Thursday 16 April 2015

IOC President attends stone-laying at World Archery Excellence Centre

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu. A Creative Commons license.

IOC President attends stone-laying at World Archery Excellence Centre
©IOC/Ian Jones (3)
09/04/2015
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today joined World Archery President and IOC Executive Board Member Uğur Erdener in laying the foundation stone at the World Archery Excellence Centre in Lausanne.
The new facility will eventually welcome elite and novice athletes, both local and international, while doubling as a research and educational hub.



“Archery is one of the most ancient sports, but it has also been an innovator throughout its history and once more it is shown here at this centre”, said the IOC President at today’s ceremony. “This centre will be a great tool to help communicate Olympic values to the athletes, coaches and other users of this facility.”

Dr Erdener took the opportunity to thank the city of Lausanne, Canton of Vaud and the Swiss federal authorities for the excellent partnership they have enjoyed over the years and in working together to realise the new centre.

“We have great ambitions and we want always to be an innovator”, Erdener said, before underlining the fact that the facility would not only be home to elite athletes but also to the general public. “The users of the centre will be athletes, coaches, judges and many other people who want to discover our sport.” 

The laying of the first stone comes at a historic moment for the Olympic Movement in Switzerland, and in Lausanne in particular. Tomorrow, 10 April, marks one hundred years since the IOC moved its headquarters to Lausanne.

 

In addition to the IOC, Switzerland currently houses 45 International Federations, and the World Archery Excellence Centre is another concrete illustration of how the Olympic Movement and the local authorities have worked together in partnership.

No comments: