Jack Agrios - Chairman of the Board of Edmonton 2001 (© Getty Images)
Mr. Jack Agrios, who led Edmonton’s original winning bid for the 2001 IAAF World Championships and then steered those Championships to such a successful conclusion, has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
The award to Mr. Agrios was announced by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada on 17 January 2003.
“A respected lawyer and consummate volunteer, Mr. Agrios has given unstinting support to his profession and to the wider community” read the announcement, “…he led Edmonton’s successful bid for the 2001 World Championships in Athletics, the first time a North American city has hosted this major international event.”
In response to the award, the former Chairman of the Board of Edmonton 2001, commented, “I’m absolutely elated. I’m really taken aback.”
“I’m very fortunate to have come from a family whose father came here from Greece in 1904 and was proud of Canada and instilled in us that this country gave us a future.”
The 8th edition of the IAAF World Championships – Edmonton 2001 – confirmed, yet again, the universality as well as the spectator appeal of top class athletics. 1677 athletes from 189 federations started the competition, with 41 nationals winning medals.
The total attendance for the 10 days of competition was 400,866, with daily audiences ranging from 29,000 to a high of 54,920.
IAAF