Olympic Highlights 24/07/2023
IOC
PRESIDENT
Ahead of the One Year to Go mark before the Olympic Games Paris 2024, an online media roundtable with IOC President Thomas Bach was held on 18 July. Some 200 journalists from around the world joined the press briefing, during which the President shared his impressions and insights about the event from Olympic House in Lausanne. “My expectations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 are the expectations of millions around the globe. The world will come together in Paris one year from now in peaceful competition,” said the President. He continued: “Paris 2024 will be the first Olympic and Paralympics Games to be planned and delivered in line with the reforms of our Olympic Agenda. Paris 2024 will be sustainable, urban, inclusive and youthful Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of these are reasons why Paris 2024 will be the first ever Olympic Games with gender parity. Paris 2024 will ignite a new era of Olympic and Paralympic Games. We can look forward to a spectacular celebration of the unity of our world in all our diversity.” Regarding the participation of athletes with a Russian and Belarusian passport at Paris 2024, the President highlighted that no decision will be taken at the next IOC Session, which will take place in Mumbai, India, from 15 to 17 October 2023. Download here the VNR.
IOC President Thomas Bach attended the start of the Super Sprint World Championship finals on Saturday 15 July in Hamburg (Germany). Invited by IOC Member and World Triathlon President Marisol Casado, President Bach saw France’s Cassandre Beaugrand take the women’s title and New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde take the men’s crown, with an enthusiastic crowd watching on in front of Hamburg town hall. After the race, he presented the medals in the women’s category to Beaugrand, Beth Potter from Great Britain and Laura Lindemann from Germany.
During a lunch with Casado and the World Triathlon Board members, he discussed World Triathlon’s preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the implementation of the IOC guidelines for International Federations and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions, which are being implemented by World Triathlon, and the further development of sport.
In Hamburg, the IOC President and Casado were welcomed by Martin Engelhardt, President of the German Triathlon Federation and organiser of the event, and Daniel Unger, who won the Triathlon World Championship in 2007 in Hamburg, and is now working as a triathlon coach.
On the sidelines of the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg, the IOC President met with the Mayor of Yokohama, Japan, Takeharu Yamanaka, whom he congratulated on Yokohama’s contribution to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The city held baseball and softball matches and hosted games in the football tournament, including the finals in all three sports.
The IOC President also met with Andy Grote, Senator for Internal Affairs and Sport for the City of Hamburg. Amongst other topics of mutual interest, they discussed the concept of Active Cities. Hamburg was named an Active City during the Olympism in Action Forum in 2018 in Buenos Aires and has introduced a number of programmes to get its citizens active.
At Olympic House in Lausanne, President Bach welcomed the Azerbaijan Minister of Youth and Sport, Farid Gayibov. The Olympic Games Paris 2024, the geopolitical situation and the IOC’s position were discussed. The Minister reaffirmed the position expressed in the recent declaration by the 120 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement, chaired by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, regarding the Movement’s support for the IOC and the unifying mission of the Olympic Games.
President Bach had a telephone conversation with Israeli NOC President Yael Arad. They discussed a number of Olympic topics, including the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
At Olympic House, the President met the members of the Kenyan NOC Executive Committee, chaired by IOC Member Paul Tergat, and of which IOC Member Humphrey Kayange is also a member. They spoke about a wide range of Olympic topics, including the Kenyan athletes’ preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The close cooperation with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the upcoming Olympic Games were discussed during a courtesy meeting with the SOPC Vice-President, Prince Fahd bin Jalawi.
Several topics, including the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games and the construction of the new NOC headquarters, were discussed during a meeting with the President of the Sierra Leone NOC, Prince Vandy Sualley, who led a delegation visiting Olympic House.
President Bach welcomed the Acting Secretary General of the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, Maxwell Jele, on a courtesy visit at Olympic House.
President Bach had a phone call with United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) President Gene Sykes. The topics discussed included the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, and the international situation.
At the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), President Bach attended the inauguration of the “Breaking Barriers Through Sports” photo exhibition, alongside UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya. In his speech, he highlighted the important role sport can play in promoting positive social change. “In sport, everyone is equal. The Olympic Games bring all people together in peaceful competition without discrimination: regardless of gender, sexual orientation, social status, religion or political belief. This gives sport the capacity to challenge social norms and pave the way for a more equal and inclusive society,” he said. (See also under “Other Olympic News”.)
At Olympic House, the IOC President welcomed former German wrestler Frank Stäbler, who competed at three consecutive editions of the Olympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, an edition in which he won a bronze medal). They discussed various Olympic topics, including the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024. Later, the President presented a diploma and OLY pin to him and to Australian beach volleyball player Louise Bawden, who competed at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, London 2012 and Rio 2016, and to Slovak decathlete and painter Slaven Dizdarevic, who competed at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Four creative works by Dizdarevic are currently on display at Olympic House. The three athletes signed the Olympians Wall.
The IOC President also presented a diploma and OLY pin to British rower Harriet Taylor, who competed at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Taylor also signed the Olympians Wall.
The President also welcomed the President of the Regional Sports Confederation of North Rhine-Westphalia, Stefan Klett, who was accompanied by Vice President Gisela Hinneman, Chief Executive Christoph Niessen, and Sports Director Michael Scharf. They were given an introduction to the IOC and toured The Olympic Museum.
The IOC President met Tom Buhrow, CEO of the German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne, which coordinates the sport portfolio of the first German television programme, ARD. Buhrow was accompanied by ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky and the Sport Editor in Chief of WDR, Karl Valks. They discussed the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games and the work of the IOC.
Various topical issues were discussed at a meeting with Michael Payne, a marketing consultant and former IOC Marketing Director.
Meetings were also held with IOC Vice-President Ser Miang Ng, and IOC Members the Sovereign Prince Albert II, Sergii Bubka, Anant Singh, Jiri Kejval and Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud. The discussions centred on a wide range of current Olympic topics, including the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
MEMBERS
IOC Member from Austria Karl Stoss has been appointed Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, replacing Octavian Morariu. Mr Stoss was already a serving member of the Commission, which was created as part of the Olympic Agenda reforms. IOC member Mr Morariu took the decision to stand down as the Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games following the decision by the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) to further explore an ambition to host future Olympic Winter Games in France. Read the full news release here.
WORLDWIDE OLYMPIC PARTNERS
Airbnb had offered Olympic fans the chance to enjoy a unique overnight stay (26 July) in the childhood home of Pierre de Coubertin – the Château de Mirville – to mark one year to go to Paris 2024. The Château de Mirville stay also celebrates Airbnb’s new role as an Official Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, with the property’s unique Olympic heritage set to be recognised when it hosts a stop as part of the Olympic relay next year. More info here.
Allianz continues to inspire its employees around the world to get moving, while helping to raise funds to support various initiatives which contribute to the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy by improving access to the benefits of sport for more people and communities. Celebrating this year’s Olympic Day, the Allianz World Run challenges the company’s employees to log their cumulative running distance and active minutes for 90 days, with their efforts unlocking contributions for charitable organisations when they reach certain milestones. Full news release here.
With one year to go until the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Atos is leading a huge operation with various stakeholders to test the technology it will deploy at the Games, while looking at new ways to support athletes. For Paris 2024, Atos is once again providing core Olympic Games systems such as for the management of accreditations and the official results service, as well as applications that include athlete entries for events, the competition schedule, workforce management, and the voting for the IOC Athletes’ Commission election. Full news release here.
Deloitte marked Olympic Day with the launch of an exciting month-long programme of Olympic-themed activities for its 415,000+ people, helping them to “ignite the champion within” leading up to the One Year to Go milestone for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The activities encompass a range of engaging and interactive experiences, such as short "masterclasses" featuring renowned Olympians and Paralympians (who also happen to be Deloitte professionals), suggested workouts to encourage different types of movement, and opportunities to win prizes and have a donation made in their name to the Olympic Refuge Foundation. Full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
More than 15 million people around the world took part in physical activities as part of the Let’s Move campaign for Olympic Day 2023. Over 1,000 athletes were actively engaged in the campaign, creating their own workouts and sharing Let’s Move content on their social media handles to encourage people to move. More than 160 NOCs on the five continents organised activities. Discover highlights from Olympic Day around the world here.
Celebrating those in the Olympic Movement who are taking tangible steps to tackle the climate crisis, the IOC has announced the shortlisted athletes, IFs and NOCs for the inaugural IOC Climate Action Awards. More than 70 applications were received from across the Olympic Movement for three award categories: sustainable travel, innovation and athlete advocacy. Full details here.
The Q&A regarding the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions was updated on 13 July. The Q&A addresses the current situation after the IOC issued recommendations for IFs and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions, following a request by the Olympic Summit. Read the Q&A here.
Illustrating the power of sport to act as a driver of gender equality, the “Breaking Barriers In Sports” photo exhibition was opened on 18 July at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), in the presence of the IOC President. This exhibition includes portraits contributed by the IOC of female role models who are tackling gender inequality in sport, both on and off the field of play. This new collection is a spin-off of the “Not a Women’s Job?” exhibition, launched by UNOG in 2022, with photos of women around the world who have helped to break down barriers and stereotypes in professions traditionally associated with men. Women from the world of sport are now joining astronauts, firefighters and engineers, with the collection of photos submitted by the IOC of sporting game-changers. The exhibition is just part of the IOC’s wide-ranging collaboration with the UN and other stakeholders on promoting gender equality. Read the full news release here.
In the framework of the 2023/2025 edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, the Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), with the support of its Grant Selection Committee and the IOC administration, has selected seven research projects, underlining their relevance for the strategic and operational activities of the IOC and their academic quality. The researchers will address topics related to athlete safeguarding, mental health and well-being, gender equality and the contribution of sport to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The results of the research are expected by July 2025. The OSC, whose missions include promoting research related to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement, has highlighted the importance of this programme, as it supports the ever-important dialogue and collaboration between the academic community and the IOC.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
In mid-July, the FIBA Executive Committee convened by video conference for their second meeting of 2023, in the middle of a very busy events season, culminating with the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which tips off on 25 August across the three host nations of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The topics discussed at the meeting included the qualifications for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, club competitions and FIBA’s strategic objectives. More details here. In addition, FIBA and the FIBA Foundation came together to donate a sculpture, entitled “Flow Basket”, to recognise the contributions and efforts of the city of Debrecen and the Hungarian Basketball Federation in hosting three FIBA Youth Basketball World Cups. Debrecen became the first city ever to host three consecutive FIBA Youth Basketball World Cups. Full info here.
International Canoe Federation (ICF)
The ICF and the Chinese city of Hangzhou have announced plans to hold a multi-discipline Super Cup in 2024, featuring four paddling disciplines over four days of competition, with hundreds of athletes from around the globe set to take part. The event will be one of the major events broadcast under a deal between the ICF and the Chinese Media Group (CMG). It will also be strategically aligned in the ICF major event calendar to celebrate athletes from the Olympic Games Paris 2024, providing a showcase for the latest generation of Olympic stars. Full info here.
International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)
The new FIG Yearbook has been recently published online, providing a summary of the FIG’s activities and achievements in 2022. The Yearbook reviews activities in the areas of sport, institutional affairs, media and marketing. More info here.
International Surfing Association (ISA)
The 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) will take place in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from 24 November to 3 December. It will be the 19th edition of the championship and the second time the event has been hosted by Brazil. The WJSC is being hosted by the Brazilian Surfing Confederation with the support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the State of Rio de Janeiro. More info here.
International Tennis Federation (ITF)
The ITF has announced its 2022 financial results, which show robust financial health and a major increase in funding for the international development of the game. The Annual Review also highlights much progress in 2022, including the Junior Tennis Initiative, which introduced 18 per cent more children to tennis compared to the previous year. Full detailed info here.
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
At an extraordinary meeting held at the beginning of July, the UCI Management Committee decided to adapt the current UCI rules on the right of female transgender athletes to take part in competitions on the UCI International Calendar. Full details here.
World Archery
World Archery has revealed the designs of its brand-new championship medals, designed and minted by the Monnaie de Paris. They were first in use at the World Archery Youth Championships, held from 3 to 9 July in Limerick (Ireland). These new medals replace a previous design introduced in 2011, following World Archery’s rebranding from FITA. More info here.
World Sailing
The Paris 2024 Test Event concluded on 16 July in Marseille, with many of the world’s best sailors competing across all of the Olympic classes at the venue on the edge of the city, just 5km from the world-famous Vieux-Port. For this event, athlete numbers were actually higher than they will be in August next year, when 330 athletes will attempt to win medals in one of the 10 events. Present in Marseille was Quanhai Li, World Sailing President, who met with competitors, Paris 2024 officials, World Sailing staff and volunteers, and Member National Authority officials to discuss their views on the ongoing work to prepare for the Olympic Games. More details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC)
The JOC held its annual Olympic Concert at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre on 30 June to commemorate Olympic Day. The theme of the concert, being held one year before the Olympic Games Paris 2024, was "To Believe in the Power of Dreams". The concert looked back on the history of the Olympic Games, all the way to the present day. The JOC Sports Awards for 2022 were also presented. Athletes who were successful last year were invited to the stage to talk about their motivation for Paris 2024 and future goals. More details at www.joc.or.jp.
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)
The 5th semester of the Advanced Sports Management Diploma Programme concluded recently. Organised by the OOC, represented by the Oman Olympic Academy, the programme was held in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity. Various themes were discussed during this semester, such as the management of effective communication areas, ways to improve the quality of services for institutions, marketing from a strategic perspective, and the sponsorship programme for sports institutions. The course’s participants work in the sports and Olympic administrative fields in general. Full details here.
Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC)
At the closing ceremony of the 15th Pan Arab Games on 15 July in Algiers (Algeria), the flag of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees (UANOC) was handed over by UANOC President Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal to SOPC Vice President and head of the Saudi delegation Prince Fahd bin Jalawi. Saudi Arabia will host the 16th edition of the event in 2027. Eighteen countries took part in the 2023 edition. In the Saudi delegation, 46% of the athletes were under 23 years of age, allowing the young athletes to boost their sporting experience and enrich their experiences as they met other athletes from Arab countries. Info at www.olympic.sa.
Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC)
The SNOC has reported that 478 student athletes from 37 sports received the 2023 Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Scholarship. This year, the scholarship was also awarded to a record 99 recipients in the high-performance under-18 category. Since 2011, 4,519 scholarships have been granted to help promising young athletes achieve their goals in sports excellence and support outstanding young athletes from financially challenged backgrounds. Full details here.
Spanish NOC
The NOC, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed an MoU to facilitate refugees’ access to sport. NOC President Alejandro Blanco, FEMP Secretary General Carlos Daniel Casares and UNHCR representative in Spain Sophie Muller signed this MoU, the aim of which is to encourage the integration through sport of people who are under UNHCR’s mandate. This MoU aims to promote among local governments and authorities free access for refugees to programmes, activities and sports facilities. Full details here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PARIS 2024
Representatives from the NOCs were welcomed in Paris in the framework of the Chefs de Mission seminar held from 13 to 18 July. On this occasion, the Organising Committee's vision and ambitions were shared with them, as well as the commitment to delivering a smooth experience for the athletes that will allow them to remain focused on their sporting performances. Important topics including accommodation, ticketing, transport and the ceremonies were discussed. The Paris 2024 organisers also showcased the comprehensive sustainability initiatives being implemented for the Olympic Village. The Chefs de Mission also visited both competition and non-competition venues in Paris and the surrounding region. Full news release here.
Paris 2024 has announced that, with the support of the French Government and electricity company Enedis, towns and cities across France will be able to benefit from the installation of electric terminals for events – an innovative, sustainable solution to reduce the carbon impact of events. Info here. In addition, RMC, the official radio station of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, has also become the official radio station of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. More details at www.paris2024.org.
In other news, the airline company Air France and the banking institution Caisse des Dépôts have become Official Partners of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Read here how Paris 2024, the organisers and their strategic partners are working hard to harness the power of the Games to foster economic development, reduce inequalities and promote employment.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
South American Sports Organisation (ODESUR)
The opening ceremony for the 5th South American Beach Games was held in Santa Marta (Colombia) on 14 July. It was attended by ODESUR President and IOC Member Camilo Pérez López Moreira, and the Colombian Sports Minister, Astrid Rodríguez, who declared the Games open. Athletes from the 15 ODESUR member states took part in the athletes’ parade, which marked the start of this major regional competition. This fifth edition will run until 21 July, with a range of sports and disciplines on the programme. More details here. In addition, the first workshop of the ODESUR Women's Equity and Safe Sport Commission was held on 16 July also in Santa Marta. Chaired by Jenny Martinez, Secretary General of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, the Commission presented the Action Plan based on the diagnosis provided to the NOCs. Various topics related to gender equity in sport were addressed, and opinions were exchanged on the measures needed to promote inclusion and safety in sports practice. More info at www.odesur.org.
International Olympic Academy (IOA)
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the IOA, Georgetown University and the Olympism For Humanity Alliance during a ceremony held in the Atrium of the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens (Greece). The MoU was signed by IOA President Isidoros Kouvelos and the Director of the Olympism For Humanity Alliance, Alexis Lyras. The MoU will also serve as a pledge of commitment between the three parties to jointly create educational and training programmes to benefit the Olympic Movement. More info here.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA has published new Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Guidelines and announced two webinars, one for Anti-Doping Organisation users and the other for Athlete Passport Management Unit users and ABP Expert users. Full detailed info here.
International Association of Olympic Collectors (AICO)
The 27th Olympic Collectors’ World Fair, Paris 2023, was successfully held from 23 to 25 June. The theme of this year’s edition – which was recognised as a Cultural Olympiad event by Paris 2024 – was “Sharing Our Olympic History”. The fair was officially opened with a video message from the Chair of the IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, IOC Member KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul. In partnership with the Académie de Paris’ Génération 2024 programme, 300 pupils visited the fair. The programme also included a talk on the Paris 1924 Olympic Stadium; the 7th edition of the AICO Festival of Olympic and Sports Literature; and the presentation ceremony for the AICO Olympic Collector Awards 2023. AICO partnered with the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs to stage this 27th edition. Further details about the partnership can be found here. More info at www.aicolympic.org.