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President LORD KILLANIN
Minister
ATHANASIOS KANELLOPOULOS
and Under Secretary of State ACHILLES KARAMANLIS
at the International Olympic Academy
We consider the 14th July as a very special occasion for the Olympic
Academy. On that day, in an atmosphere of festive anticipation, those taking
part in the 19th International Session, men and women, speakers, representatives
of Nations and members of the audience, headed by the Dean, Mr.
Otto Szymiczek and the first Vice - President of the I.O.A. Mr. Cleanthis
Palaeologos, met and welcomed the President of the I.O.C., Lord Killanin,
arriving by helicopter to visit the Academy, together with Greek officials.
The helicopter landed in the middle of the verdant Academy gymnasium
and immediately there emerged Lord Killanin, President of the International
Olympic Committee, accompanied by Messrs Athanassios Canellopoulos,
Minister of Finance, Achilles Karamanlis, Under Secretary of State, George
Athanassiades, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Nicolaos
Nissiotis, President of the I.O.A.
The visiting officials were led to the Academy refreshment room where a
small reception was held. Then the took seats in the assembly hall where all
those taking part in the 19th international session were assembled and
greeted the guests with loud applause.
A ceremony followed with speeches by Mr. Achilles Karamanlis, Under
Secretary of State, Mr. Athanassios Canellopoulos, Minister of
Finance, Mr. George Athanassiades, President of the H.O.C. and Lord Killanin,
President of the I.O.C. The text of the speeches follows separately.
The Ministers, Messrs. Canellopoulos and Karamanlis, expressed their
satisfaction as a result of their visit to the International Olympic Academy,
with regard to its admirable installations, their operation and the important
work being carried out by the I.O.A. This they had been able to ascertain
following contacts with foreign members of the session.
The Ministers left in the afternoon to return to Athens, whereas Lord
Killanin and the President of the H.O.C. stayed on at the I.O.A., in the
quarters provided for speakers, and spent several days observing the work of
the International Session and living the life of the I.O.A. together with those
taking part and with the speakers.
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