Olympic Highlights
IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
During a visit to the IOC headquarters by Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, IOC President Thomas Bach discussed preparations for the Olympic Games Rio 2016, including the role and support of Worldwide TOP Partner Coca-Cola. The two leaders also discussed the overall partnership between Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement before visiting The Olympic Museum. Muhtar Kent was accompanied by his Chief Marketing Officer, Marcos de Quinto, and Group Director Peter Franklin.
President Bach met Sheikh Saoud from Qatari NOC. Alongside with the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations and the coming Olympic Games Rio 2016, discussions focused on the role of sport in Qatar.
The President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), Ivo Ferriani, discussed with the President the preparations for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
The Executive Board of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage held a meeting this week with the participation of the IOC President and Honorary President, Jacques Rogge.
Upon invitation from IOC Member, HSH Prince Albert II, the IOC President attended the Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco. On this occasion, he met the President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Jean Todt, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone. During his visit at the Formula 1 Pit, he had the opportunity to meet a number of drivers and teams.
While in Monaco, the IOC President visited the office of the President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Alisher Usmanov, who had invited him during a meeting in Lausanne earlier this week. Their discussions focused mainly on the preparations of the fencing competitions of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
MEMBERS
IOC Executive Board Member Anita L. DeFrantz has represented the IOC at a round table on women in sport, co-hosted by the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Sport, Linda Hofstad Helleland, and the Minister of Children and Equality Solveig Horne. Held in Bergen on 24 and 25 May, the meeting was in response to the call by IOC for the Norwegian Government to join in an effort to promote female leaders in sport in the Youth Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer 2016. The event gathered around 30 participants representing the Olympic Movement, athletes, governments, NGOs, United Nations and civil society. The Bergen meeting was the start of an effort to advocate female leadership in sport.
COMMISSIONS
During a visit in Tokyo, John Coates, Chair of Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, accompanied by Alex Gilady, Vice-Chair of the Commission, met with Yoshiro Mori, Tokyo 2020 President and the leadership of Tokyo 2020. They discussed a range of issues related to the preparations for the Games. During a joint press conference, John Coates expressed satisfaction with the state of preparations and reiterated the IOC’s co-operation with any investigations regarding the allegations against the candidature of Tokyo for the Olympic Games 2020.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
The IOC announced on 27 May that reanalysis of the “A” samples from 23 athletes in five sports and from six NOCs who competed at the Olympic Games London 2012 has returned Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs). In total, 265 selected doping samples from the Olympic Games London 2012 were reanalysed, all based on intelligence-gathering that began in August 2015. The reanalysis programme is ongoing, with the possibility of more results in the coming weeks. The athletes, NOCs and IFs concerned are already being informed, after which the proceedings against the athletes can begin. All athletes found to have infringed the anti-doping rules will be banned from competing at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. A disciplinary commission, which has the full power to take all the decisions on behalf of the IOC, has already been appointed by the IOC President. Complete press release here.
On the occasion of the 69th World Health Assembly currently taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Brazilian Minister of Health Ricardo Barros paid a visit to the IOC headquarters on 24 May. Talking to IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper and IOC Medical and Scientific Director Richard Budgett, Minister Barros reaffirmed the commitment of the Brazilian government to put in place all the necessary measures to protect the health and safety of all people attending the Olympic Games Rio 2016 this August. Minister Barros said that he had met both the Governor and Mayor of Rio de Janeiro last week, and confirmed that measures already put in place to combat the spread of Zika are rigidly being followed and are having a positive impact. Complete press release here.
Furthermore, the IOC praised the adoption of a “historic” report by the WHO on the international fight against childhood obesity. For the first time, through this report, the WHO has placed as much importance on physical activity as diet. The fight against childhood obesity is a major cause for the WHO, which on 26 May adopted a detailed report on this issue calling for action, and in which the Olympic Movement is fully involved, in particular through the work of Jacques Rogge. Indeed, the IOC Honorary President (who was President from 2001 to 2013) represented the sports/physical activity sector on the 11-member commission, which worked on this report for two years. Complete press release here.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
The World Rowing Federation (FISA) has announced that the Thomas Keller Medal for 2016 has been awarded to twin sisters Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand. After winning the World Championships in double sculls the sisters claimed two consecutive Olympic titles, the first at the 2004 Games in Athens, and the second in Beijing 2008. After retiring in 2008 they continued to be a source of inspiration for many New Zealanders, and the growth of high school girls’ rowing can in part be attributed to them. The medal was presented by Dominik Keller, son of the late Thomas Keller, a former FISA President, at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 28 May. More info on www.worldrowing.com.
The official FIBA EuroBasket 2017 logo was revealed to the world via the International Basketball Federation’s social media platforms on 25 May. The competition will be organised jointly by Finland, Israel, Romania and Turkey from 31 August to 17 September 2017. The final phase will be held in Istanbul (Turkey). More info on www.fiba.com.
The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), IOC Executive Board Member Ching-Kuo Wu visited Iran as a guest of the Iranian Boxing Federation President Ahmad Nategh Noori. They discussed strategies increasing the sport’s visibility in the country and the potential for increasing the National Federation’s role within AIBA, including the future hosting of international events. President Noori also underlined his commitment to the development of women’s boxing. Dr Wu also met with the Iranian Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mahmoud Goudarzi and the President of the Iranian NOC, Kioomars Hashemi, with whom the creation of an Iran Boxing Academy was among the subjects under discussion. More info on www.aiba.org.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has launched its international #TwoHearts campaign with a video celebrating the unique and extraordinary bond between riders and their horses. It has been released a little under three months before the start of the equestrian events OF the Olympic Games Rio 2016, which will take place at the Deodoro Olympic Park. Some 200 horses and riders from 43 countries will compete for the six gold medals in jumping, dressage and eventing. You can watch the video here. More info on www.fei.org.
As part of the legacy programme of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016, which will take place from 30 September to 21 October 2016, a regional women’s football development seminar was held in Jordan between 17 and 20 May. During the three-day programme, which was focused on West Asia, the seminar brought together general secretaries, technical directors and women’s football development managers from Bahrain, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, and Iran, as well as representatives from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) and the U-17 World Cup local organising committee. The topics covered ranged from the status, potential and future of women’s football development in West Asia, to participation, strategic planning, promotion, marketing, grassroots, youth and league development. More info at www.fifa.com.
After Japan, Cuba, Brazil and Turkey, the International Judo Federation (IJF) has just released the latest episode of the #JudoForTheWorld series, which features the Judo Educational Journey Through Australia in Oceania. Developed three years ago, the purpose of the ‘Judo Educational Journey’ is to promote the educational values and philosophy of judo, to focus on the younger generations and to show how judo can teach them skills for life to become better citizens. Organised by the IJF and the Judo Federation of Australia, the Judo Educational Journey made several stops along the route from Brisbane to Sydney, via Bamaga in the tip of Australia, via Melbourne and Adelaide. The next episodes of the Judo for the World series will feature Zambia in Africa and Hungary in Europe. More info on www.ijf.org.
Nine intensive months into the "FINA Targeting Rio 2016 – Scholarships Programme”, International Swimming Federation (FINA) Head Coach Miguel Angel Lopez and other key staff working at the Thanyapura Centre in Thailand produced the first two reports of the year. The evaluation reports, produced every two months, make an in-depth individual analysis of the athletes’ improvements and highlight their strengths and weaknesses over several months. Most of the young swimmers (16 in total) have secured a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games Rio 2016, in accordance with the universality principle that is part of the Olympic Charter. More info at www.fina.org.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has signed an agreement with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) to encourage the development of the practice of sport by all university students. Under the terms of the contract, FISU and ITU will work together to organise seminars and training courses for coaches, managers and technical officials, and ITU will support the organising committees with the operational and technical aspects of the competitions. Joint educational initiatives will also be set up to protect sport against the dangers of doping and violence. FISU and ITU will also promote sustainability, fair play and integrity and work together to fight all forms of racism in sport. More info on www.triathlon.org.
World Sailing has appointed Massimo Dighe of Italy as Para World Sailing Manager. Dighe, who competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, will start work in early July. He will be responsible for managing and building key relationships within World Sailing and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). More info on www.sailing.org.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Coaches representing sports clubs and federations from Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries took part in a Level 4 training course organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee Sports Training and Development Centre. The course, which ran from 22 to 26 May, was part of the National Coaching Programme on the theme Introduction to Strength Development. A number of points were brought up, including evaluating different types of strength in the field and the lab, advanced methods of strength training using velocity to improve quality, and adapting training methods to the development level of the athlete. More info on www.boc.bh.
The Ordinary General Assembly of the Cameroon NOC, chaired by NOC President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, took place on 10 May in Yaoundé. Members of the NOC’s statutory organs, federation presidents, heads of affiliated organisations, and regional Olympic and sports committees and specialised commissions took part. The Assembly, which was opened by the Minister for Sport and Physical Education, tackled the modification of the NOC statutes, the appointment of members to the ethics committee and the presentation of awards to some of the people who have had the greatest impact on sport in Cameroon.
On 24 May the President of the Spanish NOC, Alejandro Blanco, welcomed coaches and team managers of the national federations with athletes who have qualified or who are hoping to qualify for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 to the NOC headquarters in Madrid. The participants were given technical and logistical information and details about social media strategy. NOC staff, including the Chef de Mission of the Spanish Olympic delegation, Cayetano Cornet, also gave them useful information about the Rio Games. More info on www.coe.es.
The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Thomas Carter, presented sports equipment for the practice of boccia, a Paralympic sport, to the Autonomous Sports Confederation of Guatemala (CDAG) and the Guatemalan NOC. Fifteen sets of equipment were donated by the British Boccia Federation. The ceremony (see photo above) was attended by athletes Eimy Losley, Andrea Herrera and José Luis Reyes, who are members of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, NOC President Gerardo Aguirre, President of the Guatemalan Paralympic Committee, Marta Juliana Acajabón and Alma Paredes, adaptive sports representative of the CDAG. More info on www.cog.org.gt.
The Japanese NOC has announced that it is appointed a panel to investigate the Tokyo 2020 bid activities. Yoshihisa Hayakawa, Professor of Law at Rikkyo University, has been appointed to chair the investigation panel. He is also chairman of the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel and a member of the World Rugby Judicial Panel. The other two members are Kazuki Shishido, lawyer and vice-chair of the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, and Keiichi Kubo, a public accountant in Japan and Canada. The panel held its first meeting on 26 May in the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo. More info on www.joc.or.jp.
On 21 May more than 15,000 peoples of all ages celebrated Olympic Fest, Moldova’s biggest multi-sports event, in the streets of Chisinau (see photo above). The festivities coincided with the country’s National Day of Sports and the Olympic Movement, which was created in December 2015. The festival kicks off the national Olympic month, typically celebrated with sports events, competitions, conferences and a variety of cultural and educational events. Thirty federations, associations and clubs hosted contests, mini-tournaments, demonstrations and training courses. The participants were given the opportunity to try out new sports and meet coaches and athletes, some of whom will represent the Republic of Moldova at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Participants included the President of the Moldovan NOC, Nicolae Juravschi, Minister for Youth and Sports Victor Zubcu and the guest of honour, IOC Member in the Ukraine Valeriy Borzov, who was visiting Moldova at the invitation of the NOC.
The NOC of Singapore has informed us that the annual Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim (SOF-Peter Lim) Scholarship awards ceremony was held recently (photo above). Along with 308 student-athletes and their family members, the ceremony saw the presence of double Olympic silver medallist (Beijing 2008 and London 2012), the American volleyball player Logan Tom and football players from the Valencia Football Club (VCF), who joined Peter Lim, principal benefactor of the Scholarship and owner of the VCF, and Chris Chan, board member of the Singapore Olympic Foundation. Since its launch in 2010, the SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship has been awarded to 1,758 promising young athletes from financially challenged backgrounds to help them achieve their sporting goals. Seven former recipients of the Scholarship have qualified for the Olympic Games Rio 2016. More info on www.sof.sg and www.singaporeolympics.com.
This year, the Turkish Olympic Committee is celebrating Olympic Day by organising activities in four cities: İstanbul, Mersin, Gaziantep and Eskişehir. The celebrations started in Mersin on 15 May, when children and youngsters were given the opportunity to try a number of sports in a shopping mall. Information stands were also available to provide further details on the different disciplines. At Asfa College in Istanbul on 23 May over 300 students took part in activities (photo above) and attended an interactive presentation on Sports Culture and Olympic Education. Certificates were awarded to each participant in the activities in Mersin and Istanbul. The Olympic Day celebrations will continue in Gaziantep on 28 May before coming to an end on 4 June in Eskişehir. More info on www.olimpiyat.org.tr.
It was at the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC in Caracas that the Venezuelan delegation flagbearer for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 was revealed. Olympic épée champion Rubén Limardo won the most support in a vote in which all Venezuelans were invited to participate. A junior world champion and triple gold medallist at the Pan-American Games (2007, 2011 and 2015), Rubén Limardo won the Olympic title at the Games in London in 2012, and took silver at the World Championships in Budapest in 2013.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
RIO 2016
The song A Vida de Viajante (Life of a Traveller), written by Brazilian artist Luiz Gonzaga, has become the anthem of the Olympic torch relay for Rio 2016. Drawing on Brazil’s varied musical heritage, a group of contemporary artists have revived the traditional song, from one of the country’s most important musicians of the 20th century, to feature the recognisable rhythms of samba, funk and forró, a genre popular in the north of Brazil. The song begins with the distinctive accordion of Gonza before bringing in the voice and guitar of pop star Marcelo Jeneci. Click here to listen to the song. Complete press release here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
At the 37th seminar of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in Tarragona (Spain), NOC representatives from Europe heard reports from a representative of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the chairs of the EOC Athletes’ Commission and Olympic Culture and Heritage Commission, and the organising committees of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. They also received updates from senior representatives of the IOC: the Deputy Director General for Relations with the Olympic Movement, Pere Miró, the Deputy Director of Olympic Solidarity, Pamela Vipond, and Integrity Manager of Ethics and Compliance, Ingrid Beutler. Ms Beutler briefed delegates about their role, obligations and responsibilities in helping to protect the integrity of sport. She spoke about the global context of competition manipulation and presented the specific measures that will be taken at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. A number of NOCs have already collaborated with the IOC to gear up their processes for the prevention of competition manipulation at national level. The NOCs of Austria, Norway and the Netherlands shared their strategies of taking a proactive approach in protecting clean athletes and a clean sport. More info on www.eurolympic.org.
At its 20th International Congress and 47th Electoral Ordinary Assembly, which took place from 20 to 22 May in Antwerp (Belgium), Panathlon International elected Pierre Zappelli (Switzerland) as President for a four-year term,. He replaces outgoing President Giacomo Santini of Italy. Pierre Zappelli was President of the Lausanne Panathlon Club from 2008 to 2012, then President of the national panathlon federation of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein from 2012 to 2016. More info on www.panathlon.net.