Switzerland — Israeli and Palestinian Olympic officials have met to begin building closer ties and help send stronger teams to the 2012 London Games.
IOC President Jacques Rogge brokered a five-hour gathering at Olympic headquarters Thursday that also addressed allowing athletes and coaches more freedom to travel from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The parties hailed the "positive and constructive" meeting. As a first step, Palestinian athletes were promised IOC funding and Israeli support to prepare for the London Olympics.
