Pretoria – KwaZulu-Natal is putting the final touches to preparations for the 123rd session of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) that will be held in Durban next month.
The session, which will run from 4 – 9 July 2011 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), promises to be an exciting platform for South Africa to show the world once again that good old fashioned, warm Mzansi vibe and spirit of ubuntu (humanity).
It’s also an opportunity to boost the country’s tourism profile.
“We want to showcase areas of interest which should be considered for investments and leisure. Critically, we want to showcase political stability and to demonstrate that there is peaceful co-existence of political parties,” said KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Mkhize was speaking after being briefed by Sam Ramsamy, the executive board member of IOC and SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, on preparations for this global sporting event, where the IOC will announce the winner of the rights to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Ramsamy said KZN has the privilege of hosting a high-powered delegation from three cities bidding for the rights to host the Olympics which are PyeongChang (South Korea), Munich (Germany) and Annecy (France).
The delegations will be led by the presidents of South Korea Lee Myung-bak, Germany Christian Wulff and France Nicolas Sarkozy.
Also expected to attend the session to support their respective countries are Arab royal families, Prince Albert II of Monaco and wife Charlene Wittstock, the UK’s Princess Anne, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Netherlands’ Prince of Orange, and the Crown Prince of Denmark.
Mkhize said they have put in place a line-up of activities for these guests. – BuaNews
