The city of Lausanne has given the IOC the go-ahead to build a new, 160 million CHF (approx. 156 million US$ or 147 million Euros) headquarters on public land at Lake Geneva. A majority of Lausanne politicians gave their green light for the new IOC headquarters to be built on land belonging to the city at the Vidy district.
According to local media, the IOC plans to invest 160 million Swiss Francs in a new threestorey building, to be named Olympic Unity House, which will bring together 600 staffers from various offices in one complex. This will comprise an “agora” welcome area, restaurant and sports cafe where visitors can watch sports events, as well as five large meeting rooms, offices and a sports centre. The IOC hopes to open the new structure in 2020.
“This project is an opportunity for the city,” city councillor Grégoire Junod told the 24Heures newspaper. “It’s a high quality architectural project and it also secures the long-term presence of the IOC in Lausanne.” Earlier this year the IOC and Lausanne au celebrated the 100th anniversary of the IOC’s arrival in Lausanne.
The IOC said it plans to stay another century. Highlighting the choice of Switzerland because it was neutral territory, IOC president Thomas Bach said in April: “Between Lausanne and the Olympic movement, it is a love story.” The IOC also said in a statement that the city of Lausanne has agreed to a new lease running until 2115.
This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at ISMG@aol.com. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.