Olympic Highlights

• facebook Share
• twitter Share

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

© IOC / Christophe Moratal

After spending two days discussing Olympic Agenda 2020 in Montreux, the IOC Executive Board (EB) agreed on a set of 40 recommendations. Centred on the three themes of sustainability, credibility and youth, the recommendations will be presented, discussed and voted on by all the IOC members at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco on 8 and 9 December. All the recommendations will be made public in mid-November but only after the IOC members have had the opportunity to study them. “We have concluded here a very constructive and fruitful meeting of the IOC Executive Board,” said President Bach. “The 40 detailed recommendations are like individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, which when put together give us a clear picture of what the future of the Olympic Movement will look like.” Some of the key points addressed by the EB were possible changes to the Olympic Games bidding process, shaping it more as an invitation and reducing the related costs. More flexibility with regard to the composition of the Olympic programme was also recommended, while respecting the limits on the number of athletes, coaches and other support personnel. The launch of an Olympic TV channel was proposed, along with measures to strengthen the governance of the IOC and Olympic Movement. The chairs of the 14 working groups responsible for drawing up the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations summarised their work during presentations to the EB. The recommendations were also debated by the IOC commissions, two Olympic Summits and the 126th IOC Session in Sochi. In total, some 1,200 ideas from 270 direct contributions and more than 40,000 submissions from members of the public were received during the process.

In Montreux, the EB also granted provisional recognition to the Kosovo Olympic Committee and proposed that it be granted full recognition at the next IOC Session to be held in Monaco in December. The Kosovo Olympic Committee was established in 1992 and has more than 30 affiliated national federations, 13 of which are Olympic sports federations. Read the full media release here.

Before the EB meeting, President Bach met the Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Turkey, Akif Çağatay Kiliç, and IOC EB member Uğur Erdener. They discussed the crucial role of sport in education, the importance to invest in sport for future generations, Turkey’s financial contribution to the IOC Anti-Doping Research Fund and the Olympic Agenda 2020.

The IOC President met the President of the NOC of Cameroon and of the Confederation of African Athletics, Kalkaba Malboum, accompanied by his chief of staff, David Ojong. They discussed a range of topics, including the situation of sport and Olympism in Cameroon, preparations for the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the NOC development plan based on the creation of a national training centre and, in the longer term, a regional high-level training centre project.

The IOC President met Stephan Wassong of the German Sport University in Cologne and Norbert Müller, member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education. Their discussions covered subjects including the Master of Arts in Olympic Studies at the University in Cologne and the educational role of sport in society.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) praised the IOC for including human rights in the future host city contracts. "Gold Medal to IOC @Olympics+Thomas Bach for putting human rights in Host City Contracts," said HRW Director of Global Initiatives, Minky Worden in a tweet after a meeting with IOC President in Lausanne. During the meeting, the relations between the two organisations and past and future cooperation were discussed, as well the Olympic Games and HRW’s proposals as part of Olympic Agenda 2020. The IOC President was also able to inform HRW of the inclusion of the new clause on non-discrimination linked to the Olympic Games and participants, based on the Olympic Charter’s Fundamental Principle 6, which was welcomed by the HRW delegation.

The IOC President met IOC members Samih Moudallal and Gerhard Heiberg. He also had a meeting with Steven James McCarthy, chairman of the company ‘Além International Management SA’.

The IOC President with the first three placed runners of the Lausanne Marathon. © IOC / Arnaud Meylan

President Bach attended the children’s races organised for the first time on the occasion of the Lausanne Marathon. More than 800 children aged 5 to 14 signed up. Attending the Lausanne Marathon on 26 October, he awarded the medals. A few hours before at The Olympic Museum, the President attended the official presentation of the famous Bréal Cup, which was awarded to the first Olympic marathon champion, Spyridon Louis, at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The Cup bears the name of Michel Bréal, who suggested to Pierre de Coubertin that he include the marathon in the programme of the Games. The trophy will be exhibited for the first time outside Greece at The Olympic Museum for seven months. Christina Lambropoulou from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Charalambos Manessis, the Greek ambassador in Switzerland, and numerous cantonal and municipal authority representatives were also present at the ceremony.

The IOC has commended the NOC of Sierra Leone for supporting the United Kingdom’s Joint Ebola Task Force in setting up an Ebola treatment facility with immediate effect in Freetown, Sierra Leone. An official from the UK Joint Ebola Task Force said hundreds of lives could potentially be saved as a result of the swift approval by the NOC, coordinated by the IOC, to allow work to begin on the site at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET). Earlier this year, the Sierra Leone NOC started work at the college on its Olympic Africa project to develop sporting infrastructure in the country. The project includes a 400-metre athletics track, football pitch and facilities for other Olympic sports such as tennis, volleyball, basketball and aquatics.

The IOC was saddened to hear the news that South African Olympian and former world 800-metre champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi has died at the age of just 34. "Our sympathies go to his family and friends, and to the whole sports family of the rainbow nation of South Africa. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was a true Olympian and a fine athlete. A World Champion, he always showed huge commitment to his craft," said the President of the IOC. "He proudly represented his new nation around the world, and at home his successes inspired a new generation of young people to take up sport. He will be missed by the Olympic family." Mulaudzi, who was killed in a car crash on his way to a Johannesburg athletics meeting, was South Africa's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where he won silver.

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Jacques Rogge represented the IOC President at the World Health Summit in Berlin (Germany). In his speech, the IOC Honorary President highlighted the important role played by sport and Olympism in educating young people and improving their health and fitness. He urged the participants to do more to promote more active and healthy lifestyles among young people, since obesity and physical inactivity remain two of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

MEMBERS

In her role as Chair of the IOC ACP (Athlete Career Programme) Steering Committee, the IOC EB member and Athletes’ Commission Chair, Claudia Bokel attended a meeting of Portuguese Olympic athletes in Coimbra, at the invitation of the NOC’s Athletes’ Commission. In her speech, she mentioned the importance of a dual career and the ways in which the ACP can help athletes prepare for a career after sport. Her visit also included a karting race with the athletes and a meeting with the Portuguese NOC President, José Manuel Constantino, at the NOC headquarters. Info at www.comiteolimpicoportugal.pt

Richard Peterkin represented the IOC President at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first Olympic gold medal won by the Bahamas, held in Nassau. He presented the IOC President’s Trophy to Sir Durward Knowles and Sandra Cooke, who received it on behalf of her late father, Cecil Cooke. Knowles and Cooke were crowned Olympic sailing champions at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, thus becoming the first ‘Golden Boys of the Bahamas’.

COMMISSIONS

Some of the IOC commissions met in Lausanne, tackling subjects such as Olympic Agenda 2020. The IOC President addressed each commission.

The Olympic Philately, Numismatic and Memorabilia Commission, chaired by Ching-Kuo Wu. © IOC / Christophe Moratal

The Juridical Commission, chaired by John Coates. © IOC / Christophe Moratal

The Sport and Law Commission, chaired by John Coates. © IOC / Christophe Moratal

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

© FIBA

James P Naismith (photo), grandson of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, recently paid a visit to the headquarters of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Mies (Switzerland). During his visit to the ‘House of Basketball’, he answered some questions on subjects such as his famous grandfather, the recent Basketball World Cup in Spain, and the growth of basketball. You can read his answers here at www.fiba.com

The legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games lives on at the venue of the Olympic sailing competition in Qingdao. The Sailing World Cup organised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is one of many competitions and events to be held there, promoting the sport in the local community and across the People’s Republic of China. Info at www.sailing.org

WINTER IFS

The 2014/15 edition of the Figure Skating Media Guide has recently been updated. The guide can be downloaded from the International Skating Union (ISU) website, www.isu.org

The International Ski Federation (FIS) reports that the 35th ‘Forum Nordicum’, a traditional gathering of the Union of Nordic Ski Journalists, was staged for the third time in Willingen (Germany). More than 100 representatives of the media, the ski industry, local Organising Committees, the German Ski Association, the FIS and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) attended. The participants were able to meet four Olympic champions and ski jumping legends, Andreas Wellinger, Jens Weissflog, Martin Schmitt and Dieter Thoma, as well as FIS Council member and German NOC President Alfons Hörmann, who shared their respective experiences and knowledge of ski jumping and the organisation of major sports events. The next edition of the Forum will be held in Szklarska Poręba in Poland. Info at www.fis-ski.com

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

Presentation of Albanian OS scholarship holders. © Albanian NOC

The Albanian NOC has officially announced the names of the recipients of Rio 2016 Olympic scholarships. These scholarships are awarded by Olympic Solidarity (OS) to athletes with the potential to qualify for the forthcoming Games in Rio. The six scholarships were awarded to athletes in the sports of weightlifting, athletics, taekwondo, swimming, cycling and wrestling. A press conference was also given by the NOC President, Viron Bezhani, and the Technical Commission. Info at www.nocalbania.org.al

First Olympic Education Congress in Argentina. © NOC of Argentina

The NOC of Argentina organised the first national Olympic Education Congress in the city of Concepción del Uruguay, in Entre Ríos province. More than 200 PE teachers and students attended the event, where they were able to refresh and deepen their Olympic knowledge. The speakers included the Minister of Education, Sport and Addiction Prevention, José Lauritto, the NOC Secretary General, Mario Moccia, and Conrado Durántez Corral, President of the Pan-Iberic Association of Olympic Academies. Meanwhile, the Argentinian Olympic Academy, in collaboration with the NOC, organised its first session for journalists, which was attended by 30 participants in San Salvador de Jujuy. The 32nd Session of the Academy, which is also chaired by Mario Moccia, was attended by some 41 young participants. They discussed topics including the structure of the Olympic Movement and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. As well as lectures and working groups, the programme included various sports activities. Info at www.coarg.org.ar

Arbor Day celebrations in Barbados. © Barbados Olympic Association

‘There is more to sport than competing’. Youth Olympic Games ambassador Ryan Brathwaite put these words into practice by participating in the Arbor Day celebrations in Barbados alongside youth Olympian Sada Williams. As well as other students from their school, the Coleridge and Parry School, the two of them planted a Black Pearl tree as part of the National Olympic Academy’s environment awareness programme. It should also be noted that the Barbados Olympic Association recently hosted an Olympic Solidarity workshop and the General Assembly of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), during which a message from the IOC President was broadcast. Info at www.olympic.org.bb

We have learned of the death of Nina Popova, member of the Bulgarian NOC since 1967 and of its Executive Board from 1990 to 1995. A leader of Bulgarian Olympic Games delegations from 1968 to 1992, she worked in the International Relations Department of the Bulgarian Union for Physical Culture and Sport for 25 years. Member of the European Olympic Committees Juridical Commission for ten years and Vice-President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Nina Popova was the first woman to be elected to the International Volleyball Federation’s Administrative Council. She received the Olympic Order in 1997. Info at www.bgolympic.org

© Korean NOC

We were recently informed that a sports exchange agreement was signed at the end of September in Incheon (Republic of Korea) between the Korean and Sri Lankan NOCs. Signed by the NOC Presidents, Kim Jung Haeng (left in photo) and Hemasiri Fernando (right in photo), the agreement aims to provide opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience between the two NOCs and to improve international understanding among nations. Info at www.sports.or.kr/eng and www.srilankaolympic.org

Collaboration between the NOC of El Salvador and UNICEF. © NOC of El Salvador

With the aim of promoting and encouraging participation in sport, the NOC of El Salvador, in collaboration with UNICEF, handed out sports bags to 28 coaches from the municipality of San Martín as part of a ‘sports management skills enhancement project’ run by the municipality. The recipients coach swimming, football, judo, volleyball and basketball in San Martín’s local communities and training centres. Info at www.somosazulyblanco.com

Inauguration of the Slovak Olympians’ memorial. © Slovak NOC

The national memorial dedicated to the hundreds of Slovak Olympians was officially unveiled on 16 October. This project was made possible thanks to the support of the city of Martin, the NOC of Slovakia, the IOC and donations from sports organisations and individuals. Five large Tatras granite globes symbolise the Olympic rings. Some 200 people attended the ceremony, including delegations from the Austrian, Hungarian and Czech NOCs. Around 20 Olympians were also present, including double Olympic canoeing champion Michal Martikán. The memorial’s creator, Mojmir Vychodil, was presented with the IOC ‘Sport and Art’ Trophy by IOC member Danka Barteková and NOC President František Chmelár. Info at www.olympic.sz

© Czech NOC

The Czech and Polish NOCs signed a cooperation agreement at the start of October. This agreement, which will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise in areas such as the Olympic Games and Sport for All, was signed by the Czech NOC President, Jiří Kejval (left in photo), and the Polish NOC President, Andrzej Kraśnickim (right in photo). Info at www.olympic.cz and www.olimpijski.pl

Meeting between children from school no. 1316 and Olympian Khadzhimurad Magomedov. © Russian NOC

We were recently informed that the first event forming part of the ‘Olympic Patrol’ programme was held in September at school no. 1316 in Moscow. Around 460 children of all ages were able to talk to Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Khadzhimurad Magomedov, as well as learn about the Olympic Movement and its principles. The main objective of the Russian NOC’s ‘Olympic Patrol’ programme is to teach children and teenagers about the Olympic Movement, to introduce them to Russian athletes who have won medals at the Olympic Games or at World or European Championships, and to remind them of the benefits of sport and the importance of an active lifestyle. Info at www.roc.ru

© Ukrainian NOC

Sergey Bubka (left in photo), President of the Ukrainian NOC, and his counterpart from the Georgian NOC, Leri Khabelov (right) have signed a memorandum of cooperation between their two institutions. The objective is to strengthen their cooperation in various fields, such as Sport for All, sports medicine, anti-doping programmes and sports venue management. Training camps and sports competitions for athletes, coaches and experts from the two countries are also covered by the agreement. Info at www.noc-ukr.org and www.geonoc.org.ge

• facebook Share
• twitter Share