http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2007-05-18 MAIGOC
“The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has placed great emphasis and commitment in media-related areas, which we are dedicated towards creating a more direct and regular channels of communication with you. We keenly hope that these meetings will become a regular part of your annual agenda, during which we will be able to update you on our work for Asian sport.” MAIGOC Chairman Manuel Silvério welcomed the international sports press to establishing effective channels of communication during his participation at the 70th AIPS Congress in Bregenz of Austria.
Manuel Silvério, who is also OCA Vice President and newly elected Media Committee Chairman, presented the ideas to around 400 participants in the Congress. During the afternoon on 17 May, several presentations of sports events were made including the Euro 2008, the Macau 2007, 2nd Asian Indoor Games, and the candidates for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games host city. When addressing to journalists from over 100 countries, Manuel Silvério referred to the sport press as an ‘extension of the Sport Family.’ “Your work promotes and encourages the development of Sport and the Olympic movement, whether in direct and indirect ways.”
He added, “Objective journalistic coverage is crucial in providing the most up-to-dated information to the world. It is through the sharing of knowledge that higher level of consciousness is reached on issues with great importance, from sportsmanship to the most recent concerns.” The Media Committee Chairman briefly introduced OCA history and explained its decision in creating more multisports events due to the great developments of the Asian Games in the past years. The new events will assist the development of newer sports, and also create more opportunities to Asian athletes.
“It is under this context that the Beach Indoor Games and the Asian Indoor Games are created,” he furthered introduced, the sports program, venues and the objectives of this October Asian Indoor Games in the Macao SAR. Manuel Silvério presentation was concluded with a video highlighting the Macau 2007, 2nd Asian Indoor Games. Participants also received an information kit on the Games including which are the accreditation application forms. Macao has received positive feedbacks from the AIPS members, who have started details enquiries of the Games. They also underlined the fact that being such a small city, Macao is well prepared to host such a sizeable event.
Aside from his presentation yesterday (17 May), Manuel Silvério was invited to attend the meeting of the AIPS Asian Continental Section. The agenda also included the presentation of the “Peace through Sport” program, a joint project of the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee, which is an initiative of HRH Prince Faisal Al-Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee. The program aims to summit young leaders from countries in political and social conflicts, to establish bridges to Peace through Sports. Also Chairman of an OCA Standing Committee like Manuel Silvério, HRH Prince Faisal Al-Hussein is Chairman of the newly established OCA Sports & Peace Committee. The AIPS Congress participants were received in a dinner hosted by FIFA at the end of the first day meeting.
