Olympic Highlights 22/01/2024
IOC
PRESIDENT
With an unforgettable Opening Ceremony featuring an array of K-pop stars and cultural performers, the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 got underway in style on 19 January. The event was hosted simultaneously at the sold-out Gangneung Oval, with 4,500 spectators, plus athletes and other YOG stakeholders, and the fully booked PyeongChang Dome, with 4,300 people. The ceremony revolved around the theme of “The Universe” and evoked the Gangwon 2024 slogan, “Grow Together, Shine Forever”. Addressing the 1,802 athletes from 78 NOCs who will be participating in these Games, IOC President Thomas Bach invited them to enjoy their Olympic experience. “Dear young athletes: this is your moment,” he said. “You are following in the footsteps of sporting icons who made Olympic history right here at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018". President Bach also paid tribute to the hospitality of the Republic of Korea, while again highlighting the links between Gangwon 2024 and PyeongChang 2018. He concluded his speech by inviting the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, to officially declare open the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024. Before the Opening Ceremony, the IOC Members were personally presented to the Korean President. Read the full news release here.
Just before, President Bach had a private meeting with President Yoon, where the Korean President expressed his full support for the IOC’s position concerning the current geopolitical tensions. They also discussed the development of sport in the Republic of Korea.
Ahead of the Opening Ceremony, President Bach chaired a hybrid meeting of the IOC Executive Board (EB). The EB members received updates on the activities of the Olympic Movement, IOC commissions, Organising Committees for the Olympic Games and the IOC administration.
With regard to the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024, the Organising Committee emphasised during its report to the IOC EB that the stage for the Games is set: the athletes have arrived, the Youth Olympic Village is operating at full capacity, and the venues are ready for the competitions. The EB applauded the efforts made. Full details here.
One change of nationality for an athlete, and the guidelines that clarify the opportunities for athlete expression for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, have been approved by the EB. Full details here.
Two days before the Opening Ceremony, President Bach visited the Youth Olympic Village in Gangneung. Accompanied by the Chair of the Coordination Commission, 2014 Olympic speed skating champion Hong Zhang, the President met many of the young athletes from the 78 NOCs competing at the Games. Full news release here.
In Gangneung, accompanied by the IOC Executive Board, President Bach had a meeting with the International Olympic Winter Sports Federations. The agenda included an update on the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 and on the preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
President Bach met Chinese NOC President Gao Zhidan, to whom he wished every success for the upcoming National Winter Games. They discussed a number of Olympic topics, including the geopolitical situation and its impact on sport. Also present were IOC Members in China, Zaiqing Yu, Lingwei Li and Hong Zhang.
The President also welcomed the newly elected President of the Norwegian NOC, Zaineb Al Samarai. They discussed a wide range of matters relating to the Olympic Movement. IOC EB member Kristin Kloster was also present.
With Mamadou Ndiaye, President of the Senegalese NOC, the President discussed the preparations for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, for which Ndiaye is President of the Organising Committee.
In Gangneung, the President also received a delegation from the NOC of the United Arab Emirates, who presented him with a gift.
President Bach welcomed the Mongolian Foreign Minister, Battsetseg Batmunkh, who was accompanied by IOC Member Battushig Batbold. They discussed topics of mutual interest, including the current geopolitical situation.
He also discussed the current geopolitical situation and the development of sport in Nigeria with the Nigerian Sports Minister John Owan-Enoh.
While in Gangneung, President Bach had a meeting with HYX Founder, Liu Ruiqi, and HYX President Chen Zhongwei, during which the renewal of the contract of HYX with the IOC was announced. HYX will be supplying the official formal uniforms to the IOC Members and administration for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026.Hengyuanxiang Group, which was founded in 1927 in Shanghai, is one of the most famous textile companies in China. The group has a history of supporting sport in China, including as a sponsor of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and as a partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) from 2009 to 2012, and as a sponsor of the COC from 2013 to 2016. HYX also supplied the official formal uniforms for the IOC Members and administration for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. On this occasion, President Bach said: "We are pleased to be working with HYX and we had a very good experience in Tokyo 2020 and in Beijing 2022. We look forward to wearing the formal uniforms with pride in Paris this year and in Milan Cortina in 2026. " For his part, Liu Ruiqi said: "To have the opportunity to provide the formal uniforms to the lOC is a great honor for HYX, and we are happy to renew this partnership with the IOC and hope such cooperation will continue as long as possible."
The IOC President also met the winner of the medal design competition for the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024, Dante Akira Uwai, to whom he presented a commemorative set of gold, silver and bronze medals. The President complimented Uwai on his work, which he entered in the competition with the title “A Sparkling Future”. More details here.
He also met Rupal Hollenbeck, the President of Check Point, which provides IT security solutions for the IOC.
The President had a meeting with IOC Members in Korea Seung Min Ryu, Kee Heung Lee and Jae Youl Kim.
Meetings were also held with a large number of IOC Members.
Before heading to Gangneung, President Bach attended a New Year ceremony hosted by the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) at the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in Seoul, with an audience of around 10,000 people including government officials, KSOC authorities, athletes and national sports organisation representatives. Addressing the audience, President Bach praised the sporting achievements of the Korean athletes and wished all the very best for the Korean sports movement in 2024, in particular at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. After the ceremony, he met athletes from Team Korea.
While in Seoul, the IOC President had a meeting with IOC Member Kee Heung Lee, who is also KSOC President; IOC Ethics Commission Chair Ban Ki-moon; and Jong Hoon Kim, KSOC Honorary Ambassador.
The IOC President welcomed a message from His Holiness Pope Francis expressing his hope that the Olympic Games Paris 2024 can build bridges and break down barriers. In an address to the members of the “Athletica Vaticana” sports association on 13 January, he said: “It is significant that this meeting of ours takes place in the first days of 2024, which is the Olympic and Paralympic year. Thinking back to the value of the ‘Olympic Truce’, my hope is that, in the particularly dark historical moment we are living, sport can build bridges, break down barriers and foster peaceful relations.” He also praised the power of sport to unite the world: "Sport is a means to express one's talents, but also to build society. Sport teaches us the value of fraternity.” President Bach said in a statement: “Thank you, Pope Francis, for your renewed and unequivocal commitment to the peace and solidarity mission of the Olympic Movement. Thank you for your strong support.” See the full news release here.
Before leaving for Korea, President Bach met the CEO and Executive Director of TOP Partner Mengniu Dairy Company, Jeffrey Lu. They discussed the excellent relationship that the IOC enjoys with Mengniu and the activation of the partnership.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
Close to 50 NOCs from all five continents, and six Olympic Winter Sports International Federations, have received funding of more than USD 2 million from the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity programmes to support their young athletes on the pathway to the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024. Read the full news release here.
As part of its efforts to protect athletes from all forms of harassment and abuse, the IOC will run a series of initiatives during the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 to promote safe sport. Find out more about the initiatives here.
The Olympic Studies Centre has published a new educational resource on Pierre de Coubertin entitled “Discovering Coubertin”, aimed at teachers and their pupils and students (aged 15 and over) in schools and universities. The material is built around the original words of Coubertin and supported by questions which seek to encourage reflection and discussion among the students about how important themes such as fair play, international understanding and peace, sport for all, and women at the Olympic Games were perceived by him in the historical and social context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and to extend the reflection to today’s societal context. It is available in English, French and Spanish, and can be accessed via the Olympic World Library. Click here to download “Discovering Pierre de Coubertin: an educational programme based on the words of Pierre de Coubertin”.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)
The UIPM has launched an updated Athlete Safeguarding Policy (ASP) as part of its commitment to fostering a secure and supportive environment for athletes worldwide. The ASP encompasses a comprehensive set of measures and initiatives designed to prevent harassment, abuse and exploitation within modern pentathlon. The ASP aligns with the IOC Consensus Statement on harassment and abuse (non-accidental violence) in sport (2016), and follows the guidelines set forth in its Toolkit for IFs and NOCs. More info here. In addition, the UIPM Athletes’ Committee has adopted the principles of the IOC Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, which outlines a common set of aspirational rights and responsibilities for athletes within the Olympic Movement. More details here.
World Sailing
World Sailing has appointed Fiona Kidd as its new Head of International Development. Kidd brings over 30 years of experience in sailing developing youth and senior classes, coaching development and sustainability programmes, as well as organising major events. Full info here.
WINTER IFS
World Curling Federation (WCF)
World Curling has launched a new brand and a brand new website. These two elements are part of the cornerstone components of the six “Big Ideas” defined by the World Curling Board in January 2023. Discover the new brand here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Aruba Olympic Committee
The NOC, in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation, held a Regional Anti-Doping Training session. Held in Oranjestad, the workshop was intended to train people who already have experience in anti-doping to become educators in their countries.
Bermuda Olympic Association
The NOC has announced the passing of its former President, Judy Simons, on 3 January at the age of 71. She served the Olympic Movement for more than 25 years, following a successful sporting career in field hockey and tennis. In addition to her outstanding contributions to the NOC and Bermuda’s sporting community, Simmons was, right up to her passing, the Regional Vice-President (Americas) of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). She also served on committees for Panam Sports, Centro Caribe Sports and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC). She was also a member of the IOC Olympic Education Commission. More info here.
Dominican Republic NOC
Sports leaders, including NOC President Garibaldy Bautista, attended a commemorative mass to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of Roque Napoleón “Polón” Muñoz. Alongside friends and family members, they paid tribute to a man who played an important role in sports administration in the Dominican Republic as NOC President and one of the founders of the National Institute for School Physical Education. He was also an IOC Member from 1983 to 2008. More info here.
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
The HOC recently honoured the best athletes of 2023 during a ceremony held at the Athens Concert Hall, with many state officials and distinguished guests from the sporting family in attendance. They were all welcomed by the HOC President, IOC Member Spyros Capralos. The event, which was broadcast live, honoured a total of 72 athletes, namely the medal winners from World and European Championships in 2023, the 2023 European Games and the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival, and those who have qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Full details here, including the list of the athletes recognised.
Indonesian Olympic Committee
The NOC has announced that Olympian weightlifter Lisa Raema Rumbewas died on 14 January. Born in 1980, Rumbewas competed at three editions of the Olympic Games, starting at Sydney 2000 where she won a silver medal in the flyweight category. In 2002, she obtained an Olympic Solidarity scholarship to prepare for the Athens Games in 2004, where she won silver in the featherweight category. At her last Olympic appearance in Beijing in 2008, she took home a bronze medal, again in the featherweight category. Info here on the NOC website.
Moroccan NOC (CNOM)
A sports event coverage partnership agreement was signed recently in Rabat by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the national media and publishers association, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the CNOM. Details on www.cnom.org.ma.
Panama Olympic Committee
The NOC, in collaboration with the National Weightlifting Federation, recently hosted a Strategic Planning Training Seminar, designed for weightlifting managers, coaches and athletes. This event provided the participants with an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and skills in strategic planning. The seminar was held in the "One Country One Team" main hall at the NOC’s headquarters. Info at www.copanama.com.
Spanish Olympic Committee (COE)
The 16th edition of the COE’s “All Olympic” ("Todos Olímpicos") campaign has just begun. The aim of this educational project is to promote the values of sport and Olympism in schools all over the country. Athletes play an active part by talking to schoolchildren about their personal and sporting experiences. This year, around 15 athletes will be taking part. Full details here. COE President Alejandro Blanco presented the NOC’s Olympic Plaque to the Principality of Asturias in recognition of its historical engagement for sport generally and Olympism in particular. Adrián Barbón, the President of the Principality, received the distinction at a ceremony held at the COE headquarters. Details here.
Venezuelan NOC (COV)
More than 100 Venezuelan judo coaches and coaches from Colombia and the Dominican Republic recently took part in an international technical course. The course was organised by the COV and the Venezuelan Judo Federation, with the support of Olympic Solidarity, at the national judo centre in the Parque Unidas sports complex at El Paraíso. The participants were welcomed by COV President María Soto.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PARIS 2024
On 15 January, Paris 2024 announced that 80 per cent of the 11,000 torchbearers (10,000 for the Olympic Torch Relay and 1,000 for the Paralympic Torch Relay) have been informed. The torchbearers were chosen from a pool of over 100,000 applications and nominations, representing all ages and genders, from all regions of France, as well as a number of individuals from across the world. The names of the torchbearers will be revealed in stages between now and April. Some will be kept secret until the last moment to maintain the suspense, notably for athletes and personalities. Full news release here. In addition, on 16 January, with less than 200 days to go to the Games, the Team France Olympic and Paralympic uniforms for Paris 2024 were unveiled. Take a look at them here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
SportAccord
SportAccord has announced that expert speakers from the National Football League (NFL) will be appearing at the World Sport & Business Summit 2024 in Birmingham (Great Britain) from 7 to 11 April 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs’ Vice-President of Content and Production, Rob Alberino, has been in the NFL for over 25 years and has been awarded 68 Emmys. He will be joined by Scott Kegley, the Vice-President of Digital Strategy at AMB Sports + Entertainment (AMBSE), which owns the Atlanta Falcons. The theme of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024 will be “The Power of Sport”. Full info here.
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)
As part of ANOCA’s NOC headquarters construction project, a ceremony to lay the foundations for the new Chadian NOC headquarters took place last December in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena. Present at the ceremony were NOC President Idriss Dokony Adiker, ANOCA President and IOC Member Mustapha Berraf, and ANOCA Treasurer General and IOC Member Habu Gumel. The construction deadline for the headquarters is 15 months. The ANOCA programme is being rolled out with considerable support from Olympic Solidarity. More details here.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
During a WADA forum held in Kingston, Jamaica, WADA President Witold Bańka called on sports ministers and other government representatives from countries in the Caribbean to amplify their collective actions and voices across the Americas region. The governments present signed the “Kingston Declaration”, further cementing their desire to protect clean sport in the Caribbean region. Attendees also welcomed a decision by WADA, made after a suggestion by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, to recognise the importance of the Caribbean region in the name of the Agency's regional office located in Montevideo, Uruguay, by changing it from “Latin America Office” to “Latin America and Caribbean Office”. Full news release here.
Panathlon International
The second Sport Against Match-Fixing (SAMF) workshop in Austria was held recently for the Styrian Basketball Academy in Graz. Thirty young athletes aged 14 to 17 were informed about match-fixing. Some are members of the under-16 and under-19 national teams of Basketball Austria. Two coaches also took part in the event. Panathlon International is one of the partners of the consortium that is working on the SAMF, an Erasmus+ project which is funded by the European Union. More details here.