[size=14pt]Officials: African Village Olympics hospitality center closes due to financial problems[/size]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/officials-african-village-olympics-hospitality-center-closes-due-to-financial-problems/2012/08/09/3248ccfe-e23a-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html



LONDON — A London Olympic hospitality center promoting African culture has shut its doors after suffering financial problems, organizers said Thursday.

The center in Kensington Gardens near the Royal Albert Hall had been a popular gathering spot for fans of African music and food and also was where African medalists met with fans. It is not clear if the center can be reopened before the games end on Sunday.

“It’s sad, it’s very bad news for the African countries who are not showcasing their culture anymore,” said Jean Mboglem, manager of the Cameroon stand at the village.

International Olympic Committee officials told reporters at a briefing Thursday that it was too soon to tell whether the IOC would be called in to help settle the hospitality venue’s debts.

“All I would say at this stage is that we are only just finding out now about that so I think it would be really premature for us to say whether we are paying, or who’s paying or whether they should pay or whatever,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.

Many countries, including Russia, Brazil and France, have “national houses” to promote their food and drink and celebrate athletic triumphs. One of the largest is run by Brazil, site of the next Summer Games in 2016, at Somerset House, a prominent venue in central London.

But the Africa House project was unique in that it promoted an entire continent. It had received an estimated 80,000 visitors before the shutdown.

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