International Olympic Committee : News

Second IOC Coordination Commission visit gets underway in PyeongChang

6/18/2013 8:00:00 AM

The meeting will also be attended by representatives of the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG), the Korean Olympic Committee, and the local governmental authorities.

Insight

The two days of meetings will allow the Commission to review POCOG’s progress since their last meeting in 2012. Updates will be given on areas as diverse as workforce, sport, venues, marketing, communications, education and technology to name but a few. These updates offer the opportunity to POCOG not just to present their achievements, but also to gain guidance and insight from the members of the Commission, which includes representatives of the athletes, International Federations, National Olympic Committees, IOC members and the International Paralympic Committee.

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 Executive Board discusses NOC matters

5/30/2013 4:30:00 PM

NOC of India

The EB took note of the progress made following fruitful meetings between the IOC and the Indian Sports Minister and representatives of national sports federations belonging to the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 15 May in Lausanne. The IOC has subsequently provided a roadmap that lays out the steps to be completed by the suspended IOA as a prerequisite for lifting the suspension. Under the IOC’s supervision, the IOA’s constitution should be reviewed and amended no later than 15 July 2013 to ensure that all standards of good governance and ethics are effectively addressed. In addition, the IOA’s elections should be organised no later than 1 September 2013 on the basis of the newly amended IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter. It was also agreed with the Sports Minister that the autonomy of the Olympic Movement in India will be fully respected and a fruitful relationship between the government of India and the Olympic Movement will be established.

NOC of Pakistan

The EB noted with great concern that the situation of the Olympic Movement in Pakistan has deteriorated due to the creation of a parallel body to the NOC by a group of federations supported by government authorities, in particular the Pakistan Sports Board. The IOC has reiterated on several occasions that it will not accept such a body, which stands in clear contrast to the basic principles of the Olympic Charter, and will recognise only the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), currently headed by Gen. (Retired) Syed Arif Hasan, as the sole entity entitled to act as the NOC of Pakistan. All the IOC’s efforts to reach a mutual understanding have been ignored by this parallel body and the government authorities so far. The EB therefore highlighted that if this parallel body (supported by government authorities) continues to disrupt the operations of the legitimate POA, in particular by organising new “elections” outside the POA and by preventing the POA from exercising its activities as foreseen by the Olympic Charter, Pakistan will be suspended from the Olympic Movement with all consequences this implies.

NOC of Ecuador

Following a meeting between the IOC, the Acting President of the NOC of Ecuador and the President of Ecuador, Mr Rafael Correa, the EB noted with satisfaction that Mr Correa had expressed his readiness to cooperate with the Olympic Movement to resolve the current conflict on the basis of an agreement already signed by the Sports Minister, the IOC and the NOC of Ecuador in May 2012. It was confirmed that new elections in the sports federations affiliated to the NOC will be conducted under the supervision of an election commission and in close coordination with the IFs concerned. The IOC EB expects this process to be fully respected and implemented. If not, appropriate measures – including suspension – will be considered in order to protect the Olympic Movement in Ecuador. The first step, to be completed by the election commission no later than 15 June 2013, is to determine the procedural arrangements and deadlines for the election process.

Como consecuencia de la reunion que mantuvieron hace unos dias el Presidente de Ecuador, Sr. Rafael Correa, el COI y el Presidente Interino del Comité Olimpico Ecuatoriano, la Comisión Ejecutiva del CIO toma nota con gran satisfacción de la firme voluntad expresada por el Sr. Correa, en cuanto a cooperar con el Movimiento Olimpico, para resolver los conflictos que existen actualmente, y ello sobre las bases del acuerdo firmado en Mayo del 2012 entre el Ministro de Deportes del Ecuador, el COI y el Comité Olimpico Ecuatoriano. Se confirmó que deben desarrollarse nuevas elecciones en las Federaciones Nacionales miembros del COE, y que dichos procesos electorales se desarrollarán bajo la supervisión de la Comisión Electoral, que actuará en total coordinación con las Federaciones Internacionales del deporte correspondiente. La Comisión Ejecutiva del COI confia en que este proceso sea totalmente respetado y llevado a término según lo acordado. Caso contrario, se deberán tomar las medidas que se consideren oportunas –incluyendo la suspensión- a efectos de proteger al Movimiento Olimpico en el Ecuador. El primer paso a completar por la Comisión Electoral, antes del 15 de Junio y dentro del proceso previsto, deberá ser el determinar los procedimientos detallados y plazos para los distintos procesos electorales acordados.

NOC of Sierra Leone

The IOC EB was informed of the recent action taken by the Sports Ministry to challenge the NOC elections of 11 May 2013 and to “suspend” the NOC – a clear conflict with the principle of autonomy of the Olympic Movement. It was agreed that the IOC will send a letter to the Sports Minister to explain the IOC’s position as well as the basic principles and rules that govern the Olympic Movement. The IOC EB subsequently expects the autonomy and the activities of the NOC to be fully respected. If not, protective measures as outlined in Rule 27.9 of the Olympic Charter will be considered.

Registration opens for the 2014 IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport

5/3/2013 3:00:00 PM

The speakers will provide evidence-based information on how to prevent injuries and other health problems in sport. This includes a multidisciplinary perspective on epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology and injury mechanisms.

Save your place now and register here

One of many highlights promises to be the opening lecture by the dynamic pairing of Prof Dohmnall Macauley and Prof Karim Khan, BMJ/BJSM editors. Other keynote speakers and topics include Paul McCrory on concussion, Benno Nigg on running injuries, Evert Verhagen on how digital and mobile platforms will influence athlete care, Andrew McIntosh on technology and equipment in sport, Juan Manuel Alonso on hamstring injury prevention and Caroline Finch on injury surveillance and rule changes.

Click here to read the second announcement, which contains the detailed scientific programme with speakers

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “After a first successful edition held in Monaco in 2011, the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport is more than ever the ideal platform for a thorough and constructive exchange of views, taking into consideration the latest research on illnesses and injuries in sport.” He added: “Through such a Conference, our objective remains to take concrete measures to implement new and improved injury prevention strategies, and thus maximise safe sports participation for high-level and recreational athletes alike.”

Learn more about the Conference on the official website

Last call for registrations for the IOC Advanced Team Physician Course

A few places are still available for this year’s edition of the IOC Advanced Team Physician Course which will take place from 22 to 24 May 2013 in Saltsjöbaden, Sweden. Organised by the IOC in collaboration with the world’s leading experts in the field of sports medicine, the course is geared towards the practical issues of working with high-level athletes in a team sports setting. Thirty high-level speakers will present case studies during plenary lectures, panel discussions and working groups.

The course will present new evidence on diagnosis and treatment and address topics such as overuse injuries; prevention of recurrent injuries; concussion; knee, hip and shoulder injuries; paediatric training and cardiology and health protection.
Places are limited and open to team physicians as well as to a limited number of experienced sports physical therapists. Sign up now and learn more at http://www.ioc-preventionconference.org/atpc2013/

Background information

Health risks are inherent to the practice of sport, and protecting the wellbeing of the athletes is a key priority for the IOC. Through its Medical Commission, chaired by Professor Arne Ljungqvist, the IOC has initiated and supported research on various topics related to athletes’ health, with the ultimate goal of improving injury and illness prevention. The IOC also records and analyses all athlete injuries and illnesses that occur in competition and/or training at the Olympic Games to gain further knowledge about the effectiveness and weaknesses of existing programmes.

IOC awards 2014-2016 broadcast rights in Latin America

3/22/2013 10:09:00 AM

América Móvil has acquired broadcast rights on all media platforms across Latin America*.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “In 2016 the Olympic Games in Rio will be a significant moment in Olympic history, and we are very pleased to have reached this important agreement to ensure fans across the continent are able to have the best broadcast experience of the Games.”

IOC Finance Commission Chairman Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, said, “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with América Móvil which is a new partner for the IOC. It demonstrated a clear passion for the Olympic values and is excited about the Games coming to Latin America in 2016. The IOC negotiates broadcast rights on behalf of the Olympic Movement, and we believe this is a great deal for our stakeholders. The agreement ensures there will continue to be free Olympic Games television coverage across Latin America, but also allows viewers the choice of following the action on other media platforms as well.”

Arturo Elías Ayub, Telmex Strategic Alliances VP, said: “We are extremely pleased with this successful agreement of America Movil with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Olympic Games will be broadcast on all media platforms across Latin America, supporting the global transmission through new technologies, helping millions of people in Latin America to have access to the biggest international sporting event. We share the Olympic ideals and look forward to working together with the IOC”.

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* Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
The IOC announced an agreement in 2009 for the broadcast rights in the territory of Brazil for the 2014-2016 Olympic Games.

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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IOC launches 2013 Sport and Environment Awards

3/22/2013 10:30:00 AM

First introduced by the IOC Sport and Environment Commission in 2009, the Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations that have shown initiative and taken action to drive environmental efforts and projects within their community. The recognition continues to be an important stimulus in the awareness process for environmental stewardship at local, national and global level.

Nominations for the Awards, which are presented biennially in conjunction with the IOC’s World Conferences on Sport and the Environment, can be submitted by National Olympic Committees, International Federations, Continental Associations and Recognised Organisations.

The 2013 Awards will be presented during the 10th edition of the IOC World Conference on Sport and the Environment, which will take place in Sochi (Russian Federation) from 30 October to 1 November 2013.

One award is given to a nominee from each of the five continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) selected by a jury composed of members of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission.

Nominated projects should embrace the following principles:

- Regarding the environment as the third pillar of Olympism alongside sport, culture and education;

- Creating awareness by means of education through sport, especially with regard to young people;

- Believing in the catalytic power of sport to engage a global audience in accepting responsibility for safeguarding the fragile ecosystems of the earth.

2013 Awards Documents:

IOC 2013 Sport and Environment Awards – Invitation letter

IOC 2013 Sport and Environment Awards – Rules and Regulations

IOC 2013 Sport and Environment Awards - Candidature Form

Learn more about the UN International Year of Water Cooperation and World Water Day (WWD)

ParticipACTION: Keeping Canadians moving for over 4 decades

3/19/2013 2:45:00 PM

Every two years the IOC World Conference on Sport for All brings together those active in the field to share their ideas as well as their programmes designed to get people moving. The 15th edition of the conference will take place in Lima, Peru from 24 to 27 April and a strong lineup of speakers has been assembled to ensure the workshops and discussions are as interactive and interesting as possible.

Go, Canada!

ParticipACTION is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging Canadians to lead active lifestyles and participate in sports. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION implements social marketing campaigns that inspire and support Canadians to move more.

“As the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada, our goal is to create a society where daily physical activity is not only a priority, but also second nature for its citizens,” says Kelly Murumets, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Our vision is a Canada where physical activity is a vital and fulfilling part of everyday life.”

Armed with a simple mandate – to get Canadians moving –ParticipACTION quickly gained a reputation as a global leader in communications to promote physical activity. Over the years, the organisation has earned praise for its innovative and proactive approaches to forging partnerships to finance and implement its projects.

ParticipACTION creates societal change through social marketing and collaborative partnerships. Through initiatives like Bring Back Play, an integrated campaign that encourages mothers to bring back the unstructured active play that used to be a part of every childhood, and the ParticipACTION Network, a national network that facilitates partnership, coordination and communication among organisations dedicated to encouraging physical activity and sport participation, ParticipACTION works collaboratively with its partners to ensure that its actions set the stage for long-term sustainable change.

Shared goals

Kelly Murumets will be speaking at the 15th World Conference on Sport for All in Lima next month on Sports Day in Canada, a national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high performance levels.

For more information on the 15th IOC Conference on Sport for All and to register click here

For more information on the IOCs Sport for All actions click here

Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls through sport

3/13/2013 1:16:00 PM

“Violence against women and girls is endemic to nearly all societies, and it takes many forms, both physical and psychological”, said DeFrantz. She added: “Violence is at the extreme end of a continuum that includes gender-based discrimination, taunts and sexual harassment. We cannot eradicate violence against women without eradicating the discriminatory attitudes that condone or even encourage it. Sport and its values are valuable tools to address and improve self-esteem, body control, leadership and assertiveness - all being elements which can contribute to tackle violence.”

Fighting sexual harassment and sexual abuse in sport

DeFrantz also explained that sport itself may be affected by violence against women and girls: “Unfortunately, the world of sport is not immune to the problem that we are here to address, or to the behaviours that lead to gender-based violence. The IOC has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate sexual harassment and sexual abuse in sport. Its commitment to this issue is fully aligned with the IOC’s belief that the practice of sport is a human right that cannot be denied on the basis of gender, race or sexual orientation. The Olympic Charter declares that ‘every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination’.”

Learn more about the IOC’s initiatives in this field here www.olympic.org/sha and here http://sha.olympic.org.

No single solution

DeFrantz concluded: “Sport has an important role to play in preventing violence against women and girls. It is not the only answer. There is no single solution to the pervasive problem of gender-based violence. Eliminating and preventing violence against women and girls will require deploying all available assets, including sport. It will require more cooperation and partnerships among individuals and organisations with a commitment to this cause. It will require assistance from governments and educational institutions. While being mindful of the many challenges that women face to access sport and to eradicate gender-based violence in sport, the International Olympic Committee is committed to this effort and will continue to work within sport, and with partners outside sport, to promote the cause of gender equality and eliminate sexual harassment, abuse and violence. Together, we can make a difference and provide a brighter future for our daughters, granddaughters and generations to come.”

Read the full speech here.

Registration opens for IOC Advanced Team Physician Course

3/5/2013 3:29:00 PM

Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in collaboration with world-leading experts in the field of sports medicine, the course is geared towards the practical issues of working with high-level athletes in a team sports setting. Thirty high-level speakers will present exciting case studies during plenary lectures, panel discussions and working groups.

The course will present new evidence on diagnosis and treatment and address topics such as overuse injuries; prevention of recurrent injuries; concussion; knee, hip and shoulder injuries; pediatric training; and cardiology and health protection. A social programme will facilitate discussions and networking outside the scientific sessions.

Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the IOC Medical Commission and guest of honour, said, in anticipation of the event: “Let us keep our minds sharp and enjoy and learn a lot from each other during our journey together.”

Places are limited and open to team physicians as well as to a limited number of experienced sports physical therapists. Sign up and learn more at www.ioc-preventionconference.org/atpc2013/

IOC Executive Board meeting wraps up in Lausanne

2/13/2013 11:56:00 AM

The three cities were chosen from five Candidate Cities bidding to host these YOG. Guadalajara (MEX) and Rotterdam (NED) did not make the shortlist. An Evaluation Commission will now conduct further assessments of the three shortlisted Candidate Cities before submitting a report to the IOC members, who will elect the host city at an Extraordinary Session in Lausanne on 4 July 2013.

*Shortlisted Candidate Cities in alphabetical order

Read the press release here.

Also during its two-day meeting, the EB agreed on the 25 sports that it will propose to the 125th IOC Session for approval as the core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

Read the press release here.

The EB took decisions in two disciplinary cases: Russian weightlifter Oleg Perepetchenov was disqualified from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games after further analysis of his stored sample resulted in an adverse analytical finding, showing the presence of clenbuterol. Perepetchenov finished third in the men’s 77kg weightlifting event.

Read the press release here.

The EB also issued strong warnings to Korean footballer Jongwoo Park and the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) for inappropriate behaviour by the athlete during the London 2012 Olympic Games. The midfielder had held up a sign referring to a territorial dispute between South Korea and Japan following his team’s bronze-medal victory over Japan.

Read the press release here.

In another decision, the EB adopted a set of stringent rules concerning the prohibition on betting linked to next year’s Olympic Winter Games in Sochi and any form of betting-related cheating affecting the results of Olympic competitions. The text applies to all participants in the Olympic Games and defines the different forms of violations, the range of measures and sanctions, and the disciplinary procedures.

Click here for the related news story and the full text of the rules.

Issues involving a number of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were also reviewed, including those affecting the NOCs of India and Pakistan. The NOC of India was suspended by the EB during its last meeting in December as a result of government interference and governance issues. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved and the IOC recently reiterated its request that the suspended NOC work diligently to find a solution that complies with the Olympic Charter. Once this is accomplished, the IOC would be ready to invite the relevant stakeholders to meet for further discussions.

The NOC of Pakistan is also facing government interference, and the IOC firmly condemns the so-called “interim committee” established by a number of individuals supported by the government of Pakistan with the aim of taking over the legitimate NOC, which is fully recognised by the IOC. Should the situation not improve and the government not cooperate in finding a solution that respects the Olympic Charter, the EB may soon consider a suspension of the NOC as a protective measure for the NOC and the Olympic Movement in Pakistan against outside interference.

The EB also heard a report from Sponsorship Intelligence, which conducted a global study on the perception of the Olympic brand after the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Olympic rings remain one of the world’s most widely recognised symbols. When asked, 95 per cent of respondents correctly identified the Olympic rings. The study was conducted across 16 markets world-wide and included 12,000 individuals. It found that the Olympic Games’ global stature was also heightened by an increase in global TV coverage. Coverage increased from 62,000 hours for Beijing 2008 to 100,000 hours for London 2012, with global reach rising from 3.5 billion viewers to 3.7 billion.

Read the related news story here.

Progress reports on the preparations for the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and PyeongChang 2018 were also given to the EB.

IOC passes stringent rules on betting for Sochi

2/12/2013 6:25:00 PM

Recent cases across different sports have illustrated once again that irregular and illegal betting erodes the integrity and credibility of sport and jeopardises its healthy development. The IOC has been aware of the threat for some time.

Harmonisation of rules

Since 2006, the IOC’s Code of Ethics has forbid all participants in the Olympic Games from betting on Olympic events. The rules of application passed for Sochi build on those in place for London 2012, but take into account existing regulations for International Federations in an attempt to harmonise the approach of different stakeholders.

Read the full text of the rules here

Cross-stakeholder Working Group

In recent years, the IOC has increasingly reached out to sports bodies, governments, police authorities, and legal betting operators to help fight irregular and illegal betting. In 2011 it established a dedicated Working Group to bring all these stakeholders around one table, define a common approach and position and raise awareness of the issue.

Since then, the Working Group has focused on three main areas: education; monitoring, intelligence and analysis; and legislation and regulations. One year ago, it issued specific recommendations that aim to align the activities of all stakeholders. Its next meeting is scheduled for May when the IOC will present its work with the Council of Europe on an international Convention against Manipulation of Sports Results and notably Match-fixing. The Convention would be a binding instrument open to both European and non-European countries aimed at suppressing the manipulation of sports results, an activity which continues to grow across the world.

“Extremely serious issue”

IOC President Jacques Rogge said today: “While no irregular betting activities have been detected at an Olympic Games, we feel that we need to be vigilant and ensure that measures are in place to limit the potential effect that irregular betting activities could have on the Games. As recent cases show, irregular and illegal betting is a global phenomenon and no sport, elite or otherwise, is immune from this scourge. It is an extremely serious issue that threatens the very integrity of sport. This is why it is at the top of our agenda and we will convene our working group on 14 May to continue our joint efforts.”