-
Reset
+
Evelin Ilves greeted the participants of the family sports day ''100 days until the London Olympic Games''
21.04.2012
"There are only ninety seven days to go to the start of the Olympic games in London. You have all come here today in great expectation of the Olympics. And you are doing it the right way – by being active and partaking in some sports yourself," told Evelin Ilves at a family sports day involving several hundreds of people in Tallinn Sports Hall today, which was dedicated to the London Olympics Games.
Evelin Ilves said in her address that although London has the honour and opportunity to host the Olympic games for the third time, the Estonian delegation and Estonian athletes in general are making their debut in a London Olympics – as it was impossible both in 1908 and 1948, for historical and political reasons.
"We hope that all of the Estonian athletes will compete in London to the best of their ability. We will cheer and be happy for them. But let us not be sad or gloat if everything does not go as planned. Mediocre athletes do not make it to the Olympics," Evelin Ilves stated.
"And let us take a bow, all together, to one of the most admired and respected people in the world, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who is celebrating her 60th anniversary on the throne today. With her vitality and positive attitude towards life, this dignified lady and good friend of Estonia is an example for us as good as the example that is set by the athletes that we are all about to cheer for in less than one hundred days," told the First Lady.
Families competed in different games and sports at the sports day in Tallinn Sports Hall; the programme was developed by NGO Eesti Firmaspordi Liit, Olympic winner Erki Nool with the track and field school that bears his name, the Estonian Olympic Committee and the Estonian Para-Olympic Committee. The day had something to offer all of the participants, irrespective of age: a 100 m race, chess game with a blind master of chess, tennis lessons and an opportunity to test oneself in rowing, weight lifting, paralympic volleyball and many other fields.
Office of the President
Public Relations Department
Phone +372 631 6229
