http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2006-03-03 16:46 MAIGOC
Portuguese spoken language Olympic Committees will gather in Lisbon by 8th June has an association， said the Macao Olympic Committee's vice-president to Lusa News Agency.
Portugal， Macao， Angola， Mozambique， Guinea Bissau， Cape Verde， Brazil， East Timor， Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea are the head founders of this association， for which preparatory meetings are being planned to take place on 6th and 7th June.
Manuel Silvério， Macao Olympic Committee vice-president， said to Lusa News agency that this Olympic movement association is born from recent informal contacts made in India and Athens. Macao joined as a result of the Portuguese and Angolans Olympic Committees invitation.
He considers Macao''s participation has a part of the ''forward policy implemented by the Macao SAR Government in order to carry out the historical and cultural bonds connecting us to Portuguese spoken language countries， in this particular case the sports area''.
Consequently， he added that ''history as left a legacy to Macao marked by the common spoken language and friendship (with Portuguese spoken language countries)， completing the future with history dynamics''.
Manuel Silvério also stated that this Olympic Committees association can be the first step to future multi-games sports events between these countries and regions， ''therefore contributing to reinforce the already existing strong friendship bonds and collaboration projects''.
The head responsible also highlighted that after the Athens Olympic Games， all eyes will be on Asia， namely in Beijing for the XXIX 2008 Olympiad. Macao will play an important role by promoting the sports venues available to several sports ''internship'' programs.
Manuel Silvério and Ma Iau Hang respectively Macao Olympic Committee's first and second vice-president and Frederico Nolasco as the treasurer will be representing Macao in Lisbon.
