Opening Ceremony of the Conference
DURBAN – FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond is present at the 7th World Conference on Sport, Education & Culture in Durban, South Africa, where he also met FISU Board member Omar Al Hai, who is representing the NOC of UAE.
IOC President Dr Jacques Rogge was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Sunday night. The conference continues on Monday and Tuesday.
Dr Rogge also spoke of the ‘special bond that exists between the IOC and South African sport’. Visibly impressed by the country’s success in staging the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the IOC President complimented South Africa on the effort.
Speakers at a vibrant and colorful opening ceremony also included South Africa’s minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula; the Mayor of the City of Durban, Obed Mlaba; the chairman of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education, Lambis Nikolaou; the UNESCO deputy director-general, Getachew Engida; IOC executive board member Dr Sam Ramsamy and SASCOC president, Gideon Sam.
“Giving a Voice to Youth” will be more than just the motto of the 7th World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture. During a youth session, organized within the conference, young participants at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that were held in Singapore in August, will talk about their personal experience at this very first edition and also exchange with their South African peers. Young people will also be given the floor in other sessions to offer their first-hand input on learning experiences in the fields of sport, education, culture and society.
Other discussions, to take place in plenary and parallel sessions, will focus on values-based education, the Cultural Olympiad, education for sustainable development and how to develop a culture of healthy lifestyles, to name just a few.
(Source: Eric Saintrond, FISU SG/CEO)
IOC President Rogge at the Opening Ceremony
Mr. Saintrond (c) with Masato Mizuno, JOC Vice-President and Chairman of MIZUNO corporation (l) and EC member Omar Al Hai (r)