SINGAPORE: OLYMPIC GAMES - International Olympic Committee President Rogge denies politics have interfered in the Youth Olympic Games
Record ID:
329461
SINGAPORE: OLYMPIC GAMES - International Olympic Committee President Rogge denies politics have interfered in the Youth Olympic Games
- Title: SINGAPORE: OLYMPIC GAMES - International Olympic Committee President Rogge denies politics have interfered in the Youth Olympic Games
- Date: 18th August 2010
- Summary: SINGAPORE (AUGUST 17, 2010) (REUTERS) INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE SITTING IN CHAIR (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT ROGGE SAYING: "But for me the defining moment, is really the success of our cultural and educational programme because this is a novelty, this is really something new in the world of sport, we have added this ambitious education programme to a sport event. And I can only judge by the participation of the athletes which is very good. The athletes are participating, they are happy. You can see the twinkle in their eyes. You can see the smile on their face and that's the best gauge for the success." ROGGE'S EYES (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT ROGGE SAYING: "That incident has been documented by an independent doctor in a clinic in Singapore. The athlete did not participate in the competition because of a foot injury. He was driven to the hospital, was examined by a Singaporean doctor, totally independent, not belonging to the organisation and he diagnosed an ankle sprain, and for us that's the end of the story." ROGGES'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT ROGGE SAYING: "Madame, if I have a medical certificate which is the case, by an independent doctor, saying that this young man could not participate, for me it's the end of the story." OLYMPIC LAPEL PIN ON ROGGE'S JACKET (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT ROGGE SAYING: "We are constrained by the international calendar, and it's not possible for the sports movement as a whole to stop competition in every religious day or period. We cannot stop on Friday, Saturday or Sunday because of the Muslims, Hebrew or Catholic faith. We cannot stop the sporting world for Ramadan. We try to accommodate as much as possible, we try to adapt as much as possible, but it's not always possible." ROGGE'S EYES OLYMPIC LAPEL PIN ON ROGGE'S JACKET ROGGE STANDING TO LEAVE INTERVIEW
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Singapore
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA6JLGAE9DT1GXZKIH8UM7KVX4Q
- Story Text: Amidst tensions over an Iranian athlete's withdrawal from a competition against an Israeli competitor in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge stressed on Tuesday (August 17) that the aim of the Youth Olympics was to promote cultural and educational awareness amongst young people.
Over 3,600 athletes from 205 countries are participating in the games which opened on August 14.
As Rogge's brainchild, the inaugural Youth Olympic Games aims not only to build athletic ability, but also to increase young people's awareness of other cultures. Rogge said the games will be a success if that is achieved.
"But for me the defining moment, is really the success of our cultural and educational programme because this is a novelty, this is really something new in the world of sport, we have added this ambitious education programme to a sport event," said Rogge. "And I can only judge by the participation of the athletes which is very good. The athletes are participating, they are happy. You can see the twinkle in their eyes. You can see the smile on their face and that's the best gauge for the success."
On Sunday (August 15), before taking part in the final of the men's 48kg taekwondo event, Iran's Mohammad Soleimani was taken to hospital with an ankle injury and forfeited the match. His intended opponent, Gili Haimovitz of Israel, was given the gold medal as a result.
Israeli officials said that the Iranian athlete purposely missed the match because Iran does not recognise Israel as a country but Rogge denied the incident was due to any political matters.
"That incident has been documented by an independent doctor in a clinic in Singapore. The athlete did not participate in the competition because of a foot injury. He was driven to the hospital, was examined by a Singaporean doctor, totally independent, not belonging to the organisation and he diagnosed an ankle sprain, and for us that's the end of the story," said Rogge. "I have medical certificate which is the case, by an independent doctor, saying that this young man could not participate, for me it's the end of the story," he added.
Rogge also rejected concerns about the timing of the event, which occurs during the Islamic month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
"We are constrained by the international calendar, and it's not possible for the sports movement as a whole to stop competition in every religious day or period. We cannot stop on Friday, Saturday or Sunday because of the Muslims, Hebrew or Catholic faith. We cannot stop the sporting world for Ramadan. We try to accommodate as much as possible, we try to adapt as much as possible, but it's not always possible," he said.
The Youth Olympic Games run until August 26. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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