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IOC discusses autonomy and good governance

28/05/2014

Key stakeholders of the Olympic Movement met Tuesday at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne specifically to discuss autonomy and good governance in sport. The meeting was a follow up to the 2nd Olympic Movement Coordination Meeting in November 2013.

All key matters related to autonomy and good governance were tabled at the meeting in preparation for the 3rd Olympic Summit on 19 July. A list of recommendations generated during the meeting will be proposed at the upcoming Summit. 
The meeting was chaired by Patrick Hickey, IOC Delegate Member for Autonomy, IOC Executive Board member and ANOC Senior Vice-President. Participating in the meeting were Office Director for the ANOC President Husain Al-Musallam, ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan, International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) General Secretary Horst Lichtner, FIFA Head of Member Associations Primo Corvaro, IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell, IOC Director of NOC Relations Pere Miró, IOC Head of Institutional Relations & Governance Jérôme Poivey, and IOC Head of NOC Information Services Joëlle Simond.
Under the instruction of IOC President Thomas Bach, the taskforce started to investigate an incident that may represent discrimination against the baseball / softball federation of Israel at the General Meeting of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in Hammamet,Tunisia earlier this month.

Following the conclusions and instructions of the 2nd Olympic Movement Coordination Meeting, Tuesday’s meeting reviewed the possibility of formalising a permanent network among the Olympic Movement stakeholders in order in particular to improve the coordination and exchange of information, and to establish a taskforce on a case-by-case basis to address conflicts related to autonomy of the Olympic Movement. The permanent network and ad-hoc taskforce are set to operate under the leadership and coordination of the IOC.

At the conclusion of today’s meeting, IOC Delegate Member for Autonomy Hickey said: “It is a great honour to have been appointed to this position and to chair this preparatory meeting in view of the next Olympic Summit in July. Autonomy and good governance in sport is a top priority for the IOC and IOC President Thomas Bach, who has made it a part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 process which will set a strategic road map for the Olympic Movement.”

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Russians overwhelming positive about Sochi 2014 – Poll

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28/05/2014

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games struck an extremely positive chord with the people of Russia earlier this year, a survey by global information and measurement company Nielsen shows.

The first Olympic Winter Games to be hosted by the traditional winter-sport powerhouse, Sochi 2014 met or significantly exceeded the expectations of 94 per cent of Russians, the poll found.

In assessing individual aspects of the Sochi 2014 Games, Russians reserved the highest praise for the organisation of the Games (94 per cent), while 75 per cent of respondents believed the Games would leave a considerable positive legacy for the country for years to come. Most Russians, for example, think that the Games helped get children interested in sport (80 per cent), got people of all ages interested in playing sports (69 per cent), benefited the tourism industry in Russia (67 per cent) and contributed to positive change in the country (66 per cent), among others.

The Sochi Olympic Winter Games took place from 7 to 23 February and received universal approval from the athletes and stakeholders of the Olympic Movement. The Games were watched by a potential audience of 4.1 billion worldwide. In Russia, 88 per cent of the population followed the Games. 93 per cent watched on TV, 73 per cent via the Internet and 17 per cent on mobile applications, according to the survey.
Eight out of 10 Russians who watched the Sochi Olympic Games said it was the best event they had ever attended or watched. Similarly, 80 per cent of respondents also felt the Sochi Games were the most important positive event of 2014.
The independent report was commissioned by Sochi 2014 and conducted in April. It canvassed 2,093 respondents aged 16 to 45 from 22 Russian cities.

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Nanjinglele and Pride the Lion on tour in London

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28/05/2014

Since the Youth Olympic flame was lit last month in Athens, Greece, the mascot NANJINGLELE has been globetrotting around the world with the Virtual Torch Relay.

He made a stop last week in London, UK, for a quick sightseeing tour with friendly Team GB mascot Pride the Lion. Their first stop was the Olympic Stadium, followed by many other London 2012 venues, such as the Horse Guards Parade that hosted the Beach Volleyball event , the velodrome and the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park.
The mascots also had a lot of fun taking pictures with iconic British landmarks and sights like Big Ben, the famous red telephone boxes, black cabs and a trip on the London Underground!
They ended the day with a cup of English tea, and Pride taught NANJINGLELE how to make a proper “cuppa”.
Follow NANJINGLELE around the world as a virtual torch bearer by getting the Nanjing 2014 Torch Relay App: http://torchrelay.nanjing2014.org/

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President welcomes ambassadors from EU member states in Switzerland to Olympic Museum

©IOC

27/05/2014

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, welcomed ambassadors from member states of the European Union who are based in Switzerland and government officials from the City of Lausanne and Canton of Vaud at The Olympic Museum today in Lausanne.

The visit to The Museum was proposed by the Embassy of Greece in Bern and the Greek Ambassador to Switzerland, His Excellency Harris Manessis. Greece currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a position that rotates between the member states of the EU every six months. The Greek ambassador was joined by his counterparts from 21 EU member states to visit Lausanne for the day, a trip that also included stops at the Maison de L’Elysee and the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe.
The delegation heard speeches from President Bach, Ambassador Manessis, Minister of Finance and External Relations for the Canton of Vaud Pascal Broulis, and Lausanne Mayor Daniel Brélaz.
In his remarks, President Bach took the opportunity to re-emphasise the strong ties between the IOC and the Swiss authorities at federal, cantonal and local levels. He also underlined the important role of sport in the EU, and its power to build strong citizens and a strong society.

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Life after Sport

26/05/2014

To get to the top level in sport, athletes have to give it their all. However, sporting careers can be short. So what happens when they come to an end?

“For me it was always important to have a second plan,” says Alex Baumann, Olympic silver medallist in bobsleigh in Sochi earlier this year. “As an athlete you rely on the health of your body and as we all know that can stop from one moment to the other.”

This is where the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Career Programme (ACP) can help. It is delivered in cooperation with Adecco, and serves to support athletes while they prepare for and go through their career transition. It provides resources and training to develop life skills and maximise their education and employment opportunities.

Zurich based Baumann joined up with the programme in 2012 via the Swiss Olympic Athlete Career Programme just after finishing his Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences.  Keen to continue training for Sochi, he also wanted to pursue his Master’s degree in food microbiology, but recognised the need to start gaining valuable work experience. He found the perfect match - an employer in the food industry willing to allow a flexible work programme that could fit around Baumann’s training and study obligations.

“It is a challenge to combine training and working of course, but you need an employer who is flexible in times. In the end it is all about planning,” he says
One Olympic silver medal and a Master’s degree later, Baumann is now fully employed by a renowned Swiss confectionery company that first gave him a chance. And the flexible work hours are still in place as Baumann continues his sports training.

“Bobsleigh is like life. There are a lot of lines and turns – it’s unpredictable. When you don’t have a second plan then it is scary to think about your life after sport career,” he says. “You need to do your preparation before.”

Learn more about the IOC Athlete Career Programme here

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Coca-Cola launches Nanjing 2014 logo with 100 days to go

22/05/2014

To mark 100 days to go until the start of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, Worldwide TOP Partner Coca-Cola last week launched its Nanjing 2014 logo.

David Brooks, the President of Coca-Cola’s Greater China and Korea Business Unit, and the Vice-Mayor of Nanjing and Deputy Secretary-General of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Liu Yian, unveiled the official Coca-Cola Nanjing 2014 logo at an event with over 1,500 young participants.
Coca-Cola has always promoted the Games through logos with inspirational designs, throughout its long partnership with the Olympic Movement. This year’s logo for Nanjing is no exception, combining traditional Chinese “banners” with the Nanjing 2014 and Coca-Cola logos.
For more information, visit the Nanjing Official website.

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Lillehammer 2016 energised by visit of IOC President

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©Geir Owe Fredheim

22/05/2014

After a two-day action-packed visit from IOC President Thomas Bach, the team working on the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) got down to business with the IOC Coordination Commission, headed by double Olympic ice hockey champion Angela Ruggiero, for two days of progress updates, guidance and idea-sharing with the Organising Committee (LYOGOC).

With just over 18 months to go until the 2nd Winter YOG, the team has made good progress since the previous IOC Coordination Commission visit last autumn. LYOGOC has grown from four permanent members of staff to 20. This figure will increase to a modest 90 people during the Games themselves, while drawing upon the strong local network of experts with a wealth of Olympic and international event experience who will act as mentors to the young future sporting leaders. In addition, 2,300 volunteers will be in operation during Games time.
The team has made great strides in raising awareness of the YOG. A first major marketing partner has been announced with Adecco, and young people are at the centre of all initiatives, with local college students and young designers creating the “Look of the Games”, emblem and pictograms. The latter were unveiled by the IOC President earlier this week with the help of athletes aiming to compete at Lillehammer 2016, topped off with a “selfie” photo that was shared on social media.
LYOGOC are also drawing upon the success of Norway’s Sochi 2014 athletes to help raise the profile of the Games, and are aiming to build upon this in the coming months.
Coordination Commission Chair Angela Ruggiero commented, “The progress made so far this year is impressive. This small team has really embraced the YOG spirit, not just in their approach and engagement with young people, but also in the way they have put young people at the heart of the organisation while drawing on the rich Olympic knowledge existing in the area.”
With the use of all existing venues from Lillehammer ’94, the future legacy focus is on the newly constructed Youth Olympic Village. Supported by the IOC’s EUR 13.5m investment, this project will be used as student housing before and after the Games, and plans are also underway for overseas students to study at this centre and benefit from its world-class sports facilities.
Finally, before leaving Lillehammer, the IOC President asked the organisers to give their valuable input to the Olympic Agenda 2020 project; to propose their ideas and innovations to keep the YOG unique and inspiring for young athletes.
LYOGOC CEO, Thomas Holmestad said, “We are truly grateful for the open dialogue we have with the IOC, and we really appreciate how much the IOC prioritises the YOG. We are encouraged by the trust they show us by constantly challenging us to come up with new ideas for how the YOG should be in the future.”

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Lillehammer 2016
The 2nd edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place between 12 and 21 February 2016. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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IOC President Thomas Bach announces composition of Olympic Agenda 2020 Working Groups

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©IOC

22/05/2014

In another key milestone in the process of building Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, IOC President Thomas Bach today released the membership of the 14 Working Groups which will help frame some of the key recommendations. Each group will be made up of key stakeholders of the Olympic Movement, including IOC members, athletes and representatives of the International Federations and National Olympic Committees. As part of the ongoing open and inclusive process, a number of experts have also been included from civil society, including representatives of leading international organisations, NGOs and business organisations. The Working Groups will look at proposals made by the Olympic Movement, the world of sport and even by individual members of the public.  Under discussion will be topics ranging from Ethics and the Youth Olympic Games to Good Governance and Autonomy and the planned Olympic TV Channel.

The Working Groups have been established to compile and discuss detailed contributions to the Olympic Agenda 2020, which was initiated last year by President Bach. Each of the Groups will meet in June around the occasion of Olympic Day, and their findings will be presented to the IOC Executive Board (EB) in July. The findings will then be discussed at the Olympic Summit later in the month, which will be attended by all the key stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.
The contributions will then be presented to the IOC commissions in September, before being discussed again at an EB meeting in October. The refined proposals for Olympic Agenda 2020 will then be presented for discussion by the whole membership and approval of the IOC Extraordinary Session in Monaco on 8 and 9 December 2014.
Discussions have centred on five themes: the uniqueness of the Olympic Games, athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement, Olympism in action, the IOC’s role and IOC structure and organisation.
There has been strong interest across the Olympic Movement in the Olympic Agenda 2020. Discussions at the 126th IOC Session in Sochi, for example, included a total of 211 interventions made by the IOC members.
President Bach called for direct contributions on the debate of the future of the Olympic Movement to be made via email at OlympicAgenda2020@olympic.org. Contributions – from all continents – flooded in from National Olympic Committees, International Federations, sports organisations, NGOs and the general public by the final deadline of 15 April.
Complete list of the Working Groups.

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Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.
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IOC President Thomas Bach meets the King of Norway ahead of visit to Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games organisers

19/05/2014

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, today met His Majesty the King of Norway, Harald V, at the Royal Castle in Oslo, ahead of a visit to Lillehammer for meetings with the local organisers of the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

President Bach spoke at length with the King about the second edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which will take place in Lillehammer from 12 to 21 February 2016. They also discussed the performance of Norwegian athletes at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games, as well as Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic plan for the future of the Olympic Movement which will be finalised by the end of this year.
“We discussed the Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games, which will use only pre-existing venues, and the legacy these Games will bring to the region and the country,” said President Bach. “We also discussed the Culture and

Education

Programme, which is an integral part of the Games and helps to develop the Olympic values in all the participants.” President Bach was accompanied by Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg.
Earlier in the day the IOC President visited 'Olympiatoppen', the NOC's high performance sport centre to meet with young athletes training for both the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games. Joining the IOC President were IOC Members Gerhard Heiberg and Angela Ruggiero, who is also Chair of the Lillehammer 2016 IOC Coordination Commission.

On Tuesday, President Bach will meet representatives from the Lillehammer 2016 Organising Committee and go on a venue tour. Existing infrastructure from the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games will be used for the Lillehammer 2016 YOG, obviating the need for the construction of any new venues and creating a further legacy from those Games. They will also visit the site of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV), which is being built with a subsidy of EUR 13.5 million from the IOC, who will also cover the travel and accommodation costs of all attending athletes and officials in the YOV during their stay which will be approximately EUR 4 million.

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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.
Videos
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Photos
For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.
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For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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School kids fence their parents!

©NYOGOC

19/05/2014

Students at Shuangtang Primary School, in Nanjing, have been given a chance of getting their own back on their parents, through fencing!  Ahead of this summer’s Youth Olympic Games, the International Fencing Federation recently hosted a Fencing Promotion Programme in Nanjing, intended to encourage participation in the sport. The kids were able to try out all things linked to fencing, and parents needed to be on guard as they were able to fence each other throughout the day.

Chinese Athlete Role Model and Olympic gold medallist Lei Sheng helped the children discover more about fencing, including having a go at the sport themselves – and who better to learn from! Lei Sheng was also the subject of a “Dialogue with a Fencer” session, where he fenced and interacted with the kids, very much adhering to the Youth Olympic Games “Learn and Share” Programme.
Over 1,000 people took part in the day’s fencing fun, including students, parents and even teachers.
It was a day to get involved and try out a new sport, something that we will see lots more of this August in Nanjing!
Find out about the sports on the Olympic programme

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Kim Clijsters and Clive Woodward live on new IOC educational platform

16/05/2014

Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward and former world number one tennis player Kim Clijsters were featured as guests during the first-ever live event on the IOC’s recently launched free online education platform, the IOC Athlete MOOC (Massive Open Online Course).

During a one-hour live video interview, the British coach and Belgian sportswoman shared thoughts, experiences and expert advice on nutrition, performance, education and transitioning into a life after sport. Both guests also addressed participants’ questions submitted via chat.
First-hand insight into life in sport
Live events will become a monthly fixture on the IOC Athlete MOOC platform, enabling registered users to learn invaluable lessons from top athletes, coaches and leaders from the sports world on a range of subjects directly related to athletes and life in sport, on and off the field of play.
On this occasion, tennis player Kim Clijsters recounted what drove her to succeed in sport. From surrounding herself with people she trusted and respected to finding a balance between “being disciplined, professional and enjoying herself”, the mother of two outlined that, for her, “the most important word is passion”, which saw her “always wanting to improve” at her sport and “asking a lot of questions to those who were knowledgeable”.
Hugely interested in the field of nutrition, Clijsters explained how, throughout her career, she has invested a lot of time and energy in researching and understanding the role of nutrition in improving her performance in sport and recovery. Advising athletes to “take responsibility” for their own diet, both she and Sir Clive Woodward emphasised the importance for an athlete to know what to eat and when.
For those who missed it, log in or sign up to the MOOC on www.olympic.org/onlinecourse or via the Athletes’ Space on our website to watch Sir Clive Woodward chat with Kim Clijsters.  
Facilitating access to education for athletes Believing that education is an important foundation for success beyond the end of a sports career, the IOC has developed the IOC Athlete MOOC – Massive Open Online Course – to deliver free high-quality, engaging, educational content to a worldwide athlete audience. Content is both formal and informal, and includes courses providing athletes and their entourage with a general background on topics such as sport and education, sports science, coaching and management.
Register now and be the first to know who will be sharing their experiences and advice in the next Live Event!
If you encounter any problems when trying to access the MOOC platform or have any questions about the courses, please contact our support team at community.manager@onlinecourse.olympic.org.

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IOC President Bach meets International Committee of the Red Cross President Maurer

15/05/2014

IOC President Thomas Bach today welcomed International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Peter Maurer to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne for a one-hour meeting to explore areas in which the two organisations can cooperate in the future.

The two leaders are looking to reinvigorate the Memorandum of Understanding the organisations signed in June 2003. The MoU called for collaboration on projects placing sport as a tool for values-based education and development, in particular in areas affected by natural disaster, disease, and armed conflict.
The IOC and ICRC also work together to promote shared humanitarian values such as gender equality, volunteerism, tolerance and peace.
The ICRC’s delegation also included Patricia Danzi, Head of Operations for Latina America and the Caribbean. President Bach was accompanied by IOC International Cooperation and Development Director Lindsay Glassco.
Following the meeting, Mr Maurer paid a visit to the recently renovated Olympic Museum.

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Diary of a Young Ambassador, Alaa Muntasir

14/05/2014

Since the Young Ambassadors seminar took place in March in Nanjing ahead of this summer’s Youth Olympic Games, Alaa Muntasir, the IOC’s Young Ambassador for Sudan, has been busy spreading the spirit of the Games in her community and learning about the ways in which we can build a better world through sport.

An avid horse-rider and student of Information Technology, Alaa sent us this diary piece from her latest adventure:

"A few weeks ago, four youth volunteers including myself were chosen by our National Olympic Committee to represent Sudan in the Generations For Peace Workshop held in Jordan from 26th to 30th April.

Generations For Peace is the peace-through-sport organization recognized by the IOC, and it empowers, mentors and supports young people to lead and cascade sustainable change in communities experiencing different forms of conflict.


Through intensive sessions, 30 participants from eight Asian and African countries all experienced how sport-based games can be used to develop peace-building skills and help initiate behavioral change. We all practiced how to build acceptance and trust, develop respect, foster cooperation, ensure inclusion and take responsibility, by means of sport and the tools that were provided to all of us.

As a Young Ambassador for the Youth Olympic Games, I learned about other participants’ countries and cultures, common challenges we all share, and possible solutions that lie within each one of us. I cannot wait to meet my athletes going to Nanjing 2014 this summer and share what I have learnt: we will be aiming at instilling change, on and off the sport field, in our lives and the lives of those around us. I know the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect will guide us on that journey."
Alaa is one of 104 Young Ambassadors selected by their respective National Olympic Committees to lead the athletes through their YOG journey, help them get the most out of the compete, learn and share programme and to encourage them to make new friends, experience new cultures and live by the Olympic values.

With just months to go until the Games, the YAs, aged between 18-25-years-old, are busy spreading the YOG spirit all over the world by hosting camps and workshops with young athletes in their communities and working closing with their NOCs and National Federations.

Click here to see the full list of the Young Ambassadors

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IOC helps Ukrainian athletes

©Getty Images

14/05/2014

Statement from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach:

The IOC is following the political, economic and social developments in Ukraine with the greatest attention and growing concern. Also the situation of Ukrainian athletes, including those who have so successfully represented their country in the recent Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, which has dramatically deteriorated.
For all these reasons I repeat my appeal of Sochi to all political leaders involved to enter into a summit dialogue in the Olympic spirit of mutual respect and peace.
To help the Ukrainian athletes – wherever they come from in Ukraine and whatever their background – and to mitigate their difficult situation, the IOC has established an emergency fund of USD 300,000. This fund is to be used for the benefit of the Ukrainian athletes, through the NOC of Ukraine, for training and competition purposes.

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VideosYouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

PhotosFor an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
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IOC awards Olympic Games broadcast rights to NBCUniversal through to 2032

©IOC/Arnaud Meylan

07/05/2014

Agreement ensures the long-term financial security of the Olympic Movement

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today awarded NBCUniversal (NBCU) the broadcast rights in the USA for the Olympic Games through to 2032.
NBCU has acquired the broadcast rights across all media platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile. The agreement from 2021 to 2032 is valued at USD 7.65 billion, plus an additional USD 100 million signing bonus to be used for the promotion of Olympism and the Olympic values between 2015 and 2020.
The agreement is a major contribution to the long-term financial stability of the entire Olympic Movement. The IOC distributes more than 90 per cent of the revenue it generates to support the International Sports Federations; the 204 National Olympic Committees and their Olympic teams; and the Organising Committees of each Olympic Games.
IOC President Thomas Bach, who led the negotiations, said: “This agreement is excellent news for the entire Olympic Movement as it helps to ensure its financial security in the long term, in particular future host cities of the Olympic Games, the athletes of the 204 National Olympic Committees and the International Sports Federations. The IOC has worked in close partnership with NBC for many decades, and we are thrilled we will continue to work with them through to 2032. NBC’s expertise in sports broadcasting, as well as their passion for the Olympic values, will mean we shall be able continue to offer first-class broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games to the widest possible American audience for many years to come.”
Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation said: “The Olympics are the world’s greatest cultural and athletic event, and presenting them to the American audience is an honour and privilege for our entire company.  Our long-term commitment to and investment in the Olympic Movement are a reflection of our belief in the future of broadcast television, as well as our confidence that our partners at the IOC will continue to deliver great Games and that the Olympics will remain the world’s premier sports event. All of us at Comcast NBCUniversal are extremely proud that we have been entrusted to be the U.S. home for nine more Olympics, and we look forward to using all of our resources to continue our tradition of ground-breaking Olympic coverage.”
Steve Burke, CEO, NBCUniversal, said: “This is one of the most important days in the history of NBCUniversal. The Olympics are part of the fabric of our company, and we couldn’t be more excited that today’s announcement guarantees that this massively popular and profitable programming will continue to air every two years on the broadcast, cable, digital and mobile platforms of NBCUniversal for the next two decades. No event brings families together like the Olympics, and no-one in media is more accomplished or better equipped to tell the athletes’ stories than NBC Sports. I want to thank the IOC for their faith in us, as well as Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus and NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel, whose leadership was invaluable in bringing this deal to fruition.”

NBCU, which in 2011 had acquired the right to broadcast the Olympic Games until 2020 (including the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016, the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (2018) in PyeongChang, and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (2020) in Tokyo), will now broadcast every Olympic Games through to 2032, the host cities of which are yet to be elected. In addition, NBCU also has acquired the broadcast rights for every edition of the Youth Olympic Games through to 2032.
By 2032, NBCU will have covered a total of 23 editions of the Olympic Games, since its first Games broadcast in Tokyo in 1964. This unprecedented long-term agreement demonstrates the confidence the IOC has in NBCU’s expertise and the excellent broadcast coverage it has delivered over many years.

Click here to download a high-resolution image.

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NBCU acquired the right to be the IOC’s broadcast partner through to 2020 in June 2011: http://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-awards-us-broadcast-rights-for-2014-2016-2018-and-2020-olympic-games-to-nbcuniversal/130827.
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.
NBC Universal Sports Group:
Greg Hughes, Senior Vice President, Communications Greg.Hughes@nbcuni.com +1 203-356-2780

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IOC President Bach welcomes Singapore President in Lausanne

©IOC/Christophe Moratal

09/05/2014

Today in Lausanne, IOC President Thomas Bach met with the President of the Republic of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam. The two leaders also toured the recently renovated Olympic Museum. 

During the meeting, the IOC President, who was accompanied by IOC member in Singapore Ser Miang Ng, thanked Singapore for all it had done for the Olympic Movement, particularly in staging the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games. 
The President of Singapore commented that: “the Olympic Games were always such a great inspiration to youth around the world.” And he praised the Olympic Movement for “its remarkable values.”
The pair also discussed the work currently being undertaken by the IOC to develop the “Olympic Agenda 2020” roadmap that will shape the future of the Olympic Movement. 
Also accompanying President Bach was IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper.

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IOC President Thomas Bach meets President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter

©IOC/Christophe Moratal

09/05/2014

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, today welcomed the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, for a one-hour meeting at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne before inviting him to visit the newly renovated Olympic Museum. 

The two leaders discussed a number of items of common interest, including the long ties between the Olympic Movement and Switzerland that have led many sports organisations to set up home in the country, and the continued presence of the IOC in Switzerland.  
The leaders discussed the future of the Olympic Movement, and President Bach outlined the progress made on “Olympic Agenda 2020”, a strategic plan for the future which will be finalised by the end of the year. They also assessed the highly successful Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, with the Swiss President having just returned from meeting President Putin in Moscow, where he led the OSCE delegation. 
“The ties between Switzerland and the IOC are based on great cooperation in the past. We feel at home here in Switzerland, and we certainly hope that it will be possible for this to  continue, and this is a sentiment echoed by many of our partners from International Federations and other sports organisations who followed the IOC’s lead and set up their headquarters in Switzerland.”  
Discussions also touched upon the celebrations surrounding the 100th anniversary of the IOC being headquartered in Lausanne which will be marked next year. Then-IOC President Pierre de Coubertin moved the IOC headquarters to Lausanne in 1915 in the midst of the First World War. In recognition of the long history that unites the IOC and Lausanne, the city received the title of Olympic Capital in 1993. 
President’s Burkhalter’s delegation was composed of the head of the Directorate of Public International Law and Legal Advisor of the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Valentin Zellweger; the Director of Switzerland's Federal Office for Sport, Matthias Remund; the Head of the President’s office, Damien Cottier; the Communications Chief, Jean-Marc Crevoisier; and the Head of Présence Suisse, Nicolas Bideau. 
President Bach was accompanied by IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper.

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

PyeongChang enters Winter Games spotlight

©PyeongChang 2018

01/05/2014

Four years before the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games get underway, the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) continues to make steady progress in its preparations, as it enters the full glare of the Winter Games spotlight.

That was the message delivered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, which today concluded its third inspection visit to the 2018 host city (29 April – 1 May).
 “We have had three excellent days of meetings and I’d like to congratulate President Kim of POCOG and his team for the quality of their work”, said IOC Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg. “We were able to see that a large amount has been accomplished by POCOG and its partners since our last visit in June 2013. The participation of the International Federations, the Korean Olympic and Paralympic Committees, and the Korean national winter sports federations was also very beneficial and allowed POCOG to engage in in-depth discussions on all topics related to the venues and sport. The 2018 Games are on the right track but it is clear that much work remains. We are confident that POCOG and Korea will deliver great Games for the athletes in 2018.”
The meetings in PyeongChang were attended by all levels of government including Vice- Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jong Kim and the Governor of Gangwon Province, Moon-soon Choi. The high-level presence of the authorities was appreciated by the Commission and demonstrated the continued support of the Korean authorities for the PyeongChang 2018 Games.  
On Wednesday, the Coordination Commission toured the Mountain and Coastal Clusters, visiting a number of the venues, including both Olympic Villages; the sliding centre; International Broadcast Centre; Main Press Centre; the venues for speed skating, figure skating, short track, ice hockey, and curling; as well as two media villages. 
The Commission identified a number of key areas that require POCOG’s focus over the next six months. These include marketing, venue construction, test events and Games services. In the area of marketing, the IOC noted with satisfaction that POCOG is in the process of finalising its first domestic partnership contract. The Commission was informed that construction companies were being appointed for venues and that some construction was underway. It underlined the need for timelines to be carefully defined and adhered to, so as to avoid any impacts on test events. Test event preparations beyond venues were also highlighted, as the hiring and training of staff and volunteers should also begin in the near future. Finally, with timelines tight for the completion of accommodation contracting, the development of the Mountain Olympic Village and the transport management plan, the Coordination Commission encouraged POCOG to ensure that the appropriate focus and resources were dedicated to these important areas. 
POCOG President and CEO Jin-sun Kim commented, “The 3rd Coordination Commission meeting was the first one after Sochi, and it was especially meaningful because we had the high-level representatives of the international winter sports federations with us this time. We reconfirmed the fact that ‘Now is PyeongChang’ and that the eyes of the world are now on PyeongChang. We had very practical and detailed discussions. With what came out of these discussions, we will ensure seamless preparation of ‘Best Games’ in order to make the PyeongChang 2018 Games something special, something different and something unique. This year is a big turning point for us. We must establish a solid framework. As I always stress, we have no time to practise and no time for trial and error. We will streamline our Master Schedule and set our priorities straight so that everything runs smoothly according to the timeline.” 
The Commission also noted a number of areas where progress had been made since its last visit. The new highway and high-speed train connections from Seoul to the Olympic region are progressing well. These initiatives will leave a great legacy for Korea, its athletes and the citizens of Seoul and Gangwon Province. 
The appointment of three Vice-Presidents by POCOG and an associated reorganisation were received positively, as this will better enable the organisation to handle the increasing demands of organising the Games over the next four years. 
Finally, the awareness of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games has been strengthened by the success of PyeongChang House in Sochi, and the very innovative Closing Ceremony segment, which presented the 2018 Games to a worldwide audience of millions. The Commission encouraged the local organisers to continue to engage and promote their Games at this high level over the next four years both at home and abroad. 
Other topics discussed during the Coordination Commission meetings included athlete services, sport, National Olympic Committee services, International Federation services, people management, finance, venues and infrastructure, accommodation, transport, test events, engagement, marketing, media services and the Paralympic Games. 
The fourth Coordination Commission visit to PyeongChang will take place at the end of November 2014, while in June, PyeongChang will play host to the official IOC Debriefing of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games with the participation of all the principal Games stakeholders.

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For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our website at www.olympic.org.
VideosYouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia
PhotosFor an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.
Social mediaFor up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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