In my country (Belgium), if you sit beside the phone long enough, it will ring and you will be invited to play rugby for Belgium!

Please, compete in the spirit of fair play, mutual understanding and respect. And above all, please compete cleanly by refusing doping.

Our world today is in need of peace, tolerance and brotherhood. The values of the Olympic Games can deliver these to us. May the Games be held in peace, in the true spirit of the Olympic Truce. Athletes of the 80 national Olympic committees, show us that sport unites by overcoming national, political, religious and language barriers. You can show us a world we all long for.

Everything is in place to have a peaceful Games.

In my country (Belgium), if you sit beside the phone long enough, it will ring and you will be invited to play rugby for Belgium!

The journey of the flame is what brings the Games closer to society and allows society to take part in the Games.

You have to know what's happening in the locker rooms, you have to know what's happening at the grass-roots level. That's the best way to work.