Olympic Highlights 27/02/2024
IOC
PRESIDENT
This week, IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the Guatemalan Head of State, Bernardo Arévalo, to Olympic House. He thanked President Arévalo for his commitment to the Guatemalan athletes and to sport and the values of sport in society.
Later, the two leaders had a meeting during which they discussed the situation of the NOC of Guatemala, which is currently suspended by the IOC. President Arévalo expressed his concerns about the current suspension of the Guatemalan NOC and his wish to have the situation resolved as early as possible so that the Guatemalan athletes are able to represent their country and participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 under their national flag. The IOC President confirmed that the IOC was absolutely ready to work for the reinstatement of the suspended NOC as early as possible. However, this requires an NOC in Guatemala that is elected and operating in full compliance with the Olympic Charter.
During the visit, President Bach was accompanied by IOC Vice-President Ser Miang Ng and IOC Honorary Member in Guatemala, Willi Kaltschmitt Luján. President Arévalo was joined by the Guatemalan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado. The President of Guatemala also visited the Olympic Museum. Full news release here.
At Olympic House, President Bach met Michel Barnier - former head of the European Commission's Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom – who is a member of the IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission and was Co-President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games Albertville 1992. They discussed the sustainability and legacy aspects of the organisation of the Olympic Games, as well as the European Sport Model, of which Barnier is a great advocate, and the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In a phone call, President Bach and European Commission Vice-President Margarítis Schinás discussed the geopolitical situation and its impact on sport, as well as safeguarding and cybersecurity.
The IOC President received two senior executives from Worldwide Olympic Partner Deloitte: Sam Balaji (Senior Advisor to Deloitte’s CEO and Lead on Global Consulting) and Stacy Janiak (Deputy Global CEO). They spoke about the excellent cooperation between the two organisations on digital strategy and transformation, and the next editions of the Olympic Games.
President Bach welcomed the Ukrainian Ambassador to Switzerland, Iryna Venediktova, to Olympic House on a courtesy visit. The IOC President reiterated the Olympic Movement’s support for the Olympic community in Ukraine and for the Ukrainian athletes on the road to their participation at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The President recently held a video call with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. They discussed the geopolitical situation and its impact on sport, the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 and IOC Olympic Solidarity programmes for African sport.
President Bach also welcomed young Ukrainian diver Ivan Petryn, who is supported by the IOC and who trains at the Lausanne Aquatique club, and his dad Ihor to Olympic House. The President was accompanied by IOC Member in Ukraine, Sergii Bubka.
Meetings were also held with IOC Members The Princess Royal, Ingmar De Vos and Michael Mronz. A broad range of current issues, including the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the current international situation, were discussed.
The IOC President expressed his “extreme sadness” on learning of the tragic passing of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya in a car accident on 11 February. In a statement, the President said: “We had been looking forward to welcoming him into the Olympic community at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and seeing what the fastest marathon runner in the world could achieve. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as with those of his coach, Gervais Hazimana, who also died in the accident.”
MEMBERS
IOC Vice-President Ser Miang Ng has been inducted into the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of sport in Singapore. Among several top positions he has held, he has been Chairman of the Singapore Sports Council and President of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). See also under “National Olympic Committees”.
COMMISSIONS
As athletes across the world turn their attention to qualification, the IOC Coordination Commission for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 gathered in the Veneto region to discuss preparations to host the best winter sports athletes in Northern Italy in less than two years’ time. As the majority of venues are existing or temporary, the Commission had the opportunity to visit some of those venues. The confirmation that the National Hockey League athletes will participate in these Games was celebrated as a significant milestone, ensuring top-tier competition across all sports. Reflecting on the visit, the Chair of the Coordination Commission, Kristin Kloster, said: “All of this symbolises our new approach to delivery, with Milano Cortina 2026 being the first Winter Games organised entirely under Olympic Agenda 2020’s New Norm reforms.” Full news release here.
TOP Partners
Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Airbnb has announced that inspirational Para athletes Axel Allétru and Sofyane Mehiaoui will open up their accessible homes for two exclusive overnight stays during the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Allétru, who lives in Lille, is a former motocross rider who became a European champion in Para swimming after being paralysed in a serious crash at the 2010 World Motocross Championships. French wheelchair basketball star Mehiaoui lives in Paris. Discover their homes and learn how to book these unique stays here.
Worldwide Olympic Partner Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd has unveiled its Team Samsung Galaxy roster for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. It has also revealed its official theme for Paris 2024, “Open always wins”, which embodies Samsung's belief in the power of an open mind to turn every new experience into a meaningful accomplishment, unlocking fresh perspectives and limitless possibilities. Team Samsung Galaxy, composed of accomplished athletes, will play a pivotal role as the primary advocates for “Open always wins”. Discover the athletes here.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
FIBA has announced that the 12-team field for the Paris 2024 women's Olympic basketball tournament is complete, following the conclusion of the four FIBA women's Olympic qualifying tournaments, in Antwerp (Belgium), Belem (Brazil), Xi'An (China) and Sopron (Hungary). The Paris 2024 women's Olympic basketball tournament will take place from 29 July to 11 August. Discover the 12 teams here. In addition, on 18 February, FIBA’s Executive Committee held its second meeting of the current working cycle at the All-Star 2024 weekend, strengthening its collaboration with the NBA. Learn about the topics discussed here.
International Canoe Federation (ICF)
The ICF has announced a strategic collaboration with Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte to pioneer a sustainable financial leadership model. Deloitte is putting in place a series of processes to help the ICF achieve its key strategic objectives of enhancing efficiency and implementing robust, transparent financial practices and policies across the organisation. The ground-breaking collaboration will support the ICF’s strategic development and the continued global growth of paddle sports. ICF President Thomas Konietzko, ICF Vice-President Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles and ICF Secretary General Richard Pettit attended the Sports Innovation Hub in Madrid (Spain) in late February, where they met Deloitte representatives to launch the collaboration officially. Full details here.
International Equestrian Federation (FEI)
The Cambodian Equestrian Federation (CEF) is set to launch, with the support of the FEI, a pioneering vocational training programme aimed at boosting the participation of young women in Cambodia's growing equestrian sector. A total of 20 women have been chosen to take part in it. Created thanks to a Gender Equality Grant from FEI Solidarity, the programme is set to provide comprehensive support and mentorship to women aged 15 to 20, guiding them towards establishing sustainable careers as grooms in stables or riding centres. Once they have graduated, the apprentices will be supported by the CEF in their job search. The training programme has been officially endorsed by IOC Member, FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos, and FEI Vice-President Jack Huang, who recently visited the training facilities near Phnom Penh. CEF Secretary General Nanda-Dévi Norodom is the architect of the training programme. Full details here.
International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM)
At the end of their annual joint meeting (16-18 February), the UIPM Athletes’ Committee, Coaches’ Committee and Technical Committee decided to propose three options for the fencing discipline for the Olympic Games LA28 to the UIPM Executive Board. The various formats will be tested by several volunteering National Federations in March, April and May. The results will be analysed by the EB with a view to presenting relevant motions to the 2024 UIPM Congress. Detailed info here.
International Surfing Association (ISA)
The British Virgin Islands, Kuwait and Romania are the latest Member Nations to join the ISA. The three new nations are the 114th, 115th and 116th members to be officially recognised by the ISA. Membership is subject to final approval by the ISA Annual General Meeting. More details here.
World Aquatics
Following the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the draws for the teams that have qualified to compete in the men’s and women’s water polo tournaments at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 were held in the Qatari capital. The Olympic water polo tournament will be held between 5 and 11 August. Discover which teams have qualified here. In addition, during the World Championships, World Aquatics hosted a Forum during which key aspects of health and well-being were covered, with athletes, experts and representatives of the aquatics community leading the discussions. Details here.
World Athletics
World Athletics has launched a new “sync to calendar” function on its website. The online tool, which is also mobile friendly, offers a simple way to stay up to date with upcoming athletics events. Full details here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Dominican Republic NOC
The office of the Chef de Mission for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was officially opened at the NOC headquarters in early February. Those in attendance at the ceremony included the French Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Eric Fournier; the Dominican Deputy Minister for Sport, Franklin de la Mota; and the NOC Secretary General, Luis Chanlatte. During the event, NOC President Garibaldy Bautista and Chef de Mission Miguel Camacho provided further details about the Dominican delegation for the Games and gave an update on the qualification status of Dominican athletes. More info here. In addition, a ceremony took place on 20 February to mark the NOC’s 78th anniversary. It was held as part of the national Patriotism Month celebrations and was attended by numerous federation presidents, club leaders and athletes. Details here.
Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC)
HOC President and President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Spyros Capralos, who is also an IOC Member, recently met with Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Vice-President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the two men discussed aspects of sports cooperation, in addition to a number of topics and the latest developments in the Olympic Movement. Info here.
Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC)
A few weeks ago, an international training course, part of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), was held in Vilnius, bringing together 20 participants from 20 different countries. This was the second international OVEP training course organised by the LNOC in Lithuania; the first was held in 2019. OVEP training events have been organised in Lithuania for eight consecutive years, as the LNOC was one of the first NOCs to have the programme translated into a local native language and, with the approval of the IOC, to offer a multi-level training course to educators in its country. Full info here.
Moroccan NOC (CNOM)
The CNOM organised a seminar on the theme of mental and medical support for high-level athletes. The main objective was to share knowledge on ways to optimise sports performance while ensuring the mental and physical health of athletes. The seminar is part of the NOC’s strategy to support the national sports movement. More details here.
Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC)
The SNOC has announced that eight sports figures – three athletes and five sports leaders – were inducted into the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame at the Istana (office of the President of the Republic of Singapore) at the beginning of February. The Sport Hall of Fame celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of Singapore’s sporting heroes. It is the first time that sports leaders have received this recognition since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 1985. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the SNOC President Grace Fu and the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong. Info at www.singaporeolympics.com.
Spanish NOC (COE)
The COE recently presented the technical report from the Sport Sustainability Summit, which it organised in October in cooperation with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces and its sustainable development partner, Santander, and with the support of the National Sports Council. The report provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability in today’s sports sector in the short, medium and long term. It compiles the results of the sport and sustainable development questionnaire answered by professionals who attended the summit in October, the outcomes of the presentations and round-table discussions, and case studies, academic publications and sector-based reports. It was also announced during the event that the carbon footprint generated by the Sport Sustainability Summit had been offset by a reforestation project in a former mining zone in Bembibre, in the province of León. More info here. The Real Betis Balompié Foundation has signed the COE Sustainability Manifesto, making Real Betis the first football club to follow the lead of the Spanish Football Federation and join the COE initiative, as 42 national federations have done to date. The Foundation is now part of the COE’s #SomosDeporte Sostenible Group, which can be joined by any Spanish sports organisation looking to help implement the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate the change needed for sustainable development. Details here.
Turkish Olympic Committee (TOK)
Following the TOK Athletes’ Commission meeting, a Career Transition for Athletes webinar, open to all Olympic athletes, was organised in collaboration with Deloitte Türkiye and TikTok Türkiye. Approximately 100 Olympic athletes took part in the online training sessions, entitled "Career Transition for Athletes: Roadmap for Active Sports Careers and Beyond" and "Effective Use of Social Media". Full details here.
Organising Committees for the Olympic Games
PARIS 2024
The Olympic and Paralympic medals for Paris 2024 were unveiled on 8 February at the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. In keeping with tradition, the medals are gold, silver and bronze. However, unlike any of the approximately 36,600 medals that have been awarded since Athens 1896, these will each be adorned with a small piece of Paris and a symbol of the country of France: the Eiffel Tower. More details here.
MILANO CORTINA 2026
The mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 were revealed to the world on 7 February at the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy, after over 1,600 entries were received and a public poll was held. Tina and Milo – two stoat siblings distinguished by their different coloured coats – will represent the Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games 2026 respectively. Their names are the diminutives of the two host cities: Tina for Cortina and Milo for Milano. It was also decided that six little snowdrops known as “the Flo” will accompany Tina and Milo in highlighting the fun and adventure of Milano Cortina 2026. Full details here. In addition, on the eve of the mascots’ presentation, Milano Cortina 2026 celebrated the Two Years to Go milestone through a series of activities across the host regions, including the reveal of the Olympic rings “spectacular” and the Paralympic Agitos in the heart of Milan. Full info here.
LA28
LA28’s youth sports programme PlayLA has reached over half-a-million children in five years. Run by the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Recreation and Parks, the PlayLA programme was made possible by an agreement between the IOC and LA28, committing to invest up to USD 160 million in the lead-up to the Games, to fund quality sports programming for youngsters of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. It is already paying rich dividends. The programme includes signature programmes such as judo, skateboarding, surfing, Para surfing and blind soccer. Full news release here.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)
The NOC of Zambia has received from ANOCA a state-of-the-art “multi-purpose floor mat”, to give the multi-purpose hall at the “OYDC Zambia” Olympic Youth Development Centre a facelift. This major donation is in line with the OYDC 2023 – 2028 strategic plan, which focuses on investing in facilities to support elite sport in the country. The OYDC is collaborating with the government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and the Arts, as part of the five-year strategic plan, in order to obtain support and be able to revamp certain facilities, such as the boxing hall, the athletics track and some outdoor courts. More info here. Read the latest issue of the ANOCA Newsletter here.
International Olympic Academy (IOA)
The IOA and the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports has signed a memorandum of understanding on an Olympic education programme, specially designed for secondary school students, to be hosted at the IOA premises in Ancient Olympia from March 2024. This programme, which was designed and will be implemented by the IOA in collaboration with the Hellenic Olympic Academy and the Ministry of Education, is being fully financed by the Ministry and will reach 2,000 high-school students per year, from different regions of Greece. Through this programme, they will acquire knowledge of Olympic history and the Olympic values. The MoU was signed by the Minister for Education, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Deputy Minister for Sport, Yannis Vroutsis, and the IOA President, Isidoros Kouvelos. Full details here.
International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG)
The ICMG, the Municipality of Portimão, the Municipality of Lagoa and the Portuguese Olympic Committee have signed the contract for the organisation of the fourth edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games, which will be held from 11 to 17 September 2027. This edition was awarded during the ICMG General Assembly in Heraklion, Crete (Greece), in September 2023. The Games will take place on Praias da Rocha and Alvor (Portimão), Praia Grande de Ferragudo (Lagoa) and the Arade River, which connects the two municipalities. More details here.
International Sports Cinema and Television Federation (FICTS)
In conjunction with the “Winter Games Week”, the first step of the “Trofei di Milano 2023 – Education, Culture and Sport for Young People” began recently. More than 40,000 students from 70 schools in the Lombardy and Veneto regions will join the project in 2024 and learn about Olympic and sporting values. A programme of 70 interactive meetings in schools with screenings of exclusive Olympic footage is planned. This FICTS project has become part of the “Education Gen26” programme of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation. The key moment of this adventure will be from 8 to 10 May 2024, at the Arena Stadium in Milan. More info at www.sportmoviestv.net.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
WADA has launched a new education course for athletes, athlete guides (for visually impaired athletes) and coaches aiming to attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on its Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL). “ADEL for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games” was developed by WADA in collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Full info here. WADA has published its Independent Observer team report regarding the anti-doping programme for the 2023 European Games, which were held in Kraków (Poland) between 21 June and 2 July 2023. The anti-doping programme of the 2023 European Games was operated by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), with support from the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) and the local organising committee. Full info here.
SportAccord
Supporting elite athletes’ mental health and maximising female athletes’ well-being to improve performance will be the focus at HealthAccord, one of the specialist streams at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit to be held from 7 to 11 April 2024 in Birmingham, West Midlands (Great Britain). More details here. At LawAccord, another stream, legal experts will come together to tackle athlete representation, rules for transgender athletes in international sport and how to ensure integrity in decision-making. Details here.