MEDIA RELEASE

LAUNCH OF OLYMPIC MUSEUM EXHIBITION KICKS-OFF CELEBRATIONS FOR 117TH IOC SESSION IN SINGAPORE
Highlights of the Olympic Movement brought  to Singaporeans by the Olympic Museum, Lausanne

Singapore, 1 July – The Olympic Museum Exhibition was launched today to kick-off celebrations for the 117th IOC Session in Singapore from 6 – 9 July. President of International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, unveiled the Olympic Museum Exhibition at the Raffles City Atrium this evening.

Specially designed by the Olympic Museum of Lausanne, members of the public will have the opportunity to learn more about the candidate cities for the 2012 Olympic Games, re-live the rich history of Olympic Games past and find out more about the values of sports and Olympism - a philosophy that promotes friendship, participation, fair play, determination and solidarity through sports.  In addition, Singaporeans will also get a chance to better understand their local sport heroes including the country’s own Olympians through this exclusive exhibition.

“The Olympic Museum is for everyone for whom sport and the Olympic Movement are a passion, everyone fascinated by history, culture and art. The Olympic Museum Exhibition that we see here today is an opportunity to showcase to all our friends in Singapore highlights of the Olympic Movement”, said Mr Rogge.
 
“This Olympic Museum Exhibition is the latest in a series of activities that the Singapore Organising Committee has specially organised to commemorate the 117th IOC Session.  All these activities are specially arranged to give the public an opportunity to experience the Olympic spirit”, commented Mr Ng Ser Miang, President of the 117th IOC Session Singapore Organising Committee.

During the week of the exhibition, the public will also be treated to a series of sports demonstrations that will be held concurrently with the exhibition.  Visitors can expect the Raffles City Atrium to come alive with demonstrations of various sports like Silat, Dance Sports, Gymnastics and many more. 

“Raffles City Atrium, the epicenter of the IOC Session, and our Lion City will be filled with Olympic activities and festivities over the next week.  We welcome all Singaporeans and our international guests to join us right here to experience the anticipation and excitement with us”, added Mr Ng.

Special Guests at the opening ceremony included the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Local Olympians, Siew Shaw Her, Patricia Chan, Zarina Abdullah and more were also present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The Olympic Museum Exhibition is organised by the 117th IOC Session Singapore Organising Committee in conjunction with the country’s hosting of the 117th IOC Session that will be held in Singapore from 6 – 9 July. The exhibition is open to the public from 1 – 10 July to coincide with the 117th International Olympic Committee Session.

About the 117th IOC Session in Singapore

The 117th IOC Session will be held in Singapore at the Raffles City Convention Centre from July 6 to 9 where the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games will be decided.  The announcement ceremony for the successful host city will commence at 7.30pm on 6 July 2005 and will be broadcasted to more than 1 billion people worldwide.  The Session will also take decisions on key policy issues and areas under its authority, including the review of the Olympic programme.

For more information, please visit http://www.singapore2005ioc.org.sg/

Media Contact (on behalf of the Singapore Organising Committee for the 117th IOC Session)

Sheila Rasu                                   Ronda Ng
Account Director                           Account Manager
Fulford Public Relations                   Fulford Public Relations
Phone: 6324 2269                          Phone: 6324 5293
MP: 9828 7426                              MP: 9152 2842
Email: srasu@fulfordpr.com              Email: rng@fulfordpr.com