Olympic Highlights 27/09/2023
IOC
PRESIDENT
IOC President Bach Thomas visited the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, which were declared open by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday 23 September. The IOC President witnessed the impressive opening ceremony in front of 80,000 spectators in the lotus-shaped stadium. “This opening ceremony was a perfect combination of digital innovation and human gracefulness,” said the President. “Congratulations to China on this inspiring event.”
On the eve of the Games, the IOC President was welcomed by the Chinese President. President Bach was accompanied by the IOC Members in China, Yu Zaiqing, Li Lingwei and Zhang Hong.
The IOC President thanked the Chinese President again for the organisation of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 under his leadership amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now, the Chinese people can benefit from the great legacy of these Games,” he said. President Xi explained how the memories of the Olympic Winter Games are still fresh in the minds of the Chinese people, and how China is nurturing the legacy of the Games with the venues being in good use. “China will make full use of the legacy of the Beijing Winter Olympics,” President Xi emphasised.
The IOC President thanked President Xi for China’s support for the latest G20 Leaders’ declaration. Bach said the IOC is committed to safeguarding the non-politicisation of sport, which is broadly supported by the world community. President Xi declared that China would fully support this position and the IOC’s initiatives. President Bach also stressed the excellent cooperation with the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) under the leadership of its President, Gao Zhidan, who also took part in the meeting alongside other Chinese officials. Amongst them were Cai Qi, the former President of the Organising Committee Beijing 2022, who is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and President Xi’s Chief of Staff; Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier; Wang Yi, Foreign Minister; and Shen Yiqin, State Councillor. Read the full news release here.
After his meeting with the Chinese President and a state banquet, and ahead of the opening ceremony, the IOC President met athletes in the Asian Games village to discuss the development of the Olympic Movement, and held a series of other meetings. He was accompanied during his stay by the IOC Members in China, Yu Zaiqing, Li Lingwei and Zhang Hong.
President Bach was welcomed to the Asian Games by the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Randhir Singh with whom he discussed the preparations for the Games after his arrival.
During his stay in Hangzhou, he had a dinner with all the IOC Members and International Sports Federation presidents present on the eve of the Games.
The IOC President also attended the opening ceremony for China House at these Games. There he was welcomed by Gao Zhidan, COC President, with whom he had lunch. Bach also went to the opening of the Hangzhou 2023 Olympic Expo in the World Tourism Museum, which is being organised in collaboration with the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH). IOC Member KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul, who chairs the IOC’s Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, accompanied the IOC President during the ceremony and his visit to the exhibition.
The visit to Hangzhou also gave the IOC President the opportunity to meet the newly appointed Chairman of Alibaba Group, Joe Tsai. With him he emphasised the continuing excellent cooperation with Alibaba, the digital transformation of sport and the impact Artificial Intelligence will have on sport. Bach also paid a visit to the Alibaba showcase in the Asian Games village.
During his tour of the village, he met volunteers and athletes from more than 40 participating NOCs.
In his discussion with the athletes he was accompanied by IOC Athletes’ Commission Vice-Chair Seung Min Ryu and member Zhang Hong. Amongst the participants was a female Afghan athlete who now lives abroad and is one of 17 athletes from Afghanistan taking part in the Games. She thanked the IOC President for the help the IOC has been offering and continues to offer the Olympic community of Afghanistan.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, the IOC President also met the Prime Minister of Korea, Han Duck-soo. They discussed the preparations for the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024.
The President and Ding Shizhong, Board Chairman and an Executive Director of ANTA Sports Products Ltd., discussed the excellent partnership between their two organisations. President Bach thanked ANTA for its commitment to sport in China and serving as an official supplier of IOC sports apparels uniforms.
The preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024 were among the topics discussed by the IOC President with Yuan Bingzhong, Vice-President of the Xinhua news agency, which is recognised by the IOC as one of four international agencies at the Olympic Games. Read the full news release here.
Before Hangzhou, the IOC President was in New York (USA) for the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During a meeting in New York, the IOC President and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, which extends a partnership that began in 2012 and was extended for the first time in 2017. It will see the two organisations continuing to work together to maximise the value of sport in shaping social norms and reaching sustainable development outcomes that impact women’s and girls’ lives daily. During the ceremony, the IOC President was accompanied by Laura Chinchilla, IOC Member in Costa Rica, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, IOC Member in Croatia, and Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, IOC Member in Saudi Arabia. “Sport has the potential to transform lives, and the extension of our partnership with UN Women will help us to ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to benefit from this unique power of sport,” said President Bach. Sima Bahous added: “Sport is an unrivalled asset to help us to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, and to ensure women’s full and equal participation in leadership and decision-making.” Read the full news release here.
In New York, President Bach met a large number of heads of state and government to discuss the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, the geopolitical situation and the unifying role of sport and of the Olympic Games in particular.
President Bach also attended the opening speeches of the 78th Session of the UNGA in the presence of representatives of the 193 Member States. The IOC has had Permanent Observer Status at the UN since 2009.
President Bach met the current UNGA President, Dennis Francis. They talked about the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the upcoming discussion about the Olympic Truce for Paris 2024 and the current geopolitical situation. Both leaders emphasized the unifying role of sport and the Olympic Games.
Also in New York, President Bach delivered a speech at the UN-Habitat-Local2030 Coalition event, during which the IOC and UN-Habitat announced a new collaboration to promote physical activity in urban environments. “We are honoured to sign a new partnership with UN- Habitat to support SDG 11, to make cities more resilient and sustainable,” said the IOC President who concluded his speech by saying: “An SDG city without sport is not a real SDG city.” For Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, “The collaboration will not only demonstrate the importance of sport as an accelerator of sustainable development in cities, but will also demonstrate how impact is accelerated when all of society engages.” Read the full news release here.
President Bach took the opportunity to meet the IOC Members present in New York: Prince Albert II, Paul Tergat, Mamadou D. Ndiaye, Luis Alberto Moreno, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, Laura Chinchilla, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud.
At the invitation of IOC Member Prince Albert II, President Bach attended a reception hosted by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.
In New York, the IOC President and the Global CEO of Worldwide TOP Partner Deloitte, Punit Renjen, spoke about their cooperation on digital strategy and transformation, and the next editions of the Olympic Games.
The President had also a phone call with Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. They spoke about the excellent partnership between their organisations and discussed the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games.
President Bach also held a bilateral meeting with Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive of the French Development Agency (AFD), with whom he discussed the AFD’s support to provide training to young Senegalese athletes who will be taking part in the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
While in New York, the IOC President joined World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for the second edition of the WHO Walk the Talk New York: Health for All Challenge, held in Central Park on 17 September. IOC Member and two-time Olympic silver medallist (10,000m) Paul Tergat also took part in the event, which was aimed at promoting health through physical activity. On this occasion, the President also met three-time Grammy award winner and Olympic fan Ricky Kej, who gave a short concert celebrating the link between sport and music.
MEMBERS
On the International Day for Peace celebrated on 21 September, Auvita Rapilla, IOC Member and Chair of the Olympism365 Commission, discussed how the Olympism365 strategy can support the global Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to creating safer and more peaceful communities in the Pacific and beyond. Read the full text here.
At the 2023 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Annual General Meeting held in Cancun, Mexico, on 24 September, IOC Member David Haggerty was re-elected as ITF President. He will serve a four-year term from 2023-2027. More info here
COMMISSIONS
At the invitation of the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC), more than 400 athlete representatives will come together for the 11th edition of the International Athletes’ Forum (IAF), which will be held on 1 and 2 October in Lausanne. They will address the most important issues faced by athletes, share best practices and discuss how to reinforce the global network of ACs. The IAF will be hosted by the IOC AC and its Chair, Emma Terho, and moderated by British Olympian Jeanette Kwakye. The plenary sessions will be live streamed online on the IOC Media YouTube channel. Full details here.
The IOC’s Coordination Commission for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026 met virtually on 20 September. Its members received updates on the continued progress that has been made in preparation for the YOG, with youth engagement and mobilisation among the key focus areas. Following the success of last year’s inaugural Dakar en Jeux festival, the 2023 edition will take place from 31 October to 4 November and up to 30,000 spectators and 2,000 athletes are expected to take part. The Commission, chaired by Kirsty Coventry, was also updated on the renovation and construction work being carried out ahead of the YOG. Full news release here.
TOP PARTNERS
As the countdown to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 continues, the Worldwide Olympic Partners are preparing to play a fundamental role in making the Games a success. In the “Road to Paris” series posted on Olympics.com, the Partners talk about some of the essential support they will be providing, and reveal their excitement at helping to shape an unforgettable Olympic experience for fans and athletes alike. Read here the interview with Felix Vo, the Paris 2024 Partnership Lead at Airbnb.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
IOC Young Leader Shiling Lin embraces AI to usher in the next generation of urban athletes. Here, Shiling tells us about her story, her journey as IOC Young Leader and her social project, GreenNwild which is in line with the IOC’s new unique digital competition, the Let’s Move Street Challenge.
At the 2023 Finance in Common Summit (FICS), Public Development Banks (PDBs) expressed their wish to “harness the power of sports and cultural industries for the Sustainable Development Goals, recognised as a source of numerous kinds of jobs, of income at various scales, and as a social lever to connect, transform and actively engage people”. Also at the FICS, held in Cartagena (Colombia) from 4 to 6 September, a roadmap to support PDBs was launched by the Coalition for Sustainable Development through Sport. The aim is to leverage sport as an innovative tool, building on the inspiring role of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, major international sports events, and the potential of the grassroots sports movement. The FICS members also welcomed the initiative proposed by France to organise a Summit on “Sport for Sustainable Development”, to be held in 2024. Full news release here.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has issued two guides to assist global sports, business and cultural event organisers and their stakeholders in monitoring, measuring and evaluating the social, economic and environmental benefits of their events using robust and evidence-driven methodology. The new guidelines are being pioneered by the IOC and the future Organising Committees for the Olympic Games to enable consistent and reliable assessment of the legacy of different editions of the Olympic Games. Full news release here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
Gender equality has been key in the FIBA commission and working group appointments for the 2023-2027 cycle, for which FIBA has just revealed the composition. Meeting in Manila, Philippines, on the eve of the FIBA World Basketball World Cup, the Central Board has ensured that 35 per cent of all FIBA commission members are women. For the first time, three out of seven FIBA commissions have female chairs, and this will also be the first time the FIBA Appeals Panel is chaired by a woman. Full details here.
International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM)
UIPM President Klaus Schormann will chair a seven-person Ad-hoc Working Group charged with formalising the UIPM’s integration of the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO). The creation of the Working Group is the next step in the process to deliver on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the UIPM and FISO Presidents in Bath (Great Britain) in August. The Working Group is scheduled to meet for the first time in November 2023. Full details here.
World Aquatics
The mascots of the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 were recently unveiled. There are “Nahim”, a playful Qatari whale shark, and “Mayfara” a walking, talking, smiling coral. These mascots are intimately tied to Qatar’s heritage and represent the inclusivity of the World Aquatics Championships and their commitment to promoting sustainability. The Championships will take place in Doha from 2 to 18 February 2024. More details here.
World Triathlon
On the eve of the 2023 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra (Spain), being held from 22 to 24 September, the 36th World Triathlon Congress saw the participation of 84 National Federation delegates in person, as well as a further 46 online. The agenda included an activities report and the event calendar for 2024. More info here. Earlier in the week, four inductees to the sixth edition of the Hall of Fame were revealed during a gala dinner. Read about them here. At the same gala event, the 2023 Award of Excellence was presented by the Women’s Committee. The award went to Saudi Arabia’s Jude Jamjoom for her extraordinary efforts to drive triathlon, gender balance and equality in her region. She received the award from the World Triathlon Women’s Committee Chair, Tomoko Wada, with World Triathlon President and IOC Member Marisol Casado in attendance. Full info here.
WINTER IFS
World Curling Federation (WCF)
During its Annual General Assembly held in Seoul (Republic of Korea), the WCF announced three new Member Associations, Pakistan, the Philippines and Puerto Rico, increasing the total number of members to 73. Both the Philippines and Puerto Rico have joined the WCF directly as Provisional Members, with Pakistan joining as a Conditional Member. Several constitutional amendments were also approved by the WCF membership. More info here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC)
The CTOC staged a flag presentation ceremony for the Chinese Taipei delegation going to the 19th Asian Games. Chinese Taipei President Tsai Ing-Wen presented the CTOC flag to Lin Hong-Dow, CTOC President and head of the delegation. A total of 521 athletes make up the delegation and will compete in 33 sports. Info at www.tpenoc.net.
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
The Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and the HOC President and IOC Member, Spyros Capralos, have signed a cooperation agreement to renovate the Athens Olympic Swimming Pool located in the Zappeion district. Under the agreement signed at the premises, the swimming pool will be transferred for 25 years from the HOC to the Municipality of Athens, which will undertake its upgrade, renovation and reopening after 11 years of inactivity. The Municipality of Athens and the HOC will jointly undertake the full restoration of the entire infrastructure. The works will be completed by 2026. Full info here.
Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC)
The SF&OC and the Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC), have signed an MoU on the Hong Kong Athletes’ Education Programme to support athletes in academic and sports development. This partnership will provide all-round learning opportunities to the members of Hong Kong Athletes Career and Education Department (HKACED) through the SF&OC by offering flexible admission arrangements and scholarships. The MoU was signed by Timothy Tsun Ting Fok, SF&OC President, and Kim Mak, CIHE & CBCC President. More info here. In addition, a delegation of around 660 athletes participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. The total delegation size is around 940 people, the biggest in history. More info here.
Moroccan NOC (CNOM)
Meeting on 20 September, the CNOM Executive Committee, chaired by Faïçal Laraichi, discussed a number of points including the CNOM management and governance structure and budgets, the progress of logistical preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and Olympic qualification progress. More details here.
Oman (OOC)
The 16th semester of the Advanced Sports Management Diploma Programme started recently. Organised by the OOC, represented by the Oman Olympic Academy, and held in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, this semester is focused on the organisation of major sports events. Among the lecturers was Diamil Faye, senior advisor to the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Various themes will be discussed during this semester such as evaluating sporting events and their suitability for organisation, identifying the main stages of organising such events from initial planning to implementation, setting the appropriate legal and practical framework, and identifying and managing the necessary human resources. The programme will conclude next October. Full info here.
Spain (COE)
The COE and NGO PGR have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting sport, sustainability and inclusion. The agreement was signed by COE President Alejandro Blanco and PGR Chair Patricia García, who competed in rugby sevens at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. This agreement makes PGR one of the NGOs to which entities and sports bodies seeking to obtain the COE’s Sustainable Sports Event Plus label can contribute donations or social activations. The COE will also serve as a link between PGR and athletes wanting to work with it. More details here.
Venezuelan NOC
On 20 September, one month before the start of the Pan-American Games Santiago 2023, NOC President María Soto, the Head of the National Sports Institute, Ninoska Clocier, and the Chef de Mission of the Venezuelan team going to the Games, Luis Seijas, gave a press conference at the National Sports Institute in Caracas. More than 300 Venezuelan athletes including 20 Olympians will be going to Santiago (Chile). In addition, 10,000m inline skating junior world champion Daniela Bustamante recently visited the NOC headquarters, where she was welcomed by María Soto and NOC Secretary General Katiuska Santaella. Bustamante won her world title in Montecchio Maggiore (Italy) at the end of August.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA has announced its plan to promote clean sport through its Athlete Engagement and Independent Observer (IO) teams during the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou. WADA’s Athlete Engagement team will be present at the Games to deliver the One Play True Team campaign while raising awareness about and promoting clean sport. The team will run the programme jointly with the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency and the Olympic Council of Asia. More details here. Meeting on 22 September in Shanghai, China, the WADA Executive Committee members approved the 2024 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods and were updated on WADA’s progress with its strategic and operational priorities. Full info here. In addition, WADA has launched a call for proposals for its 2024 Social Science Research Grant Program. Details here.
Panathlon International (PI)
PI is a long-standing partner of the International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT) and, since 2018, a PI/CSIT World Games Award has been presented in recognition of deserving individuals from the world of sports ethics. This year, at the conclusion of the CSIT World Sports Games in Cervia (Italy), the award was presented to Israeli Avi Sagi, who has dedicated his life to uniting people through sport. He received the award from PI President Pierre Zappelli. More details here and also on CSIT website.