Olympic Highlights 04/10/2024
IOC
PRESIDENT
Following his trip to New York (USA), IOC President Thomas Bach went to Colorado Springs, before continuing to Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Asunción (Paraguay).
During his visit to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) headquarters in Colorado Springs, President Bach praised the organisation under the leadership of its President, IOC Member Gene Sykes, and congratulated the USOPC on the success of its Olympic and Paralympic teams at Paris 2024.
At an event hosted by the USOPC at the impressive US Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and attended by National Sports Federation leaders, President Bach highlighted: “The strong standing of the USOPC in the Olympic community today is thanks to the collective efforts of each and every one of you. This is why I would like to congratulate everyone at the USOPC, under the great leadership of your President, my dear colleague and friend Gene Sykes, and your CEO, Sarah Hirshland.” USOPC President Sykes welcomed the IOC President to the Museum: “President Bach has been a steadying force, both by enhancing and sustaining an IOC through many towering challenges, and also by reinforcing the importance of the Olympic values. He has also driven the IOC into the future, in areas such as esports and AI, recognising that this movement is always about the youngest generation and what comes next.”
Also present were former USOPC Presidents Bill Hybl and Larry Probst; and three Olympians, Olympic figure skating gold medallist at Grenoble 1968 Peggy Gale Fleming, Kara Winger (javelin throw) and Samantha Schultz (modern pentathlon), who accompanied the IOC President during his tour of the museum exhibition. The Mayor of Colorado Springs, Yemi Mobolade, was also present.
Earlier, the IOC President had visited the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre, where he had lunch with Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
During his stay, President Bach was accompanied by IOC Members in the USA Anita DeFrantz and David Haggerty. Also present was IOC Member Yiech Pur Biel. Read the full news release here.
From Colorado Springs, President Bach visited Salt Lake City and the state of Utah, two months after the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2034 were awarded to Salt Lake City-Utah by the 142nd IOC Session in Paris. He was returning 22 years after the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2002.
During his two-day stay, he met the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 team, led by President and CEO Fraser Bullock, their many supporters from the private sector and officials from the city and the state. Bach was accompanied by IOC Member and USOPC President Gene Sykes. He was greeted on arrival by Bullock, Board Chair of Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Catherine Raney Norman, and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
During his visit, the IOC President met dozens of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and Olympic hopefuls and saw many of the venues from Salt Lake City 2002 that are a legacy from those Games and will also be used for the Games in 2034, including Kahlert Village at the University of Utah, which will be the Olympic Village during the Games. He took part in a number of panel discussions with Olympians and Olympic hopefuls who live and train in the area.
At a reception with leading members of the private sector, local and regional political leaders and Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the President discussed the opportunity to engage local communities from across the state in the excitement of the Games. He also praised the leadership of Fraser Bullock, who was the key reason why the IOC awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2034 to Salt Lake City-Utah a whole 10 years before the Opening Ceremony. Bullock was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Salt Lake Organising Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, which was “so ably and successfully led by Senator Mitt Romney”, as Bach said.
In separate meetings, the President met leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, together with some of the state’s senior political leaders.
During a tour of the Delta Centre, home of the Utah Jazz NBA team and a new NHL hockey team, their owner, Ryan Smith, gave an impressive presentation on the future vision for downtown Salt Lake City and how the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2034 will benefit from this development.
During a visit to another legacy venue from 2002, the Olympic Oval, the IOC President got to meet many of the athletes training there, a number of them from overseas. He also met children taking part in sporting activities – another legacy of the Olympic Games in 2002.
Later, he visited the Utah Olympic Park and saw and spoke to athletes practising skiing and sliding sports at the summer training centre, which includes pools and airbags for practising freestyle skiing and snowboard.
At the end of his visit, President Bach attended a college football game between the Utah Utes and the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium. This was the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2002, and still has the cauldron from those Games. It is due to host the ceremonies of the 2034 Games as well. Read the full news release here.
Arriving in Los Angeles, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28, President Bach was welcomed by LA28 President Casey Wasserman. He was accompanied by IOC Vice-President Nicole Hoevertsz, who leads the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, as well as IOC Members Anita DeFrantz and Hong Zhang.
During his stay, the IOC President went to see the SoFi Stadium, where he toured the venue with Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the President of Los Angeles City Council, James T. Butts, Mayor of Inglewood, and Rex Richardson, Mayor of Long Beach. During the Games, a swimming pool will be installed within the stadium. It will become the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, with a planned 38,000 seats.
Outside the Games context, the venue is home to NFL teams the LA Rams and the LA Chargers. The IOC President watched the NFL game between the Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs, and experienced the incredible atmosphere in the impressive arena, which was packed with 70,000 people.
Following his football experience, President Bach went on to visit the Intuit Dome, LA’s latest addition to its world-class sports venues, also situated in Inglewood. During the Olympic Games, the basketball tournament will be held in the 18,000-seater indoor arena, which will serve as home for NBA team the LA Clippers.
Following his visit, the IOC President said: “LA28 will do what Paris 2024 did – offer authentic Olympic Games. The Games always represent the sports culture of the host country, and LA has a lot to offer. I am very much looking forward to LA.” Read the full news release here.
The final leg of the IOC President's visit to the Americas took him to Asunción, Paraguay, for the LXII General Assembly of Panam Sports. The President was welcomed by Panam Sports President and IOC Member Neven Ilic, and by the President of the NOC of Paraguay and IOC Member Camilo Pérez López Moreira.
At the General Assembly, Ilic thanked President Bach for his leadership: “You have left a deep footprint in the whole Olympic Movement and around the world. Under your leadership, the Movement has successfully faced unprecedented challenges with your clear vision and strong convictions.” He continued, “Your reforms have ensured the Olympic Movement is prepared for future generations. From within and without our Movement, you have convinced so many of the transformative power of sport.”
President Bach then addressed the Assembly and noted the growing strength of the organisation and its many successes, with a record number of medals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Turning to the future, he told the delegates: “The times may be changing, but the relevance of the role of sport in building a better and more peaceful world for all has never been more important.” He added: “There is a new world order in the making – a new world order with more geopolitical, social and economic uncertainties. A new world order in which Artificial Intelligence and the digital revolution are turbocharging the winds of change. The new generation is already sailing with these winds.” Full speech here.
Earlier in the visit, President Bach toured the impressive Olympic Centre in the Paraguayan capital, where he met athletes and Olympians who were training there.
He toured the huge facility with NOC President Camilo Pérez López Moreira, who has been responsible for its huge expansion and development during his presidency. President Bach congratulated President Pérez on the development of the centre and the contribution it is making to Paraguayan sport.
During his stay in Asunción, President Bach also held a meeting with the IOC Members present at the Panam Sports General Assembly.
Before leaving Asunción, President Bach paid a visit to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. The two leaders discussed the current international situation and the part that sport can play in education, health and development. President Pena once again expressed his desire for Paraguay to host the Youth Olympic Games in the near future. Read the full news release here.
IOC MEMBERS
IOC Member Neven Ilic was re-elected as President of Panam Sports for another four-year term (2024-28) at the Panam Sports General Assembly held in Asunción. This will be his third consecutive term as President. More info here.
The importance of the Olympic Games in promoting a culture of peace was highlighted by Laura Chinchilla, IOC Member and former President of Costa Rica, at the “Leadership for Peace” high-level open debate of the United Nations (UN) Security Council in New York. Addressing the Council on 26 September, as part of the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item, Chinchilla said: “The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. The Olympic athletes, while competing fiercely against each other, are living at the same time peacefully together under one roof. The Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games create a culture of peace that inspires the world.” She also referred to the recent Olympic Games Paris 2024 as a striking example: “We managed to bring the entire world together amid the challenges of the far too many wars and conflicts that divide nations of this world.” Read the full news release here.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
As Mental Health Month gets underway, the IOC is pursuing its holistic approach to athlete wellbeing by introducing a new initiative – a team of Mental Health Ambassadors. This globally representative group of Olympians will champion mental health conversations and share personal journeys and experiences with a focus on athletes in their regions. As part of this team, British pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw shares insights into this new role, her personal experiences with mental health, and the athlete wellbeing initiatives available at Paris 2024. Discover her testimony here.
The IOC and UN-Habitat have announced that four cities from Jordan, Brazil, Egypt and Ghana will join the Sport for Sustainable Urban Development Initiative. This marks a significant step forward in the collaboration between the IOC and UN-Habitat, which aims to promote sport and physical activity in urban environments. Full details here.
Applications for the IOC Young Leaders Programme 2025-2028 are now open. The 25 selected participants will be announced in February 2025. Detailed info here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)
The ITTF unveiled its first-ever ITTF World Esports Table Tennis Championships. This groundbreaking event marks a pivotal step forward in the Federation’s digital transformation, bringing a fresh dynamic to the sport and expanding its reach to new audiences. The Championships will culminate in Helsingborg, Sweden, on 27 and 28 November 2024, following an open online qualification phase from 14 October. Full details here.
World Sailing
World Sailing has unveiled the line-up for season 2 of the Sustainability Sessions. On the programme of the webinars are 14 new topics designed to empower Member National Authorities, Classes, event organisers, sailing clubs and anyone involved in the sport to improve their sustainability. The series starts on 9 October 2024 with the following topic: Sustainability at The America’s Cup: From Competition to Conservation. Find more about here. In addition, World Sailing has announced the 11 global sporting figures who will form the judging panel for this year's World Sailing Awards. The winners will be announced at a live gala award ceremony in Singapore on 5 November 2024 as part of the World Sailing Annual Conference. Discover the experts’ names here.
World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
At the WBSC Elective Congress, the WBSC Executive Board approved a new and enhanced voting system for the election of athlete representatives to the Board. During the same meeting, the Board also approved the addition of the Chad Baseball and Softball Federation as a new member and the dismissal of the Mariana Softball Association as a member. More details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)
The AOC has held “welcome home” public celebrations for its Paris 2024 athletes in every Australian state and territory capital city over the past four weeks. Each celebration was hosted by the AOC, Paralympics Australia and the relevant state and territory governments. Large crowds turned out in each city to honour their local athletes and, in some cases, try out Olympic sports as part of the fun. AOC President Ian Chesterman attended a number of events, including in Brisbane – future host city of the Games in 2032. He also announced the appointment of Olympic aerials champion Alisa Camplin-Warner as the first female Chef de Mission of an Australian Olympic winter team for Milano Cortina 2026. Camplin-Warner was Australia’s first female Winter Games gold medallist (Salt Lake City 2002). Chesterman pointed to a generational change in the leadership of Australian Olympic teams with Camplin-Warner’s appointment, following the success of Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares, who led a record-breaking Australian team at Paris 2024. Info at www.olympics.com.au
Dominican Republic NOC
At the NOC’s Extraordinary and Ordinary General Assemblies, National Federation representatives approved the audited 2023 financial report and the budget and programme of activities for 2025. The programme of activities, presented by NOC President Garibaldy Bautista, includes the Olympic Gala, the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción (Paraguay) and the Bolivarian Games. More info here.
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Olympic Games Athens 2004, the HOC hosted a conference entitled “20 Years Later – The Imprint of the Games”. Opened by HOC President and IOC Member Spyros Capralos , the conference brought together distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad, who highlighted the profound and lasting impact of the Games on the country’s infrastructure, economy and international image. Among these speakers were Tania Braga, Head of Legacy and Impact at the IOC; Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS); Gilbert Felli, Senior Olympic Games Advisor; Nikos Vettas, General Director of the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research; Marton Simitsek, Head of Games Operations and Executive Director of Athens 2004; and Yiannis Pyrgiotis, Executive Director of Athens 2004. The conference, which was partially funded by Olympic Solidarity, concluded with a collective call to continue leveraging the legacy of the 2004 Games for the benefit of future generations, ensuring that the achievements of the Athens Olympics continue to inspire progress in both sport and society. Full details here.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PARIS 2024
As part of the Games’ commitment to a circular economy, the Paris 2024 organisers rented around 900,000 (75 per cent) of the 1.2 million items of sports equipment used overall. The remaining 300,000 pieces, which were purchased, are now being donated to the French sports movement in order to benefit local communities, promote physical activity and enhance sports infrastructure across France. Learn more here.
MILANO CORTINA 2026
With less than 500 days to go until the Games begin, registration for the tickets draw for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is now open. Ticket prices have also been revealed, and fans have until January 2025 to register for the first ticketing draw on the official ticketing platform, tickets.milanocortina2026.org. For the Olympic Winter Games, ticket sales for the general public will start in February 2025, and in March 2025 for the Paralympic Winter Games, in each case one year before the respective Opening Ceremony. All tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will be digital. In addition, hospitality options will be on sale from November 2024 onwards on hospitality.milanocortina2026.org. Full details here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
European Olympic Committees (EOC)
The 44th EOC Seminar took place in Budva, Montenegro, on 27 and 28 September. In addition to reports from future Organising Committees for the Olympic Winter Games and European Youth Olympic Festivals, the meeting saw delegates look back on the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the opportunities and challenges it brings for sports organisations, sustainability and gender equality in sport. On this occasion, EOC President and IOC Member Spyros Capralos praised the NOCs for their engagement in discussions on both AI and sustainability, and noted the unity of the European Olympic Movement in moving forward together in these areas. The sessions at the Seminar were led by experts from the IOC, and World Olympic Partners Deloitte and Alibaba. These were parallel breakout sessions, with one of the focuses being on how far AI can support NOC activities, and how NOCs can begin their journey with AI. The other breakout session looked at issues concerning sport and sustainability, including the environment, the social dimension of sport and private sector partnerships. Full details here.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
The IPC Governing Board has approved six sports for inclusion in the French Alps 2030 Paralympic Winter Games following an extensive review of applications from International Federations. Full details here.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA has announced that its 2025 Annual Symposium will be held on 18 and 19 March 2025 at the SwissTech Convention Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland. WADA is returning to an in-person-only format in light of decreasing virtual attendance since the first hybrid version in 2022. The programme and additional Symposium details will be available later in the year when registration opens. In addition, the 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport will take place from 1 to 5 December 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea. More details here.