Olympic Highlights 27/11/2023
IOC
PRESIDENT
On 21 November in New York (USA), IOC President Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet welcomed the adoption by the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of a resolution for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. The resolution was formally introduced to the General Assembly on behalf of the French Government by Estanguet, and President Bach appealed for its adoption. It was agreed on by an overwhelming majority of 118 votes in favour, with 2 abstentions, and no votes against.
In his address to the UN General Assembly (read the full speech here) in New York, President Bach spoke of the significance of the Olympic Truce at a time when the world is facing so much confrontation, division and polarisation: “In this fragile world, this Olympic Truce Resolution is more relevant than ever. In these difficult times, this resolution is our opportunity to send an unequivocal signal to the world – yes, we can come together, even in times of wars and crises. Yes, we can join hands and work together for a better future.” After noting that the title of the resolution – “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” – was the UN’s and IOC’s joint response to the challenges of our turbulent times, President Bach stated: “In this Olympic spirit, I call on you to come together, adopt the resolution, but then even more importantly: uphold this noble Olympic Truce.” He concluded with a call to all the UN Member States, when he said: “Please: give peace a chance!”
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet formally introduced the resolution to the General Assembly on behalf of the French Government (please find the full speech here). He spoke about the example that the Games and the athletes living together in the Olympic Village give in an ever more divided world: “The Village is humanity united in one place, in all its diversity. Like this United Nations General Assembly, of which you are the worthy representatives, the Village and its athletes help to show that a better world is possible.” Read the full news release here, including the full text of the resolution.
Ahead of the presentation of the Olympic Truce draft resolution to the UN General Assembly in New York, the IOC President met UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The two leaders discussed the current geopolitical situation in the world and the impact it is having on sport. Both stressed the contribution of sport to the promotion of peace and mutual understanding. They emphasised the importance of political neutrality and the autonomy of sport in order for the Olympic Movement to live up to its mission to unite the world in peaceful competition with the participation of all. This also means that sports events must be run by sports organisations and not by governments. President Bach invited the UN Secretary-General to the Games in Paris. The UN SG praised the IOC’s initiatives with regard to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and highlighted in particular gender equality, health, sustainability, climate protection and refugees. He expressed his confidence in the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Read the full news release here.
The IOC President also held a fruitful meeting with the President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis. In addition to the Olympic Truce Resolution, the two leaders discussed the current geopolitical situation and the challenges it represents for sport. In his powerful speech at the opening of the UNGA debate on the Olympic Truce, which was delivered on his behalf by UNGA Vice President Mohan Pieris, UNGA President Dennis Francis said: “Beyond their impact on development, sports are a powerful force for peace. The Olympic Games stand as a symbol of tolerance, peace and cooperation among diverse peoples, cultures and nations.” He commended the IOC “for its commitment and contribution to gender parity”, adding: “By allocating an equal number of quota places to male and female athletes, the IOC is not only leading by example, but also signalling a stride towards closing the gender pay gap.” Closing his speech, he said: “Let us continue working together to reiterate our commitment to the values of the Olympic Truce, fostering an environment where understanding and collaboration prevail over conflict and strife. As we champion the cause of sports, let us always be reminded of its transformative power, particularly among the youth, who comprise the next generation of humans to inherit this planet. I sound the clarion call: sports for peace and prosperity.”
Earlier, President Bach had taken part in a meeting organised by the United Nations Group of Friends of Sport, which is co-chaired by the Permanent Representatives of the Principality of Monaco and of Qatar to the United Nations. The meeting was open to all UN Member States.
Before speaking at the UN General Assembly, the IOC President held a meeting with the French Ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière. The discussions focused on the preparations for the Olympic Truce Resolution and for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Also in New York, the IOC President met with students from Île-de-France, who participated in a Model United Nations initiative launched by Paris 2024. The project saw the students take on the role of UN diplomats to work together towards the adoption of their own Olympic Truce Resolution.
President Bach had a meeting with NBC and the President of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Gene Sykes. They discussed the preparations for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, and the international situation.
This week in Lausanne, President Bach met the NOC President, Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Secretary General Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain. Their discussions focused on a wide range of Olympic matters, including the outcomes of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, and preparations by the Qatari team and their participation. The two men also discussed the ongoing support the NOC of Qatar is providing to the Olympic Refuge Foundation and highlighted the importance of the Joint Sports Pledge that will be presented to the Global Refugee Forum in December. President Bach also had the opportunity to meet briefly with Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, who was at Olympic House to attend the IOC Olympic Education Commission meeting.
The IOC President discussed with IOC Member Li Lingwei, several Olympic matters including the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Truce resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly.
At Olympic House, President Bach met gymnast Kim Bui from Germany. She competed in artistic gymnastics at three consecutive editions of the Games (London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020). The President presented her with a diploma and OLY pin, before she signed the Olympians Wall.
The President met the members of the Board of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), whose President is Riccardo Fraccari, during their courtesy visit to Olympic House.
President Bach attended the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony. This year’s winners are Laura Martinel, a judo coach from Argentina, and Taesuk Chang, coach of the Republic of Korea women’s épée team. Chang was unable to attend in person, so his award was received by Hee Kyung Kwang, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee’s Director of International Relations. The Awards are run by the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, which is chaired by IOC Member Sergii Bubka, who was also at the ceremony (see also under “Other Olympic News”).
This week, the President delivered welcome remarks to all the IOC commissions during their annual meetings at Olympic House.
President Bach discussed various topical Olympic issues during meetings with IOC Members Uğur Erdener, Karl Stoss, Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Jiří Kejval, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and with IOC Honorary Member Willi Kaltschmitt Luján.
COMMISSIONS
The annual 14th Advanced Team Physician Course took place in Medellín, Colombia, earlier this month. This three-day Course brought together almost 80 participants (including 30 speakers) from 20 countries, with 15 local participants from Colombia. This Course is geared towards the practical issues of working with high-level athletes in a team sports setting. The 12th IOC Course on Cardiovascular Evaluation of Olympic Athletes also took place in Medellín over two days. With more than 50 participants (12 speakers) from 17 countries, including 19 local participants from Colombia, the Course offered the attending physicians a basic knowledge of cardiovascular evaluation, in line with the protocol suggested by the IOC. Both Courses are organised under the auspices of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission, which is chaired by IOC Member Uğur Erdener.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
Laura Martinel, a judo coach from Argentina, and Taesuk Chang, coach of the Republic of Korea women’s épée team, have been announced as this year’s winners of the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award. Martinel is a longstanding judo coach from Argentina who has trained her compatriots to continental, world and Olympic victories. Chang, meanwhile, is at the forefront of growing women’s fencing in the Republic of Korea. Both are Olympians in their own right: Martinel competed at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992, while Chang also competed at Barcelona 1992, and again at Atlanta 1996. The Award, launched in 2017, recognises the vital role played by coaches in the life of any athlete – both on and off the field of play. Awarded to two coaches each year (one female, one male), they are overseen by the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission led by its Chair, Sergii Bubka. Full news release here.
International Federations
SUMMER IFS
International Hockey Federation (FIH)
On 20 November, the FIH celebrated World Children’s Day with the launch of the “Start Hockey Challenge”. The programme is aimed at encouraging and making it easier for children around the world to play hockey and cultivate a healthier lifestyle. The Start Hockey Challenge builds on the “Start Hockey Programme”, which was launched on the World Children’s Day in 2022 for communities, clubs, schools and individuals, to support the initiation into and development of hockey skills, in particular among young people with little or no hockey knowledge or background. Full details here.
International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM)
The UIPM Executive Board has chosen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to host the 73rd UIPM Congress. The elective Congress will take place on 16 and 17 November 2024 for the first time in the Saudi capital. The Congress was originally due to be held in Antigua, Guatemala, but this decision was revoked in March 2023 after the IOC suspended the Guatemala Olympic Committee. Full info here. The Ad-hoc Working Group charged with formalising the integration of the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) into the UIPM has met for the first time under the chairmanship of UIPM President Klaus Schormann. The group agreed on five principles for the integration, based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Bath, Great Britain, last August. Full details here.
World Aquatics
With the aim of preparing international athletes from the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme for major global competitions, World Aquatics has announced an agreement with the Fédération Française de Natation and the Cercle des Nageurs d'Antibes to open the latest World Aquatics Training Centre. Selected athletes will benefit from a one-year programme in an environment conducive to them reaching their full potential for optimal preparation for the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships and the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Full info here. The calendar for the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 has been revealed. The competition will take place in three Asian cities over three consecutive weeks in October and November 2024. More details here.
World Athletics
On 22 November, with just 100 days to go until the start of the Glasgow 24 World Athletics Indoor Championships, the Local Organising Committee confirmed that the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) will bring an exhibition to Glasgow. The MOWA exhibition will celebrate more than 170 years of indoor track and field athletics, featuring the museum’s indoor athletics collection of competition artefacts dating from the 1880s to 2023. The exhibition will be free to attend and open throughout the day from Saturday 3 February to Sunday 3 March 2024 inclusive. More info here.
World Sailing
The World Sailing Council met on the final day of the 2023 World Sailing Annual Conference in Malaga, Spain. Following the approval at last year’s Conference of a new Constitution to be implemented at the start of 2025, a number of preparatory regulation changes were unanimously approved. The Olympic Vision document, which outlines the roadmap for sailing in Olympic classes through to 2032, was also adopted. The World Sailing Annual General Meeting was then held on 18 November in Malaga, with 52 Member National Authorities represented. Full info here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
During an event held at its headquarters, the HOC unveiled the route for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 torch relay, which will take place in Greece from 16 to 26 April 2024. Greek Deputy Sports Minister Yannis Vroutsis, the French Ambassador to Greece, Laurence Auer, and HOC President and IOC Member Spyros Capralos were present on this occasion. According to the Chairman of the HOC Olympic Torch Relay Commission, Thanasis Vassiliadis, the first torchbearer will be Tokyo 2020 rowing gold medallist Stefanos Douskos, while the flame will be carried last by the men’s national water polo team, led by Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Giannis Fountoulis, into the Panathenaic Stadium, where it will be handed over to Capralos, who will pass it on to the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. Around 600 torchbearers will carry the Olympic flame in Greece, covering over 5,000 kilometres and 41 municipalities. Full details here.
Moroccan NOC (CNOM)
The CNOM hosted the third seminar for technical and sports directors organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) on 10 and 11 November 2023 in Rabat. More than 60 representatives from 43 NOCs took part. The seminar enabled them to discuss and share their knowledge and experience, and create a network to ensure that their athletes are properly prepared for the upcoming Olympic Games. ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg visited the NOC headquarters on this occasion. More details here on the CNOM website and here on the ANOC website.
Paraguayan NOC
On 17 and 18 November, the NOC headquarters hosted an international forum on diversity, inclusion and gender equality, attended by around 80 representatives of federations, organisations and institutions active in the field of sport. Organised by the NOC’s gender equality commission, the forum provided a platform for discussion and underlined the need to continue working collaboratively to achieve gender equality in sport. More details here.
Portuguese NOC
The NOC President, José Manuel Constantino, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lisbon at a ceremony held on 22 November at the Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH). The ceremony was attended by the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and a large audience made up of teachers; students; sports federation leaders; government representatives, including Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Parliamentary Affairs, and João Paulo Correia, Secretary of State for Youth and Sport; the President of the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, Vítor Pataco; FMH President Luís Bettencourt Sardinha; the rector of the university, Luís Ferreira; and a number of Constantino’s friends and family members. In his speech, the Portuguese President underlined Constantino’s immense contribution to the Portuguese Olympic and sporting movement, and said that the ceremony marked a day of celebration for sport, as it was paying tribute to a man who had dedicated his life to his passion, sport, and who was a remarkable advocate for the Olympic spirit in Portugal. Full details here.
Spanish NOC (COE)
The COE headquarters was recently the venue for the second International Olympic Journalism Congress, attended by a large number of communication professionals. Opened by COE President Alejandro Blanco, the Congress was organised by the COE, in collaboration with the National Sports Council. With coverage of the Games in Paris as the main theme, this year’s congress looked at the role of social media, META innovations, and the written press, radio and television. There was also a presentation on communications strategy and the IOC’s Olympic Information Service. Full details here. In addition, as part of the COE’s sustainable development strategy, after working together for more than six months, the COE and the ACCIONA company have developed a water footprint calculator. This is used to measure both consumption and impact, in order to identify action to be taken for more efficient water use management. Full details here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PARIS 2024
From Thursday 30 November, over 400,000 tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 will be on sale covering all sports (excluding surfing, which is accessible for free). Tickets for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also be available, with prices starting at €90 for the Opening Ceremony which takes place on the banks of the river Seine. Visit the Paris 2024 Official Ticketing website from 30 November at 10am CET. Read the news release here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
International Olympic Academy (IOA)
The IOA has announced that the 2024 annual Congress and General Assembly of the Association of the European Olympic Academies (EOA) will be hosted by the Hellenic Olympic Academy and the IOA, at the IOA’s premises in Ancient Olympia (Greece). This decision was unanimously taken by the EOA Board during the EOA Congress, held from 8 to 11 November in Vilnius (Lithuania).
Hosted by the Lithuanian Olympic Academy, the Congress was attended by delegates from 22 European Olympic Academies, along with guests and representatives from the IOC, the IOA and the European Olympic Committees (EOC). The IOA delegation was made up of the new IOA Director, Makis Asimakopoulos, and the IOA National Olympic Academy Relations Manager, Alexandra Karaiskou. IOA President Isidoros Kouvelos delivered a speech via video message. More details here on the IOA website. This year, the EOA Congress was “The Olympic Movement in a Changing World”. There were extensive debates and lectures on topics ranging from human rights and the autonomy of sport to safeguarding and challenges as a result of current global uncertainties. Practice-oriented workshops also allowed for valuable exchanges between the National Olympic Academy representatives and highlighted the considerable development potential for Academies in the future. In addition to the discussions and a unique cultural programme, the members of the EOA members held their General Assembly, which saw four new Academies join the EOA. Full report here on the EOA website.
Panathlon International
The Panathlon International Domenico Chiesa Foundation organised the award ceremony of the “Sport, Mountain & Olympism – Snow & Ice Sports” competition, in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (FICTS). The ceremony took place on 11 November as part of the Sport Movies & TV 2023 festival in Milan, Italy. Among the personalities present were Panathlon International President Pierre Zappelli and the Secretary of the Foundation, Maurizio Monego, who announced the names of the winners. Detailed info here.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA has launched a new social media campaign entitled “Natural is Enough”. Via this campaign, co-funded by the European Union, WADA is inviting young people across Europe to join the “natural training movement” by shunning the use of anabolic steroids. To do so, WADA has activated a team of natural fitness influencers to spread the word on social media. Read the full news release here.