The Olympic Solidarity Commission has approved the Olympic Solidarity budget for 2000 for a total amount of 31 million U.S. dollars.

The commission, chaired by the International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch, also approved a special budget of 21,3 million dollars to help the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with their participation in and contribution to the success of the Olympic Games in Sydney, according to an IOC press release Tuesday.

The IOC said that these funds are aimed at assisting a determined number of athletes and officials to be present at the Olympic Games as well as to help the NOCs to develop their structures and programs.

Furthermore, the participants at the commission's meeting on Monday approved the arrangements of two meetings in 2000. The first one will be held in Rio de Janeiro, during the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in May.

The second one will take place in Sydney just before the Olympic Games start. During this meeting the Olympic Solidarity will present for approval the objectives, programs and budget for the 2001-2004 quadrennial.

The Olympic Solidarity is the arm of the IOC responsible for redistributing the share of the revenue generated by the sale of broadcast rights of the Olympic Games to the NOCs to help them develop their local sports infrastructure and train athletes, coaches, and administrators. (Xinhua)