KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Tokyo 2020 Executive Board establishes Advisory Meeting

©IOC/Richard Juilliart

05/06/2014

The Executive Board of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has announced the establishment of the Tokyo 2020 Advisory Meeting, which comprises a total of 170 leading figures from major domestic stakeholders.

The Advisory Meeting – which is chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – is made up of representatives from a broad cross-section of Japanese society, and will assist the Organising Committee in its preparations and operations for the 2020 Olympic Games from a variety of perspectives.
Members include Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, who competed in shooting in the 1976 Olympic Games and Sydney 2000 Olympic marathon gold medallist Naoko Takahashi. Other notable members include the governors of the three prefectures most affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The Advisory Meeting is composed of a Chairperson, three Supreme Advisors, eight Special Advisors and a number of official Advisors of which 20% are female.
These appointments complete the key components of Tokyo 2020, and the Advisory Meeting is scheduled to hold its first session this autumn. . (A full list of the 170 members of the Advisory Meeting is available at tokyo2020.jp/en)

The Executive Board – which remains the highest decision making body of Tokyo 2020 – also welcomed its newest member, Haruyuki Takahashi, Chairman of Commons, bringing the total number of Executive Board members to 35.
Another key announcement will see Tokyo 2020 establish partnership arrangements with

universities and colleges

across Japan, with 545 academic institutions already expressing an interest in being involved. The initiatives will further promote Olympic education and build momentum in local communities. University campuses will host a wide range of events and serve as sporting and Olympic educational hubs for the local communities.

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC announces Kjetil Jansrud as an Ambassador for Lillehammer 2016

©Getty Images

04/06/2014

With just over 18 months to go to the second Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that Olympic champion Kjetil Jansrud will be an Ambassador for the Games taking place in February 2016.

The Norwegian Alpine skier, who won the gold medal in Super-G at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, will share his advice and experiences of top-level competition with the next generation of young athletes in his home nation and abroad, while inspiring young people around the world to get active and embrace the Olympic values.

Kjetil got straight into action today by hosting a

training

session for several young athletes aiming to compete in Lillehammer 2016 at the world famous Holmenkollen ski jumping venue, which has been at the heart of Norwegian ski history for over 100 years and was used for the 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo.

He commented, “I started skiing when I was three years old not far from Lillehammer, so it is a real honour for me to be an Ambassador for the Youth Olympic Games almost in my own backyard! This event will really inspire the young athletes in Norway and around the world, and I hope that I can help just a little bit to show how amazing sport is!”

IOC President Thomas Bach said, “We want to get kids active and enjoying the benefits of sport, and the support we have from Kjetil is key to this mission. He is a superb role model, and his passion and dedication to sport will have a big impact on the young people and help ensure that the Youth Olympic Games have a long-lasting benefit in Norway and beyond. I look forward to working with him in Lillehammer!”

The IOC chooses Ambassadors for each edition of the Youth Olympic Games to help spread the word of the event to inspire young people to get active and enjoy sport. Sporting legends such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and Lindsey Vonn, to name a few, have supported this campaign, which is shared with the 38 million fans the IOC has on its various social media channels.

The second edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place in Lillehammer from 12 to 21 February 2016. The programme will feature the seven sports on the Olympic programme plus some new events such as team ski-snowboard cross and monobob. Off the field of play, athletes will be encouraged to take part in a unique programme of activities and workshops, including sessions on healthy eating, injury prevention, the dangers of doping and illegal betting, careers in sport and media training. All existing venues will be used from the legacy of the Lillehammer ’94 Games.

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The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, helping athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

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For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.
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.

Tokyo’s National Stadium closes for renovation ahead of 2020 Olympic Games

©IOC

03/06/2014

Olympic champion Koji Murofushi was on-hand to mark the closure of Tokyo’s National Stadium as it prepares to undergo extensive renovations before hosting the Olympic Games in 2020.

Murofushi, a two-time Olympic hammer medallist, joined hundreds of local schoolchildren to form the words ‘Tokyo 2020’ on the playing field ahead of the stadium’s final event – an Asian Five Nations rugby match between Japan and Hong Kong.
“Being on the field today was very moving,” said Murofushi. “This stadium is the sanctum of Japanese sport, full of history and memories. I am delighted and deeply honoured to be here as part of the celebrations to mark its closure.”
The National Stadium first opened in 1958 and hosted that year’s Asian Games before staging the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics events, during the 1964 Olympic Games.
The new National Stadium – designed by architect Zaha Hadid – is now due to be constructed on the site ahead of the 2020 Games.
“The new National Stadium will be astounding and I can’t wait to be back here in 2020 to welcome athletes and spectators from around the world and to see the fantastic performances,” added Murofushi. “Younger generations will also have the chance to make history in the new National Stadium during the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.”
TOKYO 2020 President Yoshiro Mori commented, “In six years from now, the new National Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and will play host to the world’s elite athletes. I am looking forward to joining the many fans that will gather here then to welcome the world, and to communicate the power and the values of sport and the Olympic Movement not only to the people of Japan, but to people across the entire planet.”
He continued, “The new stadium will be a legacy for future generations, and I hope the people of Japan will join us in uniting their efforts to ensure that the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a resounding success.”
The landmark new National Stadium will also be used for matches during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as well as hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletics, football and rugby competitions during the 2020 Olympic Games.

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President and Ethiopian President 'talk sport' in Addis Ababa

©IOC/Greg Martin

02/06/2014

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome today discussed enhancing the collaboration between the Ethiopian government and the Olympic Movement.

The Ethiopian President outlined the positive contribution Olympic sports had made in recent years in building the successful development of the nation. And he underlined the "importance of offering aid and support to the National Olympic Committee when needed."
"The values of sport can be invaluable to a country in helping to bring people together and to forge social cohesion," said President Bach. "And it is good to see Olympic Solidarity and Olympafrica helping to deliver this in Ethiopia."
The IOC President also underlined the importance of autonomy to allow sport to flourish.
The two leaders also discussed the success of Ethiopian athletes at the recent African Youth Games in Botswana.
Later, at a lunch hosted by the NOC, the IOC President met the country's foreign minister and many of the country's Olympic athletes, including two-time Olympic marathon champion Haile Gebrsalassie.
Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the power of the Olympics to "reinforce the image of a country and unite the people behind a common goal."
The day finished with a visit to the NOC headquarters and to the Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy, where President Bach met young athletes.
The IOC President was accompanied by IOC member in Ethiopia Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, and the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Lassana Palenfo. Representatives of the Ethiopian NOC also joined the delegation.
Ethiopia was the last stop on President Bach's three-nation African tour that also included visits to Botswana for the 2nd African Youth Games and Kenya.

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

President Bach visits Kip Keino High School in Kenya

©IOC/Greg Martin

02/06/2014

IOC President Thomas Bach arrived in Kenya on Sunday to visit the schools and orphanage set up by Kenyan sporting legend and IOC honorary member Kip Keino.

While at the Kip Keino High School, the President opened a new multipurpose hall and met the pupils. 
Later he visited a training centre for athletes run by Kip Keino, and met athletes from Kenya and across Africa.

During the visit, Mr Keino also addressed the recent issues linked to drug testing of Kenyan athletes. He said that the investigation by a government-led anti-doping task force had recently finished, and its findings would be released shortly.

Accompanying President Bach and honorary member Keino were IOC member in Kenya Paul Tergat, ANOCA President Lassana Palenfo and IOC member in Ethiopia Dagmawit Girmay Berhane.

KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC President wraps up first leg of Africa trip at closing ceremony of the African Youth Games

©IOC/Greg Martin

01/06/2014

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has concluded the first of three stops on a visit to Africa, taking in the final two days of the 2nd African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.

Some 2,500 athletes from 54 African nations competed in 21 sports at the competition, which finished with a closing ceremony on Saturday night.
 
While in Gaborone, the IOC President attended a reception hosted by the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Lassana Palenfo, which was attended by representatives of all 53 African NOCs present at the Games and representatives of the South Sudan sporting movement.
During the visit the President also met with IOC members in Africa to discuss a range of topics, including the Olympic Agenda 2020. The group exchanged ideas on the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement and the contribution that Africa could make.

On Saturday the President convened a meeting of the Sudan NOC and representatives of the South Sudan sporting movement, which the IOC is currently helping to set up its own National Olympic Committee. The parties discussed ways to assist athletes on the ground as well as humanitarian issues. 

The delegations also reported that since the IOC signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations, they had been able to contact local UN officials to work on programmes related to sport and development.

Later, the IOC President laid the foundation stone at the site of the future headquarters of the Botswana National Olympic Committee.
At the ceremony for the new HQ, which is being supported by the IOC, he praised the Botswana NOC for their vision.
“You may be a small African country in terms of population,” he said, “but you have placed yourself at the heart of Olympic sport in Africa.”
President Bach is in Africa on a three-nation tour that will also include stops in Kenya and Ethiopia.

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For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.
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 meets young athletes at African Youth Games in Botswana

©IOC/Greg Martin

31/05/2014

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach quickly got into the swing of things at the African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana.

Visiting several of the competitions and the athlete's village, he met young athletes from many of the 54 competing nations.


This is the 2nd edition of the African Youth Games, taking place from 22 to 31 May in the Botswana capital.

President Bach took in a number of competitions, including tennis, athletics and fencing, before meeting young athletes at the athlete's village.

In all 2,500 athletes are competing in 21 sports in an amazing atmosphere at the Games.