Olympic Highlights 20/06/2022
IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
This week at Olympic House, IOC President Thomas Bach hosted Comcast Corporation Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, who was accompanied by NBC Sports Chairman Peter Bevacqua and NBC Olympics Chairman Gary Zenkel. President Bach gave them a tour of the IOC headquarters. During the visit, Brian Roberts signed the IOC’s “golden book”.Together, they emphasised the excellent partnership between their organisations and discussed the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games.
IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed representatives from Salt Lake City, Utah including the President of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Susanne Lyons, the quadruple Olympian Catherine Raney-Norman and the Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn, at Olympic House. Discussions centred around Salt Lake City’s interest in hosting future Olympic Winter Games in the context of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s new approach to electing future Olympic hosts. IOC Member and Chair of the IOC Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games Octavian Morariu attended the meeting.
On this occasion, Lindsey Vonn and Catherine Raney-Norman signed the Olympians’ Wall, and the IOC President presented them with their OLY diplomas and pins.
President Bach had also a bilateral meeting with USOPC President Susanne Lyons during which they talked about topics of mutual interest, including the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.
President Bach hosted Cuban Olympic Committee President Roberto León Richards Aguiar. The two men discussed the situation of sport in the country and the Cuban athletes’ preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.
President Bach welcomed a Portuguese delegation led by NOC President José Manuel Constantino to Olympic House. On this occasion, Portuguese artist Telmo Guerra presented his latest works, two doors on which he engraved the faces of Pierre de Coubertin and President Bach. For Guerra, a door represents hope, opportunities and new beginnings: “When one door closes, another one opens, because there is always a door to open.” And President Bach, the ninth IOC President, represents the ninth door open to the “Unity and Diversity of the Olympic Games”. While in Lausanne, the delegation also visited The Olympic Museum.
Also at Olympic House, the IOC President welcomed six legendary Olympic sailors taking part in the “Star Sailors League”, an international regatta circuit launched by Olympians in 2012 and recognised by World Sailing. The sailors were Norway’s Eivind Melleby, who competed at London 2012; Luis Doreste from Spain, a four-time Olympian with two gold medals (Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992); Sweden’s Max Salminen, who competed at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020; French’s Yann Rocherieux, who competed at Beijing 2008; Beijing 2008; Australia’s Paul McKenzie, who competed at Atlanta 1996; and fellow Australian John Bertrand, a two-time Olympian and bronze medal-winner at Montreal 1976. They all signed the Olympians’ Wall, and the IOC President presented them with their OLY diplomas and pins.
The IOC President also met Paul Caine, the President of On Location, the global hospitality provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028. Their discussions included the excellent cooperation between the two organisations.
President Bach was in the Vaud Alps resort of Leysin this week, where he visited the site of the competition venues for slopestyle and big air used at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG). He was welcomed by former IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli; Vaud Councillor of State Philippe Leuba; the Mayor of Leysin, Jean-Marc Udriot; Sarajevo 1984 bobsleigh bronze medallist Silvio Giobellina; and several athletes from Leysin who took part in the 2020 Winter YOG, including the ski mountaineering gold and silver medallist, Thibe Deseyn. The visit also included tours of sports infrastructure in the resort, including the recent construction of a Big Air Bag where ski jumpers can train in the summer months, building on the legacy of the YOG.
President Bach discussed a wide range of Olympic topics with IOC EB member Emma Terho and IOC Members Juan Antonio Samaranch and Humphrey Kayange.
He also hosted IOC Member Seung Min Ryu, with whom he talked about the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation, which Ryu chairs.
IOC MEMBERS
IOC Member Spyros Capralos, who is also President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, represented the IOC President at the Opening of the 62nd International Session of the International Olympic Academy (IOA) for Young Olympic Ambassadors, which was held on 12 June on the Pnyx hill in Athens (Greece). He read the IOC President’s message to the participants. (See also the “Recognised Organisations” section below.)
COMMISSIONS
Athlete empowerment and athlete representation – not just on the field of play, but also beyond the athletes’ careers – are crucial elements for ensuring good governance in sporting organisations. Participating in the EU Sports Forum session entitled “Empowering Athletes”, IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Emma Terho, also IOC EB member, highlighted the action taken by the IOC to engage with athletes and guarantee that they have a key role in decisions that affect them. Organised annually by the European Commission, the EU Sport Forum is a central meeting point between sports organisations and representatives of the EU Institutions and Member States for them to exchange views on the current and future sports policies. Meeting in Lille (France), this years’ Forum theme was “European Sport: fair, inclusive and fit for a sustainable future”. Read full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
On 14 June, the IOC met the Afghan NOC and the Afghan General Directorate of Physical Education and Sport, in the presence of Olympic Council of Asia representatives. The meeting was held in Doha and facilitated by the Qatar Olympic Committee. The Afghan representatives reiterated their commitment to fully respect the principles and rules of the Olympic Charter, in particular the fundamental right of all individuals, including women and girls, to access and practise sport safely, without discrimination. The IOC will continue to closely monitor the implementation of this commitment. Full details here.
Ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June 2022, the IOC has released the initial list of 44 athletes who have been awarded Olympic Scholarships for Refugee Athletes to help them train towards the goal of being selected for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024. Read the full news release here.
During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month, which is being celebrated around the world in June, the IOC is highlighting how the Olympic Games are a powerful platform to foster inclusion, diversity and non-discrimination, and where athletes and Olympic Partners have inspired the world through powerful messages. Read the full news release here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) Board of Directors has voted unanimously to outsource its anti-doping programme to the International Testing Agency. The Board also endorsed the first-ever ICF virtual canoe competition, and agreed to a new sustainability partnership which will help the ICF meet its event sustainability targets. For ICF President Thomas Konietzko, the Board had taken a number of decisions that will ensure the Federation meets the goals of the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5. More details here.
Meeting from 14 to 16 June in Arzon (France), the Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) approved the Federation's Agenda 2030, which will form the UCI's roadmap for the next eight years. Agenda 2030 aims to make cycling the sport of the 21st century, make it more inclusive and develop a lifestyle around cycling. The Committee also approved the 2021 UCI Financial Report and awarded several UCI World Championships. The situation of the Ukrainian cycling community in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was also discussed, as was the launch of the “UCI Cycling Integrity” brand at the beginning of May. Find out more here.
United World Wrestling (UWW) hosted the first stop of the Beach Wrestling World Series in Sarigerme, Turkey, last month. Apart from focusing on bringing beach wrestling to the mainstream, UWW implemented actions and activities to raise awareness about the environment while reducing its own impact. For this first event, UWW focused on three goals in Turkey: encourage donations and spread the message to treat sea turtles; clean up the beach during and after the competition; and help the region replant trees that were destroyed by the 2021 wildfires in Turkey. More details here.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has unveiled an innovative Non-Fungible Token (NFT) project for the 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022. Collaborating with Budapest-based digital artist Krizbo, FINA will award athletes with a personalised NFT capturing their record-breaking moment at the World Championships. This project fully aligns with FINA’s strategy to establish ongoing digital collaborations with athletes, coaches, National Federations and organising committees. Full details here.
World Triathlon has announced that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has approved the Paralympic Rankings and Qualification Criteria for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Eleven medal events will be disputed in para triathlon at Paris 2024, with a quota of 120 allocated. The Paralympic Qualification Period will start on 1 July 2023 and finish on 1 July 2024. Full details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
The Barbados Olympic Association has announced that Rohansonn Waithe, Treasurer of the Barbados Chess Federation, is attending the 62nd IOA International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors in Olympia (Greece). Waithe was one of two participants selected to represent the Association at a shortened 2021 Session, which was held virtually on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time this year, there was a requirement that participants submit a plan with no fewer than three initiatives that they would undertake after the Session. One of Waithe’s proposed actions is to show how chess may be used to improve mental health and mental excellence in sport. More info at www.olympic.org.bb.
The NOC of the Dominican Republic recently unveiled a painting of boxer Pedro Julio Nolasco, the country’s first Olympic medallist. Nolasco won bronze in the under-54kg category at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. The ceremony was led by the NOC President and Secretary General, Antonio Acosta and Gilberto García, in the presence of NOC members, national boxing federation officials and athletes, and the boxer’s widow and granddaughter, Candida Encarnación and Marian Alejandra Pietrera Nolasco. During his career, Nolasco also won a silver medal at the 1983 Pan-American Games in Caracas. He was inducted into the Dominican Republic’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. More details here.
The Spanish NOC has announced that Seve Benavides (photo) was presented with the London 2012 Games bronze medal in the C1 200 canoeing event at a medal reallocation ceremony held on 15 June at the NOC headquarters in Madrid. The medal was presented by NOC President Alejandro Blanco. As well as Benavides’ close friends and family, ICF Vice-President Lluis Rabaneda, Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation President Javier Hernanz and Olympic medallists David Cal and Saúl Craviotto were also at the ceremony. More details here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
On the Pnyx hill in Athens on 12 June, the Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou (photo), opened the 62nd International Session of the International Olympic Academy (IOA) for Young Olympic Ambassadors, which will take place in Ancient Olympia until 23 June. The main subject of the Session is: “The Olympic Movement and Olympism in the digital era”, and its special subject is: “The promotion of physical activity via digital engagement strategies and virtual sports”. Some 125 young people from 80 countries will attend the Session. IOA President Isidoros Kouvelos also welcomed the participants. More details here.
On 13 June, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s Athlete Committee hosted an important hybrid information-sharing and discussion session for athletes and athlete representatives in Lausanne. With 60 registrants, the session brought together athletes and athlete representatives from across the world for a half-day session with the aim of engaging athletes, updating them on developments in the world of anti-doping and listening to their points of view. The session was held the day after WADA’s 2022 Annual Symposium, reinforcing the importance of athlete involvement in clean sport while underscoring the Agency’s commitment to be more athlete-centred. Full details here.
As part of its “Olympic Images Day: Peace, Truce, Inclusion and Equality” project, the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (FICTS) will organise several activities on Olympic Day, including projections, exhibitions and conferences, simultaneously in the 20 locations of the “World FICTS Challenge”. At the FICTS headquarters in Milan, Italy, the programme will be aimed at promoting the culture of Olympism ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026. The programme can be found on the FICTS website: www.sportmoviestv.com.