http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2006-07-23 MAIGOC
In 23 July afternoon, at Dili, capital city of East Timor, the new headquarters of East Timor National Olympic Committee was unveiled jointly by Prime Minister Ramos Horta of the country and OCA Vice-president Manuel Silvério. In the ceremony, the flags of East Timor and OCA were hoisted.
The new headquarters was constructed with patronage from Olympasia program, a cooperation project between OCA and Daimler-Chrysler of the United States.
“Sports are important not only to improve the physical health of the citizens, but to stimulate the developments of the society and cultures,” said President João Carrascalão of East Timor NOC in his speech.
Ramos Horta, present prime minister and former foreign minister of the country, has been showing great supports to the developments of Olympic sports in East Timor. He was once the acting president of East Timor NOC after independence.
NOC President Carrascalão extends his appreciation to the Macau Olympic Committee for its continuous supports and assistance, and considers MOC as the “elder brother” of East Timor NOC.
On behalf of OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, Manuel Silvério expressed in his message that continuous supports shall be firmly given to the developments of Olympic sports in East Timor and its NOC. While glad to see Ramos Horta taking the post of prime minister, Manuel Silvério emphasised that OCA would not neglect East Timor as a member in the sports circles of Asia and of the world. As the Chairman of 1st Lusofonia Games Organising Committee, he was “pleasantly surprised to see East Timor’s determination to go through all difficulties along the way for the 1st Lusofonia Games.”
Prime Minister Ramos Horta expressed his gratitudes in his speech to OCA for their supports towards the development of the country’s sports circle. The government is now giving priorities to public order and human rights, yet supports to local sports community still take a place in government’s policy and financial budget. In fact, East Timor considers sports are vital to improve the quality of the general public, of which a large proportion is in young age.
After the ceremony, Prime Minister Ramos Horta met Manuel Silvério individually with the presence of Ambassador Su Jian of People’s Republic of China in East Timor. In the meeting, Manuel Silvério introduced to the prime minister the progress on the preparation of the 1st Lusofonia Games. While extending good wishes to the success of the games, Ramos Horta hoped he could join the opening ceremony on 7 October in Macau, showing supports to his country’s delegation in which performance he has full confidence.
