Olympic Highlights 02/12/2024
IOC
PRESIDENT
This week at Olympic House, IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed a delegation from Chile led by Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro and NOC President Miguel Ángel Mujica Brain. They discussed the situation of sport in Chile, including the impact of hosting the Pan-American and Parapan American Games in Santiago in 2023, as well as Chile’s interest in hosting a future edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Also this week, the IOC welcomed to Olympic House a delegation led by IOC Member Balázs Fürjes and Zsolt Gyulay, President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, as part of ongoing dialogue about hosting future Olympic Games in Hungary. President Bach and Mr Fürjes met to discuss this interest further.
Last week, the IOC welcomed a proposal from South Africa to begin outline discussions on hosting the Olympic Games in 2036. This followed a visit to Olympic House by a delegation led by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, South African NOC (SASCOC) President Barry Hendricks, and the CEO, Nozipho Jafta, for a meeting with the IOC President. The proposal was strongly supported by the IOC Member in South Africa, Anant Singh, and IOC Honorary Member Sam Ramsamy, who also joined the meeting. Initial consultations about the new project have already started. Full news release here.
President Bach welcomed Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), on a courtesy visit to Olympic House.
The IOC President presented her diploma and OLY pin to New Zealand tennis player Lulu Sun, who took part in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. She also competed at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Sun signed the Olympians Wall.
This week, the President welcomed the members of the following IOC commissions during their annual hybrid meetings at Olympic House: Athletes’; Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games; Medical and Scientific; Olympic Education; Olympic Programme; Olympism365; Revenues and Commercial Partnerships; and Technology and Technical Innovation.
President Bach discussed various topical Olympic issues during meetings with IOC Members who were present at Olympic House for the IOC commissions, and with Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission.
COMMISSIONS
The IOC Ethics Commission arranged a drawing of lots to determine the order in which the seven candidates in the running for the IOC presidency will present their programmes to the IOC Members. The presentations will take place during an in-camera meeting of the IOC membership, scheduled for 30 January 2025 in Lausanne. The draw was conducted by a Lausanne-based public notary on 25 November. The order, determined by the draw, will also be used consistently in all official documents. This process ensures fairness and transparency as the candidates outline their visions for the future of the IOC. Discover the order as determined by the draw here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
Through its Olympism365 Innovation Hub, the IOC will provide USD 170,000 in grants to support 12 grassroots projects that use sport to drive social development within their communities. The projects will receive support to develop, test and expand local innovations that tackle pressing societal issues aligned with specific community needs, with an emphasis placed on equitable access to resources. In addition, nine social enterprises will benefit from grants totalling USD 300,000 from the IOC, through the same Hub. These grants are designed to support social enterprises – businesses that generate profit to fund social initiatives – that are working on sport-for-development projects. The funding will enable these organisations to develop income models which will, in turn, finance initiatives that use sport for sustainable development. Discover the recipients of the Grassroots365 grants and the Enterprise365 grants, selected in collaboration with Women Win and Beyond Sport.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November), the IOC reaffirmed its commitment to safe sport by announcing the publication of its third consensus statement on safeguarding and interpersonal violence in sport. Published today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), the 2024 IOC Consensus Statement on Interpersonal Violence and Safeguarding in Sport is grounded in a review that retrieved over 24,000 citations in nine languages. Full details here.
The IOC’s Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) has launched a new edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme for established researchers engaged in Olympic-related research. The main objective of this programme is to promote advanced humanities or social sciences research in priority fields identified by the IOC. Application files and any related correspondence should be sent to the OSC before 27 January 2025. Full info here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Some 106 million people around the world are playing tennis – an increase of 25.6 per cent in five years – according to the 2024 ITF Global Tennis Report. The report is the biggest-ever survey of tennis participation levels, with tennis associations from more than 199 countries feeding data into a snapshot of today’s tennis landscape, from once-a-year leisure players to top professionals. Find out more details here.
World Sailing
World Sailing has officially launched its new strategy, “Ready for the Future”, which will guide the sport from 2025 to 2029. Developed in collaboration with athletes, World Sailing Council representatives, World Sailing Board members, Classes and stakeholders, the strategy focuses on four priorities for the sport: Events and Commercial, Growth, Governance and Impact. Full details here.
RECOGNISED IFS
Federation of International Bandy (FIB)
The FIB has launched its new and improved website, designed to provide a better service to its stakeholders and reinforce the organisation’s commitment to transparency and open communication. This milestone reflects the Federation’s ongoing efforts to modernise its digital infrastructure and create a hub for all things bandy. The website change is in line with the modernisation of the organisation as a whole. A strategic working group has already been set up, with a focus on development aiming for 2034. A new media platform, “FIB TV”, has been created on the website. More details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)
An OOC delegation took part in the 22nd General Assembly of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, recently held in Amman, Jordan. During the meeting, it was announced that Bahrain would host the 17th Arab Games in 2031, while Jordan was granted the right to host the 18th edition in 2035. More info here. In addition, three Omanis have been appointed to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) committees in recognition of their sporting expertise and competence. They will serve for the 2024–2028 term. Full details here.
Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee
On 25 November in Bucharest, the NOC organised a gala to celebrate 110 years of Olympism in Romania. Over 400 guests, legendary champions, medallists and guests from the international Olympic Movement were present. NOC President Mihai Covaliu, NOC Secretary General George Boroi and the ROSC team were joined by National Sports Agency President Elisabeta Lipă, European Olympic Committees (EOC) President and IOC Member Spyros Capralos and EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, along with presidents and leaders of national sports organisations. Video messages from the IOC President and IOC Member in Romania Octavian Morariu were broadcast. The NOC awarded the Golden Olympic Necklace to the EOC President and Secretary General in recognition of their contributions to Olympism. The awards were presented by Mihai Covaliu, George Boroi and Olympic legend Nadia Comăneci. In addition, the NOC and Toyota Romania presented car keys to the medallists from the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. More info here at www.cosr.ro
Spanish NOC (COE)
The COE and the San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM) recently presented the new UCAM-COE Alma Mater Higher Education Centre. Located in Torrejón de Ardoz, this campus will specialise in health, nutrition and sport. The announcement was made by COE President Alejandro Blanco and UCAM President María Dolores Garcia at a ceremony held at the COE headquarters in Madrid. Two Olympic medallists were also present: two-time medallist María Pérez (racewalking) and five-time medallist David Cal (canoe), who have worked in the UCAM sports department for nine years. More details here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
MILANO CORTINA 2026
On 26 November, Milano Cortina 2026 unveiled the “Greatest Journey” as its Olympic Torch Relay route was announced. Spanning 63 days and covering 12,000 kilometres, the Relay will include 60 stops across the host nation, engaging Italians and sparking excitement in the build-up to the Opening Ceremony on 6 February 2026. The journey will commence on 26 November 2025 in Olympia, Greece, with the traditional lighting of the Olympic flame. The flame will then make its way to Italy, arriving in Rome on 4 December 2025, before setting out across the host nation, where it will be carried by around 10,000 torchbearers. In addition to revealing the route for the Olympic Torch Relay, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee also unveiled the journey that the Paralympic flame will take ahead of the Paralympic Winter Games. Full news release here.
The Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 welcomed 210 representatives from media organisations, NOCs and International Winter Sports Federations to the recent World Press Briefing in Milan, Italy. The briefing provided essential insights into Games-time media operations and an opportunity to explore some of the mountain venues. The briefing, which took place between 20 and 22 November, was attended in person by representatives from across the world, with over 120 attendees also joining online. Read the full news release here.
Fans around the world can now access exclusive hospitality packages for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, with a wide range of offerings being unveiled by the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee and On Location, the official hospitality provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. These packages are available now via the official hospitality platform. Read the full news release here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
DAKAR 2026
A new initiative, launched as a pilot during the recent Dakar en Jeux festival, is aiming to inspire healthier lifestyles and promote physical activity among Senegalese young people in the lead-up to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 and beyond. The “Impact Spark” programme, developed by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee in collaboration with the Lausanne-based association, SPARK/innov-action, aims to combat health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and encourage positive habits among young people through an engaging, sport-centred approach. Full details here.