Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

IOC President Samaranch to Visit the FSM

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): April 27 –
International Olympic Committee
President Juan Antonio Samaranch is visiting Pohnpei, FSM early
next month. Preparations for this world wide known man, have
already begun with the establishment of an organizing committee.

“President Samaranch on a charter flight is visiting
the FSM to welcome the FSM athletes into the International Olympic
family.” said Jim Tobin, Secretary General of the FSM National
Olympic Committee and also FSM Sport Director. The FSM National
Olympic Committee was established last year and formally become
a member of the International Olympic Committee on September
6, 1997.

The visit of President Samaranch and being a member of OIC
enables the FSM to participate in International Olympics around
the world. The IOC was established in 1894 to run International
Olympic Games, bringing athletes around the world together in
competition.

President Samaranch and his staff will arrive Pohnpei on the
4th of May at about 2:00 p.m. and will be welcomed at the Pohnpei
International Airport with leis and honor guards. The organizing
committee is inviting everyone to come to the airport to welcome
and witness President Samaranch’s arrival, according to Tobin.

A visit to the Capital in Palikir is being arranged for them
they will be hosted to dinner reception with entertainment at
the Samaranch to visit FSM Nahntelik – PCR restaurant. The delegation
will leave for Guam in the evening of the same day. The dinner
reception will be broadcast live within Pohnpei and the other
three states of Chuuk, Kosrae and Yap. Live Broadcast will begin
at 7:00 p.m.

The delegation consist of President Samaranch, Kevan Gosper,
International Olympic Committee Executive Board Member and President
of Oceania National Olympic Committee; Dr. Robin Mitchell, International
Olympic Committee Member and Secretary General of Oceania National
Olympic Committee; Fekrou Kidane, Director of the International
Olympic Committee President’s Executive Office and the Department
of International Cooperation and Communications; Anni Inchauspe,
Personal Assistance and Chief of the President’s Private Secretariat;
Pere Miro, Director of National Olympic Committee Relations and
Olympic Solidarity; Jose Angel Castro, Chief of the Sports Section
of the Spanish News Agency EPE; and Ricardo Blas, Vice President
of Oceania National Olympic Committee and President of the National
Olympic of Guam.

Coming with them on the same flight is the FSM National Olympic
Committee President, Dr. Eliuel Pretrick.