KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

YOG News

Jury comes together across the world to select winner of Medal Design Competition

12/12/2013

In the true international spirit of the Youth Olympic Games, jury members for the Nanjing 2014 Medal Design Competition were brought together from all corners of the world to select the winner and runners-up yesterday.

Over 300 people entered the competition from over 50 countries and the standard was absolutely YOG-tastic, making it difficult for the panel to choose the design that would become the medal awarded at the second Youth Olympic Games, to be held in China next August.

The youngest panel member, Aurélie Chaboudez, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, travelled from France to the home of the International Olympic Committee, in Lausanne, Switzerland, to be part of the jury process, where the IOC’s Olympic Games Executive Director, Gilbert Felli, and the Chair of the IOC’s Athletes Commission and Olympic fencing silver medallist, Claudia Bokel, also gathered to deliberate.

On the other side of the world, China’s first Winter Olympic champion, Yang Yang, joined the discussion via conference call from Shanghai, while the renowned designer  of the London 2012 Olympic cauldron, Thomas Heatherwick, dialled in from his studio in London and Youth Olympic Games Ambassador and Olympic pole vaulting gold medallist Yelena Isinbaeva called from Moscow.

Speaking about the jury process, Aurélie, 19, said: “As somebody who knows how incredible it feels to have a Youth Olympic Games medal around your neck, it was fantastic to give something back to the YOG by being involved in this competition. It has been amazing to see how strong the YOG spirit is with people from all over the world and the standard of entries was over and above my expectations. I’m sure the athletes at Nanjing 2014 will be honoured to receive the medal we have selected here today.”

Watch this space for the announcement of the winner and the two runners-up. If you have entered, good luck and don’t forget to go and check out the full gallery here: www.medaldesigncompeition.com

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Nobel Prize Award Ceremony 2013

Nobel Prize Award Ceremony 2013

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATAThe true appellation of Apu.

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

First IOC Executive Board meeting under President Bach

©IOC/Ian Jones

10/12/2013

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened today in Lausanne for its final meeting of 2013 and the first led by President Thomas Bach since his election in September. 

59 days to go to Sochi 2014With just 59 days to go until the start of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, updated the EB by video conference on the state of readiness of the Sochi Games and the thorough preparations that the Committee is undertaking to ensure that they are ready to welcome the world and the best winter athletes next February.
He provided a review of transport, workforce, accommodation and the Sochi 2014 anti-doping laboratory, and the EB was able to impress on him the challenges that they will face in the final two months.
The Executive Board also received news that, after discussions with the Organising Committee, the authorities plan to set up a protest zone in the city of Sochi.
Speaking after the meeting, President Bach welcomed the development and the fact that people will now have an opportunity to express their views and freely demonstrate their opinions in Sochi.
In the context of the Sochi Games, the Executive Board also discussed rules 40 and 50 of the Olympic Charter and the information that will be made available to athletes and National Olympic Committees about how those rules will be implemented. As with previous Games where similar guidelines were produced, the EB noted that the rules are put in place to protect athletes and the special atmosphere of the Olympic Village and venues.     
Rio UpdateDuring a presentation by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, the EB noted the progress since the last update in Buenos Aires. But at the same time, the IOC President noted that “it is clear that there is not another day to lose. The clock is ticking and close cooperation with all levels of government is vital.”
With that in mind, the President said he was looking forward to meeting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to ensure close cooperation, as well as Rio Governor Sergio Cabral and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, before the Sochi Games. He also underlined the IOC’s continuing commitment to the success of the Games.
It was also announced that the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Gilbert Felli, would concentrate on Rio preparations and spend more time in the city after the Sochi Games.  Even after retirement, he will continue to work closely with the Rio Organising Committee to ensure close cooperation with all levels of government. 
NOC of India amends relevant clause in its constitution
The EB also heard an update on the situation of the NOC of India. On Sunday, the currently suspended NOC of India agreed to amend a clause in its constitution as requested by the IOC to meet the basic standards for ethics, good governance and integrity. The EB welcomed these latest positive developments, which pave the way for the IOC to approve the new NOC constitution and for the NOC to hold its elections as soon as possible. Should the NOC not be able to complete the remaining steps of the agreed roadmap by the start of the Sochi Games in February, the EB decided that any Indian athlete that qualifies to compete at Sochi 2014 would be allowed to compete as an independent Olympic participant under the Olympic flag. The Executive Board also made it clear that, in this event, no Indian flags or symbols would be used at the Games. 
Ethics CommissionThe EB heard a report on IOC member in South Korea Dae Sung Moon, whose doctorate is alleged to contain elements of plagiarism. More than a year and a half has elapsed since the investigation started in April 2012, and in the absence of a decision by the university responsible, the members of the Ethics Commission considered it impossible to leave the file open and recommended to close the case. If new elements emerge, however, the case could be reconsidered. 
Architecture – Consolidation of the IOC Headquarters in LausanneThe Executive Board looked at three projects to consolidate and renovate the headquarters of the IOC in Lausanne. The plan is to try to regroup the staff of the IOC, who are currently spread throughout Lausanne at a number of sites. The EB was impressed and inspired by the three projects it saw and will now follow up with experts to develop the three projects in the near future.
Joint meeting with ANOCThe day began with a joint meeting between the EB and the Executive Council of the Association of the National Olympic Committees (ANOC). President Bach called for a minute of silence to coincide with the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa, saying: “While we have assembled here, the world is gathering in Johannesburg to honour Mr Mandela. President Mandela was a hero of humanity and a great friend of the Olympic Movement.” 
During the meeting with the ANOC representatives, President Bach encouraged the National Olympic Committees to actively participate in the ongoing dialogue regarding the future of the Olympic Movement, called the Olympic Agenda 2020. He said: “I count on the active participation of all Olympic Movement stakeholders in this process as a joint approach will be crucial for making the Olympic Agenda 2020 a reality and a success.” 
Inauguration of the renovated Olympic MuseumThe official inauguration of the newly renovated Olympic Museum is scheduled to take place later today. During the inauguration, a handover ceremony will be held during which IOC Honorary President Jacques Rogge will present the keys to the IOC headquarters to President Bach.
Olympic Agenda 2020From 11 to 14 December 2013, the EB will meet to discuss the Olympic Agenda 2020. Ideas developed will be proposed for general debate at the IOC Session ahead of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

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For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 email: 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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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President Bach receives keys to the IOC at the inauguration of the new Olympic Museum

©IOC/Ian Jones

10/12/2013

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach officially received the keys to the IOC from Honorary President Jacques Rogge today during a handover ceremony in the newly renovated Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Attending the ceremony were IOC Executive Board members, representatives of the Canton of Vaud and the City of Lausanne and some 200 guests.
Accepting the keys, President Bach thanked Honorary President Rogge by saying:  “Many thanks for this symbolic act of handing over the key, which is now a traditional part of IOC history. We both know very well that this handover includes the challenge of taking on the huge demands and responsibility of this office.”
He added: “You have left the Olympic Movement a solid foundation and you have every reason to be proud of your great achievement, which has benefited sport worldwide. Here, this evening, we would like to express to you our gratitude, recognition and respect.”
The handover ceremony preceded the formal inauguration of The Olympic Museum, which will officially reopen its doors to the public on 21 December after 23 months of work.
President Bach officially cut the ribbon before touring the new exhibitions. Led by the Director of the Olympic Museum, Francis Gabet, the guests were treated to an entirely revamped Museum integrating the latest technological innovations and a new museographic-themed approach.

Visitors from around the world will also soon be able to dive into the history, legacy, dreams, challenges and values that have contributed to making the Olympic Movement what it is today. They will start their experience in the Olympic Park, which has been entirely redesigned, before entering an exhibition area that has almost doubled in size to 3,000m2 with permanent exhibitions now spanning three levels.
After the visit, President Bach shared his first impressions: “The Olympic world is at the same time traditional and ultramodern. This Museum manages to convey that combination in an exciting and innovative way, and thereby reach young and old alike. If there is one place outside the Olympic Games where the Olympic spirit can be felt to the same degree, it is this entirely redesigned Museum, here.”
President Bach concluded: “Genuine Olympic moments are recorded here. They are presented in a wonderfully fresh and stirring way, so that we can all feel the fascination of this great idea. This Museum is a very special kind of Olympic adventure park, which records and conveys the uniqueness of the Games.”



The public can visit The Museum free of charge from 21 December 2013 until 23 January 2014. The Olympic Museum in Lausanne was first inaugurated on 23 June 1993. It has welcomed more than three million visitors in just under 20 years of existence and has produced more than 200 temporary exhibitions, including some 50 exhibitions outside its walls. Its mission is to explain and share the Olympic idea beyond the celebration of the Games, and to promote and highlight Olympism’s contribution to the society of yesterday, today and tomorrow. To accomplish this, it uses the stories of all those – champions, participants, officials, creators, artists, architects and volunteers – who come together to stage, every two years, the greatest event of our time.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our website at www.olympic.org.
Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia
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.
Social media
For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President holds minute of silence for Nelson Mandela

©IOC/Ian Jones

10/12/2013

At the start of today’s joint International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board meeting with the Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), IOC President Thomas Bach today called for a minute of silence to coincide with the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa this morning.

“While we have assembled here, the world is gathering in Johannesburg to honour Mr Mandela,” said President Bach. “President Mandela was a hero of humanity and a great friend of the Olympic Movement.”
Yesterday, President Bach called on all 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to honour Mr Mandela by flying their flags at half-mast on the day of his funeral, Sunday 15 December.
During the meeting, the President encouraged the NOCs to actively participate in the ongoing dialogue regarding the future of the Olympic Movement, known as the Olympic Agenda 2020.
The IOC EB will begin its first meeting chaired by President Bach later this morning.

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Rabindranath Tagore, 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATAThe true appellation of Apu.

IOC President encourages 2022 Applicant Cities to get creative

©IOC/Richard Juilliart

06/12/2013

Delegates from the six cities vying to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games will return home equipped with valuable insight into the bidding process following a three-day Applicant City Seminar hosted by the International Olympic Committee that concluded today in Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland.

Led by Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli and Head of Bid City Relations Jacqueline Barrett, the seminar focused on a range of important themes and requirements, in particular legacy and sustainability, which the representatives from Almaty (Kazakhstan), Beijing (China), Krakow (Poland), Lviv (Ukraine), Oslo (Norway) and Stockholm (Sweden)* were encouraged to adapt to fit their local needs to best serve their cities, regions and nations.

Thinking outside the boxSpeaking at the seminar, IOC President Thomas Bach called on the delegates to be creative with their bid projects and engage as soon as possible with their respective publics to explain the benefits hosting the Games could bring and to build support. “The IOC has a great deal of excellent information and know-how to pass on to Applicant Cities but they should also be confident enough in their projects not to restrict themselves solely to the blueprints of the past”, he said.

“Only by taking their own initiatives, based on how they see the Olympic Games benefitting their unique circumstances and the local population, will they be able to get the most out of their projects. We are here to listen as well as provide them with guidance.”

Forming part of the bid city education programme, the Seminar walked the delegates through the details of the bid process, providing them with a comprehensive introduction to the complexity, scope and scale of hosting an Olympic Games.

Drawing from a wealth of material from the IOC and previous host cities, discussions ranged from transport to finance, with a day devoted to individual workshops on sports, the athlete experience, Olympic villages, the Paralympic Games, accommodation, the Olympic Games concept, media operations, technology and marketing.

The seminar was conducted by experts from the IOC administration and specialists from former host cities, including Neale Coleman and Bill Morris from London 2012 and John McLaughlin from Vancouver 2010.

In addition to briefings and workshops on the fundamentals of staging the Games, heavy emphasis was placed on the fact that the organisation of the Games is very much a team effort, with all levels of government, commercial partners, public services, community groups, local populations and sports authorities involved in the successful organisation of such a complex event. Clear dialogue and engagement among all relevant parties is therefore crucial to building a cohesive and smooth-running bid campaign and, if awarded the event, a memorable Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

Click here for information on the Candidature Acceptance Procedure.

* The cities will be listed in alphabetical order until such time as the official drawing of lots is carried out by the IOC EB in December 2013. The order of drawing of lots will then be used until the election of the 2022 host city.