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| 05.02.2007 - 12:36 |
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Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded
IOC Honorary President for Life Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Chairman of the Organising Committee on Preparation and Participation of Ukrainian Athletes in Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and Deaflympic Games, Universiades, World and European Championships Mr. Viktor Yanukovych with the highest award of the international Olympic Movement, the Olympic Order at the meeting of the latter Committee on 2 February.
“The IOC is honouring a man who has contributed greatly to the development of national and world Olympism. As Head of the Ukrainian Government and as President of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee you have always worked tirelessly to support the training of top athletes. Successful performance of Ukrainian athletes at the Olympic Games in Athens and Turin logically resulted from this activity. For the first time in the history of the independence of Ukraine the NOC and the Ukrainian Olympic sports federations have been granted the Olympic House: the centre of the Olympic spirit in Ukraine”, Mr. Samaranch stressed.
Accepting the Order Mr. Viktor Yanukovych expressed his gratitude to the IOC Honorary President for Life for “special appreciation of Ukrainian sport”. The Prime Minister noted that this Order is a great responsibility before world society for the future of the Olympic Movement. The Head of the Government stressed that this award is the merit of many state and public organizations and, first of all, athletes and coaches.
Mr. Viktor Yanukovych assured that he would do everything possible so that Ukraine was presented with dignity at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008.
Ivan Bondarchuk,
Press Attache
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