download - IOA

You united the Olympic family, and today the bonds of the IOC with the International
Federations and the National Olympic Committees are stronger than ever.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Dear friends, participants of the 41 st International Session for young participants,
it is customary, the year after the Olympic Games, to select these games as
the main subject of our Session and our discussions. Distinguished lecturers will
analyse some aspects of the Olympic Games of Sydney, while others will handle
issues directly pertaining to the Olympic Movement. In the next two weeks, more
or less, in Olympia we will freely discuss, and comment on all the issues and we
will arrive to conclusions and make suggestions to the IOC through the IOA.
Your suggestions, the suggestions of the Young Participants who are the future
and the hope of the International Olympic Movement, are those that interest the
most those who will lead in the future the International Olympic Committee. In the
serene and peaceful environment of Ancient Olympia you will be given a unique
opportunity to study, to think and to communicate your thoughts to us.
Distinguished lecturers and dear Co-ordinator of the discussion groups, I am
happy that we are together again, and I thank you for your exceedingly valuable
contribution to our work.
Allow me also, to thank the Greek government through the Minister of Culture,
and the Hellenic Olympic Committee for their immense moral and material
support, without which the IOA could not have accomplished its task.
I warmly welcome all our foreign friends and collaborators, and I wish you all
a pleasant stay in Athens and Olympia, and a fruitful outcome of your work.
21