Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

IOC President Samaranch Arrives in Pohnpei

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM INFORMATION SERVICE): May 4, 1998 - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch and his entourage arrived Pohnpei yesterday to welcome FSM into the Olympic family.

Arriving from Nauru on a chartered flight they were taken in a motorcade through Kolonia town where they view the different school games going on in Pohnpei at this time.

Samaranch during his visit also paid a courtesy call on President Nena at his office at the FSM Capital where the two presidents exchanged gifts.

FSM NOC President Dr. Eliuel I. Pretrick attend the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) meeting in Fiji and accompanied President Samaranch and his entourage to Pohnpei.

IOC President Samaranch was greeted upon arrival by an FSM Official Greeting Party headed by the FSM NOC Vice Patron, Speaker of the FSM Congress Jack Fritz; Secretary General Jim Tobin; Acting Secretary Ieske Iehsi, FSM Department of Foreign Affairs; Pohnpei State Governor Del Pangelinan; President, FSM Baseball Federation Tadasy Yamaguchi; President, Basketball Federation Shelten Neth; President, FSM Softball Federation William Hawley; President, FSM Table Tennis Federation Godaro Lorrin; President, FSM Tennis Federation Richard Alex; President, FSM Volleyball Federation Joses Gallen and officials as well as the athlete community of Pohnpei.

President Samaranch and his delegation were hosted to a reception dinner at the Nahntelik-PCR which was broadcast live to the other four states as well as Pohnpei.

President Samaranch's delegation composed of him as the Head of delegation; Dr. Robin Mitchell, Secretary-General of the Oceania National Olympic Community (ONOC), IOC Executive Committee Member; Mr. Ferkou Kidne, Director of IOC President's Executive Office and the Department Cooperation & Communications; Annie Inchauspe, Personal Assistant and Chief Private Secretariat (IOC); and Jose Angel Castro, Chief of the Sports Section of Spanish News Agency EFE.

Upon arrival they were treated to refreshments and the dancers from Awak, U Municipality entertained the official party with Pohnpeian dances at the Pohnpei International Airport.

In the motorcade to call on President Nena the delegation stopped at the new FSM NOC office in town for a short meeting.

The FSM and the FSM NOC are indeed most privileged and honored in hosting IOC President Samaranch. This is a historic visit for the FSM. The FSM will long remember this special privilege and opportunity to meet Samaranch and his party.

IOC President Samaranch was born on July 17, 1920, in Barcelona, Spain. His career include a Professor of Economics, Member of several Boards, Spanish Ambassador to USSR & Peoples Republic of Mongolia. He speaks Spanish, French, English, Russian and German. He is married to former Maria Teresa Salich-Rowe, they have two children Taria Teresa and Juan Antonio. His sports are hockey, boxing and football and his hobbies include Arts and Sports stamps. His Sports Carrier includes President of many Spanish Olympic Sports, Member of the IOU since 1966 and President of IOU since 1980.

The goal of "The Olympic Movement" is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world through educating youths through sports practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic Spirit which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The IOU is the supreme authority of the Olympic movement, created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin on the 23rd June 1894 at the Paris Congress.

In addition to the IOC, the Olympic Movement includes the International Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees (NOC's) and National Association Federation's.

The role of the IOC is to lead the promotion of Olympism. To that end, the IOC encourages the coordination, organization and development of sports competitions.

It also encourages the regular celebration of the games, campaign against any original form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement, supports and encourages the promotion of sports ethics, leads the campaign against drugs, opposes any political abuse of sports and athletes, upholds environmental causes and supports the International Olympic Academy in Greece.

The symbolic Olympic Ring is formed from five inter-locking rings colored blue, green and red.