Champions Park at Paris 2024 to become an exceptional additional option for Olympic medal reallocation ceremonies
The “Champions Park” at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will now exceptionally be an additional option for Olympic medal reallocation ceremonies, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) approved a recommendation from the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC).
The Champions Park at Paris 2024 is a first-of-its-kind venue that gives athletes the chance to celebrate with fans. As an exception to the current Olympic Medal Reallocation Principles and Ceremony Options, the IOC AC recommended making this an additional venue option for reallocation ceremonies at the Olympic Games this summer.
As per the Reallocation Principles, athletes can choose one of the following options for a reallocation ceremony:
- The next edition of the Olympic Games (for reallocations from PyeongChang 2018 onwards)
- The Youth Olympic Games
- The IOC headquarters or the Olympic Museum
- A National Olympic Committee function
- An International Federation event or function
- A private ceremony
“It was very important for us to take into account the feedback we received at the International Athletes’ Forum held in October 2023. We then discussed this feedback from athletes with the AC of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee,” said Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC AC.
“With very strong support from our colleagues from the Paris 2024 AC, we decided to recommend enhancing the opportunities for athletes receiving reallocated Olympic medals by adding, as an exception, the option of the Champions Park at Paris 2024. We are very pleased to see that the athletes' voice is central in decision making, and to have the IOC EB support our recommendation,” Terho continued.
The option of receiving the reallocated Olympic medals at the Champions Park will be available to athletes who have already had their reallocation approved by the IOC EB before Olympic Games Paris 2024, but have not yet had their ceremony.
The reallocation of Olympic medals is not automatic, and is decided by the IOC on a case-by-case basis. If the IOC decides to reallocate the Olympic medals, this takes place only after all the remedies have been exhausted by the sanctioned athletes or teams, and once all procedures have been closed.