Olympic Highlights 22/07/2019
IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
IOC President Thomas Bach attended the opening ceremony and first finals of the World Fencing Championships in Budapest (Hungary), at the invitation of International Fencing Federation (FIE) President Alisher Usmanov. The IOC President presented medals to the best athletes in the individual women’s epée event, which saw Brazil’s Nathalie Moellhausen (next to the President in photo) winning the first-ever fencing world championship medal (a gold one) for her country in the event. At the Championships, the IOC President also met Hungarian Secretary of State for Sport Tünde Szabó.
President Bach also attended a dinner organised at the Parliament by Hungarian Fencing Federation President Zsolt Csampa. IOC Members in Hungary Pál Schmitt and Daniel Gyurta as well as the Hungarian NOC President Krisztian Kulcsar, were also present.
During his trip to Budapest, President Bach had a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The IOC President congratulated the Prime Minister on the large number of World Championships, World Cups and other international sporting events taking place in Hungary. The Prime Minister noted the great stability the IOC is enjoying in this fragile period in international relations. Both men discussed the situation of sport in the European Union and the reiterated intention of Hungary to host the Olympic Games.
In Lausanne, President Bach met Cuban NOC President Roberto Loeon Richards Aguiar, accompanied by Secretary General Ruperto Nicolás Herrera Tabío. The meeting covered topics such as the situation of sport in Cuba and the preparation of Cuban athletes for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
With Polish NOC President Andrzej Krasnicki, discussions focused on various Olympic subjects as well as the preparations for the NOC’s centenary celebrations in October, which the IOC President will attend. The NOC President was accompanied by Professor Piotr Stepnowski from Gdansk University.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Julio César Maglione (centre), who is also President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), received an honorary doctorate in business administration from the University of Honam, one of the Republic of Korea’s most prestigious universities. This honour was awarded in recognition of his “decisive role in the promotion of international relations through sport”. The ceremony was held in the presence of Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-sup, who is also Chair of the Organising Committee for the 18th World FINA World Championships, which are currently taking place, as well as numerous guests from the FINA family and the University. More details here.
Commissions
The fourth IOC Coordination Commission meeting (17-19 July) witnessed the significant positive impact made from creating opportunities for 300 million Chinese people to get involved in winter sport, as well as the benefits from the on-going implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020. “Beijing 2022 is delivering on its vision to engage 300 million people in winter sports, and we can see real benefits resulting from the various actions that are being undertaken across the country,” IOC Coordination Commission Chair Juan Antonio Samaranch (photo) said. “We have heard about some impressive developments this week that exemplify the vision for winter sports in China in terms of mass participation, elite sport and tourism. This progress is very encouraging for the long-term future of winter sport, both in China and internationally.” Representatives from each of the seven winter sports IFs, the NOCs of Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA, and the IPC joined the Coordination Commission for the meeting, helping to provide the Organising Committee with valuable feedback and expertise. Full news release here.
TOP Partners
Worldwide Olympic Partner Alibaba Group has been named as the Ticketing Systems and Services Provider for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 by the IOC and the Organising Committee. The appointment of Alibaba has been made with the objective of securing a single provider to deliver ticketing services and operations over several Games editions, reducing costs and the complexity of hosting the Games in line with Olympic Agenda 2020’s recommendations on efficient turnkey solutions. Full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
During their visit to Olympic House, two Olympians signed the Olympians’ Wall in the IOC Sports Department: four-time Olympic table tennis champion from China, Deng Yaping (left in photo), who was also a member of the IOC Athletes’ and IOC Sport and Environment commissions; and Emmeline Ndongue (right) who won silver with the French basketball team at the Olympic Games London 2012.
The Olympic Channel has reached agreements with the international governing bodies of the following sports: arm-wrestling, chess, dragon boat, icestocksport, lifesaving and sepaktakraw. The six new agreements bring the number of Olympic Channel federation partners to 91. Full press release here.
International sportS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
More than 22,000 people took part in the public consultation on the appeal of road cycling launched by the International Cycling Union (UCI), which ran between 10 July and 16 July. Residents of 134 countries from five continents gave their opinions on the current state of the discipline and their expectations for its future development. More info here.
The 2019 edition of the Disciplinary Code of the International Association Football Federation (FIFA) has just been issued. Developed in consultation with the six confederations and other key stakeholders, the new Code incorporates innovative modifications in the framework of FIFA’s disciplinary procedures. Content-wise, topics such as racism and discrimination have been updated, while the fight against match manipulation has been simplified. Lastly, a dedicated FIFA website (legal.fifa.com) will be launched in the final quarter of 2019 containing the main decisions passed by the FIFA judicial bodies as well other useful legal resources. Full details here.
NATIONAL Olympic COMMITTEES
Children and families came together on 14 July in front of Japan House in São Paulo to see Olympic judo champion Rafael Silva and world artistic gymnastics champion Daiane dos Santos, as well as Team Brazil mascot Ginga, for the inauguration of the #Somos Time Brasil sculpture by the Brazilian NOC. The NOC wants to draw the public’s attention to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which are just one year away. The sculpture will later be moved to Liberty Square for another NOC event to celebrate one year until Tokyo 2020. More infohere.
The Colombian NOC has announced that tennis players Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah, winners of the doubles event at Wimbledon 2019, have received the National Order of Merit (Grand Cross Extraordinary). The distinction was awarded by the President of the Colombian Republic, Iván Duque Márquez, at a ceremony held at the Casa de Nariño, the official presidential residence in Bogotá. Many personalities were present, including Vice-President of the Republic Marta Lucía Ramírez, Coldeportes Director Ernesto Lucena, Colombian Tennis Federation Director Carlos Ortiz and the families of the two players. More detailshere.
On 12 July, the NOC of El Salvador organised a sports journalism seminar, which was opened by NOC President Eduardo Palomo. Talks were given on topics such as: “the origins and values of Olympism”, “problems in contemporary sport”, “experience, secrets and tricks for widespread national media coverage”, “how to take advantage of the disadvantage of being Latin-American” and “journalism according to the athlete”. As well as journalists, communications and journalism students took part in this seminar. More detailshere.
Spanish NOC President Alejandro Blanco recently hosted his Cuban counterpart, Roberto León Richards Aguiar. The two presidents were accompanied by their respective secretaries general, Victoria Cabezas and Ruperto Nicolás Herrera Tabío. Their discussions centred on possible future joint actions in the framework of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. More detailshere.
Fernando Antonio Beltranena Valladares (see photo), who was President of the Guatemalan NOC for 16 years, died on 13 July. During his career as a sports administrator, he held numerous roles at both national and regional level. Among other things, he served as President of the National Equestrian Association, Vice-President of the Autonomous Sports Confederation of Guatemala, Vice-President of the Pan-American Sports Organisation, and Vice-President of the Central American Sports Organisation. He was also highly committed to promoting the Olympic values, serving as Director of the Guatemalan Olympic Academy and as a member of the IOC’s Culture and Olympic Education Commission, and was a recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal. More detailshere.
During Olympic Week, the Jamaican NOC organised several events. Many people signed up for the 5km Olympic run/walk, while others attended a thanksgiving service named “Olympic Praise”. An “Olympic Candlelight Women in Sport” ceremony also paid tribute to the achievements and contributions of Jamaican women in sport. More info atwww.jamaicaolympicassociation.com.
The NOC of Uzbekistan has announced that the 2019 edition of Olympic Day brought together 2.5 million participants, with 2,000 sports events organised throughout the country. A gala concert attracted 8,000 people. Mass sports competitions were held in kindergartens, schools, colleges, universities and summer camps. The Olympic Day event was one of five initiatives put forward by the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as part of a state programme aiming to develop physical culture and mass sport, and to maximise outreach to young people to encourage them to take up sport. More info atwww.olympic.uz
Almost 11,100 people took part in the Olympic Day celebration in Bangkok on 16 June. Organised by the Thai NOC, the event was held in the Suphachalasai National Stadium. The participants, who came from nearby provinces, included many Olympic champions and athletes, who took part in the 5 and 10km runs on the programme. More info athttps://olympicthai.org.
The Venezuelan NOC has announced that the Sports Justice Commission has kicked off a cycle of meetings with the national sports federations to explore the aspects of this legal body, which deals with the law on sport, activity and physical education. The federations of sports hunting, rowing, esports and kickboxing were the first to take part in these information meetings.
Organising Committees for the Olympic Games
Tokyo 2020
The Tokyo Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled the official outfits that will be worn by the Field Cast and City Cast staff and volunteers. This is the “cast” of people – more than 110,000 of them – who will welcome and provide support to spectators, athletes and other visitors during the Games. The two styles of blue-and-white shirts have been made with the environment – and the comfort of the wearer – in mind. The uniform and its accessories have been designed and produced in association with the Tokyo 2020 official sportswear provider, ASICS Corporation. Full news releasehere.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
Lausanne 2020
The Organising Committee for the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020 has taken up “Plogging”, a Swedish concept combining jogging and litter-picking. The City of Lausanne joined the movement in 2018, launching the first edition on 2 June. The second edition took place in May 2019. Lausanne 2020 took part actively in this event, with many staff members present, including Organising Committee President Virginie Faivre. Lausanne 2020 has decided to organise a series of YOG 2020 #LausannePlogging activities with the City of Lausanne These will be held on the 20th of each month until the start of the YOG. Full detailshere.
Recognised organisations
The International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) has announced that the city of Taranto (Italy) is officially a candidate to organise the XX Mediterranean Games in 2025. On 15 July, the southern Italian city and the wider area of Apulia, with the support of the Italian NOC, was the only one to submit a candidature to host the Games. The 2025 Mediterranean Games will be awarded on 24 August 2019 in Patras (Greece) during the ICMG General Assembly. More detailshere.