Venezuelan NOC news
30 Oct 2023 - Find here the latest news from the National Olympic Committee: events, courses, general assemblies and elections, trophies and much more.
30 october 2023 - Over 60 athletes have received their OLY certificate from the World Olympians Association (WOA) and the Venezuelan Olympians Association (AVAO). The ceremony was attended by Inés Remersaro, a Uruguayan Olympian and manager for the Americas at the WOA. NOC President María Soto and Secretary General Katiuska Santaella visited the home of Julio César León, the first Venezuelan Olympic athlete, to give him his OLY certificate. Now aged 98, he competed in cycling at the Olympic Games London 1948. In addition, NOC President Soto was elected Vice-President of Centro Caribe Sports for the period 2023-27 at the organisation’s General Assembly.
27 September 2023 - 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.
27 June 2023 - The NOC headquarters hosted the 2023 edition of Olympic Day. A sports festival was held, with the participation of all the national sports federations affiliated to the NOC. Numerous activities were organised for the local community, in particular schoolchildren. During the Day, a number of personalities were presented with an NOC award, including NOC 1st Vice-President Elida Párraga, NOC Director Zobeira Hernández and Youth and Sports Minister Mervin Maldonado.
16 June 2023 - At a press conference held on 13 June, the NOC announced its flagbearer and delegation for the Central American and Caribbean Games, which will be held from 23 June to 8 July in San Salvador (El Salvador). Some 472 athletes will take part in the 24th edition of these Games. Among those present at the press conference were NOC President María Soto; the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mervin Maldonado; and the President of the National Institute of Sport, Ninoska Clocier.
25 april 2023 - The recently created Venezuelan Olympic Athletes Association (AVAO) has held its first general assembly. Almost 30 Olympic athletes gathered in the Venezuelan NOC auditorium, while others took part virtually. The assembly was coordinated by Amaranta Acosta, representative for the Americas at the World Olympians Association (WOA), with NOC President and Olympian María Soto in attendance. Alejandra Benítez was elected President of the AVAO.
03 April 2023 - The NOC of Venezuela recently held its General Assembly, during which representatives of 41 national sports federations took part. NOC President María Soto presented the NOC activity report for 2022, highlighting the success of the Morochito Rodriguez grant programme, which supported 183 recipients. The Assembly approved the NOC's 2022 management report and the draft budget for 2023.
16 March 2023 - The NOC celebrated International Women’s Day through its female representatives at the Panam Sports conference on women and sport held in Panama City. NOC President María Soto, Secretary General Katiuska Santaella and Vice-President Elida Párraga took part. At the NOC headquarters, the women present were also honored for their work and their contribution to sport. Nine of the 12 members of the NOC’s Board of Administration are women, and for the first time in its history, the NOC has a female President.
16 February 2023 - On 7 February, the NOC signed a medical assistance agreement with Grupo Nueve Once. This agreement will benefit athletes, coaches and sports leaders. Grupo Nueve Once is part of the “Agents of Change” programme run by the NOC since 2021 to support the entities that contribute to the development of Venezuela through health promotion.
14 November 2022 - The Venezuelan NOC Board has approved the creation of the "Morochito" Rodríguez Scholarship, named after Venezuela’s fist Olympic gold medallist. The scholarship – for athletes, coaches and sports federations – will be offered alongside the IOC Olympic Solidarity and Panam Sports scholarships.
28 October 2022 - As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, on 18 October the Venezuelan NOC organised an educational focus day to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. The NOC auditorium hosted a discussion and presentation session entitled “A simple check can save your life” (“Un toque puede cambiar tu vida”). A number of women, including a doctor, a patient in remission and a survivor, shared their knowledge and experiences, reiterating the importance of prevention and every individual fight against the illness.
04 October 2022 - Venezuela’s first Olympic champion, boxer Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez, celebrated his 77th birthday at the Venezuelan NOC headquarters on 20 September. At the Venezuelan Olympic Museum, the gold medallist could see the gloves he was wearing when he achieved his historic victory at the Olympic Games Mexico 1968. NOC President María Soto and Board members Elida Párraga and Alejandra Benítez were with him, alongside his wife, Sabina de Rodríguez, his son, Franco Rodríguez, and his granddaughter, Franyelys Rodríguez.
20 September 2022 - The President of the Venezuelan NOC, María Soto, recently met Cristián Morales Fuhrimann, the representative for the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) in Venezuela. The aim of the meeting, as well as strengthening relations between the institutions, was to work together to promote prevention measures against COVID-19 and other illnesses via a vaccination campaign that also promotes healthy lifestyles. The importance of the example set by high-level Venezuelan athletes in this regard was underlined.
18 March 2022 - The Venezuelan NOC’s Women in Sport Commission celebrated International Women’s Day at the NOC headquarters. On this occasion, Venezuelan sports personalities were recognised for their work and contribution to sport. The celebrations concluded with the opening of the “Heroines of Venezuelan Sport” exhibition of photographs by NOC photographer Edilzon Gamez.
7 January 2022 - The Venezuelan NOC started the new year by unanimously approving the report and accounts for 2021. In all, the representatives of 49 national federations and the athletes approved these documents. In addition, the photo gallery of photographer Edixon Gamez, entitled “La puerta a París Cali-Valle 2021”, was inaugurated. This collection of photos illustrates the participation by the Venezuelan team in the first Junior Pan-American Games in Cali-Valle (Colombia) last year.
25 October 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC was involved in the donation of 10 surfboards to the Jhonaikel Bolívar Foundation in the state of La Guaira. The NOC helped to transport the sports equipment into the country. The equipment was provided by Olas del Alma, a non-profit organisation based in Argentina that supports children and teenagers in vulnerable situations. In addition, a new waste-collection event recently took place in Mare Abajo, La Playita de Catia La Mar.
15 October 2021 - Forty-two days before the first Pan-American Junior Games in Cali-Valle, the Venezuelan NOC presented the uniform of the Venezuelan delegation for these games. The ceremony took place at the NOC headquarters, with NOC President Eduardo Álvarez, among others, in attendance. Some 180 young Venezuelan athletes will take part in these games from 25 November to 5 December 2021.
08 October 2021 - No sooner have the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ended than the Venezuelan NOC is already turning its attention to the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Games. The NOC’s Technical Commission, chaired by Luis Seijas, recently met at the NOC’s headquarters, with more than 25 technical directors in attendance (see photo). The agenda included a range of topics, including a comparative assessment of the performances by NOCs from the Americas at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games; a status update on preparations for the Cali Valle 2021 Junior Pan-American Games; and the structure of the NOC Technical Commission.
17 September 2021 - Olympic champion and world triple jump record-holder Yulimar Rojas (photo) recently visited the Venezuelan NOC headquarters. There she met the media, first at a press conference in the auditorium, then at a face-to-face event organised at the Olympic Museum. She shared with them details of her Olympic adventure in Tokyo, her relationship with dancing, and her development as an athlete. More details at www.covoficial.com.ve.
28 June 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC celebrated Olympic Day by organising a number of events. At the NOC headquarters, the participants attended a ceremony to present the certificates for the “Yulimar, volamos contigo” (Yulimar, we’re flying with you) project (photo), the presentation of the Jesús Eduardo Lizarraga award, the inauguration of the Casa Venezuela, and the presentation of the Venezuelan Olympic team uniforms and the Tokyo 2020 card album. Around the country, the national sports community organised various events to mark Olympic Day. More details here. In addition, as part of the “Abanderado por el Pueblo” (the people’s flagbearers) programme, the Venezuelan public voted for Yulimar Rojas and Antonio Díaz as the flagbearers for the national team at the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo. More details here.
11 June 2021 - The President of the Venezuelan NOC, Eduardo Álvarez, and Secretary General Elida Párraga attended an online meeting with Olympic Solidarity to discuss projects in the pipeline for the next Olympic cycle. Topics on the agenda included Olympic values, sports development, training, Olympic grants and support for athletes and coaches. The NOC representatives highlighted the invaluable support provided by Olympic Solidarity in implementing these plans. More info here.
07 June 2021 - On 27 May, at a press conference, the Venezuelan NOC gave an update on its delegation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The subjects addressed covered a sticker album featuring the qualified athletes, the upcoming selection of male and female flagbearers for the Tokyo Opening Ceremony, and the latest information on the Paralympic Games and the Pan-American Youth Games in Cali. More info here.
31 May 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC received representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at its headquarters. Discussions focused on exchanges between the two countries in certain sports disciplines. The NOC proposed holding a workshop to this end in the near future. The Korean delegation also had the opportunity to visit the NOC’s Olympic Museum. More info here. In addition, six prominent figures from the world of sport – athletes, coaches and leaders – received the Oswaldo “Papelón” Borges distinction from the NOC. More info here.
10 May 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC and the team in charge of its delegation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 organised a virtual meeting with representatives of the national sports federations that have athletes already qualified – or are in the process of qualifying – for the Games. The latest information on logistics, preparations and the updated Playbooks was provided to the participants. Besides NOC President Eduardo Álvarez Camacho, Chef de Mission Arturo Castillo and Games Technical Director Víctor Vargas, nine representatives of national sports federations took part in this meeting. More details here.
3 May 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC has announced that triple jumper Yulimar Rojas (photo) has entered the Guinness World Records. Olympic silver medallist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, she owes this feat to having set the world indoor record with a jump of 15.43m. This record, set on 21 February 2020 in Madrid (Spain) also earned her the title of World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year 2020.
16 April 2021 - On 9 April, Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo Álvarez, accompanied by the NOC’s Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Arturo Castillo, and team Technical Director Víctor Vargas, held a virtual meeting with the 24 sports federations with athletes already qualified or in the process of qualifying for the Games.
15 March 2021 - On 8 March the NOC of Venezuela hosted its 4th conference on women in sport. Experts, celebrities and sports leaders met in person and online to review the progress, achievements and challenges of women in sport. Among the subjects discussed was the participation of women in the Olympic Games and the impact of the pandemic on women in society. It is worth noting that there are currently 16 women presidents of national sports federations in Venezuela. More info here. In addition, with 134 days remaining before the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, leaders of the Venezuelan delegation to the Games met representatives of all the national sports federations whose athletes had already qualified, or were in the process of qualifying, for Tokyo. Full details here.
08 March 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC has announced that Yulimar Rojas (centre in photo), the Olympic medallist and world triple jump champion, received the Ibero-American Community Trophy at the annual national sports awards ceremony organised by the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD). Rojas received the award at the El Pardo Royal Palace in Madrid. Those in attendance included the King and Queen of Spain (see photo), the Minister for Culture and Sport, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, and Secretary of State for Sport and CSD President Irene Lozano. More details here.
22 February 2021 - The headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC recently hosted the international sports management diploma presentation ceremony, the culmination of eight months of training for the graduates (pictured above). The NOC organised this training in collaboration with the University College of Administration and Marketing (CUAM). After the ceremony, the participants attended the opening of the Olympic Gallery, with the three floors of the NOC headquarters displaying photographs taken by Edison Gámez during the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016. More details here.
15 February 2021 - On 9 February, meetings were held remotely at the Venezuelan NOC headquarters to discuss the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. A virtual meeting was held between the Venezuelan Chef de Mission for these Games, Arturo Castillo, and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, to discuss the publication of the new Playbooks by the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee and Tokyo 2020. National sports federation representatives also met remotely with the NOC leadership to talk about their current situation ahead of the Games; the athletes already qualified and those yet to qualify; the probability of winning medals and diplomas; training facilities; and COVID-19 vaccination. More details here.
08 February 2021 - The Executive Committee of the Venezuelan NOC gave the country’s national sports federations a progress update on the forthcoming events in the Olympic cycle, in a meeting held partly in person and partly remotely. The main topics discussed were the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Cali Valle 2021 Junior Pan-American Games and the Sucre 2021 Bolivarian Youth Games. NOC President Eduardo Álvarez (in the centre of the photo), Secretary General Élida Parraga (on the right) and the Chef de Mission of the Venezuelan team for the Asian Games, Arturo Castillo (on the left), provided information and explanations on these events. More details here.
01 February 2021 - The Venezuelan NOC has reported that more than 300 community managers from national sports federations and organisations took part at the Master Class 2021. This is an activity that marks the kick-off of Olympic Digital Community Operations, an NOC project that seeks to position sport and promote the Olympic values in digital applications. It was held on 27 January virtually and in person. More details here. In addition, athletes, coaches, leaders and dignitaries from the sports world joined sports fans at the traditional sporting mass, held each year on 6 January in different states of Venezuela. NOC President Eduardo Alvarez attended the celebration in Caracas. At the end of December, during an Olympic gala, the NOC paid tribute to IOC Honorary Member Flor Isava Fonseca, who died in July 2020, and several other personalities from the Olympic and sports world. Various honours were awarded during the gala, and the NOC celebrated its 85th anniversary.
14 December 2020 - Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo Álvarez (see photo) was named “Sports Leader of the Year 2020” during the virtual awards ceremony of the Círculo de Periodistas Deportivos de Venezuela. He shares this award with Katiuska Santaella, the President of the Venezuelan Judo Federation. The NOC was recognised in the “Institution of the Year” category alongside the Ministry of Youth and Sport. Having already won the World Athletics equivalent award at world level, Yulimar Rojas also won the title of “Athlete of the Year 2020” in Venezuela. The NOC and its President were rewarded for having managed to continue their activities during the global pandemic. More details, including the other winners, here.
7 December 2020 - The 10th session of the Venezuelan Olympic Academy was held on 2 December at the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC. This session, which was held virtually, was attended by more than 20 technical directors of various NFs who were able to increase their knowledge of how the Olympic Movement functions and its structure. Two athletes who have already qualified for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Yulimar Rojas (athletics) and Daniel Dhers (BMX), addressed the session participants before handing them their diplomas. More info here.
23 November 2020 - On 13 and 14 November, a virtual seminar on technical rules in boxing was held for referees and judges from 21 states in Venezuela. The aim was to keep the participants abreast of the technical rules of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). The seminar was organised with the support of the Venezuelan NOC, AIBA and the Venezuelan Boxing Federation. Detailed info here.
16 November 2020 - Ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Venezuelan NOC, through the Chef de Mission of the Venezuelan Games delegation, has resumed its virtual meetings with the various national sports federations. Planning, the road to qualification and the work of athletes who have already qualified were among the topics discussed at these meetings. More details here
30 October 2020 - On 26 October, Venezuelan boxer Francisco “Morochito” Rodríguez celebrated the 52nd anniversary of his Olympic gold medal during a ceremony held in his home town of Cumanés. In 1968, at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, he won Venezuela’s first ever Olympic gold medal. The ceremony was attended by the Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo Alvarez and several big-name Venezuelan boxers and Olympic athletes (see photo). More info here. In addition, on 21 October, the NOC officially formed the new team that will be in charge of its commissions for the 2020-2021 period. The nine commissions, which will be overseen by the NOC Secretary General, Elida Párraga, are: Women and Sport; Medical and Doping; Ethics and Values; Marketing; Sport and Ecology; Education; Technical; Olympic Academy; and Sports Development. More details here.
16 October 2020 - On 12 October, the first meeting about the Venezuelan delegation for the first Junior Pan-American Games, scheduled from 9 to 19 September in Calu next year, was held at the Venezuelan NOC headquarters. Venezuelan Hockey Federation President Zuleika Seijas will be the Chef de Mission for these Games, a position she held for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Venezuelan NOC Secretary General Elida Párraga also attended the meeting. More info here.
20 July 2020 - The Venezuelan NOC has reported that 38 representatives from 20 NOCs met via videoconference in early July as part of the ConPaaS project (“CON” from the Spanish for “NOC”, “PaaS” for “Platform as a Service”). This project, initiated by the Spanish NOC, is a shared IT platform to manage NOC information. The final phase of the project was addressed during the virtual meeting. In October, the project outcomes will be presented on the website currently under development for each of the countries involved. More details on the websites of the Venezuelan and Spanish NOCs.
12 June 2020 - In Caracas, the Venezuelan NOC and the Salva Foundation organised a new delivery of energy food parcels to athletes to contribute to their home training during confinement. This campaign, entitled “Sigamos Juntos” [Let’s Come Together] has been carrying out activities to support and motivate Venezuelan athletes during the pandemic. More info here.
22 May 2020 - The “Sport in Colour” (Deportes en Colores) competition launched by the Venezuelan NOC has been running on the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 digital platform. The competition was created by the NOC and its President, Eduardo Álvarez, during the COVID-19 lockdown. On the platform there are also spaces for athletes and their training, and others for small children at home. In just two weeks, more than 300 children aged from 4 to 14 from all 23 states of Venezuela took part, creating numerous drawings illustrating the Olympic values. Videos and photos were also published on #OlimpismoEnLaEscuela and #OlimpismoEnLaCasa. More details here.
16 March 2020 - The Venezuelan NOC has announced the creation of a school volleyball league. More than 30 schools in the Caracas region took part in the launch, held at the National Sports Institute. Through this initiative, the NOC, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, will enable 720 children and young people to play volleyball. The NOC is also providing balls and equipment. In due course, the initiative will be extended to eight other sports.
09 March 2020 - Over one hundred physical education teachers took a school volleyball coaching course at the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC in Caracas. The course was organised with the support of the national ministry of education and the Venezuelan volleyball federation. NOC president Eduardo Álvarez gave a presentation on strategic management in sport. More details here.
28 February 2020 - An awareness-raising day on recycling and environmental protection organised by the Venezuelan NOC was once again held on beaches in the State of La Guaira, including Camurí Chico. The programme featured talks on the meaning of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and activities such as football, volleyball and sandcastle-building. Children, adults and senior citizens took part in this day, which was also staged in Guárico, Falcón, Miranda and Anzoátegui. More info here.
07 February 2020 - As part of its preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Venezuelan NOC is organising a week of meetings with the sports federations, the Ministry of Sport and the Chef de Mission for these Games. The aim is to better understand each federation and give them the chance to raise any potential problems requiring the support of the relevant entities. More info here.
31 January 2020 - The headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC recently hosted the first meeting of the year devoted to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Representatives of seven sports federations took part. NOC President Eduardo Álvarez and the Chef de Mission for these Games, Arturo Castillo, provided various technical information about Tokyo 2020. More details here. In addition, the NOC and the Andrés Eloy Blanco University are now offering academic training in the field of sport. The course will be run by the Central American and Caribbean University Sports Council. So far, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica have expressed their interest in taking part in this project. More details on www.covoficial.com.ve.
27 January 2020 - For 2020, the Venezuelan NOC has set itself the goal of redeveloping open spaces for athlete training. This project began in early January in the state of Miranda, with renovation work on several baseball fields. This NOC initiative aims to encourage the practice of sport by making use of spaces where young athletes train. The renovated baseball stadiums will also be used by baseball schools. More info here.
13 January 2020 - Athletes, coaches, leaders and dignitaries from the sports world joined sports fans at the traditional sporting mass, held each year on 6 January in Venezuela’s 24 states. The president of the Venezuelan NOC, Eduardo Alvarez, attended the celebration in Caracas. More details here.
20 December 2019 - The El Campito de Guanta stadium, in the state of Anzoátegui, recently hosted an Olympic Rowing Festival organised by the Venezuelan NOC. This time, the rowing was done on land rather than water, with the aid of rowing simulators used to provide training sessions for this sport. More details here. At the Aguasal Club in Higuerote, in the state of Miranda, beach volleyball had its own Olympic festival. The participants included athletes from several national teams. More details here.
13 December 2019 - On 7 December in Paracotos in Miranda State, the 2019 edition of the Olympic Water Sports Festival brought together 161 children and teenagers from a range of water sports schools. These schools were set up with the support of the Venezuelan NOC and in partnership with Club Paracotos. The Festival programme featured sports initiation courses, a diving demonstration and a workshop on the use of video in sport. More details here.
09 December 2019 - At the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC, the revival of Team Venezuela – the brand of Venezuelan athletes created in 2018 during the South American Games in Cochabamba – was celebrated. The Team Venezuela logo is composed of Venezuela's national flower, the orchid, drawn with the three colours of the national flag, and whose eight points at the top of the flower signify the eight stars of the flag. Full details here.
3 December 2019 - The Executive Committee of the Venezuelan NOC celebrated the first anniversary of Venezuela’s Olympic radio station. Some 21 programmes are currently broadcast by the radio station, which was relaunched in 2018 and is based at the NOC’s headquarters in El Paraíso. More details here. In addition, on 27 November, with 239 days to go until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the presidents and technical directors of several sports federations, as well as other federation representatives, gathered for a technical meeting. The Chef de Mission and the Technical Director for these Games, Arturo Castillo and Magdampi Marín, respectively, and NOC President Eduardo Álvarez presented technical information about Tokyo 2020. More details here.
25 November 2019 - The number of female leaders is increasing within the Venezuelan sports movement. This was highlighted by Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo Alvarez during a meeting of the Precursor Group of the NOC’s Women in Sport Commission. The agenda also included the Commission’s draft regulations and details of the resources it will receive to undertake its work. The Commission will be composed of two bodies, the delegates’ assembly (which will include a female representative of each sports organisation and one from the athletes’ commission) and the Executive Committee. More details here.
11 November 2019 - The assembly of the member federations of the Venezuelan NOC unanimously approved the revision of 12 articles and the inclusion of four others in the NOC’s statutes. These amendments were proposed by the NOC Executive Council, chaired by Eduardo Álvarez, who also presented the 14 events that will form the next Olympic cycle. More details here.
1st October 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC took part in an Olympic Solidarity Forum for NOCs on the American continent, which was held on 24 and 25 September in Panama City. The Chef de Mission for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Ramón Arturo Castillo, and the NOC’s Technical Director, Magdampi Carolina Marín Blanco (photo), were in attendance. The objective for Tokyo 2020, accreditation, the Olympic Village, sports and cultural exchanges, medical services, doping and athlete registration were all addressed during this Forum.
23 September 2019 - Representatives from 16 national sports federations took part in the first pre-Tokyo 2020 preparatory meeting organised by the Venezuelan NOC. The NOC presented its “Let’s go for 20 at Tokyo 2020” initiative, the aim of which is to gain a minimum of 20 Olympic diplomas next year in Tokyo. The NOC President, Eduardo Álvarez (see photo), said that the NOC wanted to have between 60 and 70 athletes competing in the Japanese capital.
09 September 2019 - The Golden Boys Foundation, which trains young basketballers, visited the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC. Children, youngsters and Foundation representatives were able to enjoy a sports education and incentive programme implemented by the NOC. NOC President Eduardo Álvarez joined the participants during a visit to the Venezuelan Olympic Museum.
08 July 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC awarded the Jesús Eduardo Lizarraga Order to nine journalists in recognition of their contribution to the promotion of Olympic sport in Venezuela. Jesús Eduardo Lizarraga was the founder of the Mundo Deportivo magazine and set up the NOC’s Ethics and Values Commission. The journalists also voted to choose the Venezuelan flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan-American Games on 26 July. Daniel Dhers (BMX) was the athlete selected. More details here.
28 June 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC headquarters and surrounding area provided the venue for the 2019 Olympic Day celebrations. Karate, athletics, judo, fencing, volleyball, badminton, dance sport, baseball5, golf, hockey and 3x3 basketball were on the programme of activities. Hundreds of children got the chance to discover new sports and learn about Olympism.
17 June 2019 - A meeting was recently held at the Venezuelan Olympic Academy for representatives of the various sports federations responsible for producing the regulations for women in sport commissions in their federations. The Academy’s Secretary, who is also Secretary General of the Venezuelan NOC, Élida Párraga, led the discussions, during which the participants defined the mission, vision and objectives of such commissions, and provided elements for drafting commission rules, which will be adapted by each federation in line with their culture and structure.
13 June 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC’s Ethics and Values Commission recently awarded the “Oswaldo Papelon Borges” decoration to six well-known high-level Venezuelan athletes: Yelitza Marín (taekwondo), Susana Rubio (wushu), Ninoska Pérez (volleyball), Silvio Fernández Guerra (fencing), Jorge Ochoa (gymnastics) and Oswaldo Zea (athletics).
The NOC also held a meeting with the Japanese Embassy in Venezuela, in connection with the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The NOC is planning to organise a number of activities to launch its “On the road to Tokyo 2020” programme, including photo exhibitions and an Olympic gala.
27 May 2019 - The Venezuelan Olympic Academy organised the 2nd Women's Sports Leadership Conference, which was attended by a large number of female leaders, coaches, referees, athletes and activists. They talked about their various Olympic and general sports experiences. During the Conference, held at the headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC, it was agreed that all the national sports bodies should create their own women in sport commission, and nine female leaders were selected to draft the regulations for these commissions.
14 May 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC has launched its SIRADOV (Venezuelan Olympic Sports Registration and Update System) platform. This will serve as the new database for the whole national sports network.
18 April 2019 - Ahead of the Pan-American Games in Lima (Peru) this year, the Venezuelan NOC is holding technical meetings for national sports federations, organised in cooperation with the sports ministry. So far, 217 Venezuelan athletes have qualified for Lima.
18 March 2019 - The headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC hosted more than 100 participants for the first module of the sports management course for physical education teachers in the state of Vargas and the capital. Organised at the NOC headquarters with the support of the national education ministry and Olympic Solidarity (OS), this module featured a number of topics, including OS and NOC projects, biomechanics applied to sport, learning motricity and the most frequent sports injuries. The second module is scheduled for April this year.
08 March 2019 - Naiguatá Beach in Vargas State was the first port of call this year for the environmental protection, awareness and recycling day which is organised each year by the Venezuelan NOC during the carnival celebrations. More than 50 people took part in the event, which saw them collect waste and clean up the beach. The NOC staff in attendance explained the meaning of the three Rs, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. This initiative will continue throughout the country. More info here.
01 March 2019 - The Venezuelan NOC has launched a course in sports administration, an initiative which is part of the Olympic Solidarity programme. This initiative comes after five NOC members (Staff Coordinator Carina Vásquez, Technical Director Magdampi Marín, Olympic Solidarity Coordinator Félix Correa, Train the Trainers Director Zuleika Seikas and the Director General of Physical Education in the Education Ministry, Esteban Álvarez) took part in a similar course in Bogotá (Colombia), and decided to share their knowledge by organising the same course in Venezuela. The course participants include members of national sports federations, the Organising Committees of the Bolivarian Games Miranda 2021 and Playa de Vargas 2019, and physical education teachers.
25 February 2019 - The Venezuelan karate do Federation, with the support of the Venezuelan NOC, organised a refresher course for referees, which was attended by over 100 coaches and referees. The aim was to pass on the new rules implemented by the World Karate Federation (WKF) in the kata and kumite events for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
18 February 2019 - The headquarters of the Venezuelan NOC were made available to the organisation Special Olympics and the Ministry of Education to promote the “Young Athletes” programme. This is a sports programme designed to develop the motor, communication, social and interaction skills that children need to be able to practise sport. The programme also helps parents understand impairments better and gives them the opportunity to take part in fun sports activities with their children. The information and training day was attended by coaches, P.E. teachers, special education and nursery school teachers, educational psychologists and physiotherapists.
28 January 2019 - The Venezuelan Judo Federation organised a national judging seminar at the Venezuelan NOC headquarters, following the updating of the sport’s international rules. Katiuska Santaella shared her experiences after participating in the annual judging seminar of the International Judo Federation in Mittersill (Austria). The Venezuelan Judo Federation held its annual general assembly at the National Judo Centre in El Paraíso.
15 January 2019 - As is now customary, numerous athletes, coaches, officials and personalities from the sports world, as well as sports fans, attended the traditional Sports Mass celebrated on 6 January in 24 states across Venezuela. Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo Álvarez (right in photo) was present at the celebration in Caracas.
20 December 2018 - Venezuelan sport has a new broadcasting, promotional and entertainment platform – Radio Olímpica (www.radioolimpica.com.ve). The radio station, which will be based at the Venezuelan NOC’s headquarters in Caracas, will offer entertainment- and news-based content.
10 December 2018 - The Venezuelan NOC has launched a training session in Punto Fijo in Falcón state. This sporting refresher course is part of the MunicipioOlímpico programme, which brings together 82 participants from theregion, representing a range of sports disciplines. The aim of the course is to improve the skills of coaches in the region. The NOC also informed us that a two-day workshop on planning, regularity and dynamics in sports training took place atOlympic House. The course was attended by 40 technical directors from 25 national sports federations.
19 November 2018 - In early November, an agreement was signed on the responsibilities and obligations between the Bolivarian Sports Organisation (Odebo), the Venezuelan NOC and the Organising Committee of the XIX Bolivarian Sports Games 2021. The signing took place at the Colombian NOC headquarters in the presence of Odebo President Baltazar Medina, NOC President Eduardo Álvarez, Organising Committee CEO Franklin Cardillo, Bolivarian Games engineer Alan Mata, architect Mileidy Bastidas and Medardo Duarte of the Technical Department. More details here.
30 October 2018 - The Venezuelan NOC has entered into an agreement with 10 clubs to carry out the “Social Clubs” project for athletes. The aim of the project is to enable athletes to make use of the facilities at these clubs, and to organise sports activities for the children at each club. The NOC President, Eduardo Álvarez, said that all the clubs would grant 5 to 10 weekly passes for each athlete.
1st October 2018 - The Venezuelan NOC informs us that, from 25 to 29 September, a level 2 international course for beach volleyball coaches was held in Mérida. Those attending were from Venezuela and other South American countries. The instructors included Venezuela’s national team coach, Mauro Hernández.
3 September 2018 - An extraordinary assembly of the federations affiliated to the Venezuelan NOC approved the creation of a Sports Justice Commission. The Commission will be responsible for resolving internal conflicts in sport, and for approving the first steering committee of the Commission that was sworn in. Chaired by Bernabé Pérez, the Commission will comprise: René Molina, First Vice-President; Tulio Sánchez, Second Vice-President; José Angarita, Secretary General; Efraín Astor, Treasurer; Solange Delgado, member; and Cristina Eschel, Carlos Molinar, Juan Carlos Delgado and Aleydilic Ortega, alternate members. The Commission’s term runs from 2018 to 2022.
17 July 2018 - From 9 to 14 July, at the National Judo Centre in El Paraíso, a level 1 regional course for coaches brought together almost 40 judo coaches from four countries. Held as part of an Olympic Solidarity programme, the course was attended by Vladimir Barta, Director of the International Judo Federation (IJF), who took advantage of the visit to sign an agreement with the Venezuelan Judo Federation, the Venezuelan NOC and the Ministry of Youth and Sport. The purpose of the agreement is to develop judo in the country, particularly in schools. To this end, the IJF will provide tatamis and judogis, and pay a share of the coaching costs for 20 schools around the country. More details here.
9 July 2018 - A course for coaches hosted for the first time by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Training Academy was held at the Venezuelan NOC headquarters in early July. The course was organised as part of an Olympic Solidarity programme and run by three experts from the ISSF Academy. Twenty-seven coaches took the course to get their certification. More info here. In addition, NOC President Eduardo Álvarez hosted the presidents of 41 national sports federations for a meeting during which he reported on the NOC’s activities and upcoming sports events.
2 July 2018 - More than 60 people took part in the “Spreading Baseball” (Sembrando beisbol) programme supported by the Venezuelan NOC, the Venezuelan Baseball Federation, the Ministry of Sport and Olympic Solidarity. The programme began in Maracay, in the state of Aragua, and continued in the cities of Caracas and Barquisimeto. More info on www.puntoolimpico.com.ve.