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Courtesy Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee...
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Athens, 22 November 2003
IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA
The Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), in its session held today, ratified the agreement between the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and IAAF for holding the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium. This agreement is now subject to the approval of the IOC Executive Board, in its scheduled meeting in Lausanne on 4 December. This issue will also be a matter of discussions between the Greek Ministry of Culture and the responsible Archaeological Authorities.
This decision is considered to be a historical one, as it will accentuate the uniqueness of the Athens Games, linking the Games of Antiquity (Ancient Olympia) with the modern Olympic Games.
In addition to the Shot Put Men’s event, the decision also concerns the Women’s event, which will be held in the same Stadium and on the same date.
In order to give further prominence to this unique circumstance, ATHENS 2004 and IAAF will propose that the event takes place on the 18th and 19th August.
In its proposal, the Organising Committee made it clear that no works whatsoever will be taking place in the Ancient Stadium, so that this historical monument may be preserved. Thus, no provisions are made for construction of temporary facilities, spectator stands or for the installation of videoboards, while spectator access will be controlled.
AOB will broadcast the event using 7 television cameras, in their majority portable ones, so as not to cause any problems. Competitions will be held on a single day, with the preliminaries scheduled to take place in the morning and the finals in the afternoon, so that no requirement arises for installing any lighting whatsoever in the Stadium.
Athletes, coaches and accompanying team officials will be accommodated in the beautiful premises of the International Olympic Academy (IOA), which in this way will receive worldwide recognition. The Press Center will be located in the same premises, where the required infrastructure is already in place.
ATHENS 2004 President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, made the following statement, as soon as Executive Director Spyros Capralos informed her of the decision of the IAAF Council:
“ The staging of the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium is a historical moment for the Olympic Movement. So far, we have been stressing the importance of the return of the Games to the place of their birth and the city of their revival. As from today, we are in a position to say that the Games are making a symbolic and an actual return to their grass-roots. Since the bid for the 1997 Games we have been making efforts to promote Ancient Olympia and link the Games of Antiquity with the Modern Olympic Games. This bridging of the ancient and the modern allows us to believe that will organise unique Games. On the 18th or 19th August 2004, all of humanity will meet, after 2,500 years, at the place where it all began. Special mention should be made to the fact that it is the first time in history that women will compete in this Stadium.
We thank IAAF for delivering a decision in favour of our proposal. We believe that the IOC Executive Board, on 4 December 2003, will ratify IAAF’s decision. We will cooperate closely with all responsible bodies for the best staging of the event, with protection and respect for the archaeological site always remaining our primary criterion.”
IAAF President and member of the IOC, Lamine Diack, issued the following statement: “IAAF’s Council unanimously decided that this proposal is a unique opportunity to reconnect the ancient roots of our sport with the sports of the 21st century, as well as to promote the primary role of Athletics in the Olympic Games. It is a fascinating opportunity to show the worldwide public how pure and how stirring the holding of the competition in a sacred environment may be. Eventually, the Shot Put competition will be one of the most important events in the Athens Olympic Games”.
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Athens, 22 November 2003
IAAF AGREES ON HOLDING THE SHOT PUT EVENT IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA
The Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), in its session held today, ratified the agreement between the ATHENS 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and IAAF for holding the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium. This agreement is now subject to the approval of the IOC Executive Board, in its scheduled meeting in Lausanne on 4 December. This issue will also be a matter of discussions between the Greek Ministry of Culture and the responsible Archaeological Authorities.
This decision is considered to be a historical one, as it will accentuate the uniqueness of the Athens Games, linking the Games of Antiquity (Ancient Olympia) with the modern Olympic Games.
In addition to the Shot Put Men’s event, the decision also concerns the Women’s event, which will be held in the same Stadium and on the same date.
In order to give further prominence to this unique circumstance, ATHENS 2004 and IAAF will propose that the event takes place on the 18th and 19th August.
In its proposal, the Organising Committee made it clear that no works whatsoever will be taking place in the Ancient Stadium, so that this historical monument may be preserved. Thus, no provisions are made for construction of temporary facilities, spectator stands or for the installation of videoboards, while spectator access will be controlled.
AOB will broadcast the event using 7 television cameras, in their majority portable ones, so as not to cause any problems. Competitions will be held on a single day, with the preliminaries scheduled to take place in the morning and the finals in the afternoon, so that no requirement arises for installing any lighting whatsoever in the Stadium.
Athletes, coaches and accompanying team officials will be accommodated in the beautiful premises of the International Olympic Academy (IOA), which in this way will receive worldwide recognition. The Press Center will be located in the same premises, where the required infrastructure is already in place.
ATHENS 2004 President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, made the following statement, as soon as Executive Director Spyros Capralos informed her of the decision of the IAAF Council:
“ The staging of the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium is a historical moment for the Olympic Movement. So far, we have been stressing the importance of the return of the Games to the place of their birth and the city of their revival. As from today, we are in a position to say that the Games are making a symbolic and an actual return to their grass-roots. Since the bid for the 1997 Games we have been making efforts to promote Ancient Olympia and link the Games of Antiquity with the Modern Olympic Games. This bridging of the ancient and the modern allows us to believe that will organise unique Games. On the 18th or 19th August 2004, all of humanity will meet, after 2,500 years, at the place where it all began. Special mention should be made to the fact that it is the first time in history that women will compete in this Stadium.
We thank IAAF for delivering a decision in favour of our proposal. We believe that the IOC Executive Board, on 4 December 2003, will ratify IAAF’s decision. We will cooperate closely with all responsible bodies for the best staging of the event, with protection and respect for the archaeological site always remaining our primary criterion.”
IAAF President and member of the IOC, Lamine Diack, issued the following statement: “IAAF’s Council unanimously decided that this proposal is a unique opportunity to reconnect the ancient roots of our sport with the sports of the 21st century, as well as to promote the primary role of Athletics in the Olympic Games. It is a fascinating opportunity to show the worldwide public how pure and how stirring the holding of the competition in a sacred environment may be. Eventually, the Shot Put competition will be one of the most important events in the Athens Olympic Games”.
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