Vancouver is 'blueprint' for future games, Rogge says
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Olympics will serve as a "blueprint" for future games, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Tuesday.
Three days before the opening of the games, Rogge praised Vancouver organizers for their policies on the environment and long-term use of facilities. He singled out organizing committee VANOC, which had to cope with the global economic downturn.
"Hosting the games is always a complex and challenging undertaking," Rogge said. "VANOC and its partners rose to the challenge without compromising the original vision for these games."
"That vision has established new standards for environmental sustainability and legacy planning," he said. "Everything that has been done to prepare for these games was done with the athletes, the environment and the legacy in mind.
"The lessons learned here are a blueprint for future games."
Rogge spoke at the opening ceremony of the 122nd International Olympic Committee session. The three-day assembly will examine the preparations for the Vancouver Games as well as planning for future Olympics in London; Sochi, Russia; and Rio de Janeiro.
The audience included Canada's governor general Michaelle Jean, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.
Rogge also offered condolences to the people of Haiti in the wake of last month's devastating earthquake.
"We will not let them down," Rogge said. "The Olympic movement will support the reconstruction of the sports infrastructure in Haiti."
He also remembered the victims of the attack on the bus carrying Togo's national football team in Angola last month, and a suicide car bomber that killed volleyball fans in Pakistan.
Rogge also paid tribute to Jack Poole, who played a large role in bringing the Olympics to Vancouver. The former chairman of the organizing committee died last year from pancreatic cancer.
Rogge noted that more than 2,500 athletes from 82 countries will be competing at the Vancouver Games, which will be followed by more than 10,000 media, 250,000 spectators and a global television audience of 3 billion.
Rogge also said athletes should serve as role models and should stay away from performance-enhancing drugs.
"The vast majority of athletes take that responsibility quite seriously," Rogge said at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. "They know that there are no shortcuts to success. We owe it to them to do everything we can to ensure that the competition is fair and free of doping. We will do our part."
The IOC is conducting 2,000 doping tests at the Vancouver Games, 800 more than in Turin four years ago.
Canadian speakers at the ceremony referred to their country's hope of finally winning a gold medal on home soil after failure to do so at the 1976 Montreal Summer Games and the 1988 Calgary Winter Games.
This time, Canada is a contender to top the medals table for the first time.
"The last gold rush was in 1858," Robertson said. "I predict that the next gold rush will begin within one week."
John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC, received a long standing ovation when he was introduced. He, too, looked ahead to Canadian medal success, saying that "all of Canada prays these games are truly golden."
Rogge followed Furlong to the podium.
"You obtained a standing ovation even before the start of the games. I am tempted to close them on the spot," Rogge said. "I will not do it because I am sure you will give us 16 days of magic."
Rogge: Vancouver is 'blueprint' for future Games
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