IAAF
President congratulates winning host of Games of the 29th Olympiad in 2008
IAAF Release
13 July 2001 - Moscow, Russia - Lamine Diack,
President of the IAAF and IOC Member made the following statement following the selection
of Beijing, China, as the host city for the Games of the 29th Olympiad to be held in 2008:
“By choosing Beijing, the International Olympic Committee has made a decision of great significance because now, 1.3 billion people will feel completely integrated into the world sports movement.
The IAAF has always sustained the belief that it is vital to open doors to China. By doing this, one underlines the message of unity in human relations and not division.
I am personally convinced that Beijing, and China, will organize a magnificent Olympic Games but what is more important will be the engagement of the government, and all the private and public institutions, in the diffusion, in this enormous country, of the Olympic philosophy and the culture of athletics.
For these reasons, the IAAF has great expectations of China and is ready to collaborate closely with the Chinese Athletics Federation, and other sports organizations. This partnership, in any case, is not really new, because the IAAF already has Dapeng Lou as Vice-President with specific responsibility for our Competition structures. The whole athletics family will join with me in wishing Dapeng Lou sincere congratulations.”
Lamine Diack
IAAF President