Press release courtesy IOC.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed to a second request from the Swiss Government to allow facilities at the Olympic Museum to be used as a press centre during talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States of America and the European Union.
The first round of talks in Lausanne concluded on Friday. Negotiations are expected to resume on Wednesday, with Lausanne considered the preferred location. The IOC, as an organisation dedicated to peace, development and mutual understanding, agreed to provide facilities during the negotiations last week and will do so again, if necessary, next week.
The talks were led by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. IOC President Thomas Bach met with the US Secretary of State today at The Olympic Museum.
In an open letter to participants in the talks last week, President Bach wrote: “The IOC is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting peace, development and mutual understanding. We can do this also thanks to our Observer status at the United Nations.
In order to contribute to worldwide development through sport, the IOC distributes more than 90 percent of its revenue to the sports movement and to athletes in the 205 National Olympic Committeesworldwide, which means 3.25 million dollars every day.
To be able to accomplish our mission, we have to be strictly politically neutral, but we are not apolitical. Therefore the Olympic Movement is always about building bridges and never erecting walls. In this Olympic spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding, we wish you an enjoyable stay in our Olympic Museum and every success to all the participants in these meetings.”