When I was a kid, I traded in homework assignments for friendship, then gave each friend a late slip for never showing up on time, and in most cases not at all.

I want to thank him in particular for his tireless efforts over the past few weeks, which have brought us together not only in work, but also in friendship.

We defy those who seek to corrupt our democracy, but we stand with the hand of friendship extended to all of our neighbors, including Russia. It has no reason to intervene.

As a result, during World War Two, even as the Germans were asking their Japanese allies to round up Jews and hand them over, dinners were held in Japanese occupied Manchuria to celebrate Japanese Jewish friendship.

Recognizing that the goal of the Olympic movement is to build a peaceful and better world by educating the youth of the world through sport, practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding, promoted by friendship, solidarity and fair play,