 IOC President Samaranch to Visit the FSMPALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): April 27 - International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch is visiting Pohnpei, FSM early next month. Preparations for this world wide known man, have already begun with the establishment of an organizing committee. "President Samaranch on a charter flight is visiting the FSM to welcome the FSM athletes into the International Olympic family." said Jim Tobin, Secretary General of the FSM National Olympic Committee and also FSM Sport Director. The FSM National Olympic Committee was established last year and formally become a member of the International Olympic Committee on September 6, 1997. The visit of President Samaranch and being a member of OIC enables the FSM to participate in International Olympics around the world. The IOC was established in 1894 to run International Olympic Games, bringing athletes around the world together in competition. President Samaranch and his staff will arrive Pohnpei on the 4th of May at about 2:00 p.m. and will be welcomed at the Pohnpei International Airport with leis and honor guards. The organizing committee is inviting everyone to come to the airport to welcome and witness President Samaranch's arrival, according to Tobin. A visit to the Capital in Palikir is being arranged for them they will be hosted to dinner reception with entertainment at the Samaranch to visit FSM Nahntelik - PCR restaurant. The delegation will leave for Guam in the evening of the same day. The dinner reception will be broadcast live within Pohnpei and the other three states of Chuuk, Kosrae and Yap. Live Broadcast will begin at 7:00 p.m. The delegation consist of President Samaranch, Kevan Gosper, International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and President of Oceania National Olympic Committee; Dr. Robin Mitchell, International Olympic Committee Member and Secretary General of Oceania National Olympic Committee; Fekrou Kidane, Director of the International Olympic Committee President's Executive Office and the Department of International Cooperation and Communications; Anni Inchauspe, Personal Assistance and Chief of the President's Private Secretariat; Pere Miro, Director of National Olympic Committee Relations and Olympic Solidarity; Jose Angel Castro, Chief of the Sports Section of the Spanish News Agency EPE; and Ricardo Blas, Vice President of Oceania National Olympic Committee and President of the National Olympic of Guam. Coming with them on the same flight is the FSM National Olympic Committee President, Dr. Eliuel Pretrick. |