Johannesburg - It was an honour for South Africa to host the
International Olympic Committee's (IOC) 123rd annual meeting in Durban this
week, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.
"We are pleased to welcome the Olympic movement to
South Africa for the first IOC session to be held on the continent," he
said in a statement.
Among the officials he welcomed to the country were Prince
Albert and his South African wife Princess Charlene, of Monaco. The couple wed
in civil and religious ceremonies in Monaco on Friday and Saturday
"We continue to treasure the pride Princess Charlene
brought to SA as an Olympic swimmer," he said.
The IOC officials, who started arriving on Sunday, will
choose the host city for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
The candidates are Munich in Germany, Annecy in France and
PyeongChang in South Korea.
Zuma said that, as part of the international solidarity
movement, the Olympics had played an important role in the country's transition
to democracy.
"We wish the IOC well in its deliberations and offer our congratulations and best wishes to the three candidate cities for the 2018 Winter Games," he said.