"Music is the universal language of mankind", wrote Longfellow; and that is true not only of instrumental music but in a very special sense also of choral singing, because when human beings come together to sing, all linguistic differences are transcended and forgotten .
This is why I extend my warmest greetings to the more than 15 000 participants from 60 nations who will come to the "Choir Olympics 2000" from 7 to 16 July. More than 350 choirs from all continents have registered for this unique celebration of music in Linz, and I welcome you all on behalf of the Republic of Austria to the city of Anton Bruckner.
I was delighted to assume the patronage over this big musical event because Austria, as a country of music, holds choral singing in particularly high esteem and is happy to play the role of host to the world?s most important choirs as well as to the many musicologists and experts on music who will attend the Symposium on choral music sche-duled at the same time.
I am sure that there will be no lack of enthusiastic audiences at the Olympic contests and at the encounters and gala concerts: music-lovers will not miss this unique opportunity ? in the spirit of the words of the poet: "Where there is song, you can safely stay, wicked people have no songs".

Dr. Thomas Klestil,
Federal President of the Republic of Austria