With less than a year to go until the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, Korea’s promising cross-country skier Magnus Kim – a double gold medallist at Lillehammer 2016 – shares his thoughts on the Youth Olympic Games and his hopes of Olympic glory on home soil.
Republic of Korea’s Magnus Kim was the star of the men’s cross-country skiing competition at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lillehammer 2016, making it to the podium in every event he contested and winning two YOG titles.
His victory in the all-new cross free event secured Korea’s first Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, while he was also crowned YOG champion in the 10km free and won a silver medal in the sprint, making him one of the most successful athletes in Lillehammer.
The YOG built confidence and I started realising that I could become a really good athlete. It gave me trust and belief.Magnus Kim Republic of Korea
Born to a Korean mother and a Norwegian father, Magnus spent part of his childhood in Norway and enjoyed superb support from the local crowds. After enjoying success on the senior stage at this year’s Asian Winter Games in Sapporo – where he won gold in the sprint event – Magnus is now hoping for even greater support on home soil at next year’s Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Here, he explains how his YOG experiences have helped him so far.
Q. How do you reflect on your experiences at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lillehammer 2016?
A. During the Youth Olympic Games, I made some great memories, had some great experiences, and got a taste of what it feels like to participate in an Olympic Winter Games. There were so many opportunities for making new friends from all over the world. I’m sure it will help me in the future, when I need to work with people from other countries. Q. What is your favourite memory from Lillehammer?
A. It is so difficult to choose one, but I would say the moment I stepped into my room after winning my first gold medal and my roommate [Bae Jun-woo] went crazy; he was so happy for my win. We got to know each other during the YOG and we became really good friends. He was an Alpine skier. Q. How has your life changed since the YOG?
A. A lot more people know who I am now. A Korean broadcasting channel even made a documentary about me. People do sometimes recognise me, and it’s weird! Besides that, I train and work hard as I have always done, and will always do. Q. What have been the main highlights of your career since Lillehammer?
A. Right after the YOG, I went over to compete in the FIS Junior World Championships in Romania. Despite having to compete against athletes who were two years older than me, I won two silver medals. I rank those achievements as highly as the ones I had in Lillehammer. This season, I have competed at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, and won one gold medal, one silver and one bronze. It was important for me since it’s just one year to go to the Olympic Winter Games, and I wanted to show the people in Korea what I could do. Q. How have your experiences in Lillehammer at the 2016 Winter YOG helped you in your career so far?
A. For me, the YOG built confidence and I started realising that I could become a really good athlete. It gave me trust and belief [in myself]. I will carry that throughout my career, and it will help me whenever I’m having tough times.
Q. What are your main targets in the coming seasons?
A. My target for this season was the Asian Games, so I’m really happy it went well. My target in the coming seasons is to reach a good level in senior events – being able to make the podium in World Cups, World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games. PyeongChang 2018 is for sure my main target. Q. How do you feel about PyeongChang 2018? What will it mean to you to compete there?
A. It will be a very special Olympic Winter Games for me, since I will be competing in one of my two home countries. I also hope the Games will bring enthusiasm to winter sports in Korea, and also Asia in general. Q. What would be your advice to young skiers who might be hoping to compete in the YOG one day?
A. Have fun! The YOG are such a great event and give athletes the opportunity to meet new friends from all over the world. For me, the YOG gave me joy when I achieved my results, but I found the same amount of joy meeting new friends. I will keep those memories forever.
Do you have what it takes to capture the passion of sport in a photo, a video or with words? The third cycle of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Young Reporters programme launched today for young creatives to report on the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.
The Young Reporters initiative will bring 30 young reporters from five continents to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (Argentina), which will take place from 6 to 18 October 2018. The costs of flights, accommodation and meals are included, and all equipment will be provided for the duration of the Games.
Once at the Games, the Young Reporters will have access to the Youth Olympic Village and all the sports, and will receive intensive training from some of the top names in Olympic reporting in print, photographic, television, radio and social media.
YOG
This group of Young Reporters will also be joined by teams from Argentina (the host nation for the YOG 2018) and Switzerland (the host nation for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020).
Interested? If you are a university student studying media or journalism, or a young professional working in media, the first step is to get in touch with your National Olympic Committee, which will nominate Young Reporters on the basis of performance and competence. The respective Continental Association will then select two male and two female journalists to represent the continent.
IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed Senegalese Head of State Macky Sall for an official visit to the IOC. Speaking at The Olympic Museum, the two leaders emphasised the essential role that sports play in bringing people together and promoting the values of peace and friendship. In his remarks, President Bach congratulated the Senegalese Head of State on the efforts of his government to promote sport in Senegal. “Senegal has shown a strong intention to put sport at the centre of society”, he said. The IOC President also acknowledged the excellent cooperation between the government and sport authorities in Senegal, highlighting the respect for the autonomy of sports organisations. President Sall welcomed the initiatives being taken by the IOC and stressed the importance of sport in society and the strong cooperation between the United Nations and the IOC. He also praised Olympic Agenda 2020 saying that it “helps to secure the future of sport and the Olympic Movement.” Senegalese NOC President and IOC Member Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye and the Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission Youssoupha Ndiaye were at The Olympic Museum, where Senegalese Head of State Macky Sall also signed the IOC’s Golden Book.
UNHCR / Susan Hopper
In a visit to the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, IOC President Thomas Bach and UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi spoke of the great partnership between the two organisations. Speaking to the UNHCR staff, President Bach said: “We have already been working together for 20 years, and we want to extend and expand our cooperation. This partnership helps us to put sport at the service of humankind.” High Commissioner Filippo Grandi described the partnership as “very important”. He added: “at the heart of our cooperation is the desire to use sport as a symbol of hope for people who have so few reasons to look to the future with optimism.”
During a separate meeting, the IOC President and the UNHCR High Commissioner reaffirmed their commitment to a number of upcoming initiatives using sport to improve the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world. They also discussed the future of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. President Bach updated UNHCR on the long term support for the 10 athletes who made up the team in Rio. They are no longer in a refugee camp and have all now been found accommodation and are being given support and advice by the IOC on education, training and their future beyond sport. Read the full press release here. With the President of NBC Sports, Mark Lazarus, discussions focused on the partnership between the IOC, NBCUniversal and the US Olympic Committee which will see the launch of a national brand of Olympic Channel in the U.S. called the ‘Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA’ in the second half of 2017. This new linear Olympic Channel in the U.S. will be devoted to Olympic sports, athletes and stories. Preparations for the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games were also discussed. The IOC President was accompanied by IOC Member Alex Gilady.
Meetings with IOC Vice President Uğur Erdener, IOC Executive Board Member Ser Miang Ng and IOC Member Beatrice Allen also took place this week.
The Young Network of the German Council on Foreign Policy (DGAP) had invited the IOC President for a discussion about the IOC and the Olympic Movement. Last Wednesday, President Bach and 50 young members of DGAP under the age of 35 met in Berlin. They discussed the role of the Olympic Games in today’s society.
OTHER OLYMPIC NEWS
On 21 March, the IOC joined the United Nations and a number of other organisations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, an annual reminder that every person is entitled to human rights without any form of discrimination. Through a long-standing partnership with the United Nations, the IOC has been using sport to unite individuals and communities amidst their diversity and promote a culture of peace and humanity. “Practising sport, without discrimination of any kind, is a human right and a fundamental principle of the Olympic Movement,” the IOC President said. “We believe in the power of sport to build bridges between communities, and the Olympic Games are the embodiment of how sport can help stand up against racial discrimination, and unite people from all walks of life.” Read the full press release here.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
BWF
On 19 March, at its Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the Badminton World Federation (BWF), whose President is IOC Member Poul-Erik Høyer (left of photo), unveiled a new tournament structure. Featuring six levels, the series will start next year and run until 2021. The more unified structure will strengthen brand awareness, thus helping to increase exposure and commercial revenues. Find out more here.
FIBA
Meeting in Mies (Switzerland) on 18 March, the Executive Committee of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) discussed a number of topics, including the Mid-Term Congress set to take place on 4 and 5 May in Hong Kong. Recent developments concerning the launch of the FIBA Competition System 2017+, the draw for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers, the Basketball Champions League and women’s basketball were also on the agenda. Find out more here.
UWW
Finland’s Olympic bronze medallist Petra Olli and other Finnish coaches and athletes recently led the first-ever United World Wrestling (UWW) talent identification camp. Organised in collaboration with the Kuortane Olympic Training Centre in Finland, the camp was held from 25 February until 6 March, bringing together more than a dozen female athletes from Norway, Estonia, Russia and Austria, alongside potential scholarship grantees from South Africa, Australia and Nigeria. As well as technical sessions, the instructors carried out fitness tests, which will provide useful information for coaches on talent identification. More details on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.
FINA
Hungary’s three-time Olympic and five-time world champion swimmer Katinka Hosszu (pictured) was chosen to unveil the countdown clock of the 17th International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships taking place in Budapest (Hungary) from 14 to 30 July this year. The clock was started in Erzsebet Square in the heart of Budapest at 9.53 a.m. on Sunday 19 March. The timing was deliberate, as the countdown started at exactly 117 days, 11 hours, 7 minutes and 17 seconds before the opening ceremony for these Championships. More details on www.fina.org.
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) has assembled a panel of experts to supervise the roll-out of its new Laser-Run City Tour (LRCT) venture. These experts took part in a workshop in Monaco on 13 and 14 March aimed at preparing them for the 2017 competition season, which begins in Tbilisi (Georgia) on 1 April. LRCT is designed to spread the sport of Laser-Run through cities and communities around the world. Find out more here. World Rugby informed us that it has joined the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in developing a ground-breaking protocol for multi-surface playing fields that could revolutionise how shared sports grounds are used and enjoyed around the world. After many years working together on this project, including detailed discussions with industry leaders, the three Federations have managed to balance player welfare and performance with playability for an initiative named the “One Turf Concept”. Read the full story here.
FIVB
On 15 March, the headquarters of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in Lausanne hosted a National Federations Strategic Meeting. Chaired by FIVB President Ary S. Graça F°, this meeting of representatives of the National Federations of some of the world’s wealthiest countries looked at how volleyball could be developed within their nations and how they could contribute to the development of the FIVB. Representatives of Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and the USA took part, alongside FIVB Secretary General Fernando Lima and several FIVB administration directors. Find out more here.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
Argentinean NOC
The headquarters of the Argentinean NOC recently hosted the second meeting for female sports leaders. Those attending included leaders from all the national federations and the members of the NOC’s Women in Sport Commission. Chaired by NOC First Vice-President Alicia Masoni de Morea and Commission Chair Patricia Sangenis, the meeting addressed the results of the survey conducted at the previous meeting, aimed at obtaining the views of men and women on the role of female athletes and/or sports leaders and identifying the differences and similarities in the views of people from different sports bodies. More details on www.coarg.org.ar.
Cyprus NOC
The Women and Sport Commission of the Cyprus NOC organised a conference on “Women in Sport: A Catalyst in Solving Social Issues” on 22 March at the NOC Olympic House in Nicosia. The guest speakers were Aggeliki Aroni from the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and Tegla Loroupe, Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. During her stay in Cyprus, Tegla Loroupe visited the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the village of Kofinou. She was accompanied by the NOC Director General, Olga Piperidou, the NOC Woman and Sport Commission Chair, Kalli Hadjiosif, and representatives from UNHCR Cyprus. More info at www.olympic.org.cy.
Colombian NOC
On 22 March, the new Executive Committee of the Colombian NOC met for the first time. NOC President Baltazar Medina swore in the Committee members, who will be leading the NOC’s programme during the current Olympic cycle (2017-2020), with a focus on the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The meeting agenda included various topics linked to the Olympic cycle. More details here.
On 20 and 21 March, the NOC of El Salvador was visited by Brazilian NOC President Carlos Arthur Nuzman, accompanied by Mario Cilenti, who was Executive Director of the Olympic Village at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. On this occasion, Carlos Nuzman, who was also President of the Rio Games Organising Committee, addressed various topics including the creation of networks to benefit sport, establishing a culture of sport and the work of sports clubs. More details on www.teamesa.org.
BOA
The British Olympic Association (BOA) has signed training venue contracts with three sports facilities in Japan, securing Team GB’s multi-sport preparation camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Keio University, Todoroki Stadium and Yokohama International Pool will provide Team GB’s athletes with optimal pre-Games training in world-class facilities ahead of the Games. The three sites, all based in the Greater Tokyo area in the cities of Kawasaki and Yokohama, will make up the BOA’s biggest ever pre-Games preparation camp and be able to accommodate up to 90 per cent of Team GB’s selected athletes for the Games. Find out more on www.teamgb.com.
AFLO Sport
The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has entered into a partnership agreement with the Finnish NOC. Both parties will actively support officials, staff, their own athletes and coaches in taking part in exchange programmes and benefitting from other opportunities. Both parties will exchange marketing knowledge and information, and will share information in relation to the Olympic Movement. The agreement was signed by JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda and Finnish NOC President Timo Ritakallio during a ceremony held in Tokyo. As of today, the JOC has already signed agreements with 41 NOCs. More info on www.joc.or.jp.
Polish NOC
A delegation from the Korean Cultural Centre headed by its director Hyunjum Kim visited the Olympic Centre, the headquarters of the Polish NOC. The NOC was represented by the Director for Olympics and International Relations, Marzenna Koszewska and Director for Education Department, Katarzyna Deberny. The purpose of the meeting was connected with the upcoming Olympic Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang 2018 and the cooperation between the two organisations especially on the educational and cultural aspects as well as at the 19th Sports for All Festival that will be celebrated on 3 June 2017 in Warsaw. More info at www.olimpiski.pl.
Venezuelan NOC
The Venezuelan NOC recently held its ordinary general assembly for 2016 at the NOC headquarters. The management and financial reports for 2016 were presented by NOC President Eduardo Álvarez and the Executive Committee. The agenda for the assembly included the NOC’s activities, administration and organisation. Also attending were nine Olympic medallists who are part of the “Olympic for Ever” (Olímpicos por Siempre) programme, and who were honoured on this occasion.
The protection of clean athletes and the fight against doping are top priorities for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement.
In order to support the investigations of Prof. McLaren and his team, the IOC ordered a number of targeted re-analyses of Russian athletes’ samples during the course of 2016.
As part of this process, the IOC today announced that four Russian athletes have been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. The details follow.
Khadzhimurat AKKAEV, 31, of Russia, competing in the Men’s 105kg weightlifting event in which he was registered upon and from which he had to withdraw because of a back injury, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Akkaev’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (turinabol).
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Dr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:
The Athlete, Khadzhimurat AKKAEV:
is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
is disqualified from the Men’s 105kg weightlifting event in which he was registered upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012.
The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
Mariia BESPALOVA, 30, of Russia, competing in the Women’s hammer throw event (Qualification and Final) in which she ranked 11th, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Bespalova’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (turinabol).
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Dr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:
The Athlete, Mariia BESPALOVA:
is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
is disqualified from the event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012, namely the Women’s hammer throw event.
The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
Gulfiya KHANAFEEVA, 34, of Russia, competing in the Women’s hammer throw event (Qualification) in which she ranked 16th, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Khanafeeva’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (turinabol).
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Dr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:
The Athlete, Gulfiya KHANAFEEVA:
is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
is disqualified from the Women’s hammer throw event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012.
The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
Victoria VALYUKEVICH (maiden name: Victoria GUROVA), 34, of Russia, competing in the Women’s triple jump event (Qualification and Final) in which she ranked 8th, and for which she was awarded a diploma, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Valyukevich’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (turinabol).
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Dr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:
The Athlete, Victoria VALYUKEVICH:
is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
is disqualified from the Women’s triple jump event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012,
has the diploma obtained in the Women’s triple jump event withdrawn, and is ordered to return the same.
The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
The Russian Olympic Committee shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the diploma awarded in connection with the Women’s triple jump event to the Athlete.
This decision enters into force immediately.
The full decision is available here.
In December 2016, the IOC also extended the mandate of the Oswald Commission to examine all samples collected from Russian athletes during the Olympic Games London 2012, following the findings of the completed Independent Person Report.
Thirty Russian athletes had already been sanctioned thus far by the IOC as a result of the IOC’s re-analysis programme, which began prior to the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and is ongoing. This programme was intended to provide a level playing field for all clean athletes at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, and consisted of targeted pre-tests and re-analysis of stored samples from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012, following an intelligence-gathering process that started in August 2015.
The additional analyses on samples collected during the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012 were performed with improved analytical methods, in order to possibly detect prohibited substances that could not be identified by the analysis performed at the time of these editions of the Olympic Games.
For further details, please consult the following factsheet.
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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, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 3.25 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
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Applications are now open! The IOC Sport and Active Society Commission announced today that it has four development grants worth USD 20,000 each to award to organisations that are running effective Sport for All programmes in their communities.
Sport and physical activity in society are more important than ever as people, and especially younger generations, become less active and obesity levels continue to rise with negative impacts on society. There are countless testimonials as to the value of sport and physical activity as a tool that can help drive social change, tackle issues such as inclusion amidst diversity or gender equality, or as a means to inspire greater self-confidence, and ultimately contribute to healthier and happier individuals of all ages, abilities and nationalities.
The Sport and Active Society development grants are an initiative of the IOC’s Sport and Active Society Commission. They were created to further its mission to encourage people everywhere to participate in regular physical activity and to promote the health and social benefits of sport.
“On behalf of the Sport and Active Society Commission, I am delighted to offer this opportunity to organisations delivering valuable projects in their local communities,” says Commission Chair Sam Ramsamy. “We want to know how the development grants would be used, and how would they impact a project and its beneficiaries. We want to be inspired by the proposed projects and be reminded of the power of sport at grassroots level.” Interested in applying?
Applicants are encouraged to illustrate how their project or initiative fits in one of three themes:
1) sports legacy for the Olympic Games or other major events;
2) community-wide promotion of physical activity; and
3) youth engagement.
To be considered for a grant, applicants should demonstrate that their project has a long-term and sustainable timeline; uses sport or physical activity as a tool to improve social issues; uses available public space and/or sports facilities and venues to promote participation in physical activity; has concretely developed long-term partnerships; and has a solid monitoring/evaluation plan in place.
In order to further secure the future and development of their project, applicants are also encouraged to seek matching funding for their proposed project by obtaining a letter of commitment from another organisation.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), not-for-profit organisations, International and National Federations (including IOC-Recognised International Federations) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are eligible to apply.
The deadline for submissions is 1 May 2017.
Winning entrants will be announced by end of June, with funding scheduled to be provided to the organisations in September.
Those interested in applying for a grant are asked to send a completed application form to: activesociety@olympic.org.
The application form can be found here.
The rules and regulations can be found here. Development grants in action
The recipients of the 2016 IOC Sport and Active Society development grants have wasted no time in using the funds to implement their proposed projects. For example, international sport-for-development organisation Shooting Touch used its grant to raise awareness on gender-based violence in Rwanda. Read the full story here. In turn, the Salaam Bombay Foundation used the funds to organise a sporting tournament to inspire, empower and educate young girls in India. Read the full story here.
Other development grant winners were: Boxgirls Kenya, which uses boxing as a catalyst for social change and a tool of empowerment for women and girls and Dreamfields Project, which provides townships and rural schools across South Africa with the necessary tools and equipment to play football, netball and rugby. Advocating Sport for All
The IOC Sport and Active Society Commission works to increase the accessibility of sport as a right for all, and engages with society to build on the sporting legacy of the Olympic Games and other major events. It is also responsible for activities related to the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020, specifically those linked to the promotion of active lifestyles in society, in particular among young people.
Want to know more about Sport and Active Society? Click here
KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA
The true appellation of Apu. A Creative Commons license.
Getty Images/IOC
Date
31 Mar 2017
Two of athletics’ all-time greats reflect on the achievements of Jesse Owens on-and-off the track, analyse the deep-rooted challenges he faced and marvel at the remarkable fact that a sprint and long jump Olympic champion was also a hurdles world record holder.
Two men in history have done the sprint-jump quadruple, winning the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the long jump at a single Olympic Games. Both were born in Alabama, USA, and both were blessed with such languid grace that you would happily wile away a day or three watching them run.
But for Carl Lewis, the achievements of his fellow Alabamian Jesse Owens, the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games four-time champion, deserve an asterisk all of their own.
“What he did was just incredible, to get on a boat, go across the ocean and win four gold medals,” said Lewis, who won gold in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the long jump on home soil at the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
Getty Images
“I tell you something, it is tough to win the long jump and something else, period,” he added. “I think we kind of overstate how easy it (winning four events at one meet) is. And for him to do it back then with all he had to deal with...I looked at him as someone to aspire to, someone to emulate, not just athletically.”
Lewis is, of course, referencing the almost unimaginable challenge Owens faced as an African American running in Hitler’s Berlin, at the height of Nazism.
I looked at him as someone to aspire to, someone to emulate, not just athletically.Carl Lewis
Fellow USA sprint legend and winner of his own unique Olympic double, Michael Johnson, agrees that Owens stands alone atop athletics’ pantheon of greats.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jesse Owens,” Johnson said. “He was just an amazing athlete. And what he was able to accomplish in the short time he competed on the international stage, and as an Olympian, is unprecedented and unmatched, even to this day.
“Certainly the story is well known as to what he was up against, abroad in ’36 when he competed in the Games, as well as back here at home in the USA, which makes his accomplishments all the more special,” the winner of the 200m and 400m at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games – a feat never done before or since – added.
Getty Images
“And for that reason, what he has done and as an athlete, he is incomparable.”
For Lewis, whose parents were around 10 years younger than Owens and faced some of the same race-related challenges during their lives, it was learning of the difficulties his hero encountered in his home country that made a particular impact.
“It’s interesting, everyone talks about the Hitler story and how he knocked down the Aryan race idea, but then he came home and basically because of the colour of his skin he was banned from his own party (a celebration held in late 1936 at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel), he had to go up the service elevator,” said Lewis.
He was just an amazing athlete. And what he was able to accomplish in the short time he competed on the international stage, and as an Olympian, is unprecedented and unmatched, even to this day.Michael Johnson
“He is known, if you look back at his life, for what he did in Berlin, but at the time he was just some other black guy who couldn’t get in the elevator.”
Both Lewis in the 1970s and Johnson in the 1980s found drive and inspiration from Owens’ remarkable story as they started on their journeys as young athletes. While Johnson studied Owens, as he did with all the sprinting greats, Lewis was lucky enough to meet the man in person.
“I definitely knew of him but it (a face-to-face chat at a local athletics event) made things personal, which is a big, big difference,” said Lewis, who has a photograph of himself, his dad and Owens.
He also heard his hero speak in person.
IOC
“There was an event called the Jesse Owens Games and he spoke to all the kids in the Games,” Lewis said. “I was part of that and it was just an amazing opportunity for me to hear him speak and tell the story of Berlin and what he went through. It was really, really wonderful.”
While Lewis and Johnson agree that beating the best in the world in four events at a single Games is truly special, the latter is blown away by a lesser-known of Owens’ talents.
What is often overlooked is that Jesse Owens was an amazing hurdler and actually broke a world record in the hurdles.Michael Johnson
“What is often overlooked is that Jesse Owens was an amazing hurdler and actually broke a world record in the hurdles,” said an incredulous Johnson, marvelling at the ability to combine sprinting and jumping power with hurdling technique.
Owens’ hurdles world record mark came amid 45 belief-defying minutes of a university meet in 1935 in Ann Arbor, during which he broke five world records and equalled a sixth.
“It is definitely one of the most amazing feats in any sport that I’ve ever heard of,” Johnson said.
So, “incomparable” seems about right as an adjective for the late Jesse Owens. Take it from two people who know.
KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA
The true appellation of Apu. A Creative Commons license.
The IOC Evaluation Commission Olympic Games 2024 completed an initial review of the two candidates today with praise for the creativity and strong legacy focus of both Games concepts.
Following a new procedure that resulted from the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020, the Commission focused on key elements of the proposals submitted byLos Angeles (USA) and Paris (France).* The two cities will be the first to receive the full benefits of Olympic Agenda 2020.
The IOC’s strategic roadmap significantly increased the IOC’s support and gave the Candidate Cities more flexibility to design Games that play to their city’s strengths and advance long-term development goals.
“The Commission’s work is just beginning, but it is already clear that both candidates have embraced the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020,” Commission Chair Patrick Baumann said at the close of the two-day meeting, from 29 to 30 March, in Lausanne. “Both proposals incorporate well-known locations in these two great cities, and would deliver an excellent experience for athletes, spectators and other Games participants.”
3 Stages
The new candidature procedure involves a three-stage process that provides multiple opportunities for dialogue and feedback to help candidates refine their proposals. Other changes reduced the cost of the candidatures, in part by giving candidates the benefit of expertise provided by specialists from the IOC and International Federations in the early stages of their bids.
The 2024 Candidature Process began in early 2015 with the new Invitation Phase, aimed at helping potential candidates better understand the process and its benefits for the Candidate Cities. The actual Evaluation Process began in September 2015, with three stages:
Stage 1: Vision, Games Concept and Strategy
Stage 2: Governance, Legal and Venue Funding
Stage 3: Games Delivery, Experience and Venue Legacy
In the first two stages, the IOC worked closely with both candidates in a series of workshops and site visits.
The Evaluation Commission reviewed the findings of the first two phases before focusing on Stage 3 subject areas. The Commission will conduct working visits to both cities in May before reconvening in Lausanne at the end of the month to finalise its evaluation report, which will be publicly released in early July.
“We are looking forward to taking a closer look at these two strong candidates during our site visits, to see in more detail how these well-developed plans would come to life at Games time and leave sustainable legacies,” said Baumann.
Representatives from the Candidate Cities will have an opportunity to present their plans to IOC members and the Summer Olympic International Federations on 11 and 12 July, in Lausanne, before the host city selection in September.
Find out more about the Candidature Process and the IOC Questionnaire.
* Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots
