KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Olympic Games Legacy

More London 2012 legacies coming to life

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28/11/2013

More legacies of hosting the London 2012 Olympic Games are being realised, with the first tenants set to move into properties at the former Olympic Village site and the Aquatics Centre being announced as the home of a new Diving High Performance Centre.

The new East Village development, which housed 23,000 athletes and officials during London 2012, has welcomed residents in 50 of the 2,818 apartments and townhouses following the conversion of the Olympic Village accommodation.
Since the end of the Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority and its contractors have been reconfiguring all the homes in the former Olympic Village, removing temporary features and fitting new kitchens and flooring. Work is continuing on the remaining homes, which will be handed over in phases during the remainder of 2013 and the first part of 2014.
Sir John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: “This is the London 2012 legacy really coming to life, with each week extra families, couples and individuals getting the keys to their new homes. We were determined they should get the same high standards as athletes and spectators enjoyed during London 2012. That’s taken time but we are confident the people of East Village will love their new homes.”
The new homes range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom townhouses, with balconies, spacious private terraces, or gardens. They are centred around private courtyards, with neighbouring public spaces including new parklands, wetlands and children’s play areas, all on the doorstep of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Elsewhere in the Park, the Aquatics Centre has also undergone significant transformation since the Olympic Games and is now set to provide world-class facilities for both elite athletes and the local communities.
It has also been announced that the venue will become the home of a new Diving High Performance Centre, which will provide training facilities for the country’s leading divers while also inspiring a new generation of divers to take up the sport.
Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “It is fantastic news that the Aquatics Centre will become home to British diving. These world-class facilities will be used by some of the country’s top divers when it opens next year.
“The Centre will be a high performance training facility and competition venue as well as open to the public for the same price as the average cost at local pools. These elite sports will sit alongside community sports to provide a lasting legacy for all.”

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Sochi 2014 Ticket Centres open in Sochi and Moscow

©Sochi 2014

26/11/2013

The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee has opened ticket centres in Sochi and Moscow, giving fans even more opportunities to buy tickets for next year’s Olympic Winter Games.

The two new centres, which will be open seven days a week, will allow fans to not only buy tickets over the counter using a Visa card or cash, but will also give those supporters who purchased tickets on the official website the opportunity to collect their tickets in person.
Fans in other countries and territories, meanwhile, can still purchase tickets from their local National Olympic Committee (NOC) or an appointed Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR). A full list of ATRs can be found on the Sochi 2014 ticketing website.
The Sochi 2014 ticketing programme is one of the largest in the history of the Winter Games and has been designed to allow as many people as possible to experience the Games first-hand, with ticket prices starting at just 500 RUB (approximately USD 17), while more than 40 per cent of all tickets cost less than 3,000 RUB (about USD 99). Fans are also able to buy tickets to any sport for 1,500 RUB (about USD 50) or less.
The second phase of online ticket sales was launched on 10 October and, as additional tickets become available, fans will be able to purchase Games tickets at both the main ticket centres and the official ticketing website. Additional ticket offices will be opened at Olympic venues during the Games.
All ticketholders are also required to obtain a Spectator Pass, which, in addition to their ticket, will allow them to gain entry to the event, as well as helping to minimise queues at venues during the Games.
In recognition of Visa's support for the Olympic Games for over 26 years, Visa cards will be the only cards accepted when paying for tickets to the Games.

 

IOC holds meeting with Government and National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

27/11/2013

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

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The IOC met today in Lausanne with a delegation of the Government of Sri Lanka, headed by the Sports Minister; the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC); and senior representatives of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

This meeting was initiated to resolve a long-standing issue arising from the sports law (in force since 1973) and specific government regulations applicable to the sports organisations in Sri Lanka (mainly the national sports federations and the NOC). All participants acknowledged the very positive approach and goodwill expressed by the Sports Minister to address this matter openly and to resolve a situation whose origin goes back to the 1970s. The meeting served essentially to find a common understanding and establish the necessary conditions to allow for the national sports organisations in Sri Lanka to comply with both the laws of the land and the basic principles (in particular that of autonomy) and requirements of the international sports organisations to which they are affiliated.
The meeting concluded successfully with the following agreement:

• The sports law (in force since 1973) will be revised within nine months, and the specific government regulations derived from the sports law will be reviewed within six months in order to make them compatible with the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement. To that effect, and to ensure proper consultation with all concerned parties, a working group will be established immediately between the Sports Ministry and the NOC/national sports federations, also involving the IOC (representing the Olympic Movement as a whole).
  
• All national sports federations will have to liaise with their respective International Federations to review their constitutions/statutes in accordance with the International Federations’ standards and the principles of the Olympic Movement. This process must be completed within six months under the supervision of each International Federation concerned, which will also decide, on a case-by-case basis once this process is completed, whether new elections will be required in the respective national federations.
  
• The NOC Constitution will also be reviewed with the IOC in order to ensure full compliance with the Olympic Charter and the IOC’s requirements. Then, the revised draft Constitution will have to be submitted to the NOC General Assembly for adoption, and be approved formally by the IOC. The new NOC Constitution will serve as a basis to conduct the NOC elections. This process (including the revision of the NOC Constitution and the NOC elections) will also be completed within six months. Until the NOC elections take place, the current NOC’s office-bearers will remain in place.

The IOC and all its partners are very confident that this process will provide a great opportunity for all national sports organisations in Sri Lanka to review their governance and operate in accordance with both the rules of the Olympic Movement and the laws of the land. In addition, it is expected that this process will establish a solid basis for developing harmonious relations and fruitful cooperation between the Government authorities and the Olympic Movement in Sri Lanka, with full respect for the autonomy, jurisdiction and responsibilities of each entity.

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IOC meets with Government of Egypt and Egyptian Olympic Committee

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

26/11/2013

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

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The IOC held a productive meeting today in Lausanne involving senior representatives of the Egyptian Sports Ministry, the Egyptian Olympic Committee, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

The main purpose of this meeting was to review the current situation of the Olympic Movement in Egypt vis-à-vis the sports legislation, and find a common understanding as to how the sports organisations belonging to the Olympic Movement in Egypt can be in a position to comply with both the basic principles of the Olympic Movement (including the principle of autonomy) and the law of the land.
The meeting was extremely positive and greatly contributed to reaching a mutual understanding and trust between the Government authorities and the Olympic Movement. The meeting concluded with the following points of agreement:

• The sports law currently in force in Egypt (since 1975) needs to be updated and revised to make it fully compatible with the basic standards of the Olympic Movement. As part of this revision process, the global situation of the sports clubs in Egypt will have to be reviewed and clarified. To this effect, the Sports Ministry has already launched a consultation phase involving the main constituents of the Olympic Movement in Egypt (including in particular the Egyptian Olympic Committee and the national sports federations). In view of the transition period which Egypt is experiencing, a reasonable timeframe was established as follows:
  
  o The new draft sports legislation should be completed within six months; and
  
  o The whole process, including the formal adoption of the new sports legislation by the competent authorities in the country, should be completed within one year from now.
  
• In the meantime, the Government will not interfere in any manner whatsoever with the internal operations of the national sports federations and the sports clubs, and the current sports regulations/”standard statutes” issued by the Sports Ministry will not be implemented. In particular, this will give  all national sports federations the possibility to establish their own statutes, get them adopted by their respective general assemblies and endorsed by the corresponding International Federations.
  
• During this process, it was agreed that a “tripartite commission”, consisting of the Egyptian Sports Ministry, the IOC (representing the Olympic Movement as a whole) and the Egyptian Olympic Committee (representing the Olympic Movement in Egypt), will be established to supervise the implementation of the process and to address any specific issue which might arise during this period.

A letter will be sent shortly to the Egyptian Government to ratify this agreement and establish the details of the process.
The IOC and all partners of the Olympic Movement are hopeful that this meeting will pave the way for a fruitful cooperation with the Government authorities in Egypt with full respect to the basic principles and rules which govern the Olympic Movement.  

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President meets Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta

©Simone Ferraro/GMT

22/11/2013

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

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On the first day of a two-day visit to Rome, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach today met Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

The pair discussed sports development in Italy, and the Italian Prime Minister expressed his strong support for a potential Olympic bid for 2024.

Accompanying the President for the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office were IOC Member Mario Pescante, Italian National Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagó and IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper.

Earlier, President Bach delivered a welcome address to the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), where he outlined his vision and ideas about the evolution of the IOC and his activities during his first two months as IOC President.

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Pope Francis talks of sport's ability to build bridges at audience with Olympic Family in Rome

23/11/2013

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach presented Pope Francis with the Olympic Order in Gold today at the Vatican. 

The award was offered to the Pope and accepted in recognition of his understanding of the good that sport can do for young people and the desire to build peace.
In his address, Pope Francis took up President Bach's theme that  'sport is able to build bridges and break down walls.'
“I wish to encourage institutions such as yours, which promote sports – especially to the younger generations – as a way of training for peace, mutual sharing and harmonious coexistence of people,” Pope Francis said during the ceremony. “Sports tend to unite rather than divide!” 
The award ceremony was attended by members of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), including its President and IOC Executive Board member, Patrick Hickey, and presidents of the National Olympic Committees in Europe.
“Your love of sport and your understanding of how sport can be put at the service of society are well known. You have talked of the ‘social responsibility that sports men and women have, both on and off the field, to act as true role models,’” President Bach told Pope Francis during the ceremony.

“The Olympic Games, and the Athletes’ Village in particular, are a place where athletes from all 204 National Olympic Committees can stay together, start to understand each other, and make a contribution to peace building.  Indeed, they are a model for a community built on a spirit of mutual respect, peace and understanding.”
“You truly understand the joy in human spirit that sport can bring but just as much the deeper values that it can nurture.”

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

SOCHI 2014

French flagbearer Jason Lamy-Chappuis is hoping to write another golden Olympic chapter

22/11/2013

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

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On 7 February 2014, Jason Lamy-Chappuis will be the first French athlete to enter Sochi’s Olympic Stadium in Sochi, as the proud flagbearer of his nation’s delegation. A few days later he will switch his attentions to the RuSski Gorki Jumping Center to begin the defence of his Olympic Nordic combined title, the first of three golds that the Frenchman will be hoping to win at Sochi 2014.

“The Olympic Games were something I’d dreamed about since I was a kid,” reflects Jason Lamy-Chappuis. “I grew up with my head full of images. The dream came true for me in 2006 when I competed in Turin, and then again four years later in Vancouver when I achieved my ultimate ambition.”

He has vivid memories of the moment when at the age of 19 he first announced his arrival on the Olympic stage, causing a major surprise as he finished fourth in the sprint, missing out on the podium by a mere 15 seconds. “That was a great debut,” he recalls. “There were no regrets as I’d given my all, and I was then able to look forward to the next Games knowing that over the following four years I would have time to mature and get stronger, and that would take me closer to my ultimate goal.”
Sure enough, his improvement curve over subsequent FIS World Cup campaigns was palpable. Blessed with excellent jumping technique, the Frenchman improved his physical strength and was soon recording some impressive victories. Already with one hand on the 2009-2010 Nordic Combined Crystal Globe by the time he arrived at Vancouver 2010, his Olympic love affair was consummated on Valentine’s Day when he got the better of an intense sprint duel with the USA’s Johnny Spillane to claim individual gold on the normal hill.

On top of the world
After that he embarked on a winning streak that saw him win the overall title in the Nordic Combined World Cup three seasons running (2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012).He also claimed the 2011 World Championship title on the iconic large hill at Holmenkollen, Oslo, and two years later at the 2013 Worlds in Val di Fiemme he bagged a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals (in the 10km normal hill, team normal hill and team sprint). “I felt I had to do justice to my Olympic title. I had to keep my place as world number one, and that needed all my concentration. That gave me a great deal of pleasure,” he beams.
Looking ahead to Sochi, he is clear about his objectives: “I want to defend my Olympic title and get a podium finish with the team. I don’t care which event it happens in, it could be the large hill or the normal hill - I’ll take either! But the competition is going to be ferocious.”

Lamy-Chapuis, who is based in Bois-d’Amont in the heart of France’s Jura mountain range, but was actually born in Montana (USA) to an American mother and a French father, has mapped out a precise campaign plan to ensure he hits peak form in Russia: “My goal is to keep improving my performances in each World Cup stage,” he explains. “Hopefully, I’ll achieve some good results, which will be a good confidence booster, but I also plan to pace myself so I don’t use up too much energy.”
But before his thoughts turn to the competition, he has his starring role in the Opening Ceremony to look forward to “It will be a magical experience carrying the flag,” he says. “I’m going to make sure I take in every last detail. It will be unforgettable. And I don’t need to worry about using up too much energy, as I don’t compete in my first event until five days later.”
Whatever happens at RuSski Gorki, Lamy-Chappuis is determined to enjoy Sochi 2014 to the max. “These are the moments you live for. As athletes, our careers are punctuated by joy and disappointment. That’s what makes sport so beautiful.”
Follow Jason Lamy-Chappuis on the Athletes' Hub.