IRELAND – The exterior of the OCI offices in Howth, the small fishing village that has now become part of an ever growing Dublin, has been upgraded to include the Olympic Rings. The NOC has indeed recently received official planning approval from Fingal Council, from which it depends.

 The five rings represent the five continents of the world and are interlaced to show the universality of Olympism and the meeting of athletes from around the world at Olympic Games.

SPAIN  With the Spanish NOCs centenary coming up next year, the Spanish Olympic Academy, headed by Conrad Durántez, met at the Spanish Olympic Committee in order to plan celebrations. NOC President Alejandro Blanco also attended.

It was in particular agree to create a postage stamp in memory of the four leading lights of Spanish Olympism: Lucius Minicius Natalis, the first Spanish Olympic chamion , Gonzalo de Figueroa y Torres, Conde de Mejorada del Campo, Marqués de Villamejor y Duque de Torres, the first IOC member in Spain and the founder of the NOC; Pierre de Coubertin, the father of modern Olympics, and Juan Antonio Samaranch, the man who was IOC Honorary President, President of the NOC and great promoter of the Olympic Games throughout his life.

FRANCE early this month, as part of their Athletes and Employment Programme, the CNOSF signed a new convention with Group Adecco, leaders in human resources services.

Under the agreement, some thirty athletes who are about to or have recently retired from competitive sport will receive help in entering the difficult world of work.

Following a first attempt in France, this kind of programme has spread across the world; since 1995, over 4750 athletes from 25 countries have already benefitted from the programme.