Olympic Highlights 15/11/2024
IOC
PRESIDENT
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has highlighted the role of sport for sustainable development by passing a resolution entitled “Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development” by consensus of all 193 UN Member States. Resolution A/79/L.10 supports the overarching mission of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be a unifying force, bringing the world together in peaceful competition with no discrimination whatsoever. This unifying mission was also highlighted by IOC President Thomas Bach in his address to the UN General Assembly.
“Please accept my heartfelt thanks on the adoption of this resolution by consensus, demonstrating once again that sport can bring us all together. I am especially grateful to the Group of Friends of Sport and all Member States for recognising once more the autonomy and political neutrality of the IOC,” the IOC President said. He continued: “Rest assured, we will use this autonomy responsibly to promote the values we share with the UN: Universality. Equality. Non-discrimination. Rule of Law. Solidarity. And above all: Peace. As Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whom I thank very much for his very supportive report, has said: ‘The Olympic spirit is the most important symbol of peace in today’s world.’”
The IOC President highlighted that “at the Olympic Games, we are all equal, regardless of background or nationality. There is no ‘global south’ or ‘global north’. There is only one global village: the Olympic Village. Everybody who respects the rules of the Olympic Charter is welcome at the Olympic Games.”
In this context, he corrected a false narrative accusing the IOC of discrimination and politicisation by sanctioning the Russian Olympic Committee. “The fact is, we had to suspend them because the Russian Olympic Committee annexed sports organisations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. This violation of territorial integrity is a blatant breach of our Olympic Charter – as it would be of the Charter of the United Nations. Despite this suspension, the IOC granted the Russian athletes the privilege to participate in Paris with a neutral status, meaning with no reference to their suspended National Olympic Committee and its symbols.”
He continued: “We know that sport cannot create peace. Peace can only be created by you, the political leaders. This is why I appeal to you to heed this call of the athletes: Give peace a chance.”
In his speech, the IOC President also encouraged UN Member States to replicate the successful international model of cooperation between the UN and the IOC at their national level. “Engage with your National Olympic Committee and make sport an integral part of your development plans. In doing so, we can create a win-win situation to achieve our common goals,” he said.
Bach also called for the global regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI): “I appeal to the UN to take the lead in creating such global AI regulation, preserving human dignity and ensuring equitable progress.” The IOC is harnessing the benefits of AI for sport in a responsible way through its Olympic AI Agenda, which was launched in April this year.
Closing his last speech as IOC President to the UN General Assembly, Thomas Bach thanked the UN “for a decade of partnership and friendship. It has been an honour to share this journey with you, united by our belief in the shared values of the UN and the IOC. I humbly ask you to offer my successor the same spirit of partnership in order to make the world a better place through sport – together.” Read the full news release here. Please find here the full speech by the IOC President.
In New York, the IOC President met the Group of Friends of Sport at the UN, co-chaired by Ambassador Isabelle Picco from Monaco and Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani from Qatar. The Group of Friends of Sport thanked the IOC President for his “visionary leadership”, which has “deepened the relationship between the UN and the IOC”. The Group of Friends of Sport also congratulated President Bach on the tremendous success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The IOC President thanked the Group of Friends and in particular the two Co-Chairs for their remarkable support during his term as IOC President, in which sport was declared as an “important enabler” to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and numerous resolutions for the Olympic Truce ahead of the Olympic Games were adopted, as were a number of resolutions in support of sport, including the latest one entitled “Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development”. President Bach asked the Group of Friends of Sport to extend the same support to his successor and said: “Thank you for the partnership. The confidence and trust you had in me was heartwarming.”
During a luncheon at the Mission of Qatar, hosted by Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, the two Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Sport presented the President with a silver plate as a token of appreciation.
At the UN, the IOC President also met with Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari, with whom he discussed the dire situation of women in Afghanistan and the IOC’s approach to continue working with the exiled NOC and its leadership, which was elected before the Taliban takeover.
President Bach had a meeting with David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). He thanked him for WBD’s contribution to the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and also for its support of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team competing in Paris, through a campaign rallying Olympic fans to form a “Home Crowd”.
During his time in New York, he was accompanied by IOC Member Luis Alberto Moreno, who is the IOC’s Permanent Observer to the UN. The IOC President also met with IOC Member Anant Singh.
At the Olympic Museum, President Bach addressed representatives of the IFs and international sports organisations based in Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud during their annual meeting, which was attended by the President of the Vaud Council of State, Christelle Luisier Brodard, who heads the cantonal Department of Institutions, Territory and Sport, and Lausanne Mayor Grégoire Junod. As well as highlighting the close relations between the Olympic Capital, the Canton, the Swiss Confederation and the Olympic Movement, the IOC President spoke about the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the development of artificial intelligence and the digital revolution and their impact on the sports world.
On 14 November, President Bach welcomed the children of members of the IOC administration to Olympic House as part of “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.
MEMBERS
IOC Member and three-time Olympian Aya Medany attended the World Urban Forum (WUF) on behalf of the IOC. She spoke at a session on “Advancing the Localisation of the SDGs Through Sport”, which offered delegates a chance to share insights, learning and collaboration opportunities on harnessing sport as a driver for sustainable urban development. In her opening remarks, Medany summarised how hosting the Olympic Games can help cities and nations advance the Sustainable Development Goals and enhance the positive impacts of sport. “As was evidenced in Paris and across France this year, hosting the Olympic Games can be a powerful catalyst,” she said. “Importantly, this positive impact is not limited to cities and countries hosting the Games. With effective policies, programmes and infrastructure development, these benefits can be experienced by a diverse range of people across a diverse range of cities and communities.” See also under “Other Olympic News”.
COMMISSIONS
With less than two years to go until the start of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026, the IOC’s Coordination Commission met in Dakar to take stock of the ongoing preparations. This sixth meeting provided an opportunity to assess the significant progress made and to reaffirm the commitment of Senegal and the IOC to delivering a historic event on African soil. The Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio is scheduled for completion in October 2025. The Organising Committee (YOGOC) is also rolling out its athlete education programme, designed to prepare young athletes for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games. These initiatives underscore the steady progress being made as the YOGOC ramps up its visibility, strengthens its connection with audiences, and fosters excitement across Senegal and beyond. Read the full news release here.
Preparations and excitement for the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28 have progressed significantly in recent months, driven by the success of Paris 2024, with the LA28 Organising Committee reporting that momentum is rapidly accelerating, during this week’s IOC Coordination Commission visit to Los Angeles. The Coordination Commission and LA28 Organising Committee, joined by representatives from Brisbane 2032, began the week with an insightful debrief session with key leaders from Paris 2024. This included its President, Tony Estanguet, who has recently joined the LA28 Coordination Commission to ensure continuity between the two Games. Read the full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
As world leaders meet at COP29 to agree actions to address the climate crisis, a new study illustrates how effective climate action could reduce the impact of climate change on winter sport. The independent study, Climate change and the climate reliability of hosts in the second century of the Winter Olympic Games, found that as long as emissions are reduced or stabilised, every region of the world that has already hosted the Olympic Winter Games should still be able to do so until at least the 2050s. Read the full news release here.
Sport and its contribution to urban development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was part of the many discussions held at the World Urban Forum last week. Taking part in four major sessions, the IOC led the conversation on how best to leverage sport as a catalyst for sustainable urban growth. During the sessions devoted expressly to sport and urban planning, experts in planning, legacy and urban transformation from the past and future Olympic cities of Barcelona, London, Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane acknowledged the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to deliver lasting benefits that can transform a community, its image and its infrastructure. Read the full news release here.
ith two years to go until the YOG Dakar 2026, Senegal is initiating a wave of capacity-building efforts centred around the Olympic values and the power of sport. The IOC’s Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) is supporting local partners such as the NOC of Senegal (CNOSS) in building a solid foundation for successful Youth Olympic Games – and beyond. Discover these initiatives here.
The International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS) held its annual conference in October 2024. The conference was hosted by the NOC of Italy (CONI) in Rome and brought together 125 partners from the worlds of sport, government and beyond. It provided a unique opportunity for NOCs and the IPACS community to gain insight into the topics on IPACS’ radar, including the impact of artificial intelligence on the fight against corruption in sport. NOCs interested in joining the efforts of IPACS to protect the integrity and core values of sport are encouraged to reach out at contact@ipacs.sport. For more information, click here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Canoe Federation (ICF)
Thomas Konietzko was re-elected as ICF President for a second four-year term during the organisation’s Congress in Antalya, Türkiye. Konietzko has led the ICF since 2021. There were also elections to the Board. More info here. The ICF has announced that that it will establish its headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, following overwhelming support at its Congress. With the Budapest headquarters, scheduled to open in early 2025, the ICF’s professional team will expand significantly, tripling in size to meet the growing demands of the sport. The Federation will continue to operate an office from the Maison du Sport International, the sports administration hub in Lausanne. The Congress also approved the ICF’s Fit for Future Evolution Strategy that will see the organisation undergo a comprehensive organisational review over the next two years. During this period, the ICF will aim to implement a plan with five focus areas, culminating in the relaunch of the Federation under the new name of Paddle Worldwide at its next Congress in 2026. Following the 2024 Congress, the ICF’s 100 years of history were celebrated, and influential figures who helped shape canoeing’s great history were recognised. Full details here.
World Sailing
World Sailing President Quanhai Li was re-elected for a further four-year term at the World Sailing General Assembly in Singapore. A new governance structure was also approved. This will come into effect immediately and will introduce a streamlined process for decision-making, along with more focused committees, a new Code of Ethics and a more efficient disciplinary procedure. The World Sailing Council also approved the new five-year World Sailing Strategy, Ready for the Future, which will help guide the sport through to 2029. The strategy focuses on four priorities: Commercial and Events, Growth, Governance, and Impact. Full info here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
Greece’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Paris 2024 were awarded the Medal of the Hellenic Parliament during a ceremony held in the Plenary Hall. The event was part of the Conference on “Promoting Safety, Integrity, Equality and Inclusion in Sport,” a joint initiative between the Hellenic Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The President of the Greek Parliament, Konstantinos Tasoulas, welcomed athletes who placed from first to eighth in Paris. In his remarks, HOC President and IOC Member Spyros Capralos raised
concerns about the declining number of sports facilities in Greece, which has left many athletes without suitable sports venues. He reiterated the HOC’s proposal that top-ranking Olympic athletes be offered positions within the broader public sector as recognition for the national pride they bring to Greece, while Evangelia Platanioti and Grigoris Polychronidis, who represented the athletes, emphasised the importance of enhanced support for sports and athletes in Greece. More details here.
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)
Sayyidah Sanaa Hamad Al-Busaidi, Chairwoman of the Oman Women Sports Gender Equality Committee, has been awarded the "Pioneers in Sports" Prize as part of the Fatima Mubarak Award for Women’s Sports for 2024, its eighth edition. The ceremony took place in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women's Union. This award recognises Sayyidah Sanaa’s contributions to women's sport in Oman and represents an acknowledgment of her ongoing efforts to support women's participation both locally and regionally. She has worked diligently to develop programmes and initiatives that enhance the presence of Omani women in sport, and she has played a key role in formulating plans to support Omani female athletes and develop their skills across various sporting disciplines. The Fatima Mubarak Award for Women’s Sports is one of the most prominent awards honouring leading women in the sports field across the Arab world. Info at www.ooc.om.
Olympic Committee of Slovenia
For the 10th year in a row, the NOC, together with the Leon Štukelj and Miroslav Cerar Foundation, in cooperation with the Anita Ogulin Association and ZPM, is trying to raise as much funding as possible for young athletes from socially disadvantaged backgrounds through the ''Botrstvo v športu'' project. The beginnings of the project date back to 2015, when the Foundation for Athletes from Socially Vulnerable Backgrounds was established on the initiative of former NOC President Bogdan Gabrovec. This year, Goran Dragić, the basketball ace and long-time captain of the Slovenian national basketball team, had a starring role in the traditional gala event held in Ljubljana, which also marked the end of his long professional sports career. The NOC President, Franjo Bobinac, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, Olympic gold medallist Andreja Leški and former basketball player Jure Zdovc addressed the audience. An auction of Dragić’s items raised a record amount. At the end of the gala, Dragić handed over a charity ball to his successor, two-time Olympic champion Janja Garnbret. More info here (in Slovenian).
Spanish NOC (COE)
To help those affected by the flash flooding caused by the DANA weather phenomenon, the COE, in cooperation with non-profit organisation Acompartir, has sent essential supplies such as masks, water and boots to Valencia. The COE will continue working to provide assistance to the victims of the floods. COE President Alejandro Blanco said: “Sport has taught us the importance of solidarity and team work, and now is the time to join forces to support those affected.” More details here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
International Olympic Academy (IOA)
The IOA and the National Olympic Committee and National Olympic Academy (NOA) of Thailand are building on a strengthened partnership to advance Olympic education. This synergy follows the successful “International Elite Sports Personnel Development Programme: Enhancing International Sports Management Skills 2024” held in September in Athens and Olympia. Tailored for officials from various sports federations, the programme focused on enhancing international sports management expertise and served as a foundation for Thailand’s new educational initiatives with the IOA. Initiated by IOC Member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, productive meetings between the IOA delegation, led by its President, Isidoros Kouvelos, the President of the NOC of Thailand, Prawit Wongsuwon, and officials from the NOC and NOA explored how to transform this knowledge-sharing experience into projects that will further develop the Olympic values in Thailand. More details here.
International Committee for the Mediterranean Games (ICMG)
A Heraklion 2023 debriefing seminar was organised by the ICMG in cooperation with the Olympic Committee of North Macedonia in Skopje. Representatives of the NOCs and the IFs, as well as ICMG stakeholders and delegations from the Organising Committees of the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games and Lagoa & Portimao Mediterranean Beach Games were present. The success of the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games, Heraklion 2023, was underlined during the seminar. Various reports about their organisation were presented to the participants. During the seminar, the Special Trophy of the Mediterranean Games was awarded to North Macedonian NOC President Daniel Dimevski for his contribution to the development of the Mediterranean sports movement. Full details here.
International Sports Cinema and Television Federation (FICTS)
The 42nd edition of the Sport Movies & TV – Milan International FICTS Festival was held from 5 to 9 November in Milan, Italy. Organised by FICTS, in collaboration with the Lombardy Region and the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, the Festival opened with the presentation of the “Golden Star” – the highest FICTS award – to IOC President Thomas Bach and the Italian Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi. A day was devoted to the “Trofei di Milano Cortina 2026”, with the awards ceremony for the schools, students and teachers selected from among the 42,300 participants from 73 schools in Lombardy. More info at www.sportmoviestv.com.