International Olympic Committee : News

Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games set to open 22 years after historic Olympic Winter Games

9/27/2013 2:24:00 PM

The Acting CEO of the Organising Committee (LYOGOC), Tomas Holmestad, said: “We are looking forward to creating Olympic experiences for a whole new generation. Nothing pleases us more than the symbolism that comes with the fact of having Lillehammer 2016’s Opening Ceremony on 12 February, exactly 22 years after the last Olympic Opening Ceremony in Lillehammer.”

The revised dates for the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games, Friday 12 February to Sunday 21 February 2016, replace the original dates proposed by LYOGOC, Friday 26 February to Sunday 6 March, which coincided with other major international sporting events in Norway. Over 1,100 athletes aged between 15 and 18, from some 70 nations, will be participating in sporting, educational and cultural activities over 10 days in Lillehammer.

Statement from the IOC

9/26/2013 7:30:00 PM

We note a report quoting Sochi Coordination Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy as being “’fully satisfied' with the gay law". He did not say that and was misquoted; and the report has subsequently been amended.

Mr Killy in fact said that: "as long as the Olympic Charter is respected, we are satisfied". That is clearly not expressing any view on the law itself, and Mr Killy made it abundantly clear that the IOC never comments on national legislation.

The IOC will continue to work to uphold the Olympic Charter, which allows all participants, from spectators to athletes, to attend the Games regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

Sochi 2014 springing to life with 134 days to go till Opening Ceremony

9/26/2013 10:05:00 AM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, making its 10th and final visit to the Black Sea city, got an appreciation this week of what visitors can expect when they arrive for the Games – and the feedback has been positive.

“We often say that there is no time to waste as the clock ticks down to the Opening Ceremony, and this still stands true,” said Coordination Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy. “But to see how far the local organisers have come over the last six years is quite simply remarkable – the competition venues are ready; the spirit of the Games is awakening here; and the athletes, spectators and all others who visit next February can expect a fabulous experience. I'd like to congratulate Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and Sochi 2014 President Dmitry Chernyshenko and their teams for their efforts so far.”

The Coordination Commission visited both the mountain and coastal clusters for a first-hand assessment of the progress being made. Test events have been held at all the competition venues, while non-competition venues are nearing completion and will be ready for the Games. Sochi is already in operational mode, with its Main Operations Centre up and running, full-scale testing under way, and staff starting to man the venues and refine logistical aspects such as transport, accommodation and airport arrivals and departures.

Meanwhile, initiatives to bring the Games to the rest of Russia are in full swing. On Sunday in Ancient Olympia, the Olympic Torch Relay for Sochi 2014 will officially get under way with the lighting of the flame at the Temple of Hera. After a seven-day journey through Greece, the flame will arrive in Moscow on 6 October to begin the longest Olympic Torch Relay in Olympic history, with 14,000 torchbearers helping to transport the flame over 65,000 kilometres in 123 days. The route has been designed to bring the flame within one hour of 90 per cent of the Russian population.

Awareness and interest in the Games are also on the rise thanks to initiatives such as the Cultural Olympiad, which continues to bring the Games experience to the entire country. Sochi 2014’s education programme has introduced the Olympic values to thousands of young Russians, while thousands of volunteers – recruited through 26 volunteer centres countrywide – are preparing to descend upon Sochi to make their invaluable contribution to the success of the Games next February.

Following a first phase of ticket sales earlier this year, Phase 2 of the ticketing programme for Sochi will begin soon, allowing even more Olympic fans from Russia and around the world to support their athletes in person, while Russian fans not lucky enough to get a ticket to be at the Games will be able to participate in the festivities at a number of live sites that will be set up in major cities across the country.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO, said, "With 134 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, we have demonstrated to the IOC that Russia is ready for the Games and only the final touches of our preparations remain.” He continued, “There are many tests in the journey to prepare for an Olympic and Paralympic Games and our stunning venues, new infrastructure, and dedicated staff have passed every one. We are proud to be delivering the promises we made to the International Olympic Committee by hosting a Games that will be truly innovative and inspiring. I would like to personally thank the IOC for their guidance and support since Sochi was awarded the honour of hosting the Games. They have been integral in ensuring we will deliver the best Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games ever."

The Coordination Commission noted that legacy initiatives being implemented by Sochi 2014 stand to benefit Russians for generations to come. As part of their efforts to transform Sochi from a summer resort into a year-round destination, the organisers have legacy plans in place for each competition venue. Indeed, already this year, thousands of people are expected to attend the XII Sochi International Investment Forum this coming weekend, which will be hosted in and around the Bolshoy Ice Dome ice hockey venue. Local infrastructure, including roads, rail links, electricity, sewage and water systems, has also been upgraded. The Olympic project has significantly boosted employment in construction and the services industry, while a volunteer culture is beginning to take root thanks to the massive interest shown in the volunteer programme.

The Coordination Commission’s three-day meeting also included discussions on topics such as athlete and National Olympic Committee services, sport and the International Federations, the Paralympic Games, the Look of the Games, technology, media services, marketing, medical services, and spectator experience.

Highlights of the Week

9/21/2013 9:57:00 AM

IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT

On 17 September, one week after his election at the 125th Session in Buenos Aires (Argentina), IOC President Thomas Bach was at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. This first day of his tenure was marked by meetings with Honorary President Jacques Rogge, Director General Christophe De Kepper and the IOC directors. The day ended with a reception with the IOC administration, during which the staff welcomed the new President and said farewell to his predecessor.

Accompanied by the IOC Director General, President Bach paid a courtesy visit this week to the authorities of the canton of Vaud and the Lausanne authorities, represented, among other people, by the Mayor of Lausanne, Daniel Brélaz. He also met the President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Alisher Usmanov.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFs
On 28 October, the third World Judo Day will be held, with the theme of “perseverance”. Launched in 2011 by the International Judo Federation (IJF), this Day is devoted to promoting the values of judo on the anniversary of the birth of the creator of judo, Jigoro Kano. Info at www.ijf.org.

Alongside the World Championships held in Kaohsiung (Chinese Taipei), the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) organised a “Culture and Education” Day in cooperation with the Local Organising Committee and the sports bureau of the Province of Hubei. The aim of this Day was to make local youngsters aware of the benefits of studying and physical education through modern pentathlon. The athletes participating in the World Championships took part in the Day, thus making a link with the concept of next year’s Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Culture and Education Programme. Info at www.pentathlon.org.

WINTER IFs

The International Skating Union (ISU)’s 2013/14 Media Guide is now available and will be updated regularly on the ISU website, www.isu.org.

In the framework of the International Ski Federation (FIS)’s development programme, the IF’s Nordic summer training camp took place from 9 to 14 September in Val di Fiemme (Italy). Thirty-two athletes born between 1994 and 1998, as well as 19 coaches from 14 countries, followed the training sessions in the various Nordic disciplines as well as sessions on swimming, mountain biking and hiking. Info at www.fis-ski.com.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

On 16 September, the German NOC announced the appointment of Hans-Peter Kramer as its Interim President, following the resignation of Thomas Bach, the new IOC President. Kramer will assume this function until December 2014 unless elections are requested during the NOC General Assembly on 7 December 2013. Info at www.dosb.de.

At a ceremony held at the headquarters of the NOC of Costa Rica, the President of the Republic, Laura Chinchilla, was awarded the 2013 IOC “150 years – Pierre de Coubertin, Sport as a School of Life” Trophy, in recognition of her constant contribution and support to Costa Rican athletes. NOC President Henry Núñez presented the Trophy to her in the presence of numerous sports leaders and athletes. Info at www.concrc.org.

On 17 September at the headquarters of the NOC of Colombia, an official ceremony was held to mark the handover of the national flag to the delegation taking part in the first South American Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Lima, Peru. This delegation is composed of 104 young Colombian athletes. World BMX champion Juan Carlos Díaz Serna received the flag from Juan Carlos Peña, the Deputy Director of the Colombian Sports Institute, Coldeportes; NOC President Baltazar Medina; and Myriam Leonor Suárez, NOC member and Deputy Chef de Mission for the Games. Info at www.coc.org.co.

In Hong Kong, the 2013 IOC “150 years – Pierre de Coubertin, Sport as a School of Life” Trophy has been awarded to Hu Fa Kuang, the Vice-President of the NOC of Hong Kong, China, in recognition of his important contribution to sports development locally and internationally. As Vice-President for over 20 years and a leader in several sports disciplines since the 1970s, he is also actively involved in promoting Olympism and supporting the development of sports education in Hong Kong. The ceremony during which IOC member Timothy Tsun Ting Fok presented the Trophy to the winner took place at the Olympic House. Info at www.hkolympic.org.

The NOC of Slovakia has informed us that renowned Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska has made a symbolic gesture to Slovakia, which, until gaining independence in 1993, was part of Czechosolvakia, her home country. The 11-time Olympic medallist has donated two of her seven gold medals (one from Tokyo and one from Mexico City) to the Slovak Museum of Physical Culture, as a gift to the whole of Slovakia. The donation ceremony took place on 13 September in Bratislava in the framework of an exhibition entitled “Winning and Losing. Slovak Sport 1993–2012”. Vera Caslavska, who was an IOC member, was President of the Czechoslovakian NOC from 1990 to 1992, then of the Czech NOC, until 1996, after the division of the country. In 2012, she received the Slovak NOC’s highest distinction. Info at www.olympic.sk.

Stefan Lindeberg, the President of the NOC of Sweden, recently met Li Hua, the Chinese NOC’s Marketing Director, in Stockholm. Li Hua was leading a delegation from his Department which had come to see how the Swedish NOC works with its partners and to learn about cooperation with other NOCs. Info at www.sok.se.

On 12 September, the NOC of Uruguay officially hosted the delegation that will participate in the first South American Youth games in Lima. The Minister of Tourism and Sport, Liliam Kechichián, and the NOC President and IOC member, Julio César Maglione, handed over the national flag to the delegation in the presence – among others - of the President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Gianni Merlo, who was visiting Uruguay. Info at www.cou.org.uv.

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has published its social network guidelines for people accredited at the Paralympic Winter Games, which will take place in Sochi from 7 to 16 March 2014. Info at www.paralympic.org.

From 20 to 29 September, the first South American Youth Games will be held in Lima. This decision was taken at the latest general assembly of the South American Sports Organisation (ODESUR), whose President is IOC member Carlos Arthur Nuzman. These Games will bring together young athletes aged 14 to 16 from 14 countries, who will compete in 19 disciplines. Info at www.odesur.org.

First Torchbearer announced for Sochi 2014 Torch Relay

9/20/2013 8:00:00 AM

The 18-year-old will carry the torch once it has been lit at a special lighting ceremony, which will take place in Ancient Olympia on 29 September. The ceremony will see several ‘priestesses’ perform a traditional celebration at the Temple of Hera in which the torch will be kindled by the light of the sun using a parabolic mirror.

The torch will then begin its journey to the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, which will be held on 7 February.

Antoniou, who hopes to compete at the Winter Games in Sochi, has been skiing since he was just four years old when he was encouraged to take up the sport by his parents, who are both physical education professors.

He has been a member of the Greek national ski team since 2011 and competed at the FIS World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in 2012 before representing his country at the 2013 FIS World Alpine Skiing Championships in Schladming, Austria.

Once the Olympic flame reaches Russia on 7 October, the Sochi 2014 Torch Relay will travel approximately 65,000km around the country, making it the longest Torch Relay in Olympic Winter Games history, as it visits more than 2,900 towns and settlements, carried by more than 14,000 bearers.

"The Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most important and magical Olympic occasions,” explains Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of Sochi 2014. “It continues the build-up of excitement ahead of the Games and, as well as spreading the Olympic values to the whole country. We will be creating, as a nation, an important part of Russian history.”

President Bach marks first day in office

9/18/2013 11:26:00 AM

President Bach spent his first day in meetings with Honorary President Rogge, IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper and the IOC directors. The day was capped with a reception for the IOC administration to welcome the new President and bid farewell to the former.

“President Bach and I were elected as IOC members at the same Session in 1991 in Birmingham, Great Britain,” Rogge reminisced. "He is an Olympic champion, a team builder, a sports leader. And he knows he can rely on you. I tell you, you can also rely on him.”

President Bach, who took the podium following a round of applause for the outgoing President, joked that he had received “a lot of advice – or instructions” from his predecessor over the last few days, drawing a hearty chuckle and reproaching gesture from Honorary President Rogge. “It doesn’t matter what you call it, I’ll follow it anyway,” President Bach responded.

The 59-year-old German is no stranger to the IOC headquarters or Lausanne, having spent 22 years as an IOC member and the last eight years on the IOC Executive Board. He was also the Founding President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), a post he resigned from on 16 September.

“One man alone or a group alone can never be successful. It always depends on the entire team – each and every person,” President Bach told the administration. “This is why I am looking to the future with great confidence. I have a really great team in front of me. I want you to continue to be a part of the team and to continue to contribute to build on the same successful path we have been on. There may be a different style because President Rogge and I are different persons, but not a different direction.”

President Bach’s first official trip will be to Olympia, Greece, on 29 September for the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame, marking the start of the Olympic Torch Relay for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

Thomas Bach elected new IOC President

9/10/2013 6:30:00 PM

Bach was chosen over fellow presidential candidates Sergey Bubka (Ukraine), Richard Carrion (Puerto Rico), Ser Miang Ng (Singapore), Denis Oswald (Switzerland) and Ching-kuo Wu (Chinese Taipei).*

“Thank you very much to all of you,” said President Bach following his election. First of all I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all my dear friends and colleagues who voted for me this morning. This is really an overwhelming sign of trust and confidence. But I would also like to thank my fellow candidates, who I greatly respect, and all those who did not vote for me this time. I will also work for and with you in the coming years and want to win your confidence too. I know about the great responsibility of an IOC President. This makes me humble. I want to lead the IOC according to my motto “unity in diversity.” I want to be a President for all of you. This means I will do my very best to balance well all the different interests of the stakeholders of the Olympic Movement. This is why I want to listen to you and to enter into an on-going dialogue with all of you. You should know that my door, my ears, and my heart are always open for you.”

Read President Bach’s biography and manifesto.

The new President replaces Jacques Rogge, whose 12-year tenure officially ends at the close of the 125th IOC Session today. The President is elected by the IOC members by secret ballot for a term of eight years, with the possibility to stand for re-election for a second, four-year term.

Click here to read President Bach's speech

Voting Results

Round 1:
Thomas Bach: 43
Sergey Bubka: 8
Richard Carrion: 23
Ser Miang Ng: 6
Denis Oswald: 7
Ching-kuo Wu: 6

Round 1 tie-break:
Ser Miang Ng: 56
Ching-kuo Wu: 36

Round 2:
Thomas Bach: 49
Sergey Bubka: 4
Richard Carrion: 29
Ser Miang Ng: 6
Denis Oswald: 5

*In alphabetical order

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Next IOC President to be elected this Tuesday

9/9/2013 2:30:00 PM

Vying to succeed current President Jacques Rogge, whose 12-year term in office ends with the closing of the Session, are six candidates: Thomas Bach, Sergey Bubka, Richard Carrión, Ser Miang Ng, Denis Oswald, and Ching-Kuo Wu*.

The IOC President is elected by the IOC members by secret ballot for a mandate of eight years, with the possibility to run again for a second, four-year term.

Voting procedure
The candidate who obtains a majority of votes will be proclaimed elected. Voting will continue for as many rounds as necessary for a candidate to obtain a majority, with the candidate obtaining the fewest votes in each round being eliminated. If the same number of votes is obtained by two or more candidates during an intermediate vote in which one candidate must be eliminated, a run-off vote will be held. IOC members from the same countries as the presidential candidates will not be allowed to vote unless their compatriot is eliminated.

Announcement of new IOC President
The announcement of the new IOC President is scheduled for 10 September 2013 at 12.30 p.m. local time and will be broadcast live on www.olympic.org.

In other decisions tomorrow, the Session will elect one new Vice-President, one new member of the IOC Executive Board, and nine proposed new members.

Click here to learn more about the first eight IOC Presidents.

*In alphabetical order

London delivers final report, as Games report to Session

9/8/2013 9:00:00 PM

Reflecting on the past seven years, Coe underlined the tremendous successes that LOCOG and all its partners had been able to achieve during the seven years of preparations and, of course, in the delivery of the Games. He also focused on the outstanding legacy that London 2012 has delivered to the city of London, Great Britain, sport, and the Olympic Movement.

This was supported by Denis Oswald, the IOC’s Coordination Commission Chairman for the London Games, who commented, “[LOCOG’s] vision was to use the power of the Games to inspire a generation and transform a neglected part of the capital, bringing major social and economic benefits to a deprived area. This has been a spectacular illustration of the power of the Games to change people’s lives and to modify the face of a city.” LOCOG’s presentation concluded with a standing ovation led by IOC President Rogge in thanks for the work of the British team in delivering the Games.

The organisers of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games were up next with their President Dmitry Chernyshenko updating the Session on their preparations with only five months to go until the Games open. Chernyshenko spoke of the great progress that had been made in delivering venues and infrastructure, as well as in the finalization of Sochi’s operational plans.

Coordination Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy noted, “An intensive programme of test events, which was delivered mostly this past winter by Sochi 2014 and the Russian Sports Ministry, has been the most obvious example [of the progress made since last summer]. In total, almost 70 test events have been organized by Sochi. Whether they were of an international or local dimension, they have all been rich in lessons for Sochi 2014 and its partners. They have confirmed the quality of the competition venues and of the teams that will be called upon to operate them at the start of next year.”

Following the fifth visit of the IOC’s Coordination Commission to Rio de Janeiro only a week ago, the hosts of the 2016 Games, led by their President Carlos Arthur Nuzman, presented an update on the advances that were being made in a number of areas of Games preparations including venue and infrastructure construction, planning, and legacy.

Nawal El Moutawkel, Chair of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Rio 2016 Games, spoke of the progress that Rio had accomplished since their last session report in London last July. “Rio 2016 has made significant progress over the last year,” she said. El Moutawakel continued by emphasising that Rio 2016 had identified the key opportunities and risks and was learning the lessons of other major events that were being held in Brazil: “The opportunities and risks are now well identified. The Rio 2016 team, under the leadership of Carlos Nuzman and the new CEO, Sidney Levy, is adjusting its plans accordingly. They are also taking into account the lessons learned from the Confederations Cup and the World Youth Day.”

The last Games report was delivered by President Jinsun Kim and his team from the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee, who presented their new emblem to the Session and the advances that were being made in delivering the Korea’s first Olympic Winter Games.

IOC Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg also looked to the future, by reminding the Korean delegation that they would have an unparalleled opportunity to learn from their observation of the Sochi Games and that once Sochi was over PyeongChang would really be under the spotlight, as the world turned its attention to Korea and the 2018 Games.

IOC Session to decide on composition of 2020 Olympic programme

9/7/2013 11:00:00 PM

Two votes are scheduled – the first on the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic programme and the second on the possible inclusion of an additional sport for the 2020 and 2024 editions of the Games, both based on proposals by the IOC Executive Board (EB). Baseball/softball, squash and wrestling* were shortlisted for selection by the Session in May following an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission.

The Session is being broadcast live on www.olympic.org. The decision on the core sports is expected at around 10.15 a.m., while the vote on the possible inclusion of an additional sport is scheduled for noon. All three sports will deliver 20-minute presentations to the IOC membership followed by 10-minute Q&A sessions ahead of the vote.

The results will be announced in the Session room directly after each vote.

*in alphabetical order