Sebastian Coe OBE, double Olympic Gold Medallist and one of the greatest middle distance runners of all time, is to officially open World Travel Market, celebrating its Silver Anniversary…
Sebastian Coe OBE, double Olympic Gold Medallist and one of the greatest middle distance runners of all time, is to officially open World Travel Market, celebrating its Silver Anniversary.
He will be the guest speaker at a spectacular and moving silver-themed Opening Ceremony spotlighting the importance of sports tourism.
Lord Coe won an historic 1500m Olympic Gold Medal at the Moscow Games in 1980 – the year that WTM was launched. He went on to successfully defend his Olympic title four years later in Los Angeles.
Sebastian Coe is recognised throughout the world as one of the most respected and iconic Olympic champions in track and field, said Fiona Jeffery, Group Exhibition Director.
His presence at a special Opening Ceremony to mark World Travel Market`s Silver Anniversary is particularly relevant for a number of reasons, but most importantly because no one could ever forget that momentous win in Moscow, just at the time when a somewhat tentative WTM was feverishly preparing to open its doors to the world for the very first time.
Sebastian Coe will help us to demonstrate the impact of sports tourism on a global scale. You only have to look at the spectacular success of Greece – WTM`s major Brand Partner – in hosting the Olympic Games this summer to realise how an international sporting event can change perceptions and create new jobs and national pride.
Sports tourism will be a particularly relevant issue at World Travel Market this year as the week after the exhibition is the deadline for the final bids for the 2012 Olympic Games from the short listed cities – Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and London.
I am delighted to be at World Travel Market said Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 bid.
London is a superb location because it is the world`s greatest city. London is the creative capital of the world, rich in culture, diversity and tradition. What better place to host an Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 than London?
A London Games will help make Britain a better country, change lives, benefit the whole nation and showcase Britain internationally.
We have a great passion for sport in this country, we have world class venues and an excellent blueprint that we will submit to the IOC.
I urge the UK travel and tourism industry to get on board and back the bid.
Silver Awards
Six Silver Awards will be presented in association with World Travel Market`s Global Media Network partners. The winners are enterprising companies or individuals who have made a particular contribution to their region over the past 25 years in the Middle East, Italy, Latin America, Canada, Spain and India.
25th Anniversary Parade
The Opening Ceremony will begin with a parade of flags from all of World Travel Market`s participating countries and regions with young performing arts students from The Performers College, Corringham, Essex, UK. Later exhibitors will be presented with their flag to display on their stands.
More than 30 of the students will stage a closing medley of universally known songs, popular at the time when World Travel Market was launched.
The Opening Ceremony is at the World Stage, London`s ExCeL at 11.00 am on Monday 8 November, WTM`s opening day.
Sebastian Coe
Lord Coe set a string of world records for 800m, 1000m, 1500m and mile in the 1980`s.
His international athletics career spanned 14 years from 1976 to 1990, during which he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1979 and was four times voted Sportsman of the Year by Britain`s sports writers. In 1998 he received the British sports writers` award for the most outstanding contribution to sport in the past 50 years.
In 1987 he was awarded the Prince d`Asturias Prize, Spain`s highest civil award, and was appointed a member of the French Academy of Sport. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991.
Sebastian Coe to Open 25th World Travel Market
Sebastian Coe was chairman of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1981 to 1992, served on the IOC Medical Commission from 1987 to 1993 and has been a member of the IOC Sport For All Commission since 1997.
He was appointed President of the Amateur Athletic Association in 2000 and was elected to the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2003.
He was appointed a life peer in 2000.
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