International Olympic Committee : News

Information for the media: Official release of the 2020 IOC Evaluation Commission Report

6/17/2013 4:13:00 PM

The three Candidate Cities looking to host the Games in 2020 are Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid*. Please note that the IOC will not be holding a press conference in relation to the official release of the report.

*Cities listed in the official order of the drawing of lots

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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
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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

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A one-stop shop for learning all about the YOG’s Culture and Education Programme

6/17/2013 8:00:00 AM

Want to learn about the YOG’s Culture and Education Programme (CEP)? Want to know what makes up the YOG DNA? Then check out our latest playlist, which will show you all you need to know about the YOG and the CEP.

Through a compilation of short, fun and informative videos, we take you behind the scenes of the Games to show you what the YOG spirit is all about, and how young athletes, organisers, volunteers, spectators, athlete role models and YOG Ambassadors, such as Lindsey Vonn and Yuna Kim, experience the YOG.

Bringing young people together to make new friends, have fun both on and off the field of play and experience new cultures, the CEP takes YOG athletes and other young participants beyond sport and enables them to learn more about preventing sporting injuries, living by the Olympic values, balancing sport and education or eating like a champion. It seeks to turn every participant into ambassadors of Olympism.

YOG participants also get the opportunity to meet athlete role models who in turn seek to share their own dreams, experiences and challenges with these young people.

To discover the YOG DNA, learn and have fun with the CEP, and re-live Innsbruck 2012 and Singapore 2010, check out the playlist!

Young people inspired to get active in the Netherlands

6/14/2013 3:30:00 PM

“Mission Olympic” is open to students of all sporting ability between the ages of 12 and 19. In 2013, over 150,000 students from 315 schools from across the Netherlands competed in 18 disciplines. Competitions took place throughout the school year, culminating in a fantastic celebration of sport in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.

Epke Zonderland, London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallist in gymnastics and the programme’s ambassador, said: “The atmosphere at Mission Olympic reminds me of the real Olympic Games. It’s fantastic to see the way that Mission Olympic inspires young people to discover sports, which is why I’m a proud ambassador of this programme”.

Mission Olympic was founded in 2003 by the Dutch Olympic Committee and Worldwide TOP Partner Coca-Cola, in partnership with KVLO, an organisation representing physical education teachers.

Information for the media - Updated programme for IOC Executive Board Meetings, 2020 Candidate Cities Briefing for IOC Members and 2013 Extraordinary IOC Session - 2 to 4 July in Lausanne, Switzerland

6/14/2013 9:00:00 AM

If you haven’t already done so, please click here to request a media accreditation.

Media working rooms equipped with wireless internet access will be available in all three venues: the IOC headquarters in Vidy (limited number of desks), Beaulieu Lausanne and Lausanne Palace Hotel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
Please refer to the column “media access” in the programme.

1. About the 2020 Candidate Cities Briefing for IOC Members on 3 July

The 2020 Candidate Cities Briefing for IOC Members on 3 July at Beaulieu Lausanne will be closed to the media. There will be no CATV feed.

Pool raw video footage of the delegations entering the room and taking the podium before they start their respective presentations will be made available in the media workroom at no charge (please see below for more information).

This photo opportunity will also be available to a very small pool of photographers, which will include international (AP, Reuters, AFP, Getty, Keystone), plus a national pool for each Candidate City.

There will be a mixed zone available for interviews as each delegation leaves the room following their presentation.

Each delegation will hold a press conference starting approximately 15 minutes after their presentation is completed.

There will be production and transmission facilities at Beaulieu Lausanne to assist broadcasters covering the event. The following facilities will be made available:

Stand-up positions for live programme inserts; tape playout (multi-format)
Connectivity to the Eurovision Global Network
Footage of the entrance of the delegations in the presentation room will be pooled and made available to broadcasters free of charge
Dubbing will be provided onto DVCAM, P2 or file on to broadcasters’ own hard disk or USB stick. The feed-point will be operational on 3 and 4 July, and will be located at Beaulieu Lausanne. To reserve a live stand-up or playout, please contact:

Eurovision - Marc Stanislas
Email: bookings@eurovision.net
Tel: +41 22 717 28 40

2. About the presentations and election of the Host City of the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2018 on 4 July

The presentations made by the Candidate Cities for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games and the announcement of the Host City will be open to the media. Seating will be at the back of the room in a reserved area. A CATV feed will also be broadcast in the media work room.

If you need access with cameras or TV equipment inside the room during the presentations and announcement, please send your request to pressoffice@olympic.org

Mixed zone opportunities will be available outside the room following the announcement of the Host City.

3. About the Presidential Candidates Briefing for IOC Members

The Presidential Candidates Briefing for IOC Members on 4 July held at Beaulieu Lausanne will be closed to the media. There will be no CATV feed.

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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

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

Kobe Bryant needs you to get active on Olympic Day

6/14/2013 12:00:00 PM

In a short video posted on YouTube and other social media platforms today, the two-time gold medallist with the US men’s basketball team has called on people everywhere to lace up their running shoes, don their sweatbands and take part in any physical activity they desire. And Kobe, who is currently recovering from recent surgery to repair an injured Achilles tendon, asked people to make a special effort on his behalf.

“I can’t run, I can’t jump and I can’t swim yet,” Kobe said. “So I need you guys to pick up the slack for me and be doubly active.”

Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world take part in Olympic Day events – and this year the IOC is asking people to take a picture of their sporting activity and post it on social media. The best photograph will win the lucky person a trip to Switzerland, the home of the Olympic Movement in Lausanne and the refurbished Olympic Museum, which reopens later this year. (Details of the competition and how to enter below).

For 65 years the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its partners in the Olympic Movement have been encouraging people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active on Olympic Day. Today, Olympic Day has evolved to become a key date in the Olympic Movement’s calendar, and has gained momentum worldwide with almost 4 million participants from around the world and over 150 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) taking part last year. It is an opportunity to encourage the young and not-so-young, regardless of their sporting ability and their background, to get moving, learn about the benefits of physical activity, discover new sports and reflect on the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

Many of our 204 NOCs will be organising educational, cultural and sporting activities under the motto “Move, Learn and Discover.”

Please consult www.olympic.org/olympicday for more information on Olympic Day activities happening near you.

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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.

Details of how to enter the competition:
Participants need to get active, capture the moment and sign up to the contest here, where they can then upload their photo. To then check out all the latest activities on Olympic Day, visit: www.olympic.org/olympicday or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The contest will close on midnight (GMT+1 time) Sunday 23 June 2013.

Videos

YouTube: http://youtu.be/fiv3GfMco7E

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.

Highlights of the week

6/14/2013 4:10:00 PM

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

On 10 June in Brussels (Belgium), IOC President Jacques Rogge met Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner responsible for sport, in the framework of the “structured dialogue” of the Commission with the sports movement. Their discussions addressed, among other things, the implementation of the current European Union Work Plan for Sport (2011-2014) and the priorities of the future Work Plan. President Rogge was accompanied by IOC members Claudia Bokel and Patrick Joseph Hickey, who is also the President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC). Read the news story here.

On 13 June, also in Brussels, the IOC President made a speech at the 100th anniversary celebration of Sportspress.be, the Belgian professional sports journalists’ association.

Back in Lausanne, on 14 June, he held discussions with the new President of the Israeli NOC, Igal Carmi, accompanied by IOC member Alex Gilady.

On 15 and 16 June, President Rogge will attend the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), whose President is Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

MEMBERS

On 12 June, Lambis V. Nikolaou represented the IOC President at the opening ceremony of the 53rd International Olympic Academy session for young participants in Athens (Greece).

At the end of May, Lydia Nsekera was elected to the Executive Committee of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), at the IF’s Congress in Mauritius. She has thus become the first woman to be elected to the FIFA Executive Committee, for a four-year term of office. Press release here.

COMMISSIONS

The Coordination Commission for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games, whose Chairwoman is Angela Ruggiero, held its second meeting in Lillehammer from 12 to 14 June. The Commission was impressed by the progress achieved by the Organising Committee (LYOCOG).More details here.

MISCELLANEOUS

This week, the IOC launched a call for tenders for the sale of broadcasting and exploitation rights throughout the Asian territory for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio in 2016 and the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014. Additional offers will be studied for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018 and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020 (whose host city has not yet been selected). Press release here.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

One day after his success in the European Championships in Krakow (Poland), the now two-time European canoe-kayak slalom European champion and bronze medallist at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2012, the Czech Republic’s Jiri Prskavec returned to Prague (Czech Republic). The reason for his return was to join a team of volunteers cleaning up the areas surrounding the slalom course for the next World Championships, which will take place from 11 to 15 September in the Czech capital. The course found itself under water after the flooding in the region. Read the news story published by the International Canoeing Federation (ICF) on www.canoeicf.com

During its meeting on 31 May in Geneva (Switzerland), the Executive Committee of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided to propose to the FIE Congress a new rule in the FIE statutes concerning the FIE athletes’ commission, stipulating that the Chairperson Elect of this commission will become a member of the FIE Executive Committee, with voting rights. The FIE Congress will be held on 29 November 2013 in Paris (France). Info at www.fie.ch.

Furthermore, in last week’s edition of the Olympic Highlights, the person on the right of the photo was not FIE President Alisher Usmanov, but Secretary General Frédéric Pietruszka.

World Archery (WA) recently launched a new website. This website includes live coverage of events, videos, social networks, world rankings and many other functions that you can discover by clicking on www.archery.org.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has chosen the US city of Chicago to host the 27th edition of the World Triathlon Grand Final in 2015. In preparation for organising this important event, Chicago will also stage a world series event in 2014. Info at www.triathlon.org.

WINTER IFS

The International Ski Federation (FIS) Council met on 10 June in Cavtat-Dubrovnik (Croatia). On the agenda were reports by the organising committees of the World Championships and the next Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, the World Cup calendar and the FIS development programme. More info at www.fis-ski.com.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

In the framework of the campaign for the upcoming parliament elections, the NOC of Germany (DOSB) organised an election hearing bringing together the chairpersons of the top five parties. They thus presented their plans and answered the questions asked by the DOSB representatives on the role of sport in society, sport and the environment, sport and education, and elite sport financing. More info at www.dosb.de.

At the Belgian NOC (COIB)’s recent General Assembly, several awards were presented. Legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx was the first to receive the COIB Order of Merit from COIB President and IOC member Pierre-Olivier Beckers. Merckx took part in the Tokyo Games in 1964, was coach of the Belgian team for the 1996 Atlanta Games, and, since 1992, has been a member of the COIB Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Olympic pin was awarded to Lionel Cox, shooting silver medallist at the London Games. The other Olympic medallists, Charline Van Snick and Evi Van Acker, will receive their pin soon. Finally, the 2012 IOC “Sport and Sustainable Development” Trophy was presented to the Ethias Trophy tennis tournament for its efforts in decreasing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing accessibility and promoting responsible sport. Full information at www.olympic.be.

At the end of May, the Lithuanian Rowing Federation and the Lithuanian NOC organised their first technical course for rowing coaches in 2013, which brought together a total of 39 participants. An expert from the International Rowing Federation (FISA), Giovanni Postiglione, shared his experience in the areas of rowing technique, theory and practical applications of training and evaluation. Info at www.ltok.lt.

The Grand Finale of the 11th edition of the school sports competition, “Mission Olympic” recently brought together more than 6,000 schoolchildren in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium. Created by the Dutch NOC and worldwide TOP partner Coca-Cola, in collaboration with KVLO, an organisation representing physical education teachers, this competition is open to 12- to 19-year-olds. For the 2013 edition, more than 150,000 young people from 315 schools across the country competed in 18 disciplines throughout the whole school year. The Grand Finale was attended by London Olympic champion and “Mission Olympic” ambassador Epke Zonderland.

On 9 June in Belgrade, more than 3,500 people participated in the 19th Olympic Day organised by the NOC of Serbia. As well as races for children and families, the Day was also the occasion to present the athletes who will compete in the Mediterranean Games in Mersin (Turkey). The European shotput champion, Asmir Kolasinac, read a message from the IOC President. The Serbian Olympic team mascot, Lucky (a wild falcon) was also present to take part in sports demonstrations with the athletes. Info at Infos sur www.oks.org.rs.

ORGANISING COMMITTES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES

SOCHI 2014

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 (Sochi 2014) has revealed the cauldron for the celebration of the Olympic Torch Relay, which will start on 7 October in Moscow. The lighting of the cauldron will be the highlight of each day of festivities, which will take place throughout Russia during the 65,000-km Relay, the longest in Olympic history. The caudron was created by a reputed team of Russian designers. It mirrors the design and style of the Olympic torch. Information at www.olympic.org and www.sochi2014.com.

Worldwide Olympic Partner Samsung – the official Wireless Communications Equipment provider of the Olympic Games – has launched a new promotional campaign as part of its preparations for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. As part of its “Everyone’s Olympic Games” campaign strategy, Samsung plans to implement several initiatives to help make Sochi 2014 the most innovative and socially accessible Olympic Winter Games ever. One of the key initiatives will be an athlete ambassador programme, which will bring together many promising international athletes and establish a personal link with sports fans. Read the story here.

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

Raffaele Chiulli, President of the International Powerboating Federation (UIM), was elected as President of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) at this Association’s General Assembly, held in St Petersburg (Russian Federation). He will also be a member of the SportAccord Council. Info at www.arisf.org.

The President of the International Sport Movies and TV Federation (FICTS), Franco Ascani, was elected as the President of the European Sport for All Union (UESpT) at a meeting of the International Sport for All (FISpT) Management Board in Athens (Greece) last week. Information at www.ficts.com.

Lillehammer 2016 making "impressive progress" on building foundations for an "unforgettable" Youth Olympic Games

6/13/2013 11:13:00 AM

During two days of informative meetings held in Gjovik, which will host the short track events in 2016, LYOGOC shared with the Commission their ambitious and exciting vision for delivering an event ‘for young people, by young people’ based on their core values: “playful and determined”, “awesome and humble”.

Staying true to these values, this small team can count a number of achievements since the Commissions first visit in October 2012. They have brought on new members of staff – namely Financial Controller, Head of Culture and Education Programme and Head of Games Operations – connected with key stakeholders and created a strong network of external experts.

The Commission, chaired by Olympic ice hockey champion Angela Ruggiero, was also pleased to receive presentations on the overall concept of the Culture and Education Programme, legacy commitments, a review of the Venue Master Plan and a first overview of the Marketing and Communications plans. Also of particular note, LYOGOC gave an update on the Youth Olympic Village, which received a green light for construction ahead of schedule, while construction of the ice hockey training venue is well on track.

Speaking after the meetings, Miss Ruggiero said: “This is crucial time for LYOGOC as they start building the foundations for their project and establishing their vision, mission, and ambition for the YOG 2016.

“Already, they have demonstrated a full understanding of the YOG spirit, working with students and young people from the region in a “playful and determined, awesome and humble” manner, as their values state, and their vision is very well in line with the IOC vision of the YOG.

“The IOC is in no doubt they will deliver an unforgettable experience to the young participants, local youth and beyond and we look forward to going on this journey with them.”

Other Commission members present included Olympic skeleton racer Adam Pengilly and two-time Olympic champion short track skater Yang Yang, who had particularly fond memories of Gjovik as the location of her first ever World Championships in 1995.

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

Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/youtholympics

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 Youth Olympic Games and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Sochi 2014 Unveils Celebration Cauldron for Olympic Torch Relay

6/13/2013 1:00:00 PM

The lighting of the Celebration Cauldron will be the culmination of each day’s festivities across Russia during the 65,000km Relay, which will be the longest in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.

The concept behind the cauldron, which was developed by a team of renowned Russian designers, echoes that of the Olympic Torch and was designed in an identical style. The colours of the cauldron are bright red and silver: cold 'ice' sparkles in the sunlight and is topped off with a warm, dark scarlet 'flame'.

Each cauldron is 130cm tall, 60cm wide and the base is 110cm wide. The cauldron and its component parts have been put through numerous tests, including in extremely harsh weather conditions.

"The Celebration Cauldron of the Olympic Torch Relay is one of the main features of the Relay,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee. “Each region will have an opportunity to keep the cauldron. The cauldron will form a part of Games legacy and will remind the people of each region of this historic event – the longest Torch Relay in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.”

The Celebration Cauldron was unveiled as part of the festivities in Moscow’s Red Square marking the national holiday of the Russian Federation - “Russia Day”.

Youngsters in Nanjing get in the YOG spirit with mascot NANJINGLELE for Children’s Day

6/12/2013 5:47:00 PM

Children across China were given the day off to mark International Children’s Day in order to take part in various festivities, cultural demonstrations and performances. In Nanjing, host city of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014, a class of local five and six year-olds (Year 1) , led by a group of 10 and 11 year-olds (Year 6) , were treated to a visit of the Nanjing 2014 YOG headquarters, where they took part in a YOG quiz and met a French volunteer working for the Games next summer. The children concluded their day of discovery by meeting the colourful Nanjing 2014 YOG mascot, NANJINGLELE. And looking at the photos, they were clearly buzzing with excitement from their YOG-tastic day.

What are you most looking forward to about next summer’s Youth Olympic Games? Tell us on our Facebook page.

IOC launches sales process for broadcast rights in Asia

6/10/2013 5:24:00 PM

The IOC is considering bids for broadcast rights in the following 24 countries and territories: (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Brunei, (iv) Bhutan, (v) Cambodia, (vi) Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), (vii) East Timor, (viii) Hong Kong, (ix) India, (x) Indonesia, (xi) Iran, (xii) Laos, (xiii) Malaysia, (xiv) Maldives, (xv) Mongolia, (xvi) Myanmar, (xvii) Nepal, (xviii) Pakistan, (xix) Papua New Guinea, (xx) Philippines, (xxi) Singapore, (xxii) Sri Lanka, (xxiii) Thailand, and (xxiv) Vietnam.

The IOC will assess bids on their ability to meet the highest standards in broadcast quality, their capacity to reach the broadest possible audience across different media platforms, their commitment to promoting the Olympic Games and the values of the Olympic Movement, as well as on the financial offer.

The IOC will consider bids from organisations who can guarantee full exploitation of the rights either on a multi-territory or country-by-country basis.

All parties interested in bidding for the broadcast and exhibition rights for the 24 countries in Asia should contact: broadcastsales@olympic.org .

The IOC has asked for bids to be submitted by 5 July 2013, 5pm CET.

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For further information, please contact the IOC Communications Department, Tel: +41 21 621 60 00; E-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org