Olympic Highlights 03/02/2025
IOC
PRESIDENT
On 30 January at Olympic House in Lausanne, IOC President Thomas Bach chaired an Extraordinary IOC Session, which was the 143rd IOC Session.
During this Session, the IOC elected Dolomiti Valtellina in the Italian Alps as host of the 5th Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2028, following a presentation by the project leaders. The 2028 YOG will be part of the Milano Cortina 2026 legacy, and will see reinvestment in communities with strong winter sports traditions. The project is led by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), and the governments of the regions of Veneto and Lombardy and the Autonomous Province of Trento, supported by the Italian national government, and is in line with long-term plans to raise the regions’ profile as a winter sports destination. Full news release here.
In addition, the IOC 143rd Session approved three amendments to the Olympic Charter, reflecting the updated names of three International Sports Federations (IFs). The decision by the IOC Session was based on the proposal from the IOC Executive Board in December 2024, which followed a recommendation by the IOC Legal Affairs Commission. Read the amendments here.
Earlier, the seven candidates for the IOC presidency gave an in-camera presentation of their programmes to the IOC Members.
The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, was in Lausanne to visit IOC President Thomas Bach. They discussed the country’s ambitious sports development plans, including a proposal to host the Youth Olympic Games. Also present at the meeting were Paraguayan Olympic Committee President and IOC Member Camilo Pérez López Moreira; the Minister of Sport, César Ramírez; two-time Team Paraguay Olympic rower Alejandra Alonso, who also competed at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Minister of Industry and Commerce.
During the meeting, President Peña expressed his full support, and that of his government, for Paraguay’s bid to host a future edition of the Youth Olympic Games, which he said, "would mark a significant milestone in the country’s reputation as a leading sports destination". Paraguay has already been confirmed as the host of an opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2030. In 2022, it hosted the South American Games, and in August this year it will welcome the II Junior Pan-American Games. These events have driven the development of sports infrastructure in the country, including the impressive Paraguayan Olympic Park, which President Bach visited last year during his visit to the PanAm Sports General Assembly in Asunción.
During the meeting, President Peña said: “We are determined to build on our extensive experience in hosting impactful and sustainable events. We are committed to building a better future for our young people, and hosting the Youth Olympic Games would support this mission. We want the Games to be more than just a sporting event; we envision them as a purpose-driven festival that integrates sports, cultural exchange, education and the Olympic values, while also serving as a platform to advance young athletes’ careers both in and beyond sport.”
President Peña also reaffirmed “Paraguay’s belief in the power of sport to build stronger and more united communities, as well as its determination to contribute to the Olympic Movement, which, under President Bach’s leadership, has strengthened its global social impact as a force for peace and unity”.
President Bach welcomed Paraguay’s interest in the Youth Olympic Games and praised President Peña’s “clear vision for sport in his nation and a strong understanding of how sport can transform lives, and particularly those of young people”.
“During the visit I could witness the very positive development of sport in Paraguay and its great social impact,” said President Bach. “With Paraguay’s firm belief in the power of sport to shape a better world for future generations and in the long-term socio-economic benefits of hosting international sports events, the IOC looks forward to continuing the discussions with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and following the development of its project,” he added.
During the visit, the two leaders also toured the Olympic Museum, to see some of Paraguay’s achievements in the Olympic Movement.
During the visit to Olympic House, Paraguayan Olympian Alejandra Alonso signed the Olympians Wall, and was presented with a diploma and OLY pin by President Bach. She competed in rowing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
At Olympic House, President Bach met World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. Among other things, they discussed the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the preparations for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
President Bach welcomed a delegation from the NOC of Belgium, headed by its President, Olympian Jean-Michel Saive. The topics discussed included the success of the Belgian athletes at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and the current geopolitical situation.
During a video call with the Acting Secretary General of the NOC of Syria and the President of the General Sports Federation in Syria, in the presence of the OCA Director General, the IOC President discussed the impact of the new situation in Syria on the sporting community; the governance reforms and process leading to the upcoming elections within the National Federations and the NOC, to be implemented in close coordination with the IFs concerned; and how best to continue to support the Syrian athletes and facilitate their participation in the upcoming sports competitions during this transition period.
The IOC President received Patrick Vajda, former President of the International Federation of Sports Officials (IFSO) and of the French Multisport Officials Association (AFCAM). A member of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission, Vajda is a former fencing referee, who officiated in the final of the team foil event at the Olympic Games Montreal 1976, which was won by President Bach and his team-mates.
The President had a meeting with IOC Members who sit on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive Committee: Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, Nenad Lalovic, Ingmar De Vos, Jiri Kejval and Humphrey Kayange.
At Olympic House, President Bach also met IOC Executive Board member Gerardo Werthein, IOC Members the Sovereign Prince Albert II, Syed Shahid Ali, Bernard Rajzman, Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, Nita Ambani, Anant Singh, KhunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul, Ingmar De Vos, Erick Thohir, Battushig Batbold, Yael Arad and Michael Mronz. During the meetings, they discussed a wide range of Olympic topics, including the current geopolitical situation and the upcoming editions of the Olympic Winter Games and Youth Olympic Games.
President Bach was received by His Holiness Pope Francis in a private audience during a visit to the Vatican last week. They discussed the power of sport to improve the world and particularly the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, in which the athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team took part. This sent a strong message of peace and solidarity to the world. Before the Games, the athletes, including athletes whose countries are at war, made a call for peace, which the IOC had initiated. In the audience at the Vatican, the Pope joined this call for peace by the Olympic athletes.
President Bach was also able to inform the Pope that the Refugee Olympic Team, in which His Holiness has always taken a special interest, was able to win its first Olympic medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The President also told him about the work of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which has already reached more than 800,000 young people around the world.
President Bach thanked His Holiness for his great support and the many positive messages he has sent. Pope Francis commended President Bach “for all that has been done for peace and solidarity.” Finally, President Bach also thanked the Pope for having included in the programme of the “Jubilee 2025” celebrations a two-day programme entitled “Sport Generates Hope”, which will take place on 14 and 15 June.
MEMBERS
IOC Member Anant Singh was recently appointed to the Global Arts and Culture Council (GACC) at the Council’s inaugural meeting at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Established by WEF co-founders Hilde Schwab and Klaus Schwab, the GACC was established in the context of the world shifting from an industrial era to a more intelligent and interconnected society, where the arts and culture sector is uniquely positioned to lead the way toward a unified and prosperous future. At the 2025 WEF, Singh participated in a panel entitled “An Artist’s Path Out of Injustice”. Singh is known for using the medium of film to speak out against the injustices of apartheid as well as significant social issues like HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. This year marks Singh’s 25th consecutive attendance of the Annual Meeting since receiving the WEF Crystal Award in 2001.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
The BMX cycling track that hosted competitions at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 has been opened to the public after a full renovation. Upholding its legacy commitments, despite governance issues during the years after the Games, the city continues to benefit from the long-term positive effects of Rio 2016. The track is set to serve as a training ground for Brazil's national athletes through a partnership between Rio City Hall and the Brazilian Cycling Federation (CBC). The BMX Olympic Centre will also offer initiation programmes for local schools. Full news story here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
After an inspiring week of volleyball, the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) Season 5 Finals came to a close on Sunday 26 January. Held in Tezpur, Assam, India from 24 to 26 January, the finals celebrated the bes t of grassroots volleyball, bringing local players, coaches, league volunteers and FIVB leadership together. Founded in 2020 by Abhijit Bhattacharya, the BVL has become a catalyst for change in Assam, one of India’s poorest states, proving that volleyball can have a positive impact far beyond the court. Season 5 saw 401 teams competing in nearly 900 matches, and an impressive 72 matches were streamed live during the Finals, culminating a period that saw nearly 700 broadcasts across 170 villages. Officially recognised as a Silver Level Project by the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, this inspiring community-driven approach aligns with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, which has the motto “Together as One” at its core. The Finals coincided with India’s 76th Republic Day on 26 January, which was celebrated at the KIIT & KISS Athletic Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The event, which was attended by FIVB representatives, saw a gathering of over 40,000 students, staff and dignitaries of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).
World Sailing
World Sailing’s Council has officially approved the appointments to its Committees for 2025-28. Members of World Sailing’s Committees and Sub-Committees will work within their terms of reference to provide guidance to World Sailing and positively impact the sport for sailors worldwide. Full list here.
WINTER IFS
International Skating Union (ISU)
The ISU has announced its full support for the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, a United Nations (UN) initiative aimed at raising awareness about the critical role of glaciers for the climate system and the urgent need to preserve them. This commitment aligns with ISU Vision 2030 and the organisation’s comprehensive Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030. As part of its Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030, the ISU has prioritised ice stewardship and environmental protection as strategic goals to be pursued across three key interconnected pillars: environmental, social and economic. Full details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Albanian NOC
The NOC honoured its best athletes of 2024 at a recent gala ceremony. The Albanian Sports Stars Gala 2024 saw the participation of many sports personalities, federation leaders, coaches, athletes and special guests. During the ceremony, NOC President Fidel Ylli expressed his gratitude for the results achieved in 2024, and assured every athlete and federation of the NOC’s unlimited support. Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Education Ogerta Manastirliu and Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj also addressed the audience, as did Kosovo Olympic Committee President Ismet Krasniqi. As has become tradition, students from school sports teams also received awards. For the first time, all the Olympic Team Albania outfits were exhibited during the gala. Info at www.nocalbania.org.al
Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB)
On 15 January, Marco Antônio La Porta and Yane Marques took office for a four-year term as COB President and Vice-President respectively. The inauguration ceremony, which included Paulo Wanderley Teixeira and Alberto Maciel Junior, who are leaving the office, took place at the COB's administrative headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The members of the General Assembly attended online. La Porta, a physical educator, who has a master’s in Sports Science and Human Motor Science and was a triathlon coach, is the 10th President in the COB’s history. Olympic medallist Marques is the first woman to reach the COB vice-presidency. A modern pentathlete, she competed in three consecutive editions of the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016) winning a bronze medal at London 2012. The new management is committed to continuing to value successful initiatives such as those of the Brazilian Olympic Institute (IOB), for example. It is hiring an external auditor to conduct not only a financial, but also an institutional analysis of the COB in search of a new, more modern and efficient management model. In addition, the new members of the COB Board of Directors took also office. More details here.
Spanish NOC (COE)
The COE sustainable sport label has been granted to Ángel Casero Director General of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (VCV – Tour of the Valencian Community). Presented by COE President Alejandro Blanco, this distinction certifies that the 76th edition of this cycling race is aligned with the sustainable development objectives and of social and environmental sustainability policies promoted by the COE, following the publication of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. Furthermore, the VCV has received a certification from the Veritas bureau (a reference for testing, inspection and certification services) consolidating the integration of sustainable practices in the field of sport by the VCV. Full details here. In collaboration with the Head of the Medical Oncology Section of the San Carlos Clinic Hospital in Madrid, Pedro Pérez Segura, and with the coordination of journalist Roberto Gómez, the COE organised a We Can Prevent Cancer Day. This event brought together leading oncology experts, institutional representatives and athletes to raise awareness of the importance of prevention in the fight against cancer. Full info here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC)
ANOC officially launched the development of its Strategic Plan for 2025-28 with the first meeting of the dedicated working group on 24 January. This strategic initiative aims to establish ANOC’s priorities for the coming years and contribute to the continued advancement of the Olympic Movement. The working group, which includes a diverse team of representatives from NOCs across all continents and key leaders from ANOC’s governance structure, gathered together to lay the foundations for this crucial project. Read the full details here.
International Sports Cinema and Television Federation (FICTS)
As part of the #Gen26 Education Programme of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the “Trofei di Milano Cortina 2026” journey has begun. The programme will comprise interactive meetings in 95 schools in Milan and the Veneto Region on the importance of sport for social investment and healthy lifestyles, and as a tool for the education, training and inclusion of those who practise it. In conjunction with the “Winter Games Week” (5-9 February), and in collaboration with the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, the first phase of “Sports emotions through footage” has kicked off. It is being organised by the FICTS as part of the 62nd edition of the Trofei. The key moment of this adventure will be from 7 to 9 May 2025, at the Arena Brera Stadium in Milan. More details at www.sportmoviestv.net.