London, 30 July – first formal event at the XXX Olympic Games was the Olympians Gala, which was organized before the kick off, in St James Palace by the World Olympians Association and brought together Heads of State, Ambassadors, UN Representatives, IOC members, leaders of International Sports Federations, representatives from the private sector and a large number of Olympians.

The World Olympians Association hosted a prestigious Gala in the exclusive St. James’s Palace in London’s famous Pall Mall. Some 400 members of the Olympic family gathered in the presence of H.R.H. The Princess Royal and under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. A highlight of the association’s activities in London, the Gala has underlined the renewed positive relations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Federations and National Olympic Committees, under the leadership of its new President, Joel Bouzou.

Representing the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, IOC Vice-President, took the opportunity to reaffirm the IOC’s full support for the WOA’s ambitions, which are summed up by the motto “Serving society, Serving Olympians”. Thomas Bach made special mention of the great achievements of the Olympians family in recent months.

In an inspiring welcome speech, Joel Bouzou, WOA President, declared: “I am making a pledge as President of the World Olympians Association, and as an Olympian myself. My pledge is that the role of an Olympic athlete is not reduced to sixteen days of competition once every four years. I’m making a pledge tonight that Olympians from all around the world, past and present, serve society on a daily basis, twelve months of the year, and offer what they do best.”

Speaking in agreement with President Bouzou, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Patron of the WOA, emphasized: “As an Olympian and a member of the International Olympic Committee, I am delighted to see this Association take a growing place in the Olympic movement. The Games are nothing without athletes. They would not exist without these tens of thousands of Olympians who have written these pages in history.”