IOC forges closer collaboration with Olympic Cities

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Union of Olympic Cities agreed on Thursday to work more closely together in support of former Olympic host cities.

The two organisations, both based in Lausanne, signed a Memorandum of Understanding pledging to collaborate in helping Olympic Cities maintain and develop a positive Olympic legacy. The World Union of Olympic Cities is an association of former and future Olympic Cities that currently has 36 members.

The cooperation agreement is a direct result of Olympic Agenda 2020, which called for closer collaboration between the two organisations with regard to sustainability and legacy.

Under the agreement, the IOC also formally acknowledged the Union’s role in advancing three shared goals:

• Operating and developing the network of Olympic Cities across the world
• Collecting and promoting best practices to perpetuate the Olympic Games’ legacy
• Ensuring that past and future host cities become role models by leveraging sport to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to sustainable cities, and the promotion of health and well-being.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The World Union of Olympic Cities is a valuable support in helping Olympic Games cities ensure a continuous and long-term positive legacy in the host cities.”

Daniel Brélaz, Mayor of Lausanne and President of the World Union of Olympic Cities, said: “In a largely urbanised world, cities are the places where positive change can take place, and where peoples’ lives can be effectively improved. Such an agreement will, for sure, support and strengthen our initiatives for Olympic Cities to promote and develop the Olympic values.”