International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach delivers a speech during the inauguration of the new IOC headquarters on June 23, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland, ahead of the decision on 2026 Winter Games host. (Xinhua/POOL/Fabrice COFFRINI)
LAUSANNE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially inaugurated its new headquarters "Olympic House" here on Sunday as part of the celebrations of Olympic Day and ahead of the IOC Session to be held in Lausanne from 24 to 26 June.
This year's Olympic Day also marks the 125th anniversary of the creation of the IOC.
The inauguration of the Olympic House is the culmination of a process that started back in 2012 when the IOC decided to move ahead with the consolidation of its head office.
According to the IOC, the new Olympic House has been designed as a sustainable building in terms of both construction and operations. It will regroup all IOC staff in one location and also represents an investment in the development of the local economy. Eighty per cent of the construction costs were allocated with local companies and has been a boon for the local economy of Lausanne.
The Olympic House was designed by Danish architecture firm 3XN, which partnered with Swiss architects IttenBrechbuhl to oversee the construction of the project.
From June 23 onwards, the IOC will benefit from two Olympic centers in Lausanne: Olympic House in Vidy to cater for its administration and offer a welcoming meeting place for all its stakeholders; and the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Studies Centre in Ouchy to host the general public.
