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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

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu. A Creative Commons license.

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.