IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT
IOC President Jacques Rogge arrives in London today, Friday 20 July. This evening, he will attend a reception organised at the ?Fishmongers? Hall?, which hosted the IOC and its founder, Pierre de Coubertin, in 1904 and 1908. The official dinner of the IOC Executive Board (EB) will also be held in the Fishmongers? Hall.
The next day, he will chair the discussions of the IOC EB then those of the 124th IOC Session. A full report on the EB and Session will be given in the next edition.
COMMISSIONS
On 16 July, the official opening of the Olympic Villages for the London 2012 Games also marked the first day of elections for the IOC Athletes? Commission. From 16 July to 8 August, all the competitors are invited to vote for those they would like to have as representatives within the Olympic Movement for the next eight years. Each voter will have to select four candidates from four different sports to ensure a wide representation of sports on the Olympic programme. The results will be announced at 2 p.m. on 9 August at the press centre in the London Olympic Village. After approval by the IOC Session on 12 August, the four elected athletes will become IOC members for eight years. Read the story at www.olympic.org (News section).
OTHER NEWS
In a press release dated 16 July, the IOC announced that athletes from Kuwait will take part in the London 2012 Olympic Games under their country?s name and flag. Thus all 204 NOCs will be in London. Following the commitment made by the Emir of Kuwait to issue a decree in August 2012 which will put in place new sports legislation, as previously agreed upon with the IOC, the EB has conditionally lifted its suspension of the NOC of Kuwait. Read the press release at www.olympic.org (News section).
This week, the IOC EB approved requests for changes of sports nationality for nine athletes qualified for the 2012 Games. Details on www.olympic.org (News section).
The IOC has awarded the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) the exclusive broadcast rights, in the United Kingdom, for the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, Russia; the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016) in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (2018) in PyeongChang; as well as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020, which have yet to be awarded to a host city. Press release at www.olympic.org (News section).
The Samaranch Foundation, named after the former IOC President, was officially inaugurated on 13 July in Beijing (People?s Republic of China), on the 11th anniversary of the awarding of the 2008 Games to Beijing. The ceremony was held in the presence of IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee; Chinese NOC President Liu Peng; Guo Jinglong, Party Secretary and Mayor of Beijing; Spanish Ambassador Eugenio Bregolat; and Mayor of Barcelona Xavier Trias. The aim of the Foundation, created by Samaranch Jr., is to contribute to sporting and cultural exchanges between China and Spain, and to promote the Olympic Movement in China and worldwide. In 2013, the Foundation will publish ?Juan Antonio Samaranch – a biography?; award a Samaranch scholarship; organise a forum on Olympic and sports event collections; and celebrate 40 years of Sino-Spanish diplomatic relations through an artistic exhibition organised in the two countries.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS
On 17 July, at the Palace of Monaco a ceremony was held to celebrate the Centenary Day of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). IOC member the Sovereign Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco welcomed IAAF President and IOC member Lamine Diack, his Vice-Presidents, representatives of the 17 founding member federations, and staff from the IAAF, whose headquarters have been in Monaco since October 1993. To mark this historic event, a commemorative IAAF stamp was unveiled at the reception. The stamp was issued by the postal administration of the Principality of Monaco. Info at www.iaaf.org.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) has published a press kit for the London Games in English and French. The FIE has also launched two new platforms in Chinese: a social networking page (http://weibo.com/internationalfencing) and a video page (http://i.youku.com/FIEVideo). More info at www.fie.ch.
With a short time to go until the modern pentathlon events at the 2012 Games, the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) has released its promotional video for these Games. The video commemorates 100 years of modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games (Stockholm 1912 – London 2012). Info at www.pentathlon.org/london2012.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that Cheryl Soon has joined its Rugby Committee. Cheryl Soon was captain of the winning team at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in 2009 and is one of the most prominent exponents of women?s rugby in recent years. More info at www.irb.com.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) whose President is IOC member Francesco Ricci Bitti, recently held its Annual General Meeting in Copenhagen (Denmark). Some 220 delegates, partners and staff took part in this Assembly, which was officially opened by IOC member Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, accompanied by Wimbledon doubles champion Frederik Nielsen. Meeting report and decisions at www.itftennis.com.
The London Games will see a record number of participants in the shooting events – 390 athletes from 108 countries. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has also announced the launch of its Olympic information hub, ?Road to London?. This new page can be found at www.issf-sports.org.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has published the official start lists for the athletes competing in London. Fifty-five women and 55 men representing 39 NOCs will be taking part. The triathlon event will be held in Hyde Park on 4 August for the women and 7 August for the men. Info at www.triathlon.org.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
The NOC of Bahrain has announced that 12 athletes will form its Olympic delegation for the London Games. The flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony will be shooter Azza Al Qasmi. The delegation will be led by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and NOC President Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The Chilean NOC has informed us that world archery champion Denisse van Lamoen, will be the flagbearer of the Olympic delegation at the Opening Ceremony in London. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera presented her with the flag. Info at www.coch.cl.
At a gala dinner organised in honour of the Olympic delegation before its departure for London, the Israeli NOC presented the IOC ?Sport and Sustainable Development? trophy to Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin, Speaker of the Knesset, Parliament Member. Active for many years in the world of sport, Rivlin has, among other things, chaired the Beitar Jerusalem Football Club and was the first to persuade the government to accept a request by the NOC to create a special budget for athletes? Olympic preparations. NOC President Zvi Varshaviak and Secretary General Efraim Zinger presented this trophy. More info at www.olympic.one.co.il.
The President of the Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Ch?vez Fr?as, has presented the national flag to table tennis player Fabiola Ramos, who will be the flagbearer for the Olympic delegation in London. At a press conference, Venezuelan NOC President Eduardo ?lvarez announced that, in total, 69 Venezuelan athletes will take part in these Games.
ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES
PYEONGCHANG 2018
On 6 July, one year after the awarding of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the PyeongChang Organising Committee (POCOG) presented the progress of its preparations. POCOG gave precise information on improved venue plans, which are expected to add to the compact nature and festive mood of the Games. POCOG has also launched its web site: www.pyeongchang2018.org. Read the news at www.olympic.org (News section).
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
The Organising Committee of the International Sports Movies and TV Federation (FICTS) International Festival has decided to extend until (6 p.m. on) 10 September 2012 the deadline for submissions and the delivery of the productions for all the competitive Sections (except the Olympic Games whose deadline is 30 September). The 30th edition of this Festival will take place from 5 to 9 December 2012 in Milan (Italy) after the celebration of the FICTS? ?30 Years of Foundation?. For more info, write to [email protected].