European Committees Close Belgrade Meeting

11/27/2010

The 39th EOC General Assembly wrapped up Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia, with a decision to award the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival to Tblisi, Georgia and the winter festival to a joint bid from Vorarlberg, Austria and Liechtenstein.

The vote was 26 for Tblisi, 21 for Brno for the summer festival. For the winter festival the joint Austria/Liechtenstein bid received  24 votes to 23 for Sarajevo.

The assembly, with representatives of 49 NOCs as well as officials from IOC, also heard presentations on the EYOF 2011 and 2013 editions, to be held in Liberec, Czech Republic, Trabzon, Turkey, Brasov, Romania and Utrecht, the Netherlands.

London 2012 updates on preparations

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, presented the latest updates in the preparations at the EOC Belgrade meeting.

“Our focus, our overwhelming priority must be on the athletes, on food, transportation, accommodation and venues. When athletes perform well, that leads to the atmosphere,” he told delegates. “We continue to focus on sport and are making substantial progress.”

Coe said 75 percent of the new Olympic Park is complete and will be finished in January, on time to carry out tests and allow public access.

He then mentioned London 2012 will guarantee free Internet access and TVs in the athletes’ apartments as well as an “Athlete Family and Friends” ticketing offer “to underline the importance of having friends and family members that so often make a profound and hidden contribution.”

Lastly, he mentioned that funding to train drivers has been allocated, in an effort to provide refined –and speedy - journey times that would bypass congested London roads.

“Despite the circumstances of a rough economy, we’re making the most of this opportunity and privilege,” Coe said in his speech. “We are on time, and we are on budget to host the Olympic Games in 2012.”

With reporting from Marta Falconi in Belgrade

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