Olympic Highlights 13/11/2023
IOC
PRESIDENT
The relationship between sport and politics was discussed by IOC President Thomas Bach during the Sport Talk in Stuttgart, Germany on 6 November. The President shared his views with the 350 guests in a full house. He described the challenges the IOC is facing ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in an increasingly polarised world and the role of the Olympic Games to unite the world in peaceful competition. He explained how sport has to avoid its politicisation in order to live up to its mission, while defending firmly its values and rules.
Later in Lausanne, President Bach had a telephone call with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, to discuss various topics of mutual interest, including the current international situation.
This week, President Bach addressed representatives of the Worldwide Olympic Partners at the TOP Leadership Group (TLG) meeting held at Olympic House. He thanked them for their strong support to the Olympic Movement, and for their commitment to the upcoming Olympic Games. During the meeting, the Partners discussed the delivery of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the future of the TOP Programme, particularly in relation to sustainability initiatives, IOC athlete programmes, Olympic media and digital engagement.
At Olympic House, the President welcomed Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). They discussed the cooperation between the IOC and FIA, particularly around sustainability.
This week at the Olympic Museum, President Bach attended a ceremony to present the Gold Medal of the City of Lausanne to Swiss athlete Lea Sprunger, who took part in three consecutive editions of the Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020). The medal was presented by Lausanne Mayor Grégoire Junod.
On 9 November, President Bach welcomed the children of members of the IOC administration, who were at Olympic House as part of the “Bring Your Child to Work Day”. He showed them around his office and answered their questions about his daily work as IOC President. This day is organised as part of the programme run by several Swiss cantons to introduce primary and secondary school children to various professions.
TOP PARTNERS
Worldwide Olympic Partner Visa has announced that it will be supporting 117 athletes on their journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 as part of its longstanding Team Visa initiative. The Team Visa roster for Paris 2024 marks the largest and most diverse group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls in the programme’s history, representing more than 60 countries/territories and 40 sports, including new addition breaking. Full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
The IOC has published a statement on fake news campaigns targeting the IOC, as it has recently been faced with a number of fake news posts targeting the organisation. These are being shared on Telegram accounts and other social media platforms in a number of languages. Read the full statement here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Equestrian Federation (FEI)
The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games were the final event for equestrian team qualifications for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. No fewer than 23 nations from five continents have qualified at least one team for the Olympic equestrian events, which will be held from 26 July to 6 August 2024 in Versailles. Some 11 NOCs, including France as the host nation, will be represented by teams in each of the three equestrian disciplines of jumping, dressage and eventing. Individual qualifications, which will be based on the FEI Olympic rankings, are ongoing. Info at the FEI website www.fei.org.’
International Tennis Federation (ITF)
The ITF has announced that the African Tennis Confederation (CAT)’s 50th Elective General Assembly saw a historic moment for gender equality in tennis in the region. In line with the ITF’s gender equality strategy, Advantage All, two female representatives were elected to the new Executive Committee for the first time in CAT’s history. Fatime Kanté (Seychelles), an Advantage All leadership member was elected as the Women’s Representative, alongside Wanjii Mbugua Karani (Kenya), who was elected Zone 4 President. More info here.
World Athletics
The composition of three World Athletics commissions and three Executive Board committees has been confirmed for the 2023-2027 period following approval from the World Athletics Council and Executive Board respectively. You can find the membership details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Austrian Olympic Committee
Some 101 athletes, coaches and support staff joined the Austrian Olympic Committee team and high-calibre experts at the Gloria Sports Arena in Belek, Turkey, for a one-week training camp to get in the mood for next year's Olympic Games. Tokyo medallists Anna Kiesenhofer, Magdalena Lobnig and Jakob Schubert shared their strategies for success during the team evening, while experts from the Austrian Olympic Centres, NADA Austria, Play Fair Code, the Austrian Federal Network for Sports Psychology and the Austrian NOC were on hand for the workshops and presentations. The topics ranged from female athletes, holistic heat management and mental resilience at Games time, to practical tips from sports science and for Paris 2024. Under the motto "Train with Champions", all of the participants also had the opportunity to try out artistic swimming with the Alexandri triplets, spinning with Anna Kiesenhofer and Christina Schweinberger and fencing with the national team. Detailed info here.
Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC)
2004 Olympic taekwondo champion Chu Mu-yen, who is also the Chairman of the CTOC Athletes' Commission, together with the CTOC, has responded to the IOC's sustainability policies and initiated a beach clean-up campaign. Mr Chu invited the public and fellow athletes to join him in this campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the need for marine environmental protection in society. Over 120 participants cleaned up a total of 562 kilograms of waste at Dingliao Beach in Linkou District, New Taipei City. Before the clean-up, they were given guidance on understanding the impact of our daily lives on the environment and promoting the concept of environmental sustainability. More info at www.tpenoc.net.
Dominican Republic NOC (COD)
On the National Day of Sport – 7 November – the COD Executive Committee called for awareness of the role of sport in health, economic and social development and the promotion of human rights. The Committee also took the opportunity to call on sports leaders to celebrate the day and embrace unity in the national sports movement. More details here.
Georgian NOC
The NOC recently awarded IOC diplomas to the participants of the Advanced Sports Management Courses. In total, 21 participants from 15 different national sports federations and sport organisations completed the requirements of the courses in 2023, thus enriching their knowledge of sports management. The diplomas were presented by the NOC President, Leri Khabelov, and First Vice President Elguja Berishvili and Programme Director Rusudan Aptsiauri. The ceremony was widely covered by Georgian TV and media resources. Info at www.geonoc.org.ge.
Lithuanian NOC (LNOC)
The Olympic Month project, organised by the LNOC for the fifth year in a row, has attracted record interest. A total of 2,800 primary school classes, or over 55,000 pupils from all Lithuanian municipalities, took part in this 2023 edition. The children were invited to exercise, interact with Olympians and deepen their knowledge on physical activity, healthy nutrition, quality rest and emotional health. Placed under the patronage of the First Lady of the country Diana Nausėdienė, the project aims to promote physical literacy, to help pupils discover healthy lifestyles and physical activity as a fun and rewarding activity, and to introduce them to the Olympic values and principles of respect, friendship and excellence. Full details here.
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)
Coach Nidal Al Mughiri from the Oman Basketball Federation participated in the international enrichment programme for coaches and technicians organised by the University of Delaware in cooperation with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), with support from Olympic Solidarity. Held from June to November, the programme aimed to provide coaches with the opportunity to enrich their skills, increase their competencies in the field of basketball training, and introduce them to the university game environment in the United States. Full details here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
GANGWON 2024
Tickets for the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 are up for grabs from 11.11 a.m. KST (3.11 a.m. CET) on 11 November at tickets.gangwon2024.org. Tickets will be free of charge for all events, except the Opening Ceremony in Gangneung. Approximately 1,900 athletes from around 81 National Olympic Committees are expected to take part in the YOG, which run from 19 January to 1 February 2024. Full news release here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
European Olympic Committees (EOC)
British triathlete Alistair Brownlee was elected as the new Chair of the EOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) at the 7th European Athletes’ Forum and Assembly held on 6 and 7 November in Rome, Italy. Also elected to the EOC AC for a term of two years were Johanna Taliharm (Estonia), Alexandra Miskovska-Longova (Slovakia), Zoruna Arunovic (Serbia) and Ronald Rauhe (Germany). The EOC AC elections were the highlight of the Forum, organised in conjunction with Olympic Solidarity, where representatives from EOC ACs focused on the key topics facing athletes. This included detailed updates and presentations from outgoing EOC AC Chair Gerd Kanter and IOC AC Chair Emma Terho on the activities of their respected commissions. Full details here.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA has published its webinar schedule for November 2023. Find it here.