International Olympic Committee : News

The penultimate IOC Coordination Commission gets underway in Sochi

3/12/2013 8:00:00 AM

During this visit, the Commission will be updated by the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee and its local partners on the progress being made on the project, with less than a year remaining until the Games.

Winter Sports Participation

As has happened during the preparations for previous Olympic Winter Games, the seven Olympic International Winter Sports Federations will participate in the opening and closing plenary sessions of the visit, as well as in the working group on sport and the International Federations. This participation helps to cement the already strong collaboration between the federations, the Local Organising Committee and the IOC.

A Full Two Days

Over the course of the two days of meetings, the Commission will hear about Sochi’s progress in areas as diverse as Games operations, the Olympic Torch Relay, technology, culture, education and sustainability. A large part of the meetings will also focus on client experience, with working groups examining the services that will be provided to groups such as the athletes, National Olympic Committees, spectators, the marketing partners, workforce and the media. These full two days will be yet another important step on Sochi’s way to successfully hosting the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

First Coordination Commission visit to PyeongChang

3/19/2012 10:00:00 AM

The IOC’s Coordination Commission for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games will visit the host city in the Republic of Korea for the first time this week (20-22 March). Under the chairmanship of Gunilla Lindberg, the Commission will meet with members of the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG), along with representatives of the national government and local authorities.

Progress

Representing the different facets of the Olympic Movement, such as athletes, the National Olympic Committees, and the International Federations, the Coordination Commission members will hear presentations on the different elements of POCOG’s progress since its election and the PyeongChang 2018 concept. They will also have the opportunity to visit a number of the venues during their stay. Over the coming years, the Commission will help to guide POCOG, as it prepares to welcome the world’s athletes to the Republic of Korea in 2018.

The Coordination Commission

The IOC, as the guardian of the Olympic Games, assists and monitors the work of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games through the work of the Coordination Commission. The Commission visits the host city once a year until four years from the Games, when the visits become twice yearly until the Games are held. The Commission’s full meetings are supplemented by the regular visits of smaller IOC teams involving the Commission Chairman, selected members of the Commission and members of the IOC administration.

PyeongChang 2018

PyeongChang was elected as the host city for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban, South Africa, on 6 July 2011. PyeongChang won the vote against the cities of Annecy (France) and Munich (Germany). PyeongChang defeated Munich and Annecy in the first round of voting, by 63 votes to 25 and 7 respectively. The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games will play host to the seven Olympic winter sports currently on the Olympic programme and will run from 9 to 25 February 2018.

IOC wraps up penultimate visit to London

10/7/2011 3:00:00 PM

Concluding its ninth and penultimate visit to the city of London (5-7 October), the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission for the 2012 Olympic Games found good progress being made project-wide and praised the efforts of organisers to bring the 2012 Games experience to the whole of Great Britain and beyond.

The Commission heard how the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games (LOCOG) and its partners were starting to test how they would work at Games-time during the successful “London Prepares” series. London 2012 is learning valuable lessons through such programmes that will help it enhance the experience for athletes and supporters coming to the Games next year.

The Commission also remarked on how the strong collaboration and impressive detailed integrated work between LOCOG and its external delivery partners has stood the organisers in good stead in the face of the huge task of staging a Games. It has allowed them, for example, to deliver the Games venues on time, which has permitted the organisers to start testing their operations in optimal conditions. The Commission witnessed the result of this first hand during visits to the Olympic Park and an archery event at Lord’s Cricket Club.

“London 2012 continues to make good progress toward delivering great Olympic Games next summer,” said IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald. “We have once again been impressed by the overall level of planning and by the results of the first group of test events that were held this summer.”

“LOCOG and its partners are also looking beyond the confines of the venues and are working hard to bring the London 2012 experience to people across Great Britain and around the world,” Mr Oswald continued. “This will undoubtedly generate a great Olympic atmosphere next summer, and we congratulate them for their work.”

A common thread through all of the presentations this week was how people are able to experience the Games. The Commission noted that, since its last visit in April, LOCOG was responsible for the launch of a very successful ticket programme, great coverage generated by one-year-to-go celebrations, as well as popular Olympic Torch Relay and volunteer programmes that have already started to bring London 2012 to homes across the nation and abroad.

Also well-received were programmes such as the Cultural Olympiad — which will culminate in the London 2012 Festival next year — Get Set Education, International Inspiration and London 2012's live sites, all of which have raised the profile of London 2012 and brought the Olympic spirit to millions of people worldwide.

Chairman Oswald said, “The Olympic Games is a unique event that brings the world together every four years. We are delighted that London 2012 is focused on ensuring that the experience and atmosphere inside and outside the venues are of the highest standard and that everyone can feel a part of London 2012.”

The Commission also pointed to the fact that the Games were on track to leave a great legacy to London, Great Britain and the Olympic Movement. Initiatives such as the Get Set education programme, International Inspiration, and the other sporting, social, and economic programmes associated with the Games are all playing a role in ensuring that the spirit of 2012 will survive well after the Games are over. They particularly underlined how the new Olympic venues will help to form a lasting legacy for British sport at both the community and elite levels.

London 2012 Chairman Seb Coe said, “We have had a very busy six months since the last Coordination Commission visit, selling tickets, recruiting volunteers and relentlessly testing all our operations, including delivering 17 sport test events this summer. We are delighted to receive such strong endorsement from the IOC. With only 42 Fridays until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, everyone at LOCOG is focussed on putting on Games the whole country can be proud of and a part of.”

Over the three days, the Commission heard reports from LOCOG, the British Government, the Greater London Authority, and Transport for London, as well as updates on areas such as services to the athletes, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, the media, the Paralympic Games and spectators, as well as updates on topics such as marketing, technology, culture, education and communications. The next visit of the Commission to London will be from 28 to 30 March next year.

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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

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Innsbruck 2012

1st edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Innsbruck, Austria,13 to 22 January 2012. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Penultimate Coordination Commission Meeting for London 2012 Starts

10/5/2011 8:00:00 AM

The penultimate visit of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission to the city of London got underway today, as only 296 days remain until the Opening Ceremony of the Games. The Commission, led by Olympian and IOC member Denis Oswald, is in London for three days of meetings and venue tours, which will see it get a full update from organisers on the progress of preparations for the London 2012 Games.

Taking Shape

During its three days in the British capital, the Commission will hear updates on the services to be provided to the athletes, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, the Paralympic Games, the media and spectators. There will also be updates on areas such as marketing, brand, communications, technology, culture and education. The visit will be rounded off with a visit to a few of the venues that will play a key role in next summer’s Games.

LONDON 2012

London was elected as the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad on 6 July 2005 at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. London eventually succeeded in the fourth round of voting, taking 54 votes from a possible 104. London faced stiff opposition during the vote from the other four candidate cities: Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid. There will be 26 sports on the Olympic programme in London in 2012 and around 10,500 athletes.

London 2012 athletics track completed

10/4/2011 11:29:00 AM

The athletics track at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium has been officially unveiled, as next year’s Olympic Games move another step closer. British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson, IAAF World Championship silver medallist Hannah England and Paralympic gold medallist Dan Greaves were on hand to launch the new track, which is made of synthetic rubber and has been designed to help athletes run fast times during next year’s Games. They were joined at the unveiling by local schoolchildren.

Seb Coe, London 2012 Organising Committee Chairman, said: “Today marks a huge milestone for the project, as the Olympic stadium starts to come to life and people get a glimpse of how it will look in less than 10 months’ time when we welcome the world's athletes to London. Although there is still a lot of work to do on the stadium, seeing some of our top British athletes on the track with local schoolchildren really underlines the stadium’s potential for 2012 and beyond.”

During the unveiling, Coe joined Tomlinson, England, Greaves and the local schoolchildren for the first 100m run on the new track before completing a lap with 1,500m runner England. During next year’s Games, the Olympic stadium will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as all the track and field events.

John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which is responsible for the venues, infrastructure and legacy for the Games, said: “Watching athletes and children run around the Olympic stadium’s track 10 months before the London 2012 Games highlights just how much has been achieved over the last four years. The Olympic stadium will be a stunning centre-piece of the Games and a fitting theatre for sporting action and the ceremonies.”

Countdown on as final Coordination Commission visit concludes in Innsbruck

9/6/2011 3:00:00 PM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012 today concluded its fourth and final visit to the Austrian host city. The Coordination Commission visit took place after three successful days of Chefs de Mission meetings with all 65 nations that will compete in Innsbruck.

With 129 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the Innsbruck Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (IYOGOC) remains on track as it enters the operational readiness phase in its planning.

Headed by Chairman Gian-Franco Kasper, the IOC Coordination Commission was particularly impressed with the progress of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV). The YOV will accommodate approximately 1,660 athletes and officials during Games time, and, as a legacy of the Youth Olympic Games, will be used as affordable housing once the Games have concluded.

“The Innsbruck Organising Committee heads into the final few months of preparation with an extremely organised and creative team who are working tirelessly to ensure an unforgettable elite sporting event for the world’s best young winter athletes,” said Kasper. “This unique host city has a rich Olympic history, and today we can feel the excitement building as it makes history again with the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games.”

The IOC has supported the move to have all snowboard and freestyle events at the Kühtai venue. Based at over 2,000 metres and with excellent snowmaking facilities that practically guarantee snow conditions, the venue, thanks to the new facilities, is expected to become one of the best winter freestyle sport and training centres in Europe. This adds to the legacy of the recently completed Biathlon shooting range at the Seefeld venue.

At Innsbruck 2012, several new disciplines will be seen for the first time at an Olympic event, such as snowboard slopestype, ski half pipe and ice hockey skills challenge. Also integrated into the sports programme for the first time is women’s ski jumping, the winner of which will be awarded the first Winter Youth Olympic Games medal.

The Coordination Commission was also pleased to note the full integration of the unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP) into the overall schedule for athletes, spectators and local schools. The Programme will enable athletes to learn new skills, experience different cultures and cover key topics such as the benefits of healthy lifestyles, the dangers of doping, and the values of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The CEP was successfully tested this week during a seminar involving the 33 Young Ambassadors chosen by National Olympic Committees. This group will then guide the athletes through the programme during Games time.

The volunteer programme, launched earlier this year, has attracted almost 2,500 applications from 40 countries — double the amount of volunteers actually required. In addition, partnerships with 12 international universities have also been secured.

Communication and promotion of the Youth Olympic Games will build in the final months leading up to the Games, with the main focus on ticketing and the 18-day Torch Relay that will visit 50 national locations. Several digital media initiatives are also under way, increasing traffic and fan numbers on IYOGOC’s website and social media platforms. Supporting the promotional campaign will be a group of ambassadors selected by the IOC that includes Alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn (USA) and Benjamin Raich (Austria), with more to be announced in the lead-up to the Games.

In one month’s time, Innsbruck 2012 will celebrate its 100-day countdown, and will take the opportunity to present a number of engaging initiatives and events to mark the milestone.

“Holding 63 medal events and a wide-ranging Culture and Education Programme in the space of just 10 days requires a tremendous amount of detailed planning, organisation, coordination, leadership and monitoring,” said Innsbruck 2012 Chief Operating Officer Peter Bayer. “I am proud of our team. The vision of the Youth Olympic Games is within touching distance, and there is great enthusiasm among all the members of the Organising Committee. We have embraced and are living the Olympic Spirit, which is reflected in the excellent work we’ve done so far.”

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

Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos
For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, 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 and Facebook.

Second Coordination Commission Meets In Rio

6/6/2011 9:11:00 AM

The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games begins its second visit this week to the Brazilian city. Led by IOC Executive Board Member and Olympic champion Nawal El Moutawakel, the commission will be in Rio for three days of meetings and site visits.

Wide Ranging Update

During the three days of deliberations, the Commission will hear updates on a number of areas of Olympic Games preparations including venue and infrastructure construction, sport, National Olympic Committee services, marketing, brand, and planning and coordination. This will give the Commission the opportunity to see how far the Rio 2016 Organising Committee has progressed since its last visit in May 2010 and to be updated on their plans for the coming year of preparations.

On-going Work

As part of its visit, the Commission will get the opportunity to visit a few of the venues and infrastructure improvements that are currently underway for the 2016 Games. Much of this work will serve not only the Olympic Games but also the people of Rio for many years once the Olympics are over, providing a great legacy to the community.

RIO 2016

Rio de Janeiro was elected on 2 October 2009 as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rio was elected in the third round of voting, beating the cities of Chicago (United States), Tokyo (Japan) and Madrid (Spain). Rio defeated Madrid in the third round of voting by 66 votes to 32, with Chicago and Tokyo already having been eliminated in the first and second rounds respectively. Rio 2016 will have 28 sports on its programme and will run from 5 till 21 August 2016.

With less than 500 days to go, the IOC returns to London

3/30/2011 8:00:00 AM

With less than 500 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission is paying its eighth visit to the Olympic host city. At an important time for the Games, with ticket sales now underway and a sports and operations testing programme about to start in earnest this summer, the Commission will be looking to see that preparations remain on track.

Update on progress

Led by its Chairman, Denis Oswald, the Commission will hear about the progress being made in a number of different areas, such as venue construction, workforce, the Paralympic Games, legacy, and technology, while also examining the preparations being made for the different groups that will be attending the Games, such as the athletes, spectators, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, marketing partners, and the media. The Commission members will round out their trip by conducting a venue tour to see the impressive progress being made by London 2012 in the Olympic Park.

LONDON 2012

Jean-Claude Killy On Sochi 2014

10/15/2010 11:03:00 AM

From 12 to 14 October, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games was in the Russian Black Sea resort to check-up on progress. Olympic.org caught up with the Commission’s Chairman, French Olympian Jean-Claude Killy, to see how preparations are advancing.

Olympic.org: As Sochi reaches the half-way point in its preparations, how is the project looking overall?

Jean-Claude Killy: We have been very pleased with the amount of energy and work that the Sochi 2014 organisers and their partners have committed to the Games over the past three years. We are now at almost exactly the half-way point in the preparation period, and they are precisely where they need to be with the project. This is no small feat given the amount of work that needs to be completed. However, as I’ve said since our first meeting here, the entire Sochi team needs to keep up this pace and not lose its concentration because we still have a lot to do before we can welcome the world’s best athletes to the Games in 2014. I am confident though that our Russian colleagues will deliver great Games.

Olympic.org: What do you think will make these Games stand out from previous Winter Olympics?

Jean-Claude Killy: I think that one of the key differences will be the contrast of having a city with palm trees hosting the ice events and then only 40 minutes away the mountains with the snow and sliding venues. We had a taste of something similar in Vancouver but here in Sochi the change is even more remarkable. I believe that the main stand out though will be the welcome of the people. Since I’ve started to visit Sochi and the Krasnodar region, I can safely say that I’ve received one of the warmest and friendliest welcomes that I’ve ever been given. The Russian people have a real sense of hospitality and I hope that this will shine through during the Games in 2014.

Olympic.org: As an Olympian, how do you think the athletes of 2014 will like the Games here in Sochi?

Jean-Claude Killy: I believe that the Olympic generation of 2014 will be delighted with their Sochi experience. The local organisers and their partners are doing everything that they can to make these Games truly exceptional. The athletes will be able to compete in state-of-the-art venues, live in close proximity to their competition venues, and discover a culture that for many of them will be relatively unknown. It will also be an historic event in which to participate, as the Olympic Winter Games come to Russia for the first time, and its winter sports mad public will finally be able to come out and show their support for the world’s best winter athletes. The Olympians of 2014 will, I am sure, not be disappointed.

Sochi 2014

Sochi was elected as the host city for the XXII Olympic Winter Games at the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City on 4 July 2007. Sochi won the vote against the cities of Salzburg (Austria) and PyeongChang (Republic of Korea) in the second round of voting. The Russian city edged out PyeongChang 51 votes to 47, with Salzburg having been eliminated in round one. The Sochi Games will play host to the seven Olympic Winter sports currently on the Olympic programme and will run from 7 to 23 February 2014.

IOC Coordination Commission In Sochi For Fourth Visit

10/11/2010 9:43:00 AM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be in Sochi this week for its fourth visit to the next Winter Games host city. The Commission, led by its Chairman Jean-Claude Killy, will spend three days in the Russian Black Sea resort, hearing reports from the local organisers on their progress in a number of operational areas, as well as visiting a number of the venues and infrastructure projects being built for 2014.

Rapid Development

With a little over three years remaining until the opening of the Sochi Olympics, the Games project is developing rapidly, with venues, such as the Bolshoi Ice Palace and Olympic Skating Centre, rising steadily from the ground. The Russian organisers are also advancing quickly on other fronts, with green building standards being implemented, infrastructure taking shape, the mascot competition in full swing, and the Games first test event to be held this winter in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana. This rapidly changing environment will undoubtedly mean that the Commission members will have plenty to discuss with the local organisers during their visit.

Monitoring Progress

The IOC’s Coordination Commission plays a number of crucial roles in helping to ensure that the Olympic Games are up to the standard expected by the athletes and other groups who will attend them. Appointed by the IOC President, the Commission contains members from a number of stakeholder groups, like the athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations, which helps it in its role to coordinate communications between the organisers and these key partners. The Commission also ensures that the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract are followed and applied; monitors the progress of the OCOG; assists the OCOG to deliver the Olympic Games; and approves the levels of service proposed by the organisers for different clients. Finally, the Commission’s Chair and the Olympic Games Executive Director regularly inform the IOC’s Executive Board of the progress of the project.