Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The International Olympic Committee was bestowed observer status at the UN General Assembly in New York, USA Monday, 19 October, in recognition of the IOC’s efforts to promote the UN’s Millenium Development Goals and the importance of sports in promoting development and peace.
Observer status is a privilege given to non-member states – currently only the Vatican is a non-member – and non-governmental organizations, like the International Red Cross. Observers may speak, but cannot vote or introduce resolutions.
The only contender
Update 2 – video on Rio’s plans 19:23 Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games in a vote that saw Chicago eliminated in the first round, and Tokyo in the second round of voting.
Copenhagen was the only contender for the pre-Olympics fun and games
Which of four cities would win the right to host the Olympic Games in 2016 kept the crowds guessing before a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Copenhagen Friday 2 October. Following a precedent set by then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair who went to Singapore four years ago to pitch London’s bid for the 2012 Games, the heads of state or government of each of the countries whose cities are bidding for the Games in 2016 are in Copenhagen to make the case on their behalf.
Copenhageners lapped up the publicity. US President Obama took time off from reforming the country’s health care system and saving the world from Iranian nuclear bombs to help his wife Michelle sell their hometown, Chicago.
Beijing Olympics opening ® IOC 2009
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The International Olympic Committee IOC said 2 September it will make a final selection from among four cities vying to be host of the 31st Olympic Games. The IOC says the technical capabilities, which include venues, budget, transportation, of all four cities was comparable.
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has stripped three athletes of their medals and diplomas after reviewing results of drug tests in August in Beijing. Samples from the Games, which under new rules will be held for eight years, have all been returned to Lausanne for storage and another 500 tests will be run in January.
