The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : IOC expresses solidarity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 08, 2005

Sport

Sport - Olympic Games

IOC expresses solidarity

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which remained in session in Singapore on Thursday after deciding a day earlier to award London the right to host the 2012 Olympics, expressed solidarity with Britain over the Thursday killings.

IOC President Jacques Rogge sent a personal message of "sympathy," to British Prime Minster Tony Blair and London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Message of support

The IOC said in a statement in Singapore that the Committee "would like to send a message of support to London, following the tragic events of the past hours."

Shocking attacks

Emphasising that "the IOC's thoughts are with all those who are personally affected," the statement said "it is a very sad fact of society today that tragic and shocking attacks of this nature can happen in any city at any time."

Mr. Blair's political cameo in support of London's candidature for the 30th Olympiad and the video-presentation, which showed how people from all walks of life in London were imbued with the spirit of the Olympics, were poignantly recalled here on Thursday in the context of the tragedy.

Independent observers noted that one of the considerations that weighed on the minds of the IOC members was the security profile of the competing cities. In the cities of London and Paris, which figured in the fourth and final round of voting, were apparently rated above Moscow, Madrid and New York.

With the "London 2012" team's sense of elation turning into a deep sense of shock and grief, Mr. Livingstone characterised the tragedy as a terrorist strike against ordinary working class London, irrespective of the colour or faith of the people.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport