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President Samaranch is a fervent supporter of the International Olympic
Academy's work; he has attended almost all the opening ceremonies of its annual
sessions. Today, he is attending this ceremony for the last time as President of the
International Olympic Committee. On the 16 th of July, being at the helm of the IOC
for 21 years, he will hand over to his successor. I am convinced that the outgoing
President will continue to support the work of the International Olympic Academy
with the same energy and, now, he will be able perhaps to devote more of his
time to us. We shall always be very happy to welcome him at this unpretentious
ceremony.
At this point, I would like to ask Mr Samaranch to come to the rostrum and
accept this commemorative gift as a token of our appreciation for his long and
valuable contribution to the Olympic Movement and his support to the work of
the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
This gift, which was especially commissioned by the Hellenic Olympic
Committee, is another outstanding creation of Mr Ilias Lalaounis who, wishing
once again to show his support for our work, has decided to offer it to us, for
which we thank him warmly.
Expressing the wish that you may all fell the ancient Olympic Spirit still
permeating the air of Ancient Olympia and that your stay in our country may
prove a fruitful one, I declare the opening of the 41 st international Session for
Young Participants of the International Olympic Academy.
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