Olympic Highlights
IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
At a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola, Muhtar Kent, IOC President Thomas Bach discussed the global partnership between Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement and the implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations. Muhtar Kent was accompanied by James Quincey, who will be the new CEO as of 1 May, and Ricardo Fort, Vice-President of Global Assets and Partnerships.
The IOC President met the President of the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino. Their discussions mainly focused on the preparations for the football tournaments at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and the reforms of the WADA anti-doping system.
Discussions with the President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), Anders Besseberg, focused on the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and the protection of clean athletes.
The President welcomed the President of the NOC of Kazakhstan, Timur Kulibayev, with whom he discussed a wide range of issues including the continued implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations and the successful organisation of the Winter Universiade, which was recently held in Almaty, as well as the NOC’s forthcoming 25th anniversary celebration. He also encouraged them to make further progress in the fight against doping.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the second IF Women in Leadership Forum held on International Women’s Day, the IOC President said: “Today is also a reminder that the journey to gender equality is a long one. We know that we cannot achieve equality overnight, but that we need to continuously work towards it, step by step.”
The President and the Executive Director of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE), Uri Schaefer and Detlef Dumon respectively, held discussions with the IOC President on the excellent cooperation between the two organisations in promoting the role of sport and physical education in the fields of education, health and development.
The President met IOC Member and President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpischev to discuss the development of tennis in Russia and other topics related to Olympic Agenda 2020.
The President discussed with IOC Member Gerardo Werthein the preparations for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, the WADA reforms and other topics of mutual interest.
IOC Honorary Member Carlos Arthur Nuzman informed the President about the post-Games phase of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee as well as the legacy of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
A meeting of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage was attended by the IOC President and IOC Honorary President.
The President met with the former Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes where they discussed the success and the legacy of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
other olympic news
The IOC Executive Board (EB) met on 7 March to discuss the allegations in the ongoing procedure initiated by the French judicial authorities against former IAAF President Lamine Diack and his son Papa Massata Diack, the then marketing consultant of the IAAF. The IOC EB reiterated its full commitment to cooperate with the French judicial authorities as the IOC has the status of “Partie Civile” in this ongoing procedure. As far as the allegations against the IOC Member in Namibia, Frank Fredericks, are concerned, the IOC EB emphasised the presumption of innocence and took note of his decision to step down as Chair of the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games 2024. He also announced his intention not to participate in the Candidate City Briefing 2024 for IOC Members and Summer Olympic International Federations in July in Lausanne and in the IOC Session in September in Lima, Peru, which will decide on the host city for 2024. Additionally, he has decided to provisionally suspend himself from the IOC Coordination Commission for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. The IOC President informed the IOC EB that he will appoint IOC Member Patrick Baumann, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and President of SportAccord, as the new Chair of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games 2024. Lingwei Li, IOC Member in China, will be appointed as the Interim Chair of the Coordination Commission for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Read the full press release here.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, over 65 representatives from National and International Federations, NOCs and experts took part in the second IF Women in Leadership Forum in Lausanne. The message was clear as the Forum, jointly organised by the IOC and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), came to a close. Achieving gender equality is a team effort. Women, men and sports organisations as a whole must work together to bring more women into leadership positions at all levels of sports, including management, coaching and officiation positions. Closing the Forum, Chair of the IOC Women in Sport Commission Lydia Nsekera told the participants: “We all need to know that we have a place in sport, and that power is not for men alone, far from it. It is for us as well. We need to understand also that, without support from men, our fight will be in vain!” Read the full press release here.
On 8 March, the IOC took part in a round table event organised by the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and the Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and other international organisations. On this occasion, the IOC Director General joined the International Gender Champions network. Since 2015, more than 120 leaders from the diplomatic and international communities and the private sector have committed to improving gender parity within their organisations. Also attending the round table were IOC Vice-President Yu Zaiqing, IOC EB Member Ching-Kuo Wu and IOC Members Patrick Baumann, Marisol Casado, Nenad Lalovic and Ivo Ferriani. More info on www.genderchampions.com.
Following the inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the IOC has been working with the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) and the International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) to establish a collaborative model to deliver the skateboarding events at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The IOC highlighted the recognition of FIRS as the governing body for skateboarding, while acknowledging the ISF’s extensive experience and expertise in the organisation of skateboarding events and the representation of skateboarders. Read the full press release here.
international sports federations
summer ifs
World Rowing announced that more than 500 photos were submitted for its International Women’s Day photo contest. They came from around the globe and showed women participating in all aspects of the sport. Using the theme “We’re in this together”, the photos demonstrated how women and men can work together to bring about change. One photo from each continent was chosen as the winner. Discover them here.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) welcomed Chen Long and Hendra Setiawan as its newest Integrity Ambassadors to promote clean, fair and honourable sport at a ceremony held during the All England Open, in the presence of the BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer. The introduction of Integrity Ambassadors is the latest step in the BWF’s integrity initiative – i am badminton – which began in 2015. The ambassadors will represent and promote the campaign’s values throughout the badminton world. Read the press release here.
The Foundation of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) – the International Basketball Foundation – and the organisation Generations for Peace have signed a pioneering three-year partnership to develop sport for peace programmes for young people in the capital of South Sudan, Juba. With the support of the South Sudan Basketball Federation and the South Sudan NOC, the two organisations will work together to develop 3X3 basketball programmes to address inter-tribal conflicts and improve relations among and between young people from different tribes. The aim is to help them interact, break down stereotypes and build greater tolerance, trust and understanding through sport. Read the press release on www.fiba.com and www.generationsforpeace.org.
Hockey was hailed as an “equally amazing” sport at events held in the framework of International Women’s Day. Attending the second IF Women in Leadership Forum in Lausanne, International Hockey Federation (FIH) Executive Board member Hazel Kennedy highlighted that the sport was played by as many girls and women as boys and men, and that gender equality was also being embraced within the organisational structures of the sport. Read the full story here. Furthermore, Marijke Fleuren, European Hockey Federation President, FIH Executive Board member and member of the IOC Women in Sport Commission, attended a roundtable discussion on the role of sport in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment at the UN in Geneva. Read the full story here.
From 15 January to 2 February, the International Judo Federation (IJF) was in Peru as part of its #JudoForTheWorld video series. For more than two weeks, judo events promoting the educational values of the sport were organised for the local communities. In close coordination with the Peruvian Judo Federation, the IJF developed a rich programme, from both a sporting and cultural perspective. The IJF delegation was accompanied by Colombian judo great Yuri Alvear, triple world champion and double Olympic medallist. She participated in all the activities, giving the public – made up of people of all ages – the opportunity to meet her and learn about the values that made her a great champion and the person she is today. More info at www.ijf.org.
United World Wrestling (UWW) reports that top officials in Iranian women’s wrestling visited Japan recently on a fact-finding tour of the world’s leading nation in women’s wrestling, observing training sessions and meeting with Japanese officials. Farnaz Panahizadeh, director of the Iranian Wrestling Federation’s international department and a member of UWW’s Women and Sport Commission, led the five-member delegation. The delegation visited Shigakkan University near Nagoya and toured the Ajinomoto National Training Centre in Nishigaoka, Tokyo. According to Panahizadeh, there are about 100 women actively taking part in wrestling competitions in Iran, while an additional 2,000 women reportedly practise the sport throughout the nation. More info at www.unitedworldwrestling.org
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has launched the second version of its new mobile application, with diving being the main focus. A third and final version, which will feature content on FINA’s six disciplines, will be released just before the 17th FINA World Championships in July 2017. More info about the FINA app on www.fina.org.
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) introduced obstacles to its mixed relay format for the first time with a demonstration event during the first round of the 2017 UIPM World Cup in Pomona, Los Angeles (USA). A further test event will take place during World Cup II in Cairo (Egypt) on the weekend of 25-26 March. Read the full story here.
World Rugby celebrated International Women’s Day 2017 with its #BeBoldForChange initiative to further the development, sustainability and success of women’s rugby. Under the guidance of its Women’s Advisory Committee, World Rugby will begin an unprecedented consultation process with players, fans, unions, regional associations, commercial partners and broadcasters. This comprehensive consultation process will lead to a 2017-2025 plan for women’s rugby. More info on www.worldrugby.org.
The International Surfing Association (ISA) has announced that men and women will participate in equal numbers for the first time at the 2017 ISA World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship, which will be held in Denmark from 1 to 10 September – an illustration of how the IF is continuing its drive to promote gender equality in SUP. More info on www.isasurf.org.
recognised ifs
The International Powerboating Federation (UIM)’s eighth awards gala was held once again in Monaco, and was attended by IOC Member Prince Albert II and UIM President Raffaele Chiulli. More than 450 guests from the sporting world, the boating industry and the media were present at the ceremony, which was broadcast live for the first time on UIM TV and the Olympic Channel. More info on www.uimpowerboating.com.
national olympic committees
The winners of the children’s contest "Olympic flame lights hearts" were recently announced by the NOC of Belarus (see photo). Some 1,200 applications nationwide were submitted to the organisers. The aim of the NOC’s contest was to introduce children to the Olympic values through creative arts, and to promote sport, healthy living and the incorporation of sport into education and culture. The winners of the contest “Triumph. Heroes of Sport” were announced on 25 February. The contest, in which members of the public voted for their favourite athletes, was held from 10 to 31 January. The four categories were: best team, best coach, best male athlete and best female athlete. See the full list of winners here.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, athletes from Team Chile visited the headquarters of the Foundation for Families in La Pintana. More than 40 women from underprivileged backgrounds in the commune of La Pintana attended a karate demonstration with Pan-American champion Rodrigo Rojas and Pan-American medallist Gabriela Bruna. The two athletes shared their sporting and personal experiences with those present. The event was organised jointly by the NOC of Chile and the Foundation for Families. In addition, Neven Ivan Ilic Alvárez has been re-elected as NOC President. More info on www.coch.cl.
The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the Philippine Olympic Committee recently signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in Taipei. The agreement was signed by both NOC Presidents, Hong-Dow Lin (right) and Jose Cojuangco Jr. (left). This agreement aims to encourage exchanges between the two NOCs in areas such as visits and joint training between the national teams, officials and NOC staff, and to boost cooperation in relation to coach training, medical science and anti-doping. President Lin also invited Philippine NOC staff members to participate in the 2017 International Sports Affairs Training Course in late April, as well as the 2017 Summer Universiade, which is due to take place in Taipei from 19 to 30 August. More info on www.tpenoc.net.
The Spanish NOC welcomed the President of the Iraqi NOC, Raad Hammoodi Salman Al- Dulaimi, accompanied by his Financial Secretary, Sarmad Abdoulelah Mohammed; the NOC coordinator in Spain, Hussein Hadi Ali; the Spanish Ambassador to Iraq, Juan José Escobar Stemmann; and embassy advisor Ali Shimran Hachem. The President of the Spanish NOC, Alejandro Blanco, and the Secretary General, Víctor Sánchez, held a meeting with the delegation in which they discussed matters such as cooperation between the two NOCs and the development of sport in both countries. More info on www.coe.es.
The Women and Sport Commission of the El Salvador NOC celebrated International Women’s Day by organising a Women and Sport Day. The event brought together some 55 participants from national sports federations and other entities. Some of the topics addressed included “Women, leadership and sport”; “Labels and image”; “Challenges facing women leaders in sport” and “Sporting and academic experience”. Read the full story here.
The former President of the Gambia NOC, Alhagie Momodou Dibba (see photo), died on 25 February. Having been the longest-serving Secretary General of the Gambian Football Association, he was elected NOC President in 2011. He was re-elected in 2013, but decided not to stand again in 2016. During his term in office, Gambia reached the semi-finals of the men’s 200m at the Olympic Games London 2012. Furthermore, on 4 March, at the Olympic House in Bakau, NOC Secretary General Abdoulie M. Jallow presented the NOC’s plans for the next quadrennial at the annual general meeting of the Gambian Sports Journalists Association. He also highlighted that journalists, particularly sports journalists, were key partners for the NOC to promote and develop sport in Gambia.
The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) entered into a partnership agreement with the Slovak NOC at the JOC headquarters in Tokyo. Both parties will actively support officials, staff, their own athletes and coaches in taking part in exchange programmes and benefiting from other opportunities. Both parties will exchange marketing knowledge and information and will share information in relation to the Olympic Movement. The agreement was signed by JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda (right) and Slovak NOC President Anton Siekel (left). The JOC has already signed agreements with 40 NOCs. More info on www.joc.or.jp.
The Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality have announced the launch of the Support Through Sport Project, which aims to contribute to Syrian children's physical and social development through greater accessibility to sport. The project, which is financed through the IOC Emergency Fund for Refugees, has enabled the TOC to restore and transform a hall belonging to the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality into a fully equipped sports hall. In addition, the TOC has hired trainers, interpreters, and technical officers to support the project, and has covered all the expenses. TOC President Uğur Erdener was present at the launch ceremony, along with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Deniz Köken, TOC Board member Seyit Bilal Porsun and TOC Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan, who distributed sports shoes, tracksuits and t-shirts to approximately 300 children aged between 6 and 12. More info on www.olimpiyat.org.tr
The Venezuelan NOC held an event to celebrate International Women’s Day at its headquarters in Caracas. Athletes, coaches, leaders, journalists and judges were welcomed by the NOC President, Eduardo Álvarez, and Secretary General, Elida Párraga.
Recognised Organisations
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has paid tribute to the achievements and contributions of Cheri Blauwet, awarding the triple Paralympian and prolific medical professional its International Women’s Day Recognition. She is a seven-time Paralympic medallist in wheelchair racing, as well as a quadruple winner of the Los Angeles marathon and a double winner of both the Boston and New York City marathons. Blauwet chairs the IPC’s Medical Committee, serves as a member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Expert Group, and was recently named on the United States Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors. Read the full story here.