Return to Beaulieu for IOC
The art deco-inspired Palais de Beaulieu holds its second big Olympics meeting in two weeks with the extraordinary IOC Session now underway. In mid-June the exposition center hosted the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees.
But Beaulieu has a long history with the Olympics, the scene for other IOC sessions dating back to 1975. It’s where in 1997 that Athens was selected as host of the 2004 Games. In 1999 Beaulieu was the site for two IOC sessions as the organization dealt with reforms from the Salt Lake City bid scandal and the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Excused from the IOC Session
The roster of IOC members at the extraordinary session in Lausanne is down to 86 with 14 excused absences,
The Princess Royal of Great Britain, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Emir Tamim of Qatar will not be here, while Prince Albert of Monaco will only attend the July 4 session.
Others absent from the session include FIFA president Sepp Blatter and U.S. member James Easton.
Four new IOC members will take the oath Wednesday at the session. The four active Olympians were elected last year by athletes competing at the London Games but appeals of those results had kept the IOC from confirming the results.
New IOC Building
Thenext steps towards a new headquarters for the IOC are taken with the shortlisting of 12 architectural firms from five continents.
Each of the firms will make a visit to Lausanne before preparing a final proposal. The IOC Executive Board will choose one of the firms at the December meeting of the board.
The IOC currently has 450 staff scattered in several buildings in Lausanne with just 150 working in the main building which opened 25 years ago. The new headquarters will cover 70,000-square meters. Work on the new edifice is to start in 2015.
IOC President on the Move
ATR understands that IOC president Jacques Rogge will make one final trip to the U.S. before stepping down in September. While his trip to the U.N. last month was to be the final one, Rogge apparently accepted an invitation to return August 23.
The occasion will be the official declaration by the U.N. of a World Day of Sport to be held each year on June 23, Olympic Day
Outgoing IOC President Jacques Rogge seems determined to rack-up the air miles in his final two months in office. Next week he’s in Cote d’Ivoire for the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. Later this month he’s in Barcelona for the FINA world champs and then to Colombia for the World Games.
Wednesday night at the Palace Hotel, Lausanne mayor Daniel Brelaz will host a farewell reception for Rogge.
Homepage photo from Around the Rings.
Written and reported in Lausanne by Ed Hula.
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