IOC July session a 'first for Africa'

The event is expected to attract up to 1000 of the world's top sports administrators, media, IOC sponsors, government leaders and even royalty. The big news is that IOC executive Prince Albert of Monaco will also be present and will host a glamorous bash with his newlywed wife, Charlene Wittstock. There is expected to be large delegations from the three cities bidding to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The IOC will announce the winning city at the congress - taking place in Africa for the first time - at Durban's Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

Communications chiefs from Munich's 2018 bid committee - Jochen Farber and Simone Seefried - were in Durban last week to meet local media. The Bavarian state capital is up against the South Korean city of PyeongChang and Annecy in France to win the bid.

Official logo

Revealing the official logo for the IOC Session last week, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) said it would "proudly represent South Africa as the world Olympic movement comes to Africa".

"Many important sporting decisions will be reached during the IOC session, with the all-important day being Wednesday 6 July, when the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be revealed...

"Durban was first nominated to host the 123rd session in April, 2008, along with Hong Kong. Durban was given the honour at the 120th IOC Session in Beijing, China (during the 2008 Olympic Games) to host this meeting," Sascoc said in a statement.

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"The striking logo for the 123rd IOC session, predominately blue in colour, was designed by Cape Town-based company, Interactive Africa, with the designer responsible for the logo being Richard Quintal," it said.

Logo rationale

Explaining the rationale behind the logo, Quintal said he had done lengthy research before coming up with his final concept.

"I looked at various Olympic sports and one in particular stood out - that of the ribbon used in gymnastics, very fluid and elegant. I imagined what the ribbon would look like as it fell to the floor. I then used a single piece of ribbon and made it into the shape of Africa, scanned it and redrew it, creating a more graphical representation," he said.

"I used the shape of Africa because it is a more identifiable symbol than South Africa alone. Most international people think that South Africa and Africa are one and the same," added Quintal.

County very excited

SASCOC president Gideon Sam said the country was very excited at the honour of hosting the IOC on South African soil. "This is a first for the continent and at this stage President Jacob Zuma has put together a team of cabinet ministers to work with the national organising committee to make this session a very successful one," he said.

"Regular meetings are taking place and the planning processes have progressed.

"For me this is another opportunity to show world leaders in sport what we can put together in this country... With our intention to one day bid for the Olympics, this session will give us another opportunity to put our best foot forward to impress the world leaders in sport," added Sam.

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The IOC session will take place in Durban, 4 -9 July. The official website is www.durban2011.co.za.

* Originally published in The Mercury on 11 May 2011.