we face today, is the growing trend in sport’s decline in relevance. In a world where so many other temptations and leisure activities compete for young people’s attention, the appeal of sport finds itself under question. We have a duty to find solutions to this issue. Why? For two key reasons; first, in order to shift young people away from a sedentary way of life towards an active lifestyle, and thereby tackle the frightening increase in obesity amongst many populations. Second, because the values sport can teach – friendship, respect, and excellence – are arguably more important than ever in today’s world. It is our duty to make sport an inspiration, to help young people discover why sport matters.”
A vision for sport to improve life through collaborative efforts.
Ending on an up-beat note, Rogge concluded, “Sport is a social movement that has the power to offer young people the chance of a better and more meaningful life. By collaborating around the same vision, the sports bodies and governments can play a meaningful role in ensuring that generations, young and old, have a healthier and more wholesome lifestyle based on physical activity and physical education. Let us all focus our energies in this direction.”Coming up today will be the Keynote address by Martin Sorrell, Chairman of WPP Group and a one on one interview with Peter Ueberroth, Chairman of the USOC. The interview, conducted by Rick Burton should provide the attendees on the current thinking of the USOC on its bid efforts, now that they have selected Chicago to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and on any new changes that have taken place at the USOC in terms of strategy and focus since Ueberroth became USOC Chairman.