South Africa's Zuma welcomes heads of State ahead of IOC vote

Jul 5, 2011, 11:12 GMT

Durban, South Africa - South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday welcomed the heads of State that have come to Durban for the 123 Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during which the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics will be decided.

At a luncheon at where the IOC committee members were presented to the visiting heads of State, Zuma said he was honoured to welcome the guests to South Africa ahead of Wednesday's vote.

Amongst the guests were several delegates from the three cities bidding to host the 2018 Winter Games, Annecy, Pyeongchang and Munich, with German President Christian Wulff also in attendance.

'Exactly a year ago, we had the pleasure and honour of hosting the 2010 World Cup tournament,' said Zuma.

'The tournament brought the world together to our country and to the continent to celebrate sports and friendship. It proved that indeed sport is a powerful tool that brings the people of the world together regardless of political, religious, economic or any other difference.'

He said that South Africa was pleased to be hosting another major sporting event such as the IOC Session.

He also referred to the sports boycott, which had played a part in ridding South Africa of the apartheid policies and turned it into a democratic country.

'The Olympics is special in this country given the solidarity we received in 1964, when the IOC banned apartheid South Africa from participating in the Tokyo Olympics, a ban that was to span 32 years.'

IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco, who last week married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, was also mentioned by Zuma.

'We continue to treasure the pride that Princess Charlene brought to South Africa as an Olympic swimmer. She continues to be our wonderful ambassador to the world.'

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