The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have laid the first symbolic stone laying ceremony for the IOC’s new headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
During a ceremony with local children, the IOC President Thomas Bach and other members of the IOC Executive Board including Pat Hickey were present. They had the presentation of a time capsule intended to be opened on the 200th anniversary of the IOC’s establishment in Lausanne in 2115.
The capsules composed of five cylinders in the Olympic colours, the capsule contains key items in the history of the Olympic Movement including:-
– manuscripts by Baron Pierre de Coubertin
– the minutes of the City Council meeting in 10 April 1915, in which the Council formally recorded the establishment of the IOC in Lausanne.
– the document in which the city of Lausanne granted the IOC a lease until 2115
– photos of the model of the new Olympic House
– a handwritten version of the speech by the IOC President during the adoption of the Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.
Of course, representatives of tomorrow’s generations had to be involved as well. Children from the Lausanne region played their part by describing how they imagined the Olympic Games would look in 2115. Their futuristic and hope-filled messages are now in one of the cylinders.
Speaking on this occasion, the IOC President emphasised the various symbols reflected by the new IOC headquarters, and the IOC’s attachment to the city of Lausanne: “Throughout this year, we have celebrated 100 years together. Today, we are looking to the future, the future of the Olympic Movement here in Lausanne. What better symbol of our attachment to the Olympic Capital than the construction of a new building? My thanks go to the firm 3XN for creating this modern and transparent architectural project, which so well illustrates the spirit of our Olympic Agenda 2020. We find in it the symbols of integration, movement and dynamism, peace and unity – concepts which are so dear to Olympism, our Movement and the IOC.”
Last year, the IOC decided to bring together its entire administration, around 500 people, in the same building in Vidy, thereby ensuring a large number of jobs in Lausanne. For the IOC, this represents a major investment totalling 200 million Swiss francs.
The design created by Danish architects 3XN will offer the region an emblematic building which meets the highest sustainability standards. It also seeks to blend in with the surrounding historic and natural landscape, and integrate with the local population.
