International Olympic Committee : News

Highlights of the week

5/17/2013 4:34:00 PM

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

On 13 May at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, IOC President Jacques Rogge received an official visit from their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium. A delegation from the Belgian NOC, including President Pierre-Olivier Beckers, who is also an IOC member, and Secretary General Guido de Bondt, was also present. The programme included a presentation on the Olympic Movement and tours of the IOC headquarters and The Olympic Museum, currently being housed on a boat on Lake Geneva. Read the news here.

On 16 May, President Rogge gave a presentation at the IMD business school in Lausanne on his career as IOC President and on an assessment of the Olympic Games.

This week in Vidy, President Rogge has met:

- Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti;

- Botswana NOC President Negroes Malealea Kgosietsilek;

- a delegation from the NOC of Papua New Guinea;

- International Olympic Truce Foundation Vice-President George Papandreou;

- a delegation from the Chinese city of Xiamen, led by IOC member Ching-Kuo Wu;

- Netherlands NOC President André Bolhuis;

- International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT) President Ivo Ferriani;

- IOC member Ung Chang;

- and Indian Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sport, Jitendra Singh.

This weekend, the IOC President will be in Stockholm (Sweden) for the World Ice Hockey Championships. He will also attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), whose President is IOC member René Fasel.

OTHER NEWS

The Founding Working Group on the fight against irregular and illegal betting concluded its fourth meeting, chaired by the IOC President, on 14 May in Lausanne, with the approval of a set of recommendations aimed at bolstering education on the issue, monitoring, exchange of information and intelligence, and legislation. It called for the establishment of an Olympic Movement monitoring system based on the one in place during the London 2012 Olympic Games that would be made available to the International Federations during major competitions to share information regarding suspicious betting activity. More info here.

On 15 May, the IOC held successive fruitful meetings with a delegation from the Indian Sports Ministry, headed by Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, and representatives from the National Federations of India who are also members of the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA). A representative of the Olympic Council of Asia was also in attendance. The main purpose of the meetings was to explore the possibility for the suspended IOA to hold free, fair, democratic and transparent elections on the basis of a revised IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter with no outside interference, which could pave the way for the IOC to consider lifting its suspension of the IOA. The entire process will be closely monitored and supervised by the IOC, which will issue a roadmap for the suspended IOA and all its members to follow. Press release here.

The IOC has awarded the broadcast rights for Australia to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi to Ten Network Holdings. The group has acquired the broadcast rights to all media platforms in Australia. More info here.

At the 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), NBC Sports won 11 awards, the most of any sports media company for the third straight year. The London Olympic Games received five Emmys, including Outstanding Live Event Turnaround.

As part of the agreement between the FC Barcelona Foundation and the IOC, the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona recently hosted the first Olympafrica FutbolNet Cup educators class. Delegates came from Senegal, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Côte d’Ivoire to participate in this course, which focused on the theory and implementation of the FutbolNet’s methodology. Info here.

TOP PARTNERS

As part of its fight against obesity, Worldwide Olympic Partner Coca-Cola has announced four global business commitments to further help people live healthier, happier and more active lifestyles. These commitments will apply in the more than 200 countries in which the company operates. Coca-Cola has also committed to publicly and actively measure the scale and reach of its latest efforts online, at www.comingtogether.com. Find out more at www.coca-colacompany.com.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

World Athletics Day 2013 was held over the weekend of 11 and 12 May. Some 122 Federations chose to take part in this year’s edition. This Day is aimed at youngsters worldwide and has one of the busiest competitions programmes in the athletics calendar. In addition, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced the opening of a new Fans Section on its web site, www.iaaf.org.

A quick note from the International Fencing Federation (FIE), which has reminded us it has two web sites: one devoted to administration (www.fie.ch) and another for the media and news (www.fie.org).

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Council met on 9 and 10 May in Liverpool (Great Britain). Its decisions included electing members of the Disciplinary Commission; awarding the 37th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in 2019 to Azerbaijan; and accepting the provisional admission of the national federations of Afghanistan and the Cayman Islands. Details on www.fig-gymnastics.com.

In a press release, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced that Swiss watchmaker Tissot will be, for the second consecutive time, Official Timekeeper of the World Table Tennis Championships, which will take place from 13 to 20 May in Paris (France). Info at www.ittf.com.

WINTER IFS

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced the members on its first Athlete Commission and its Competition and Rules Commission. 2002 Olympic champion and WCF Vice-President Bent Ramsfjell will chair the first Commission, while WCF President Kate Caithness and WCF Executive Board member Graham Prouse will chair the second. Press release on www.worldcurling.org.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

At its annual General Assembly in early May, the Australian NOC, whose President is IOC member John Coates, elected three women to its Executive Board: Nicole Livingstone (swimming), Kitty Chiller (modern pentathlon) and Danielle Woodward (canoe/kayak). Helen Brownlee (canoe/kayak) was elected NOC Vice-President - the first woman to hold this post. IOC member Richard Kevan Gosper was also present at this Assembly. Info at www.olympics.com.au.

British double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson died on 9 May when his yacht capsized in San Francisco Bay (USA). The crew were training to compete in this summer’s America’s Cup. Aged 36, Andrew Simpson was Olympic champion in the Star event in 2008 in Beijing, then a silver medallist with teammate Ian Percy at the London Games last summer.

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Coordination Commission for the Baku 2015 European Games, whose Chairman is Spyros Capralos, met at the end of April in the Azeri city for a first round of meetings with the organisers. Technical and planning meetings were held with the Organising Committee, led by the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva. The EOC delegation was received by the President of the Republic, Ilham Aliev, who is also President of the NOC. The Games will be held from 12 to 28 June 2015, and the provisional programme comprises 16 sports. Almost 7,000 athletes are expected. Those present included EOC President Patrick Joseph Hickey. Read more here.

Irish Olympic medallists at the London 2012 Games recently received IOC lapel pins from Patrick Hickey, Irish NOC President and IOC member, in the presence of the former Chairman of the Organising Committee for these Games and current British NOC Chairman, Sebastian Coe. This ceremony was held at Dublin’s Mansion House on 7 May, and attendees included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise O’Muiri; the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring; and British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott. At the NOC headquarters, Sebastian Coe unveiled a sculpture commemorating the arrival of the Olympic flame in Dublin almost one year ago. A cooperation agreement was also signed between the Irish and British NOCs. Read more here.

On 8 May, Lithuanian NOC President Daina Gudzineviciute met Jonathan Mannie, Chairman of the Education Committee of Professional Golf Associations of Europe; and Rolandas Dovidaitis, President of the Lithuanian Golf Federation. Their discussions focused mainly on the development of golf in Lithuania and the best examples from around the world. Read the news on www.ltok.lt.

The President of the Mongolian NOC, Demchigjav Zagdsuren, recently received the “Sochi 2014” athlete Olympic scholarships holders. Four cross-country skiing athletes have been benefitting from this Olympic Solidarity programme since 1 January 2013. In addition, the NOC President and Director General of the Hasu Megawatt company, J.Tumen-Ayush, signed a partnership agreement at a ceremony held at Olympic House in Ulaanbaatar. IOC honorary member Shagdarjav Magvan, NOC Secretary General Jugder Otgontsagaano and others attended this signing.

The Peruvian Olympic Academy recently organised the 9th seminar on physical education and sport at secondary school level. Almost 100 managers, coaches, sports technicians and teachers of physical education took part at the Peruvian NOC headquarters. A seminar will be held from 27 to 30 May on sports nutrition. Find more info at www.coperu.org.

The Executive Committee of the NOC of São Tomé and Principe, whose President is João Manuel Da Costa Alegre, has decided to support national championships in various sports (athletics, handball, basketball, canoeing, tennis, cycling, volleyball, football) in order to boost the practice of sport in the archipelago.

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

LILLEHAMMER 2016

Twenty-four design students from the local Gjøvik University College have been invited to design the emblem and visual identity of the 2nd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 2016. Read the news here.

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that Todd Nicholson has been elected Chairman of its Athletes’ Council for the next four years. Nicholson, a five-time Paralympian and member of Canada’s gold medal-winning ice sledge hockey team in 2006 (sledge hockey), succeeds USA’s Bob Balk. More details at www.paralympic.org.

The 3rd World Sports Games of the International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT) will be held from 2 to 9 June 2013 in Varna (Bulgaria). Some 2,300 participants from 32 nations will compete in 20 different sports. As the CSIT signed the World Anti-Doping Code in 2010, anti-doping measures will, for the first time, be taken at these Games. More info at www.csit.tv/en.

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games “on track for success” with detailed planning underway

5/16/2013 12:12:00 PM

With 15 months to go to the second edition of the summer Youth Olympic Games, the Coordination Commission, chaired by Alexander Popov, congratulated NYOGOC on its continued dedication and commitment, and was particularly pleased to see the level of detailed preparation presented as the organisers look ahead to the operational readiness phase.

The IOC also welcomed NYOGOC’s proposals to use the upcoming Asian Youth Games as an occasion to test a number of functional areas and validate key milestones, including the Event Schedule and the Operation Plans - first versions of which have been completed on time.

Since the last visit of the Coordination Commission in September 2012, other important milestones have been met, including the submission and approval of the final Venue Master Plan, and the successful launch of both the official YOG mascot and a new improved website.

In addition, NYOGOC continues to actively discuss domestic sponsorship opportunities, and is engaged with a number of the TOP partners to prepare marketing activations in support of the Games.

Moving forward, the Coordination Commission encouraged NYOGOC to build on the steps it has already taken in working together across the different functional areas to ensure a joined-up approach to hosting the Games. This includes a committed effort to the final detailing and delivery of a successful Culture and Education Programme that will engage, educate and inspire the young athletes off the field of play.

The Coordination Commission also recommended that, as a top priority, Nanjing should now share with all stakeholders, including NOCs, IFs, public and media, that it will be ready to host memorable Games next year, and that a warm welcome awaits them in this beautiful Chinese city.

Speaking after the close of the three-day meeting, Alexander Popov said: “NYOGOC’s vision for the second Summer Youth Olympic Games is now really taking shape, and the Coordination Commission congratulates it on its progress. As we start climbing the hill toward the final countdown, the coming months will be crucial for YOG preparation, and will present NYOGOC with key opportunities to let the youth of the world know that the YOG spirit is coming to Nanjing and that all are welcome.”

For more information on the Youth Olympic Games, visit: www.olympic.org/yog and follow us on Twitter, and Facebook.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 / email: pressoffice@olympic.org / or visit our website at www.olympic.org

Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/youtholympics

Photos
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.

Social media
For up-to-the-minute information on the Youth Olympic Games and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Nanjing 2014
The second edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will be in Nanjing, China, from 16 to 28 August 2014. Find the latest news on Nanjing 2014 here, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

IOC holds successful meetings with Indian Sports Minister and representatives of National Federations/members of suspended Indian Olympic Association

5/15/2013 3:38:00 PM

The IOC Executive Board suspended the IOA on 4 December 2012 due to its failure to comply with the Olympic Charter and as a protective measure against government interference in the IOA’s election process.

The main purpose of today’s meetings was to explore the possibility for the suspended IOA to hold free, fair, democratic and transparent elections on the basis of a revised IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter, with no outside interference, that could pave the way for the IOC to consider lifting its suspension of the IOA.

Sports Minister Singh gave strong guarantees and a clear commitment that the government of India will fully respect the principle of autonomy of the Olympic Movement. In addition, a mutual understanding was reached to establish close cooperation between all parties concerned. It was agreed in particular that the drafting of the new sports bill will be undertaken in close coordination with the IOA and the National Federations, and with prior consultation with the IOC to ensure that it will be fully compatible with the principles and rules of the Olympic Movement.

Following these meetings and subsequent consultation with all the parties involved, the IOC is considering the necessary measures to be taken before lifting the suspension. In particular, it is envisaged that the IOA should hold an extraordinary meeting of its members to review its constitution in order to improve its governance and ethics. This would be followed by a fresh general meeting to elect the new office-bearers of the IOA, based on the newly revised constitution and the Olympic Charter.

The entire process will be closely monitored and supervised by the IOC, which will issue a roadmap for the suspended IOA and all its members to follow.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

YOG medallist weightlifter Ediel Marquez still going strong

5/15/2013 11:57:00 AM

And since Singapore and his jubilatory win for Cuba, the young athlete has continued to improve.

Last week, Ediel added another medal to his collection. The rising star won silver in the snatch event at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru, finishing in fifth place overall with a final score of 298kg.

We look forward to seeing the YOG graduate’s future achievements, but for now, relive Ediel’s bronze medal-winning performance at Singapore 2010.

Founding Group on fight against irregular and illegal betting calls for a universal monitoring system

5/14/2013 6:06:00 PM

The FWG called for the establishment of an Olympic Movement monitoring system based on the one in place during the London 2012 Olympic Games that would be made available to the International Federations during major competitions to share information regarding suspicious betting activity. The FWG also called on national sports betting regulatory authorities to strengthen ties between themselves as well as with sports organisations and betting operators.

“Irregular and illegal betting attacks the very foundations of sport, and our efforts to combat the threat require the commitment of a number of important partners, specifically governments,” said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting. “The setting up of a common sports monitoring system still needs to be discussed by the Olympic Movement, but the work undertaken by the Founding Working Group is paving the way forward and we have made significant progress since our first meeting in 2011.”

The meeting in Lausanne was attended by representatives of the sports world, governments, international organisations and betting operators. The FWG called on sports organisations worldwide to use all existing tools and measures to raise awareness of the issue as well as the ethical standards and risks involved, and recommended that national authorities implement educational programmes aimed at informing stakeholders of the dangers of match-fixing and other activity designed to manipulate sports events.

On the topic of legislation, the FWG urged governments and sports organisations to adopt rules designed to combat irregular and illegal betting at all levels. States that have not yet done so should pass appropriate legislation, a process that should be facilitated by the convention against the manipulation of sports competitions currently being drafted by the Council of Europe and fully supported by the FWG.

Read the conclusions on the three themes: “Education and Information”, “Monitoring, Intelligence and Analysis” and “Legislation and Regulations”

For background information on the fight against irregular and illegal betting, click here.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our website at www.olympic.org.

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Coca-Cola announces global commitments to help fight obesity

5/14/2013 5:25:00 PM

These commitments, which apply to the more than 200 countries where the company does business, are to:

1) Offer low- or no- calorie beverage options in every market

2) Provide transparent nutrition information, featuring calories on the  front of all of its packages

3) Help get people moving by supporting physical activity programmes in every country where it does business

4) Market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world

“Obesity is today’s most challenging health issue, affecting nearly every family and community across the globe. It is a global societal problem which will take all of us working together and doing our part,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. “We are committed to being part of the solution, working closely with partners from business, government and civil society. Today’s announcement is another step forward on our journey, as we take action with scale and reach across every country and continent where we operate.”

Coca-Cola – which maintains the longest continuous relationship with the Olympic Movement, having first sponsored the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam – currently supports hundreds of active, healthy living programmes in more than 115 countries, reaching millions of people, and has already taken a number of important steps in the fight against obesity, including introducing smaller portion sizes and calorie labels on the front of beverage packaging.

The Coca-Cola Company has also committed to publicly and actively measure the scale and reach of its latest efforts online, at www.comingtogether.com. The digital platform provides further details about the company’s global commitments and invites people to learn more about what Coca-Cola is doing, track its progress, post feedback and exchange ideas on how the company can collectively promote choice, energy balance and movement.

Going for Gold in Sochi: Shelley Rudman

5/11/2013 6:00:00 PM

I joined Twitter after the 2010 Olympic Winter Games so that I can stay in touch with people who follow the sport as well as family and friends. Now I can quickly update everybody who is interested and post any photos without having to send countless text messages and emails.

When I first get on a track, I either click with it straight away or find it really hard to connect with. You need to be sliding with form, ride a little luck and you have to be quick to understand a track. I am very excited to be going to Russia for the first time. I have been learning some basic Russian so that I can speak with the locals – and the Russian sliders on the circuit are helping me.

On race day you need to be on high alert, thinking before you hit the curves, not 100th of a second later. It becomes even harder if you take a few knocks. I try to listen to my body and take an extra rest day if need be so that I am as mentally sharp as I can be.

For the five-month season, most weeks are race weeks. We’ll arrive at a venue and have three training days with two runs per day. The day after is competition day with two runs. Within that competition week I’ll have two to three gym sessions.

I only weigh around 54kg, which means I have to use the maximum sled weight, 35kg, to try and make up weight on the other girls, who mostly push a 28kg sled.

My partner [GB skeleton athlete Kristan Bromley] and I have to come home from the track or the gym and be mum and dad so it’s straight into parent mode. Our daughter Ella is five years old and she comes on
tour with us. When you get home it doesn’t matter how your day was, she is always there and ready to cuddle you and play.

I like to listen to music the night before a race when I am preparing my sled but never during my build-up routine as you can miss vital announcements that might tell you key information to help you race.

I struggle to keep my head up in the big G-curves so I often rest my head on the ice – I have to make sure I am not surprised by anything.

It would be great to go to my third Olympic Games and come away with a medal. There are so many factors that will come into play in the Olympic season. I can’t take anything for granted and will have to work hard to stay injury and illness free. I have a super-fast metabolism so I lose weight fast. I am not on a high-cardio workout programme. I have to get as many carbohydrates on board as possible and keep my sessions
heavily strength based.

My sprint starts are probably the weakest element of my overall performance. We train with lots of power-based activity, weightlifting, core stability work and explosive, short sprints. We’ll focus on that from March until October. Once a month, I’ll have a push on the ice and try to hone my technique.

The season is long and gruelling with only short breaks. It is difficult to find time to let those niggles heal, or to rest and recover. To cope with the intensity of the winter period, you have to ensure you prepare yourself in the summer to be as robust as possible. Stretching and maintenance physiotherapy keeps injury at bay during the season.

Watch Shelley Rudman win her medal in Turin 2006:

Design students to create the “Look” of Lillehammer 2016

5/8/2013 2:16:00 PM

Demonstrating the true YOG spirit, the students from the local Gjøvik University College have been asked to imagine the emblem and overall “look” of Lillehammer 2016.

And the clock is ticking! These young designers will have to present their final ideas in front of a jury in mid-June. Three projects will then be shortlisted for presentation to the Board of Directors of Lillehammer’s Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (LYOGOC), after which one project will be selected for review and final approval by the International Olympic Committee.

“Being an event for, with and by young people, we knew we wanted to give this design project to young people, and we are delighted that Gjøvik University College accepted our challenge,” commented Atle Roll-Matthiesen, CEO of LYOGOC. “A vital part of the YOG is about learning, and Lillehammer 2016 offers the design students a prestigious project that we are certain all of them will grow from, no matter who will be designing the final suggestion.”

Talking about the project, one student exclaimed: “It is great fun and really motivating that they are trusting us with this important task for them. This is very exciting!”

Don’t forget to tune in to Lillehammer 2016 on Twitter and Facebook.

YOG hurdles champion Nicholas Hough to represent Australia at the 2013 Summer Universiade

5/7/2013 9:30:00 AM

Three years later, the 19-year-old athlete is not only Australia’s current under-20s 110-metre hurdles record holder, but in July, having recently been selected to join Athletics Australia’s 28-strong squad, he will be representing his country in the 100m and 200m events at the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, which sees over 13,500 university students from over 170 countries compete across 27 different sports.

The YOG graduate is certainly one to watch, and while we look forward to seeing his future achievements, watch Nicholas’ winning performance at Singapore 2010:

Highlights of the week

5/3/2013 5:30:00 PM

IOC ACTIVITIES
MEMBERS

On 30 April in Amsterdam, the Prince of Orange became King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, at a ceremony which was attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and IOC President Jacques Rogge.

COMMISSIONS

The 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All, held in Lima (Peru) ended on 27 April with a call to the Olympic Movement and the world to “Get Moving”. Hosted by the Miraflores city authorities and the Peruvian Sports Institute, this Conference was organised jointly by the IOC, through its Sport for All Commission, whose Chairman is Sam Ramsamy, and the Peruvian NOC, in collaboration with SportAccord. More than 500 experts from some 90 countries shared their best practices in various activities. All the participants left with the IOC’s guide to managing sports programmes, Get Moving!, which contains practical recommendations and case studies to help and encourage the participants to create new programmes. The next Conference will be held in 2015. Find out more information here.

TOP PARTNERS

Panasonic has started to set up its state-of-the-art digital audio/visual (AV) equipment at the Olympic venues in Sochi, in preparation for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games to be held in this city. Click here for more information.

Atos has announced that the Sochi 2014 technology lab is now fully operational. This laboratory is where the information technology (IT) systems for each sports event will undergo a battery of tests. Read the news story.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced that its former Treasurer and Honorary Life Vice-President, Robert Stinson, died in early April. Honorary Assistant Treasurer then Honorary Secretary of the British Amateur Athletic Board (the forerunner of the British Athletic Federation), Stinson joined the IAAF at the start of the 1980s. A member of the IAAF Juridical Working Group, he was elected Treasurer in 1984, a function which he held until his resignation in 2003. Press release at www.iaaf.org.

In the framework of the cadet and junior World Championships, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) has conducted the third Volunteer Manager Programme. Thirteen men and seven women, from 13 different countries, took part in this programme, gaining experience in the organisation of a major fencing championship. Read the story at www.fie.ch.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has just published its official media guide for the World Championships which will take place in Paris (France) from 13 to 20 May 2013. These 52nd Championships will bring together 472 male and 373 female athletes from 129 countries, in the French capital – a record number of athletes for this event. More info at www.ittf.com.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

On 27 April, the Bahrain NOC’s Sports Training and Development Section held a seminar entitled “The relationship between the administrator and the coach”. The participants (pictured above) addressed a number of subjects, including the challenges faced by a coach and how to create a positive environment to develop the level of the players.
Furthermore, the NOC has informed us that the Qatari city of Doha will host the second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Conference on Sport and the Environment from 22 to 24 October this year.

The NOC of Guatemala celebrated the 66th anniversary of its creation at a gala dinner attended by numerous personalities, including the President of the Republic, Otto Pérez Molina; and the Deputy Sports Minister, María Dolores Molina. Several distinctions were presented on this occasion. Recipients of the Order of the NOC of Guatemala (in gold) included President Otto Pérez Molina and Pedro Muadi, President of the Congress of the Republic. Click on www.cor.org.gt for more details.

In the framework of the IOC World Conference on Sport for All, the Peruvian NOC organised a two-kilometre “Walk for All”. Numerous Conference participants joined other walkers. IOC President Jacques Rogge started the walk. A little later in the day, an Olympic sports museum was inaugurated in the national stadium in Lima. Besides President Rogge, other attendees included Peruvian Prime Minister Juan Jiménez Mayor; IOC member Iván Dibós; and NOC President José Quiñones González. Full info at www.coperu.org.

At the start of April, the new Executive Committee of the NOC of Portugal was officially presented at a ceremony in Lisbon. The new President, José Manuel Constantino, succeeded Vicente Moura after 17 years at the head of the NOC. The new Secretary General is José Manuel Araújo.

As part of its Olympic values education programme, the NOC of Rwanda has developed a mini Olympic Games project in various schools across the country. This project, undertaken in collaboration with the National Olympic Academy, is taking place in 10 schools between May and July 2013. Its objective is to provide young people with a taste for sport, thanks to a sports competition and activities introducing Olympism. For example, one Rwandan school will be writing to a French Olympic school class about its experience of the mini Olympic Games.

On 27 April in Bratislava (Slovakia), the NOC of Slovakia celebrated its 20th anniversary in the presence of more than 200 guests, including the President of the Slovak Republic, Ivan Gasparovic; IOC honorary member and NOC Honorary President Vladimir Cernusak; and two-time Olympic medallist (shooting) and Chairman of the NOC’s Athletes’ Commission, Jozef Gonci. On this occasion, NOC President Frantisek Chmelar officially signed the IOC’s invitation to participate in the Olympic Games in Sochi. Distinctions and prizes were awarded to various sports personalities, and two books were presented: Our Olympic Beginnings by Maria Mracnova and Slovak Olympic Memorabilia by a team of authors. Info at www.olympic.sk.

ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
RIO 2016

Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium, which will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the men’s and women’s football finals, has been officially re-opened after major transformation work. Brazilian football stars Ronaldo and Bebeto played in the first match held in the renovated stadium, in front of a crowd of over 25,000 people, including the construction workers who helped renovate this historic venue; the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff; the Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral; city Mayor Eduardo Paes; and the President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and 2016 Paralympic Games, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.
This week, it was announced that construction work had started on the golf course for the 2016 Games following receipt of all the necessary authorisations. This course is being built at the Reserva de Marapendi in the Barra da Tijuca – the area hosting the most sports venues for the Games. Once the Games are over, this venue will become the first golf course open to the people of Rio de Janeiro, which will help promote golf in Brazil. Read the press releases at www.olympic.org and www.rio2016.com.

PYEONGCHANG 2018

On 3 May, the Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang (POCOG) presented its official Olympic emblem to 1,000 guests on the occasion of a gala ceremony which was held simultaneously in PyeongChang and Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. The new emblem is inspired by Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and by Cheon-ji-in, Korea’s traditional humanism. Attending the ceremony were Gunilla Lindberg, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2018 Games; Jin-sun Kim, POCOG President; Jin-ryong Yoo, Korean Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism; Moon-soon Choi, Governor of the Province of Gangwon; Jung-haeng Kim, President of the Korean NOC; and Sang-hwa Lee, Olympic speed skating champion. A congratulatory message was also addressed to the Organising Committee on behalf of the President of the Republic of Korea, Geun-hye Park. Find out more detailed information here.

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

The Cube, the former portal of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) website, has undergone a total transformation. It has been replaced by a new platform which completely reflects the spirit of the YOG. More user-friendly, this new website also allows us to post videos and present the latest news and photo galleries. See the new website here.

NOTE

As the IOC will be closed on 9 and 10 May 2013, the Olympic Highlights will not be published next week. The next edition will appear on 17 May 2013.

International Olympic Committee : News

Highlights of the week

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

OTHER NEWS

TOP PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

WINTER IFS

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

LILLEHAMMER 2016

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games “on track for success” with detailed planning underway

IOC holds successful meetings with Indian Sports Minister and representatives of National Federations/members of suspended Indian Olympic Association

Videos

Photos

Social media

YOG medallist weightlifter Ediel Marquez still going strong

Founding Group on fight against irregular and illegal betting calls for a universal monitoring system

Videos

Photos

Social media

Coca-Cola announces global commitments to help fight obesity

Going for Gold in Sochi: Shelley Rudman

Watch Shelley Rudman win her medal in Turin 2006:

Design students to create the “Look” of Lillehammer 2016

YOG hurdles champion Nicholas Hough to represent Australia at the 2013 Summer Universiade

Highlights of the week

IOC ACTIVITIESMEMBERS

COMMISSIONS

TOP PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONSSUMMER IFS

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES RIO 2016

PYEONGCHANG 2018

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

NOTE

IOC ACTIVITIES
MEMBERS

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS

ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
RIO 2016