Tokyo Delegation to London, IAAF Garden Party

7/18/2012

Japanese Delegation Departs for London

Tokyo 2020 has announced that a delegation of “sports experts, senior government officials and private sector leaders” will depart for the London Games on Sunday.

The delegation will work with LOCOG and the IOC Observer Programme to oversee the preparations for the Opening Ceremony and Olympic Games.

“Our delegation’s goal is to interact with organising officials and soak up as much information as possible to enhance Tokyo 2020’s Candidature File,” Tokyo 2020 President Tsunekazu Takeda said. “Our visit to London is a key step in helping us fine-tune the best Games Plan possible for Tokyo 2020, and to eventually stage Games of excellence and excitement that will delight Japanese people and the world.”

The delegation will observe “every aspect of the Games, from transportation to accommodation to security” while in London.

Tokyo is competing with Istanbul and Madrid for the 2020 Games.

Monaco Celebrates IAAF Centenary

A garden party was held Tuesday by Prince Albert II of Monaco to celebrate the founding of the International Association of Athletics Federations 100 years ago.

Prince Albert II used his welcoming speech to outline “the close and historic connection between his family and the Principality with athletics.”

“Most important, these ties have been strengthened in the past thirty years thanks to the creation of a Monegasque Athletics Federation in 1984, and its affiliation with the IAAF, followed by the International Athletic Foundation and finally the IAAF's establishment in the Principality eighteen years ago,” he said.

The event included the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp, a life-sized ice sculpture of a runner and a cake decorated with pictures of IAAF Hall of Fame athletes.

Written by Hannah Reid.

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