He took part in a Q&A session with around 100
youngsters aged 8 to 15, who had come to learn about and practise over
30 sports disciplines. The children were highly enthused at the idea of
putting questions to the President, and wanted to know which sports he
practised, how he had chosen fencing and how he organised his time.
Here is a brief sample from the playful and spontaneous chat.
Q: Why did you come to meet us today?
A: I still learn a great
deal from my meetings with schools and universities. It is important for
me to know what you think about the Olympic Games, and above all to
understand what we have to do to get you interested in the Games and
sport in general. You represent the future and your ideas are valuable
to me.
Q: How did you feel when you were elected as President of the IOC?
A:
When you win a medal, you are responsible for all the steps leading up
to the victory. In an election, your fate depends on others. When you
are elected, you have the feeling that everyone who voted for you places
their trust in you. You feel the responsibility that that represents,
and it’s a very special emotion.
Q: What were you thinking about right before your Olympic final in Montreal?
A:
It’s as if you are in a tunnel – with total concentration. You don’t
think about the others – anything that could distract you. It is not
easy to enter this tunnel, but it is the key to success.
Q: How did you choose fencing?
R. Well in fact, I always wanted to
play football. When my parents told me that they were going to sign me
up to a fencing club, I was in tears. But they were clever enough to
tell me that the training that I would have in fencing would help me
play football better. That’s how I started…
Q: How long have you been doing this job?
A: It’s not a job – it’s
a pleasure. I am a bit like an interpreter between the athletes and the
world of sport. I want to offer the best conditions for competition,
clean sport and fair play.
The IOC President then thanked the 200,000th visitor to the Museum
since the start of the year – in the person of little Alina, aged 12.
A group photo and an autograph-signing session concluded this meeting
full of anecdotes. The youngsters then headed off to the various
workshops organised for them this week even more motivated.
For many years, Olympic Week has been one of the highlights of the
autumn half-term holidays for youngsters in Vaud and French-speaking
Switzerland. This year is enjoying record participation, with 2,300
youngsters signed up to date. During the Week, they can try out numerous
sports disciplines free of charge, and sometimes even discover passions
or vocations. In addition to introducing sport to young people, Olympic
Week also has the aim of promoting the Olympic values, education and
development through sport.
Photograph.19 
