Olympic Highlights 16/12/2022
IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
IOC President Thomas Bach held an open and constructive phone call with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Wednesday 14 December. In the call, President Zelensky thanked the IOC and its President for the Olympic Movement’s support for the Olympic Community in Ukraine and the Ukrainian athletes on their way to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. He expressed in particular his appreciation for the USD 7.5 million solidarity fund the IOC has set up. The IOC President confirmed to the Ukrainian President the continuation of these solidarity efforts together with the entire Olympic Movement, with the aim of having strong teams from the NOC of Ukraine at the upcoming Olympic Games, which will enable them to make the Ukrainian flag fly high.
In the call, the Ukrainian President requested the full isolation of Russia and Russians from the world community. From his point of view, this must also apply to athletes. In this context, the IOC President explained the unifying mission of the IOC and the Olympic Games enshrined in the Olympic Charter, and thanked President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government for their approval of United Nations resolution A/77/L.28 passed by consensus on 1 December 2022 by the UN General Assembly. The IOC President also explained the sanctions that the IOC Executive Board put in place against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments following the invasion of Ukraine in February. These were confirmed by the Olympic Summit on Friday 9 December 2022. At the end of this open and constructive discussion, both Presidents agreed to stay in contact. Read the full news release here.
President Thomas Bach was in Paris on Friday 16 December. He held a meeting at the town hall with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. Their discussions focused mainly on the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with less than 600 days to go to the Opening Ceremony. He also had a courtesy meeting with Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the LVMH Group.
At Olympic House, President Bach and IOC Member Sergii Bubka addressed various topical Olympic matters.
The President also met Kim Won-soo, a Korean diplomat and a Board member of the Ban-ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens. They spoke about the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 and the current geopolitical situation and its impact on the Olympic Movement. IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper attended the meeting.
At Olympic House, the IOC President presented several Olympians who currently work at the IOC with their OLY insignia and diploma. All of them then signed the Olympians Wall.
The President also took part in the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH).
President Bach received the Mayor of Ouchy, Christophe Andreae, on a courtesy visit to Olympic House.
At the beginning of the week, the IOC President attended an event in Stuttgart, Germany, addressing over 120 business and society leaders. The topic of the evening was “The Olympics – a flame of hope”. President Bach looked back at the successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which gave hope during the pandemic. He then explained the current state of the Olympic Movement against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine following the Russian invasion and the support the Olympic Movement has recently received from the United Nations and world leaders for its unifying mission of peace. He concluded with a preview of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Games of a new era.
Commissions
The IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 was able to meet in person for the first time this week in the host city of Milan. It provided an opportunity for the Organising Committee team to share the evolution of their Games preparations as they transition to the operational phase under the leadership of the recently appointed CEO, Andrea Varnier. The face-to-face meetings allowed for in-depth conversations during which the Organising Committee outlined the strong foundations built in preparation for delivering the Games in 2026. The IOC’s Coordination Commission, chaired by Sari Essayah, subsequently identified several priorities for the coming months, which include growing the domestic partner programme, optimising the budget, advancing venue preparations and enhancing the Organising Committee team. Full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
The IOC has announced the latest group of refugee athletes who have been awarded scholarships to help them train for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which brings their total number to 52. They are from 12 countries, live in 18 host countries, represent 10 sports and all hope of being selected for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. The 11 new athletes who join the 44 scholarship-holders announced in June compete in six different sports and include three athletes who took part in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Click here to find out their names and more info about the Refugee Athlete Scholarship Programme.
This week, the IOC also announced the composition of its Advisory Committee on Human Rights. This follows the approval of its Strategic Framework on Human Rights by the IOC Executive Board in September 2022. The Advisory Committee’s mission is to provide the IOC with strategic guidance and advise on human rights risk management. The Committee will be chaired by the former United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. She also previously served as Deputy President of South Africa, where her focus was on combatting poverty. Mlambo-Ngcuka succeeds the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, HRH Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, who decided not to continue in this position. Read the full news release here, including the Committee’s composition.
Out of 206 NOCs, 190 of them have an Athletes’ Commission (AC) to represent the interests of the country’s elite athletes. They can rely on the support of the NOC Athletes’ Commission Activity Grant, now in its third year, which provides NOCs with an annual USD 10,000 grant to organise activities led by their AC that focus on supporting athletes. In 2022, more than 80 NOCs applied for the grant (a significant increase on the previous year, when there were 54 applications), which helped fund a range of initiatives, from national athletes’ forums to workshops on career transition and safeguarding. Read the full news release here.
In response to the growing climate crisis, the IOC is working to bring its carbon footprint down, putting in place a plan to reduce its emissions by 30 per cent by 2024 and 50 per cent by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. It has also committed to removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits, through the Olympic Forest project. As the first round of tree planting nears completion, the IOC spoke with Georges Bazongo, Director of Programmes at Tree Aid, the IOC’s implementing partner. Click here for the interview.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
Throughout the year, United World Wrestling (UWW), along with Olympic Solidarity, the NOC of Ukraine and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), provided technical assistance to the Ukraine Wrestling Federation for its women’s team to participate in major UWW events. The UWW Development Department and local organising committees provided the same technical support for Ukraine for the World Cup held beginning in December in Coralville (USA). In the last 10 months, Ukraine’s women's team has finished on the podium at the European Championships, U23 and U17 World Championships and qualified for the World Cup finishing in the top five at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, last September. Full details here.
During its Extraordinary General Congress held in Melbourne, Australia, on the eve of the World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022, the members of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) adopted key amendments to the IF’s constitution. A proposal to expand the FINA Bureau in a way that balances gender representation was approved. Nine women are expected to now join the FINA Bureau. Key among the reforms has also been the creation of an independent Aquatics Integrity Unit, which will become fully operational on 1 January 2023. More details here. In addition, the Congress voted to change FINA’s name to World Aquatics. The new World Aquatics visual identity will be rolled out during the first events of 2023. Full details here.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the ATP have announced the launch of the Accelerator Programme, a ground-breaking initiative designed to accelerate the careers of young aspiring tennis players from 2023. The programme forms part of the ITF’s long-term strategy to develop more opportunities for players to progress through the player pathway to the top level of the game. Full info here. Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek have been named 2022 ITF World Champions, following impressive seasons in which both players won two Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal and Swiatek are among 11 players who were announced as ITF World Champions this week. They will be all honoured at the annual ITF World Champions Awards event on 8 July 2023, which will be held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Great Britain. More details here.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President, Riccardo Fraccari, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Marc Truffaut, the President of the International Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment (VIRTUS), a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The MOU commits the two parties to encourage respective national federations to work together to promote baseball/softball for athletes with an intellectual impairment. Full info here.
The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) has announced its 2023 International Hall of Fame inductees. This award recognises, appreciates and understands the incredible contribution each recipient has made to their discipline, community, clubs, federations, confederations, the World and the IWWF. The inductees’ names are listed here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
On 10 December, the Albanian NOC organised the opening ceremony of the "Sports Teams in Schools" project and lit up the "Air Albania" stadium in Tirana. Over 10,000 young people performed at the ceremony, the highlight of which was the parade of sports teams and the Olympic Oath delivered by team representatives from 61 municipalities from all over Albania. The participants were greeted by the IOC President via video message, and dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, and NOC President Fidel Ylli. The project aims to implement a national programme that promotes mass sports, talent discovery, sports education, good health and Olympic principles. It is funded by the Albanian government, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the State Ministry for Youth and Children. The ceremony was broadcast live on the NOC TV channel “SPORTALB”. Info at www.nocalbania.org.al.
On the occasion of its 100th anniversary celebrations, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) is hosting a series of events. This included a gala dinner held on 9 December, with the central theme of Legacy, Innovation, Prospects and Embracing the New Era. Over 500 people were present, including the President of Chinese Taipei, Yin-Wen Tsai, CTOC President Hong-Dow Lin, guests from International and National Federations, Olympians and Paralympians, active athletes, CTOC commission members and representatives from embassies and governments. A torch relay was designed as one of the focal programmes, with torch-bearer medallists and athletes who took part in different Olympic Games editions and athletes representing the National Golden Athlete Programme, thus symbolising the spirit from their predecessors in the past 100 years being passed down to the younger generation, and the Olympic motto Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together. Breakdancing and wushu presentations were also on the agenda. More info at www.tpenoc.net.
Athletes from 15 sports/disciplines, teams and leaders were honoured at the Athlete of the Year Awards organised by the Colombian newspaper El Espectador. Football goalkeeper Sara López (centre of photo) was named best Colombian athlete of 2022, with figure skater Brayan Carreño and boxer Ingrit Valencia coming second and third respectively. Colombian NOC President Ciro Solano Hurtado received the award for best sports leader of 2022. More info here.
The Moroccan NOC (CNOM) is continuing its strategy to promote the practice of sport and its values, through a programme of Olympic visits. The NOC recently received students from Casablanca Central School (photo) and youngsters from the Al Wafaa wushu club. These visits once again provided an opportunity to share the Olympic values and present the history of Olympism in Morocco. More info at www.cnom.org.ma
On 12 December at the Goyeneche auditorium of the Spanish NOC, a ceremony was held to pay tribute to Conrado Durántez, the founder and former President of the Spanish Olympic Academy and founding President of the Pan-Iberic Association of Olympic Academies. He is also Honorary President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, and was its President from 1990 to 2001. Besides Mr Durántez’s family and friends, presidents of Spanish federations and representatives of 22 Olympic Studies Centres attended the ceremony. In recognition of over 60 years devoted to the Olympic Movement and passing on the values of Olympism, the NOC awarded Mr Durántez its highest honour, the Olympic Order, which was presented by NOC President Alejandro Blanco (photo). Full details here.
On 12 December, the Venezuelan NOC held the first Extraordinary General Assembly of its new board of directors. The financial report for 2022 and revenue distribution were presented to the leaders of the sports federations. A few days later, scholarships from IOC Olympic Solidarity and Panam Sports and the Morochito Rodríguez scholarship (named after Venezuela’s first gold medallist) were awarded at a ceremony also organised at the NOC headquarters.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PARIS 2024
With less than two years to go until the Games, the Paris 2024 Board of Directors adopted the Organising Committee’s multi-year budget following the third budgetary review. This review, which is traditionally the most important stage in the forecasting of income and expenditure linked to delivery of the event was carried out within the context of high inflation. As part of its domestic partnership programme, Paris 2024 has already reached its target of securing 80% of revenues by the end of 2022. Estimated ticketing income is also higher than before. In addition, with the support of the IOC in particular, Paris 2024 has reduced its projected expenditure by identifying numerous ways of cutting costs across all budget lines. Read the full news release here. On 13 December, the third edition of the annual “Terre de Jeux 2024” forum took place in Montpellier, bringing together representatives from more than 500 local authorities, federations, partners and entities that have been awarded the label. The forum provided the opportunity to take stock of the initiatives implemented this year and look forward to 2024 with a view to sharing the Games momentum throughout France and beyond. The first edition of the Terre de Jeux 2024 Awards saw 24 projects given an award made, symbolically, using a few grams of earth from Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games – a way to reward their engagement as the Games continue to gain momentum, and to give prominence to sports projects being carried out on a day-to-day basis. Full details here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) recently hosted its 7th Social Media Workshop, which equipped the participating NOCs with expert insight into how to write engaging and compelling content for social media. The workshop was held as part of the ANOC Digital Accelerator Programme. ANOC has worked closely with the NOCs to tailor the subjects of the workshops to the areas of greatest interest and priority for NOCs. More details here.
On the eve of their meeting in Pristina, the members of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) Executive Committee were welcomed by the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in the Presidential Office. They were joined by the President of the Kosovo Olympic Committee, Ismet Krasniqi, and the General Secretary, Besim Aliti. The ICMG delegation also visited the Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo, Hajrullah Çeku, and the Deputy Minister, Daulina Osmani. More details here. During the Executive Committee meeting on 10 December, ICMG President Davide Tizzano announced the award of the ICMG Order of Merit to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and to the President of the ICMG Sports Programme Commission, Mohamed Zribi. The launch of Candidature Procedure for the Mediterranean Beach Games 2027 and the Mediterranean Games 2030 was also announced.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) played a significant role at the annual International Anti-Doping Seminar for Asia and Oceania that was held on 14 and 15 December 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. The hybrid event, which was hosted by the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) in partnership with WADA, welcomed over 200 participants, and was once again commissioned and supported by the Japanese government’s Japan Sports Agency (JSA). The theme of the seminar was “Reuniting the Clean Sport Community and preserving the values of sport”. More details here. In addition, WADA has announced the creation of its Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) Testing Working Group (ATWG). Meeting for the first time on 5 and 6 December in Lausanne, the ATWG consists of seven anti-doping experts who are regular users of the ADAMS ecosystems, and who have operational experience in the testing activities of an International Federation, or a National or Regional Anti-Doping Organisation. More info here. WADA has also launched a call for proposals for its 2023 Scientific Research Grant Programme. The 2023 Programme includes a new theme, Scientific Innovations to Improve Anti-Doping Programmes, which targets research teams that include anti-doping organisations. Full details here.
NEXT EDITION
A special edition of the “Olympic Highlights” will be published at the end of 2022. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable festive period.