Olympic Highlights
IOC Activities
President
The IOC and Allianz have announced that the insurer will join The Olympic Partner (TOP) programme in 2021. The partnership will run from 2021 through to 2028. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “With this partnership, together we are building a foundation based on mutual trust. Allianz also has a strong sporting heritage and, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020, we share a digital ambition of connecting with young people around the world to promote the Olympic values and the power of sport.” Allianz CEO Oliver Bäte said: “We believe the world is a better place when people have the courage to leave differences behind and stand together to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for the societies they live in.” IOC Marketing Commission Chair Tsunekazu Takeda and Head of Group Market Management and Distribution at Allianz Jean-Marc Pailhol were also present at the announcement as well as IPC President Andrew Parsons. Full press release here.
At The Olympic Museum, President Bach welcomed the Deputy Mayor of Sapporo, Takatoshi Machida, and Japanese NOC President and IOC Member Tsunekazu Takeda, to whom he expressed his deep sympathy for the victims and families affected by the recent earthquake in Hokkaido, which left 41 people dead and caused substantial damage, with many still in temporary shelters. For this reason, the city of Sapporo, the Japanese NOC and the IOC have agreed for the IOC not to include Sapporo on the list of candidates for the Olympic Winter Games in 2026, but to continue with the close dialogue already underway for the Olympic Winter Games in 2030. Full press release here.
This week, the IOC President also met the leadership team of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, led by its President, IOC Member Tony Estanguet. Paris 2024 had chosen The Olympic Museum as a meeting place to promote and strengthen the Olympic spirit within their team.
President Bach attended a meeting with representatives from the Italian National Olympic Committee and the cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to discuss Italy’s candidature for the Olympic Winter Games 2026.
A meeting was also held with Chris Tung, the Chief Marketing Officer at Worldwide Olympic Partner Alibaba.
President Bach attended the inauguration of a yurt from Kyrgyzstan. The yurt had been given to the IOC by the NOC of Kyrgyzstan during a visit by the President to the country in 2015, and the President wanted to offer it to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital. The ceremony was held in the presence of IOC Member John Coates, Kyrgyzstan NOC President Sharshenbek Abdykerimov, and Councillor of State of the Canton of Vaud, Philippe Leuba as well as Lausanne City representatives Oscar Tosato and David Payot.
During his meeting with Sharshenbek Abdykerimov, the President spoke about the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and was informed about the positive development of Olympic Sport in Kyrgyzstan.
At the invitation of the IOC, German athlete representatives were in Lausanne to discuss the IOC’s solidarity model for funding the Olympic Games and the athletes as well as athlete representation in the Olympic Movement. After the meeting, Kirsty Coventry commented: “In my position of Chair of the IOC AC it is important for me to continue to have these constructive discussions and hear the views of athletes globally. There will always be differing opinions on the best way to support athletes, depending on the needs of that country. Funding should continue to go to the athletes in the most effective manner possible. A finance structure should ensure fairness and universality, particularly to help the majority of athletes from smaller and less well funded National Olympic Committees. This is why the IOC uses Olympic Solidarity to distribute funds in a fair manner to athletes, whatever part of the world they are from and whatever the sport they practise.” Full press release here.
President Bach also met with IOC Honorary Member and FINA President Julio César Maglione.
MEMBERS
IOC Executive Board member Sergey Bubka represented the IOC at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Olympic Games Seoul 1988. The event was organised in the Korean capital by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.
Commissions
During the third meeting of the IOC Coordination Commission (17-18 September), the Beijing Organising Committee expanded on plans to leverage the Olympic Winter Games in 2022 to leave a legacy for tomorrow. IOC Coordination Commission Chair Juan Antonio Samaranch said: “We have continued to emphasise the importance for the Organising Committee of producing an intelligent Games plan that is reasonable, responsible and that will result in a positive economic impact, which we are pleased to see has been heard and implemented by Beijing 2022.” The Coordination Commission visited the National Aquatics Centre, the venue locations for the Beijing Olympic Village, the big air competitions, the National Speed Skating Oval and the Olympic Tower. Representatives from each Winter International Federation joined the two-day meeting to lend their expertise in ensuring the Games are an exciting but responsible sporting event delivered in accordance with Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm. Following the Coordination Commission visit, several members of the Coordination Commission will join the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee at the Winter World Sports Expo, which will bring thousands of influencers in the winter sports industry to the Chinese capital city. More details here.
International sportS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
Syrian swimmer Ayman Klzie (photo), an International Swimming Federation (FINA) scholarship holder, has seen his training support extended by six months, allowing him to fine-tune his preparations for the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), to take place in Hangzhou (People’s Republic of China) from 11 to 16 December 2018. Put forward by his National Federation, Ayman has been benefiting from a FINA scholarship since 2017 and is currently training at the Thanyapura Centre in Phuket (Thailand). Ayman set a national record at the 2017 World Championships. More info here.
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) introduced its innovative Pentathlon Stadium concept at the UIPM 2018 Pentathlon World Championships in Mexico City (Mexico). The all-in-one stadium format enables spectators to see all five disciplines in the same venue and will be a feature of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 modern pentathlon at Tokyo Stadium. On 9 September, the UIPM held a ceremony in the Stadium to mark the 1st Pierre de Coubertin Pentathlon Day, honouring the legacy of the founder of modern pentathlon. Celebrations taking place around the world were shared via social media (#PentathlonDay / #High5). At the conclusion of the Championships, Anastasiya Prokopenko from Belarus received her bronze medal from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 during a ceremony. She was awarded her medal following the disqualification of an athlete. The medal was presented by UIPM President Klaus Schormann and Vice-President Joël Bouzou, who is also President of the World Olympians Association. More info at www.pentathlon.org.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced that aquathlon has been included in the first ever edition of the World Beach Games, which will take place in San Diego (USA) from 10 to 14 October 2019. The ITU is also launching the aquathlon ranking, which will have all the athletes competing in this discipline. A total of 60 athletes will participate in the individual races − 30 men and 30 women − and they will compete in a 5km run - run - 2km swim - 5km run. For the mixed relay event, each athlete will do a 1.25km run - 500m swim - 1.25km run. More info here.
NATIONAL Olympic COMMITTEES
In the framework of the preparations for the 40th Seminar of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), which will be held on 10 and 11 May 2019 in Albania, representatives from the EOC office, Sabrina Rettondini and Federico Pizzardi, visited Albania for two days. During this time, several meetings were held with Albanian NOC President Viron Bezhani, Vice-President Vojo Malo and members of the Executive Board to assess the situation and preparations for the Seminar, the organisation of which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the NOC. A visit to the NOC headquarters was also on the programme. More info at www.nocalbania.org.al.
On 15 September at Olympic House in Nicosia, the NOC of Cyprus celebrated Olympic Day 2018, in the presence of many athletes, more than 15 national federations and hundreds of fans. The programmes included two runs: an 800m dash for children under 15, and a 5km run for teens and adults, as well as demonstrations in various sports. Fans could also try out numerous sports. This 2018 edition was co-organised by the NOC and the Strovolos Municipality. More info here.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee has announced the death of the quadruple Olympic champion, epeeist Gyozo Kulcsar (photo), at the age of 77. Kulcsar won an individual gold at the Olympic Games Mexico City 1968, and three team golds at the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972. He also won bronze medals in 1972 and at the Montreal Games in 1976, as well as three World Championship golds. More info at www.olimpia.hu
The Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japan Sports Press Association co-hosted the annual Sports Journalist Seminar on 10 September at the Ajinomoto National Training Centre in Tokyo. Ashley Abbott, Public Affairs and Communications Director of the New Zealand NOC and Chair of the IOC Press Committee Working Group on Gender Equality, was invited to deliver a keynote speech based on the theme “Gender Balance in Sports Journalism.” The keynote speech was followed by a panel discussion focusing on the current situation of gender equality in Japanese sports reporting, in which Kaori Yamaguchi (Judo Olympic Bronze medallist) and experienced members of the media also took part. The seminar was held in the presence of Japanese sports journalists and National Sports Federation communicators. More info at www.joc.or.jp.
At the Polish NOC headquarters, a partnership agreement was signed between the Polish and Spanish NOCs. The two NOC Presidents – Andrzej Krasnicki (right) and Alejandro Blanco (left) – signed the document whose main objective is to explore new assistance in the fields of sport, training, management, values, solidarity and marketing. Also in place are agreements with national sports federations, so that athletes, coaches, referees and judges can take part in training camps and practical and theory sessions with the best professionals in each area. More info at www.olimpijski.pl and www.coe.es
Recognised organisations
Meeting in the Seychelles on 20 September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s Executive Committee decided to reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) as compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), following comprehensive deliberation of a recommendation by the Agency’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC). This decision is subject to strict conditions. Full details here.