APEC Commercialization Push Augurs Enhanced Medical Innovation and Public Health

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Seoul, Korea, 26 December 2014 – Trade, economic and health officials from APEC economies have launched a ground-breaking new platform to support greater commercialization of innovative biomedical research originated in the Asia-Pacific, heralding the arrival of more cutting-edge treatments that improve public health and boost trade and economic growth. 

The opening of the first-of-its-kind APEC Biomedical Technology Commercialization Training Center in Seoul follows two years of public-private sector consultations. Initiated by Korea and Thailand, the Center will build the capacity of policymakers, practitioners and businesses to move new biomedical technologies onto the market as emerging economies in the region play a more active role in research and development. 

“Biomedical research is increasing all around the Asia-Pacific and ushering in important health breakthroughs but backend business processes are far less developed,” said Dr Kee-Taig Jung, President of the government-owned Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the Center’s coordinating body. “Without strong interface between R&D, policy and commercial interests, it becomes very difficult to bring innovations to the people who stand to benefit from them.”  

“Enormous resources are going into the pursuit of new biomedical discoveries which must ultimately come with a return on investment—for scientists and the public and private sector entities that support and market their work,” added Dr Nares Damrongchai, CEO of the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), which is also government-backed and will support training and implementation of the APEC Center’s recommendations in Southeast Asia. 

The Center will foster the adoption of translational research, or that which is engineered to ensure findings can be used for practical applications that enhance public health. Additional focus will be on strengthening intellectual property management and business development, including strategy, valuation and marketing. The Center will serve as a platform for promoting policies conducive to commercialization in the medical life sciences sector. A pilot training program is now underway. The Center is expected to commence operations in earnest in 2015. 

The Association of University Technology Managers, a US-based non-profit that promotes technology transfer globally, will provide content and training. Trade, economic and health officials from each of the 21 APEC member economies, under the auspices of the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum, will guide the Center’s strategic decision-making. 

“Lifting barriers to the delivery of new health innovations is not just a moral imperative, it also makes good economic sense,” concluded Dr Ryan MacFarlane, Planning Group Chair of the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum. “By facilitating the conversion of sound biomedical research into treatments that people can actually use, you seed healthier, more productive labor forces, trade within the sector and growth that ultimately becomes self-sustaining.” 

The Center’s development will be on the agenda when the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum meets in conjunction with the first APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related technical meetings on 26 January-7 February 2015 in Clark, the Philippines

Olympic Highlights

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22/12/2014

IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
© IOC / Arnaud Meylan
On 17 December, IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Bruno Grandi, and FIG Secretary General André F. Gueisbuhler to Lausanne, where they discussed the implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, cooperation between the two organisations and preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The IOC announced that the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) has been awarded the exclusive broadcast rights in Cuba for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio in 2016. President Bach said: “Rio 2016 will be the first time the Olympic Games have been held in South America, and ICRT will work with us once again to bring the sporting action to fans in Cuba. This agreement also means that the IOC has now completed all its broadcast agreements for Rio 2016.” Read the full media release here.

A few days after the approval of the 40 Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, and in particular the recommendation about the candidature process for the Olympic Games in 2024, two NOCs announced their candidature to host these Games. The Italian NOC has thus formalised the candidature of the city of Rome, while the United States Olympic Committee has yet to designate which city will enter the race for the 2024 Games. The German NOC also decided to launch a bid for the 2024 edition few days earlier.

This week, President Bach met a delegation from the Honav Company, led by its chairman and general manager, Chen Shaoshu. President Bach was accompanied by IOC Vice-President Zaiqing Yu.
COMMISSIONS
An IOC delegation led by the IOC Coordination Commission Chair, Nawal El Moutawakel, recently completed a project review visit to Rio de Janeiro.  During its two day meeting (16 and 17 December), the delegation visited the Deodoro complex, where good progress was observed. The meeting was also attended by the Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão, the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes and representatives of the Federal Government.
INTERNATIONAL SPORT FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
The World Rowing Federation (FISA) Council met in London (Great Britain) last weekend to consider Olympic Agenda 2020 and how FISA can contribute to its success. The Council also reviewed the competitions organised in 2014, the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games competition schedules, the new Anti-Doping Bye-Laws, FISA’s adherence to the IOC’s Integrity Betting Intelligence System as well as a full review of the status of FISA’s projects on universality, equality and sustainability. Info at www.worldrowing.com
On 15 December, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) published the full athletics timetable for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The fact that some finals will be held in the morning is of particular note. The IAAF took this step following a request from the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and the Olympic Broadcasting Service, which was supported by the IOC. Info at www.iaaf.org
On 16 December, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that Spain will host the first ever FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018. The Spanish Basketball Federation has past experience of hosting a major FIBA event, since it staged the men’s Basketball World Cup in summer 2014. Info at www.fiba.com
As part of the development programme of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), 30 swimming coaches belonging to leading schools and clubs engaged in training elite swimmers updated their knowledge at an advanced training course in Colombo (Sri Lanka) from 10 to 14 December. The five-day course, sponsored by FINA, taught senior and up-and-coming coaches the latest training methods and athlete development techniques. Info at www.fina.org
The World Archery (WA) Executive Board met in Nottingham (Great Britain) last weekend and discussed the impact of Olympic Agenda 2020 on the federation’s strategic plan. The next stage of the 2013-2017 World Archery Plan was also discussed. Host cities for a number of international events were selected: the 2017-2019 Archery World Cup Stages were awarded to Salt Lake City (USA), Shanghai (People’s Republic of China), Berlin (Germany) and Antalya (Turkey); the 2016 World Archery Indoor Championships to Ankara (Turkey); the 2016 World Archery Field Championships to Dublin (Ireland); the 2017 World Archery 3D Championships to Robion (France); and the 2017 World Archery Youth Championships to Buenos Aires (Argentina). Info at www.worldarchery.org
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced that Mexico City (Mexico) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) will host the 28th and 29th editions of the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in 2016 and 2017 respectively. In addition to crowning the world champions, these competitions will award world titles in the junior and Paratriathlon categories. The dates will be confirmed in due course. The 2015 edition will be held in Chicago (United States of America) from 15 to 20 September. Info at www.triathlon.org
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
From 18 to 20 December, the NOC of Bahrain hosted the 56th Congress of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (ICHPER-SD) on the theme of ‘Towards building a new sport system’. More than 250 participants were expected to attend this Congress, which was organised by the NOC in cooperation with the ICHPER-SD and the University of Bahrain. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and NOC President. Info at www.boc.bh
Martine Grael, Arthur Zanetti and Kahena Kunze. © Gaspar Nóbrega/Inovafoto/COB
Gymnast Arthur Zanetti and female sailors Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze have been voted the best Brazilian Olympic athletes of 2014. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony organised by the Brazilian NOC in Rio de Janeiro on 16 December. The first ever 'Athlete of the Fans' trophy went to gymnast Flávia Saraiva, who was chosen by the public after a vote on Facebook and Twitter. The best athlete of 2014 in each of the 43 sports also received a trophy, as did the medallists from the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. Info at www.cob.org.br
© Dejana Sadzak / NOC Bosnia and Herzegovina
The NOC of Bosnia and Herzegovina has awarded the 2014 IOC Sport and Art Trophy to Ismar Mujezinović (left in photo). Mujezinović created the posters for the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo and was therefore honoured 30 years after his Olympic contribution. The trophy was presented to him by NOC Vice-President Izet Radjo (right in photo) at a ceremony held on 9 December, during which awards were also presented to the best athletes of the year. The Athlete of the Year award was presented to young judoka Larisa Cerić, European Championship silver medallist.

At the Colombian Olympic Sports Gala, the best athletes of the year were honoured in a ceremony organised by the Colombian NOC with the support of Coldeportes. More than 300 guests were in attendance, including the NOC President, Baltazar Medina, and over 100 athletes. The Altius prizes and other NOC awards were presented at the ceremony. A full list of prize-winners can be found at www.coc.org.co.
Mireia Belmonte and Javier Fernández with Alejandro Blanco. © Spanish NOC
In Madrid on 16 December, the 9th Annual Gala of the Spanish NOC paid tribute to several athletes and personalities from the world of sport. The NOC Olympic Order, for example, was awarded to a number of sports federation presidents. The NOC Athlete of the Year award was presented jointly to swimmer Mireia Belmonte and skater Javier Fernández by the NOC President, Alejandro Blanco. Artist María Ángeles Uceda received the 2014 IOC Sport and Art Trophy in recognition of her important contribution to sport through her various works. NOC President Alejandro Blanco and IOC Executive Board member Juan Antonio Samaranch presented the trophy. Detailed info on the prize-winners at this 9th Gala is available at www.coe.es
The NOC of Guatemala has announced that the 26th edition of the traditional Christmas race for Guatemalan sports journalists will take place on 21 December. Around 2,000 participants are expected. Prior to the race, the Guatemalan Sports Journalists’ Association will hold its annual gala, at which the best athletes of the year will be honoured. Info at www.cog.org.gt
© Serbian NOC
The Serbian NOC has organised the 21st annual award ceremony for the most successful athletes, coach and teams of the year (photo above). Around 400 guests attended the ceremony on 9 December, including the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolić, the Minister of Sport and numerous Olympians. The 2014 IOC Sport and Art Trophy was presented to Dragan Bjelogrlić, director of the films “Montevideo, God Bless You” and “Montevideo, see you!” Also an actor, screenwriter and producer, Bjelogrlić produced films and TV series on the Yugoslavian team’s participation in the first football World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. The trophy was presented to him by NOC President Vlade Divac. Info at www.oks.org.rs
Bogdan Gabrovec is the new President of the Slovenian NOC. The 61-year-old is a former President of Slovenian Judo Federation and a former NOC Vice-President. He was also the Slovenian Olympic team’s chef de mission at the London 2012 Olympic Games, when judoka Urška Žolnir won the first gold medal ever won by a Slovenian woman. Meanwhile, the NOC also celebrated the achievements of its former President, Janez Kocijančič, during his 23-year tenure by granting him the title of President Emeritus. Info at www.olympic.si
The Venezuelan NOC informs us that the second symposium for American NOCs on the theme of best practices was held on 11 December. Organised in Miami (United States of America), this symposium was attended by representatives of the 41 member NOCs of the Pan-American Sports Organisation (PASO). The topics discussed include the challenges facing NOCs, strategies for the allocation of resources for elite sport, the importance of the image of NOCs and the media, and the future development of sport for the American NOCs.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
RIO 2016
© Rio 2016
The mascots for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been named Vinicius and Tom after a public vote. The names, which honour Bossa Nova musicians Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim, won 44% of the valid votes, with more than 320,000 received during the three-week poll. The mascots, which were unveiled on 23 November, are inspired by the various animals and plants found in Brazil. Info at www.rio2016.com
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
The 4th CSIT (International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation) World Sports Games will be held from 7 to 14 June 2015 in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy). As well as organising competitions in 54 different sports and sports activities for several thousand participants, the CSIT and AICS, the Italian CSIT member organisation, will hold a big festival at which participants will be able to share information and experiences and build new friendships. Info at www.csit.tv and www.wsg2015.com
NEXT EDITION
Due to the end-of-year festivities, a special edition of Olympic Highlights will be published on 5 January 2015. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the festive season.

Over 240,000 volunteer applications for Rio 2016

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©Rio 2016/Alex Ferro

19/12/2014

The recruitment of the 70,000 volunteers required to stage a successful Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 is well under way. More than 240,000 applicants are now taking part in the first phase of the selection process, which includes an online exercise and language assessment. Interviews with successful candidates will then begin next year.

“The online exercise is a way to engage the candidates and help them understand what it would be like to work at the Rio 2016 Games,” said Flavia Fontes, manager of the Rio 2016 volunteer programme. “It’s a fun way for them to learn about the Games, as well as allowing us to get to know them better.”
People from all over the world applied to become a volunteer at Rio 2016, the first Olympic Games to be hosted in South America. Brazilians accounted for 60 per cent of the 242,757 applicants, with the remainder coming from a further 191 countries. The USA, Russia, China and Great Britain – all of whom have hosted their own Games in recent times – recorded the most interest, which is a reflection of the positive experiences that volunteers have had in the past.
The broad mix of applicants will help ensure Rio 2016 is a truly international event, said Fontes, who added: “We were very happy with the results. The number of applicants demonstrated the desire of people to participate in the Games and showed that the volunteer spirit is alive in Brazil. The quantity of different nationalities, age groups and backgrounds is making the diversity we are seeking a reality. The Games are for everyone and the volunteers programme already shows this.”
Successful applicants will benefit from the opportunity to learn new skills, with a one-year online English course and training specific to their role all offered as standard. 

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IOC awards Rio 2016 broadcast rights in Cuba

19/12/2014

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión (ICRT) has been awarded the exclusive broadcast rights in Cuba for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio in 2016.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Rio 2016 will be the first time the Olympic Games have been held in South America, and ICRT will work with us once again to bring the sporting action to fans in Cuba. This agreement also means that the IOC has now completed all its broadcast agreements for Rio 2016.”
Rafael Yaech, from ICRT, said: "The broadcast of the Olympic Games in Cuba is a celebration for our hard working people and our quality of life. We are pleased with this agreement with the International Olympic Commitee, with the assurance that we will continue to work together in favour of sports."
IOC member Dr Gerardo Werthein, a member of the IOC’s TV Rights and New Media Commission, said: “ICRT has been an excellent partner to the Olympic Movement for many years in promoting the Olympic Games and the values of the Olympic Movement in Cuba, and we look forward to continuing our work with them in Rio.”
ICRT, Cuba’s state broadcaster, has acquired the rights across all broadcast platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile phone in all languages.

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Olympic fans name Rio 2016 mascots

16/12/2014

The mascots for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been named Vinicius and Tom respectively, following a public vote.

The names, which honour Bossa Nova musicians Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim, won 44% of the valid votes, with more than 320,000 votes received during the three-week poll. The other choices were Oba and Eba and Tiba Tuque and Esquindim.
"The names of Vinicius and Tom are recognised worldwide as a synonym for excellence, which is in line with what we want to achieve with the Rio 2016 Games,” said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee.
The mascots, which were unveiled on 23 November, are inspired by the various animals and plants found in Brazil and will play a key role in engaging the public – and especially young people – in the build-up to the 2016 Olympic Games.
“In addition to representing the Brazilian fauna and flora, our mascots also connect to the best of our music,” added Nuzman. “We are certain that they will be an inspiration to the youth.”
Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim were two of the best-known pioneers of the bossa nova genre of music – a fusion of samba and jazz – that developed in Brazil in the 1950s and 1960s. The duo also wrote The Girl from Ipanema – one of the most played songs in the world.
“The choice of the names Vinicius and Tom adds even more ‘Brazilianness’ to our mascots, which are ambassadors of the Games,” added Beth Lula, Brand Director of Rio 2016. “Their role is to share the messages of the event and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements to various audiences, especially children and youth.”

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The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony 2014

The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony 2014

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Olympic Agenda 2020 – From Decision to Implementation

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12/12/2014

Following the unanimous approval of the 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020 by the IOC Session on 8 and 9 December, the focus has now turned from decision to implementation.  

On Thursday 11 December, IOC President Thomas Bach chaired meetings at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne to begin the implementation of a number of the recommendations, including on the bid process for the Olympic Games (Recommendation 1) and on the launch of an Olympic Channel (Recommendation 19).  
The IOC President said: “Following the success of the IOC Session in Monaco and the unanimous endorsement of my fellow IOC members for the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, it is critical that we utilise the momentum and energy we have created throughout the Olympic Movement and start implementing straight away.” 
Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations will be fully applied in the bid process for the Olympic Games 2024, which opens on 15 January 2015. A new invitation phase will be offered to cities interested in hosting the Games, so that they can discuss their initial interest with the IOC. The Olympic Winter Games 2022 bid process is already underway, but elements of Olympic Agenda 2020 will be implemented where possible, especially with regard to the IOC assisting bid cities in reducing costs and ensuring a sustainable legacy. 
One of those who took part in the year-long consultation process, which involved key stakeholders as well as those from the world of business and NGOs, was Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google.  He took part in the Olympic Agenda 2020 Working Group on “Olympism in Action”. He said: “I’m happy to have participated, and very much looking forward to seeing the IOC put its new initiatives into action. It’s an exciting time for technology and the Olympic Movement. I was pleased to see the IOC, a more than 100-year-old organisation, take the initiative and open itself to fresh ideas as it looked ahead to the year 2020.” 
Following a meeting on the Olympic Channel launch, the IOC President reiterated the importance of the Channel in providing a platform for the promotion of Olympic sports, athletes and the Olympic values beyond the period of the Games: “Interest in the Olympic Games is higher now than ever, and recent editions have enjoyed record broadcast audiences around the world. The idea of the Channel is to harness this interest and extend it beyond the Games, in a way that will engage audiences, especially young audiences, in the power of what sport can do.” 
Dick Ebersol, the renowned American Olympic television executive producer for twenty years and former Chairman of NBC Sports, attended the Olympic Channel meeting as a special adviser. After the meeting, he said: “More than 20 years ago in conversations with the then IOC leadership, we talked about a mutual dream of creating a year-round Olympic channel. I wholeheartedly applaud President Bach’s vision and successful initiative this week in bringing it to fruition. The media landscape has changed enormously in recent years, in particular with the uptake of digital media. There is much more opportunity today to reach and connect with audiences everywhere on earth, in particular young people. I jumped at this opportunity to be involved on one condition…that my role be unpaid, as I want to repay in some small way the joy the Olympics have given me since childhood.” 
A feasibility study on launching an Olympic Channel was conducted prior to the Olympic Agenda 2020 vote, and following unanimous approval by the IOC Session, on 8 December, for the launch of the Olympic Channel, work has now begun on its implementation. The Channel, produced by OBS, will initially be a worldwide digital offering; however as linear (traditional TV) distribution opportunities arise, these will also be assessed. 

IOC Session unanimously approves Olympic Agenda 2020

©IOC/Ian Jones

08/12/2014

The full membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today unanimously approved the 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco.

“Olympic Agenda 2020 is like a jigsaw puzzle”, IOC President Thomas Bach said. “Now that you have approved all 40 recommendations you can see the whole picture. It is a picture of progress. It is a picture that ensures the uniqueness of the Olympic Games. It is a picture that promotes the Olympic values. And it is a picture that strengthens sport in society.” 
The debate and voting on Olympic Agenda 2020 were scheduled to last two days, but such was the support for the 20+20 recommendations – with 83 interventions in total – that the process concluded on the first day.

Each recommendation, voted on individually, received the full backing of the 96 IOC members in attendance. There were no votes against and no abstentions. As an additional show of unity for Olympic Agenda 2020, the members gave their unanimous support for the entire set of recommendations in an en bloc vote at the close of today’s meeting.
President Bach, who initiated the Olympic Agenda 2020 discussions a year-and-a-half ago, thanked the Session on what he described as a “very important and positive day for the IOC and the Olympic Movement.”
“The speed at which Olympic Agenda 2020 was approved showed the great support and determination of the members to make it happen”, President Bach said during a press conference following the meeting. “It was a very, very positive surprise. But it followed over a year of constructive discussions. Some of the recommendations were not easy for certain members to swallow. Some may have hoped for no recommendation or a different recommendation on a specific issue. So it was encouraging that regardless of their individual interests or positions, they were determined to make Olympic Agenda 2020 a success. Speaking of the members, I have a great deal of respect for them to do this.”

Meriem Cherni Mizouni: “This is the greatest reward for a whole life devoted to sport!”

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©IOC/Ian Jones

09/12/2014

Secretary of State for Sport, Chairwoman of the Tunisian Olympic Committee (CNOT)’s Women and Sport Commission, and Tunisia’s first female Olympian, at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, former swimmer Meriem Cherni Mizouni has devoted her life to promoting and including women in sport at all levels. Today, she is being honoured by the IOC, which has awarded her its Women and Sport World Trophy for 2014. We spoke to the winner.

What does this Trophy represent for you?“A great moment of emotion and pride. This is the greatest reward for a whole life devoted to sport. I am especially proud for my country, Tunisia, which since achieving independence has never stopped striving for progress, openness and tolerance. Proud too for Tunisian women, who over time have become a symbol for the struggle against hatred, violence, fanaticism and obscurantism. Proud for my NOC, which is resolutely engaged in supporting the Olympic values. Proud for the Women and Sport Commission, and for all the sports men and women in Tunisia. It is to them that I dedicate this award, with a special mention for Tunisian women, who have been and continue to be actively involved in the development of Tunisia and the triumph of peace in our country.”
What impact will this award have for your continuing work to promote women in the world of sport?“I hope that this award will allow more women of all ages and social levels to have greater access to sport through the ‘Women’s Olympic Caravan’ project. After the success of two big events, the ‘Women’s Sports Night’ (2012) and the ‘Women’s Sports Festival’ (2014), and in response to the request from several cities and women’s associations, the Women and Sport Commission is proposing to run this initiative throughout 2015, with one event each month for several regions of the country, essentially the most disadvantaged ones with the lowest level of women’s sports participation. The programme will cover 12 cities in the country. Women’s clubs, schools and the general public will be the main target groups. At the same time, this award will allow us to work on mapping the situation of women’s sport in Tunisia and the programmes to be developed.”
Why is there a need for this mapping?“There are many different players in the field of women and sport: universities, sports clubs, ministries, the CNOT, etc.; but at the moment, we have no country-wide data to allow us to say exactly how, when and where Tunisian women practise sport. The goal is thus to identify and inventory how women practise sport, define their strengths and weaknesses, and propose a development plan.”
What first got you interested in sport, and particularly working for the cause of women in sport?“I owe my vocation and my whole career to my father, who was himself a swimming coach. It was he who got me into the pool at the age of four and taught me to swim. At the time, the leader of my country was encouraging the emancipation of women. So I was proud to be one of those who represented this equality between boys and girls that was being encouraged. I gradually became committed to making greater sports participation by women a cause of my own. Even more so when I became national champion. I wanted all the girls in Tunisia to experience the joy of standing on the podium and seeing their national flag raised at international sports events. Since then, I have never stopped working for this, through all the positions of responsibility I have held, from coach and trainer to leader, international swimming judge, Chairwoman of the CNOT Women and Sport Commission and then Secretary of State for Sport.
What is your message for this new generation of young men and women?“My message is an appeal to everyone, young and old, male and female, to get involved in sport; to practise it every day; to encourage those around them to practise it; and to take on board the noble values it transmits. It is the best promoter of the values of friendship and solidarity. It guarantees a tolerant and peaceful world. We should all support the efforts being made jointly by the IOC and the UN to make sport a vehicle for development and peace.”

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127th IOC Session comes to close in Monaco

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©IOC/Ian Jones

09/12/2014

A day after unanimously approving Olympic Agenda 2020, the 127th IOC Session got straight back to business today in Monaco by granting full recognition to the National Olympic Committee of Kosovo.

The NOC of Kosovo met the requirements for recognition as outlined in the Olympic Charter. These include the sport and technical requirements as well as the definition of “country” as defined in Rule 30.1 – “an independent State recognised by the international community.” Kosovo is recognised as a country by 108 of the 193 UN Member States.

The NOC of Kosovo was established in 1992 and has more than 30 affiliated National Federations (NFs), 13 of which are Olympic sports federations. Of these, eight are full members of their respective International Federations (IFs), while the other five are provisional or associate members of their respective IFs. Full recognition of the NOC is in the interests of the athletes and should remove any uncertainty they may have. It will allow them to take part in qualifications for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and in future editions of the Games.

Following final presentations by the cities of Helsinki (Finland) and Lima (Peru), the Session voted 54 to 30 for Lima to host the 130th IOC Session in 2017. The 130th IOC Session will elect the host city of the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Session approved a proposal from the IOC Executive Board (EB), in consultation with the IOC Nominations Commission, for the extension of the term of IOC membership for Gian-Franco Kasper until the end of his term of presidency at the International Ski Federation (FIS) in June 2018. The decision follows the approval of Olympic Agenda 2020 Recommendation 37, which states: “The IOC Session, upon the recommendation of the IOC Executive Board, may decide a one-time extension of an IOC member’s term of office for a maximum of four years, beyond the current age limit of 70.” Mr Kasper, who is also the President of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF), was set to retire from the IOC due to the age limit at midnight on 31 December.
The Session elected as IOC honorary members Jean-Claude Killy, Raja Randhir Singh, His Royal Highness Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz, Leo Wallner, and Melitón Sánchez Rivas (from 1 January 2015). Olympic Orders were awarded to each, except for Mr Killy, who has already received the Order. All five were honoured for untiringly defending and promoting the fundamental values of sport and the Olympic Movement either as an athlete and/or a sports leader during their mandates.
HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, who decided recently not to stand again for election as President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), received a Trophy of the International Olympic Committee for her exemplary commitment to sport, its values and the Olympic Movement.

IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper provided an update on the planned consolidation of the IOC headquarters in one location in Lausanne. The concept, called “Olympic Unity House” and developed by architectural firm 3XN, ensures that the new building authentically reflects Olympism, the Olympic Movement and the role of the IOC as a catalyst for collaboration in an iconic and transparent way. Olympic Unity House is designed to be a welcoming home for IOC members and the meeting place for the entire Olympic Movement.

The IOC administration will be brought together at Olympic Unity House in a single location in Vidy, resulting in substantial long-term savings, increased working efficiency and energy conservation. With this ambitious project, the IOC aims to demonstrate leadership in terms of sustainability. The highest possible sustainability certification level will be considered, and studies are currently ongoing to define which labels are the most suitable to the new building.


Last April, the EB chose Danish firm 3XN as its architectural partner for the design of its headquarters. The choice concluded a year-long selection process that saw 118 architecture practices from around the world enter an international architecture competition launched by the IOC. Twelve projects, from four different continents, were initially shortlisted. Of those, three were then invited to further develop their concepts.
“The IOC Session was presented today with an architectural project that will allow the IOC to benefit from a modern, functional and sustainable working environment”, said the IOC Director General. “At a time when we are speaking about the future of the Olympic Movement with Olympic Agenda 2020, Olympic Unity House is a bridge between the roots of the IOC in Lausanne and our vision for the future.”

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Devoted to developing women’s sport, Meriem Cherni Mizouni from Tunisia wins IOC Women and Sport World Trophy

©IOC/Ian Jones

09/12/2014

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has today honoured six women for their remarkable contribution to women’s participation, both on the field of play and within sports administration. The IOC 2014 “Women and Sport” trophies were presented at a ceremony held during the 127th IOC Session in Monaco. 

The World Trophy was awarded to Meriem Cherni Mizouni of Tunisia, a pioneer of women’s and girls’ sport in her country. The five continental trophies were awarded to: 
- IOC Trophy for Africa: Aya Mahmoud Medany (Egypt)
- IOC Trophy for the Americas: Nancy Hogshead-Makar (USA)
- IOC Trophy for Asia: Cheikha Naïma Al-Sabah (Kuwait)
- IOC Trophy for Europe: Anastasia Davydova (Russia)
- IOC Trophy for Oceania: Siân Mulholland (Australia)
To find out more about the winners, click here. 
Secretary of State for Sport and Chairwoman of the Women and Sport Commission of the Tunisian National Olympic Committee (NOC), Meriem Cherni Mizouni is involved in promoting and including women in sport at all levels.  
Thanks to her dynamism and commitment, this coach and former swimmer, who was Tunisia’s first female Olympian, at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, has set up various initiatives to increase the presence of women within administrative and decision-making structures. For example, since 2012, the country’s national sports federations have been required to employ female technical advisers to be responsible for the development of women’s sport. She also created the “Women’s Sport Night”, which now attracts thousands of girls and women in all regions of the country.
When asked for her reaction on winning this award, Meriem Mizouni explained: This is the greatest reward for a whole life devoted to sport. But it is above all a reward for Tunisian women generally. So I am proud for Tunisian women, who over time have become a symbol for the struggle against hatred and violence; proud for my NOC, which is resolutely engaged in supporting the Olympic values; and for my country, which since achieving independence has never stopped striving for progress, openness and tolerance.” 
Speaking at the ceremony, Lydia Nsekera, Chair of the IOC Women and Sport Commission, said at the ceremony: “These extraordinary women are an inspiration for the sports world, especially for the young generations! They have navigated real obstacle courses during their career as athletes, leaders, wives and mothers.” She added: “The Olympic Movement has made great progress on the long road leading to full equality in sport. But there is still a lot of work to do. And this can happen only if we all, men and women, athletes, Olympians and leaders, take the solemn oath to show the way leading to change. […] We have no doubt that, thanks to Olympic Agenda 2020, whose recommendations we have just adopted, the promotion of women, including through sport, will be strengthened more than ever!”  
The winners were selected by the IOC Women and Sport Commission from among the 39 candidates put forward by their NOCs, the NOC continental associations and the International Federations (IFs). 
The candidature process for the 2015 edition of these awards is already open. The IOC invites all the NOCs, IFs or continental associations to put forward a person or association active in promoting gender equality and the presence of women in their sport or country.
To find out more about the 2015 edition, click here.  
Over the years, women’s participation in the world of Olympic sport has grown steadily thanks to the IOC’s constant action, in cooperation with the IFs and NOCs. The percentages of women Olympians at the London 2012 Olympic Games were of 44 per cent, and over 40 per cent at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. With the adoption of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC reaffirms its commitment to work with the IFs and NOCs with a view to achieving the goal of women representing 50 per cent of the athletes taking part in the Olympic Games, as well as promoting the participation and presence of women in sport generally.

127th IOC Session opens in Monaco – President Bach delivers keynote speech

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©IOC/Ian Jones

07/12/2014

The 127th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially got under way tonight with an Opening Ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Speaking at the Ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach stressed the importance of the 8 and 9 December gathering of the full IOC membership, which will discuss and vote on the 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Agenda 2020 is like a jigsaw puzzle,” President Bach explained. “Every piece, every recommendation, has the same importance. Only when you put all these 40 pieces together will you see the whole picture. You see progress in ensuring the success of the Olympic Games, progress in safeguarding the Olympic values, and progress in strengthening sport in society.”
Click here to read the President’s full speech.
The IOC members were welcomed by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee and a fellow IOC member, at an official reception before the Opening Ceremony.

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Growing global support from the world of sport for Olympic Agenda 2020 proposals - Olympians and sports bodies back plans

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©IOC/Ubald Rutar

07/12/2014

Leading Olympians and representatives of the global sporting movement have added their voices in support of Olympic Agenda 2020. Top athletes from five continents, many of whom were involved in the process of creating the 40 recommendations, have strongly backed the plans. Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, will be discussed and voted on by the full IOC membership at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco this week.

The recommendations focus on the three themes of sustainability, credibility and youth, and are designed to safeguard the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthen the role of sport in society.
The full list of recommendations can be read here.
Support from all continents and throughout the sports world has been given to the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, which will be voted on one by one at the Monaco Session on 8 and 9 December.
Three-time Olympian and Sydney 2000 400m athletics gold medallist, Cathy Freeman said: “These reforms will be relevant to the future of many young Australians who dream of representing their country at the highest level in global sport, the Olympic Games; and I am proud that the Australian Olympic Movement has been involved in helping with this roadmap of reform.
Naturally, I am very pleased that the reforms highlight and will help to combat and curb the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs and medical technologies, match-fixing and other forms of illicit activity, and to protect clean athletes. This is vital to the credibility of every sport, everywhere.”

Ole Einar Bjørndalen, the most medalled athlete in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, with 13 Olympic medals, and an IOC member, said: “The recommendations in Olympic Agenda 2020 are designed to change the bidding process in a positive way. I think it is a step forward that the bidding cities will have the chance to focus on Games that work in the local context – socially, economically and environmentally.”
After a round-table discussion with President Bach and 10 other Olympians at the launch of the recommendations on 18 November, Marsha Marescia, a three-time hockey Olympian from South Africa, said: “Olympic Agenda 2020 for me is quite exciting. It shows a promising future for the athletes. It’s really fantastic that we as athletes were able to give some input and also be educated about it.”
Julie Chu, a US ice hockey player, and four-time Olympian with three silvers and one bronze medal, said: “The Olympic Agenda 2020 is a great step in ensuring the future success of the Olympic Games. We want our youth, who will become our future Olympians, to have an incredible Olympic platform to compete and to represent their countries. I also believe gender equality is critical in upholding the Olympic values and ensuring that all athletes are respected and have the same opportunity to chase their dreams, regardless of their gender. 
I love the Olympics because they bring people from all walks of life together through the sports they love. We may all represent our countries in competition, but we are also all representing the Olympic spirit in our actions on and off the playing field. Olympic Agenda 2020 will help foster a greater Olympic spirit amongst the athletes, fans and countries, as it will continue to unite the world through sport.”  
Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, a four-time Olympian and Athens 2004 gold medallist, and Sports Director for the Tokyo 2020 Games Organising Committee, also supported the recommendations: “Tokyo 2020 will be the first Summer Olympiad staged under the auspices of these reforms, which will pave the way for important changes to the Olympic Games, such as the inclusion of extra sports - sports that are relevant to the sporting passions and aspirations of future Olympic host cities and  their communities.
These and other reforms, for example those relating to the bidding process and selection of future Olympic bid cities, will also be significant, and will assist future bid cities and countries to plan and stage the Games in ways that meet the prevailing priorities of host cities and especially their communities, as well as global and regional issues.”
Claudia Bokel is Chair of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, and an Olympic silver medallist in fencing:  “Where do I start? There are a lot of recommendations regarding athletes. I like the one about protecting the clean athletes – that is what it’s about. We really need to protect the clean athletes with regard to anti-doping, corruption and Principle 6. Those are the ones, from an athletes’ point of view, that are most important. Put together, all 40 (20+20) recommendations are extremely important, and will benefit the athletes as they prepare for and compete in the Games.”
In addition to the many athletes who have come out in support of Olympic Agenda 2020, other Olympic Movement stakeholders have also voiced their approval.
The longest-serving IOC member, the “Doyen” Vitaly Smirnov said: “As the longest-serving member of the IOC I have seen a lot of changes in my time. Olympic Agenda 2020 is an exciting opportunity for the Olympic Movement to map out our future and to ensure that we can continue to connect with young athletes and young fans and make sure the Olympic Games remain a unique global event unmatched anywhere in the world. As I prepare to step down as a member next year, I am sure that these recommendations will guide us to a strong future - exciting and innovative, but grounded in our Olympic traditions.”
Some of the key areas addressed by the recommendations include a more flexible approach to the bidding process, including reducing the costs of bidding; more flexibility in the composition of the sports programme; including non-discrimination on sexual orientation in the Olympic Charter; the launch of an Olympic TV Channel; and adapting and further strengthening the principles of good governance and ethics to changing demands. The athletes remain at the centre of all 40 of the proposals, with the protection of the clean athletes being at the heart of the IOC’s philosophy.
Full support has also been given by the General Assemblies of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), as well as by the Executive Board of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).
The ANOC Executive Council declared its unanimous support for the recommendations during its meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, last month.
The ASOIF Council discussed the 20+20 proposals in detail at its meeting in November before concluding that Olympic Agenda 2020 “maps out a future for the Olympic Movement that strengthens the role of sport in society”. The Council then called on the IOC Session to support the recommendations to “help maintain the relevance and strength of Olympic sport as it continues to progress and grow.”
There was also strong support from the Association of International Olympic Winter Federations (AIOWF). Their President, Gian-Franco Kasper, also an IOC member and FIS President, said: ”There has to be a place for a wide range of concepts for the Games, and the proposals contained in Olympic Agenda 2020 are designed to encourage more cities with different ideas on the size and scope of the Games to come forward. The IOC is listening and wants the bidding process to help cities and governments to propose Games that appeal to their citizens.
For winter sports, it is imperative that the Olympic Winter Games remain strictly for sports on snow and ice. We need to continue to spread their popularity and ensure that more cities come forward with bids that work for them, and that the Olympic Games remain attractive around the world.”
The 20+20 proposals are the culmination of a year of open, transparent and widespread debate and discussion that began in mid-2013. After the last IOC Session in Sochi, which saw a total of 211 interventions by the IOC members, more than 40,000 contributions from members of the public were received after they were invited to participate in the process by IOC President Thomas Bach.
Discussions on Olympic Agenda 2020 were conducted by 14 Working Groups, which were 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 open and inclusive process, a number of experts were included from civil society, including representatives of leading international organisations, NGOs and business organisations. Some of the organisations represented were the United Nations, Google, The Clinton Foundation, Transparency International, the World Bank and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
These ideas were then further developed by the IOC Commissions, an Olympic Summit and the IOC Executive Board.
The 127th IOC Session will be broadcast live on www.olympic.org.
The Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, 7 December, at 7 p.m. (CET). The Session starts this Monday, 8 December, at 9 a.m. (CET).

IOC Executive Board meetings over, focus turns to Session vote on Olympic Agenda 2020

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©IOC/Ian Jones

06/12/2014

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concluded two days of meetings today ahead of the 127th IOC Session in Monaco. The 40 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020, a strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, will be voted on by the full IOC membership on 8 and 9 December.

At a press conference following the EB meetings, IOC President Thomas Bach compared the anticipation ahead of the vote to an athlete finishing training in preparation for an actual competition.
“I feel like an athlete before a final”, said President Bach, who initiated discussions on Olympic Agenda 2020 in mid-2013. “There has been training and preparation for a year, and like an athlete longs for the start of the competition, I look forward to the start of the Session. I feel like the moment has come for the real thing to happen. It is not training anymore, it is decision time.”
Olympic Agenda 2020 preparations for the 127th IOC Session were a focus of the Executive Board meetings. The President said the EB was encouraged by the support received by all Olympic Movement stakeholders.
©IOC/Ian Jones
“Representatives from the Summer and Winter International Federations confirmed their support, as did the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Approval was also expressed by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). All, together, are supportive with regard to Olympic Agenda 2020. This makes the Executive Board confident that the Session will approve Olympic Agenda 2020.”
President Bach then outlined the voting procedure for the Session: “The chairs of the 14 Working Groups will introduce the topics and recommendations of their respective groups. The recommendations of each Working Group will then be debated. The vote will be one by one – each recommendation will be voted on individually. If one recommendation requires a change to the Olympic Charter, we would vote again to make the relevant change.”
The EB also had discussions on the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang 2018. “With regard to Rio, we were happy to learn that with 20 months to go, 70 per cent of the Brazilian population think the Games will be a success”, said President Bach. “There is good support for the Games. There is good progress in the construction of venues and preparations, and their engagement policies were very well approved.
“As for PyeongChang and Tokyo, we had discussions with both organising committees about following up on potential opportunities with which Olympic Agenda 2020 would provide them. If changes are approved by the Session, in particular more flexibility, we would start implementing right after the Session. We will have project reviews in January and February to follow up on this in both cities to see what Olympic Agenda 2020 can do for the organisation of their Games.”
Specifically on potential changes to the Olympic programme, the IOC President said: “It will be the responsibility of a host city to propose the inclusion of one or several new events. If we are talking about an event that belongs to a sport which is already on the Olympic programme, the decision on the inclusion will be made by the IOC Executive Board. If the event belongs to a sport that is not featured in the programme, then the decision will fall under the remit of the Session. The purpose of the exercise is to allow host cities to reflect even more on their sports culture. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. The idea is to give more flexibility to cities and allow more creativity.
On potential venue changes, he added: “We are discussing with the respective organising committees on what Olympic Agenda 2020 means for them. Venue changes will of course be discussed especially if they lead to more sustainability and less expense.”
With regard to the 2024 bidding process, the President said: “Yes, the timeline for 2024 has been approved by the IOC Executive Board. The invitation phase that we want to introduce into the process will be discussed as part of Olympic Agenda 2020 during the Session and, if approved, this invitation phase will precede the two other phases approved yesterday.”
Finally, when asked about the recent doping allegations in Russia, Bach replied: “These are serious allegations which are currently in the hands of the IAAF Ethics Commission. Given the seriousness of the allegations it is the responsibility of the IOC to respect the rules of law and the right of defence so we will not interfere nor comment on an ongoing procedure. We have asked to be informed of all the results that might affect people under the remit of the IOC and here I am not only talking about the athletes but also their entourage.”

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