Tokyo 2020 creates Young Athletes’ project

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©Tokyo 2020

23/01/2015

Following its latest Athletes’ Commission meeting, Tokyo 2020 has announced that it plans to create a 2020 Young Athletes project, which will encourage young athletes to set the Tokyo 2020 Games as their goal. The project also aims to encourage young athletes to get more involved in society by becoming involved in a wide range of activities.

Tokyo 2020 Sports Director Koji Murofushi said after the Commission meeting: “Tokyo 2020’s plans to put the athletes first and ensure athlete-oriented Games are very much on track. Among the items on today’s agenda was a particular focus on young Japanese athletes. We have decided to create a new 2020 Young Athletes project, which I will have the honour of leading.”

“Our aim is to encourage young athletes to set the Tokyo 2020 Games as their goal, and in so doing we hope this will enable them to perform to the best of their abilities and broaden their minds. One of the recommendations adopted in the Olympic Agenda 2020 process advocates increased social engagement among athletes; and this project aims to encourage athletes to contribute more to society, increase interactions with local communities and become actively involved in a wide range of activities, such as recovery efforts in disaster-affected areas. We hope that their efforts will inspire people of all ages and demonstrate the power of sport to act as force for positive change.

“My role is to connect with the younger generation; inspire enthusiasm and passion; and urge them to contribute to the building of a fair, equitable and fully-inclusive world – one that has the power of sport firmly at its heart.

“We believe that empowering the next generation of athletes through the 2020 Young Athletes project will be one of the greatest legacies of the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

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Pursuing an Olympic dream: From fighting fires and lawsuits to sliding on ice

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

21/01/2015

Even when working as a wildland firefighter or studying law, Morgan Tracey always wanted to go to the Olympics. She therefore made a pact with herself – if she passed the bar exam, she would try skeleton. So in 2010, with her qualification in tow, Morgan headed to the Lake Placid Olympic Training Centre in pursuit of that Olympic dream.

Today, Morgan is a fully-fledged member of Team USA’s bobsleigh and skeleton team as well as a legal assistant at IOC TOP sponsor General Electric (GE). Her ultimate “end goal” – a ticket to the next Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018 – requires her to juggle work life with training, something she manages with the help of the Athlete Career Programme (ACP).
“An athlete had told me that there’s this programme that allows athletes to train and work and fund their careers, with their training being the most important thing,” explains Morgan. “I was looking then for the ACP not only to give me the ability to put training first, but also to make sure that I was still using the three years that I had spent in law school.”
GE has done just that for the American athlete and lawyer: “The best thing about working for GE and the Athlete Career Programme is that I can work it around my training.”
As Angela Bovee, Programme Specialist for Team USA’s Athlete Career Programme, explains: “Athletes are often the best in the world at what they do, so they have a host of transferable skills that make them top talent in the workplace, too. They just have to realise how those skills of time-management, resiliency and problem-solving can be taken into the corporate world.”
With dedication, hard work, a solid support system and a new employer enabling her to work from home and providing the flexibility required for her to pursue her sporting ambition, Morgan is well and truly on her way to achieving her dream.
In return, Bovee says Morgan is inspiring those around her, as her manager, Rachel Lieberman, supports: “Being able to watch Morgan and see her success, and maybe feel like you’ve had a little part in that, is like bringing a little bit of that dream to all of us.” 
Find out more about the Athlete Career Programme here

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How to be an ambassador of sport and champion in life

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

19/01/2015

Being the best athlete you can be is not only about your performance on the field of play, it is also about how you perform off the field of play.

As well as being a two-time world champion canoeist, long-time friend of the Youth Olympic Games Jess Fox embodies the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect and has pledged her commitment to giving back to the sport she loves by setting a good example for the next generation.
We caught up with the Australian YOG champion at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where she was passing on her experience to her young compatriot athletes as a Young Ambassador.

Check out our awesome new film on our brand new Compete, Learn & Share gateway: yogger.olympic.org
Here you can find a whole catalogue of resources and tools designed to help you become an ambassador of sport and a champion in life. And don’t forget to share your experience with us via our Tell Us Your Story function!

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Rio 2016 ticketing programme launched

©Rio 2016

16/01/2015

A new web portal enabling spectators to secure tickets to Rio 2016 Olympic Games has been launched by the Organising Committee this week.

Those hoping to attend should register their interest at www.rio2016.com/tickets in order to be sent information and alerts for the key ticket purchasing dates.
A key aim of the Ticket Programme for the Olympic Games is to ensure that everyone has a fair chance at securing a place at the Games, and underlines Rio 2016’s ‘Games for All’ concept.
The ticketing programme for residents of Brazil is divided into four key stages. Following the registration stage, applications for tickets can then be made in March, when two lottery draws will take place. A resale of remaining tickets will then occur in October, and finally box office tickets will be available for purchase in June 2016.
In recognition of the long-lasting partnership between Visa and the Olympic Games, only Visa cards will be accepted in payment for tickets. For any purchase online via Rio’s Ticket Portal, only Visa cards will be accepted (Credit, debit and prepaid virtual cards). Payments in cash will only be accepted at Rio’s ticket offices, open from June 2016.
“Spectators will experience this journey like an athlete, preparing and going through stages until the glory of arriving at the Games,” said Rio 2016 Ticketing Director Donovan Ferreti. “With so many attractions, it is necessary to get organised early to ensure you don’t miss the best of the event.”
Non-residents of Brazil should still register their interest via the website in order to receive alerts and information regarding ticket purchase in their territory. Applications for tickets must be made to the relevant National Olympic Committee or its authorized ticket reseller and information regarding this will be made available on the Rio 2016 website in March.
More information about the Ticket Programme can be found at www.rio2016.com/tickets.

POCOG finalises venues as fourth PyeongChang 2018 Project Review concludes

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©PyeongChang 2018

16/01/2015

The venue master plan for the PyeongChang 2018 Games has been finalised, it was announced at the conclusion of the fourth project review visit (15-16 January 2015) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission to the coastal city of Gangneung. While good progress has been made since the IOC’s last visit, the Chair of the IOC’s Commission, Gunilla Lindberg, also stressed that timelines remain tight, including ahead of test events starting in 2016.

Speaking after the meeting, Chair Lindberg said, “As we enter the delivery stage of the Games, some key priorities have been identified, and this has retained the full attention of President Cho, who is leading the organisational effort. Timelines in a number of areas remain tight, including for test events, so the PyeongChang Organising Committee (POCOG) and its partners must continue to accelerate their work and reorganisation in order to ensure the successful delivery of the venues and related services.” She continued, “The approval of the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations by the IOC created the opportunity for the Korean organisers to propose hosting sports or disciplines outside the host city in order to maximise legacies and minimise costs where feasible. Since then, both POCOG and their Government partners have made it clear that they will maintain their current venue plan. As a result, the venue master plan is now finalised.”

At the opening of the meeting, Yang Ho Cho, the President of POCOG, said, “I feel great responsibility to ensure PyeongChang’s success. You have my assurances that I am fully committed to the Games through 2018.” He continued, “I ask everyone here today to contribute to our objective of successful Games.”

Day one of the two-day meeting included a visit to a number of the new venues being built for the Games, including the Gangneung Ice Arena, Gyeongpo Oval, Yulgok Hockey Centre, Kwandong Hockey Centre, Jeongseon Alpine Centre and the Alpensia Sliding Centre. This was followed by executive meetings, part of which was joined by Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon.

Governor Choi confirmed that, from the region’s side, everything was being put in place to deliver the Games successfully. He also emphasised that the delivery plans for the upcoming test events were settled, allowing preparations to move ahead at full speed.
This was followed on day two by progress reports on all key areas of the Games organisation. Some of the areas covered included athlete and National Olympic Committee services, sport, venues and infrastructure, marketing, accommodation, transport, technology, people management, test events and legacy.

The Project Review meetings are technical visits to the host city, which are attended by the Coordination Commission Chair and IOC staff, and serve as interim updates between full Coordination Commission visits. The next update to the IOC will be the Coordination Commission visit in March.

Wrestlers take to the floor alongside IOC President for launch of “Super 8” campaign

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©IOC / Christophe Moratal

15/01/2015

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach joined United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad Lalovic and Olympic wrestlers at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne this week to kick off UWW’s “Super 8” campaign promoting gender equality in the sport.

IOC President Thomas Bach and various representatives of the IOC and UWW watched as the athletes began a demonstration of popular wrestling techniques. Later, along with IOC Executive Board member and Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Claudia Bokel, the President took to the floor and was coached on a takedown technique.
An eight-week programme that will conclude on International Women’s Day on 8 March, the “Super 8” campaign brings together eight female wrestlers, including three Olympic champions, for two months of activities to raise awareness of women’s wrestling and increase female participation at all levels of the sport. This initiative follows the International Federation’s pledge in 2013 to ensure gender equity in wrestling.
UWW President Lalovic stated: “We’re committed to matching the IOC and President Bach’s pledge to ensure more opportunities for female athletes around the world. This event is only the beginning of our progress. I know that we are united in our goals.”

Olympic silver medallist Claudia Bokel also attended a meeting of the wrestling body’s newly-formed Athlete Commission and participated in a panel discussion on women in wrestling and international sport.
Speaking at the event, Bokel said: “This was a great day spent with a wonderful group of female athletes and leaders. This positive action is working well for wrestling, and I think it opens the way for future development. In the end, this is really about the sport and the athletes.”
For more information, visit UWW: http://unitedworldwrestling.org/.

2024 bid process gets underway with new Invitation Phase as IOC begins to implement Olympic Agenda 2020 Reforms

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

15/01/2015

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today launched the bid process for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024 with an Invitation Phase. It is the first bid process following the adoption four weeks ago of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. Interested National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and potential bid cities are invited to discuss their initial ideas with the IOC and receive various levels of assistance and feedback ahead of the 15 September deadline for officially committing to a bid. There has been strong interest in hosting the 2024 Olympic Games, with the NOCs of Germany, Italy and the United States already indicating their intention to bid.

The 40 reforms that make up Olympic Agenda 2020 were unanimously adopted by the 127th IOC Session in Monaco in December 2014. Through Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthening sport in society. Implementing the reforms in the bidding process has already begun, as it has in a number of other areas, including the setting up of an Olympic Channel.
Changes to the 2024 Olympic bid process centre on:
- Shaping the bid process as an invitation
- Strengthening the evaluation of bid cities to more clearly highlight key opportunities and risks
- Reducing the cost of bidding and organising the Games
The IOC will contribute approximately USD 1.5 billion* to the organisation of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Through these changes, the IOC is emphasising that bidding for the Games is not a tender for a franchise, and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The bid process is about making proposals and offering solutions that will deliver excellent Games, with no compromise on the field of play for the athletes while also meeting the needs of the city and region to ensure the Games leave a positive, long-term, sustainable legacy. 
Potential bid cities are encouraged to place greater emphasis on the use of existing venues, and temporary and demountable venues where no long-term need exists or can be justified.
NOCs are invited to inform the IOC of their interest in bidding for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024 at their earliest convenience. The IOC will then contact these NOCs to determine the best way the IOC can assist them during the Invitation Phase. To assist interested cities and their NOCs to develop a project that best meets each city’s unique long-term development needs, the IOC will make available the “core requirements” necessary to organise the Games.
The deadline for NOCs to officially launch a bid for the 2024 Olympic Games is 15 September 2015 – the start of the Applicant City Phase that will continue through to the start of the Candidate City Phase in April/May 2016. The election of the host city will take place in the summer of 2017.  
In keeping with the IOC’s commitment to good governance, transparency and ethics, the Host City Contract, Evaluation Commission reports and other documentation will be made public on www.olympic.org. Click here for the letter and outline of the three bid phases sent to the NOCs today.
Details of the second and third phases of the bid process are as follows:
Applicant City Phase
COMMITMENT TO BID AND DEVELOPMENT OF BID CONCEPT
- 15 September: deadline for NOC and City to submit letter to IOC confirming the Application
- IOC makes available to Applicant City and their NOC the full package of bid documentation: full list of Olympic Games “requirements”; Applicant and Candidate City procedures and Questionnaires; Olympic Charter; Host City Contract – including details of the IOC’s contribution to the organisation of the Games
- Focus on sustainability and legacy through the maximum use of existing, temporary and demountable facilities
- IOC hosts Applicant City seminar
- Applicant Cities submit Application File to the IOC
- IOC evaluates applications and makes a report to the IOC Executive Board
- IOC Executive Board selects Candidate Cities
Candidate City Phase
DEVELOPMENT OF DETAILED GAMES PLAN
- Cities participate in IOC Olympic Games Observer Programme, Rio 2016
- Cities participate in Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games debrief in Tokyo
- IOC organises workshops with Candidate Cities – tailored to needs
- Candidate Cities submit Candidature File to the IOC
- Candidate Cities make presentations to the following meetings only: ANOC General Assembly in 2017, International Olympic Summer Sports Federations, IOC Candidate City Briefing, IOC Session in Lima, Peru 
- IOC Evaluation Commission visits each Candidate City and publishes report
- Election of the Host City by the 130th IOC Session in Lima, Peru, Summer 2017 (dates TBC)
- Host City and IOC sign the Host City Contract
 
* Details of the IOC contribution to the 2024 OCOG to be included in the Host City Contract made available to Applicant Cities in September 2015