IOC ACTIVITIES
PRESIDENT

This week in Vidy, IOC President Jacques Rogge has held discussions with:
- the President of the World Olympians Association (WOA), Joël Bouzou;
- the Interim President of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), Nenad Lalovic;
- the President of the Canadian NOC, Marcel Aubut; and
- the President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) and IOC member, Pat Mc Quaid.

MEMBERS

Nawal El Moutawakel attended the opening ceremony of the third edition of the Women’s Games organised by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During her stay, she met the Bahraini NOC Director General, Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. (Also see the “NOCs” section).

On behalf of the IOC and its Women and Sport Commission, which she chairs, Anita L. DeFrantz will make a speech on 11 March during the 57th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women. Held at the UN headquarters in New York (USA), the main theme of this session is the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

As President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has been awarded the Olympic Order of Merit by the Australian NOC, in recognition of his important contribution to the development of sport. This distinction was presented to him by the NOC President and IOC member, John Coates, at a dinner held in the framework of the 59th meeting of the ANOC Executive Council in Sydney (also see the “NOCs” section).

COMMISSIONS

From 4 to 7 March, the Evaluation Commission, whose Chairman is Craig Reedie, visited Tokyo, a Candidate City for the Olympic Games in 2020. 
 
The deadline for registering for the 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All has been extended to 22 March. You can register for the Conference on www.sportforall2013.org. The Conference will be held in Lima (Peru) from 24 to 27 April 2013. It is being organised jointly by the IOC, through its Sport for All Commission, and the Peruvian NOC, in cooperation with SportAccord.

The fifth edition of the IOC Advanced Team Physician Course will be held from 22 to 24 May 2013 in Saltsjöbaden (Sweden). Organised by the IOC in collaboration with eminent experts in the field of sports medicine, the course will address the practical issues of working with high-level athletes in a team setting. Places are limited and open to team physicians and some sports physiotherapists. Info and registration at www.ioc-preventionconference.org/atpc2013/.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
SUMMER IFS

At its latest meeting, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Executive Board took the initiative to organise two workshops devoted to the artistic and musical content that will be part of the judging criteria for artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. These workshops will take place this year, in the framework of the artistic World Championships in Antwerp (Belgium) and rhythmic World Championships in Kiev (Ukraine). These workshops are aimed at choreographers and coaches as a priority, and are also open to judges. Info at www.fig-gymnastics.com.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA)’s 2013 development programme was launched in Bermuda with the organisation of a course by the national swimming association in Hamilton from 19 to 23 February. Swimming expert Mancer Roberts from the Bahamas led this intermediate-level course, which was attended by 17 officials. Among the issues addressed were the duties of officials and various poolside positions (timekeeper, clerk of course, referee, starter, inspector of turns, stroke judge, finish judge, etc.). Info at www.fina.org.

In the framework of the centennial of its creation, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has just published a book entitled The International Tennis Federation: A Century of Contribution to Tennis (photo of cover). Edited by Chris Bowers, this book was published on 4 March, World Tennis Day. Info atwww.itftennis.com.

The World Archery Federation (WA) has informed us of the death of experienced Italian judge Gian Piero Spada at the age of 57. Starting his judging career in the early 1990s, he officiated at several championships and at the Athens 2004 Games. He was chairman of the IF’s Judging Committee from 1999 to 2007. Info at www.worldarchery.org.

WINTER IFS

In a recent newsletter, the International Ski Federation (FIS) reports on the organisation of an international annual winter sports training camp called the “Dream Programme”, organised in Korea and aimed at 11-to-15-year-olds. Activities take place in the Gangwon province, where the 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held in PyeongChang. Since 2004, this programme has allowed 150 young people from 30 to 40 countries to discover and experience snow sports and to visit the Olympic venues. More info at www.fis-ski.com and www.dreamprogram.co.kr.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

On 6 March, the Australian NOC officially opened its new headquarters at Sydney’s Circular Quay. All the NOC staff are now together under one roof in the southern end of the Museum of Contemporary Art. On the same day, the 59th meeting of the ANOC Executive Council concluded. Numerous ANOC andIOC members were therefore present at this ceremony. ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah; the Prime Minister of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell; and NOC President John Coates unveiled the plaque, thus  inaugurating the new headquarters of the Australian NOC. Info atwww.olympics.com.au.

All the member federations of the Albanian NOC were recently invited to take part in a seminar organised in Tirana by the NOC. Also attending were Vasil Bici, Sports Director at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport, and representatives of the regional Olympic committees and the NOC technical commission. The first session, devoted to the Olympic Solidarity 2013-2016 quadrennial plan programmes, was chaired by Hysen Domi, NOC Honorary President, and Stavri Bello, NOC Secretary General. The second session was devoted to Albania’s participation in the Mediterranean Games in Mersin (Turkey) in June 2013. Info at www.nocalbania.org.al.

The NOC of Bahrain has reminded us that the third edition of the Women’s Games, organised by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is bringing together athletes from five countries (Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain) from 3 to 13 March. There are eight sports on the programme:basketball, volleyball, table tennis, shooting, bowling, taekwondo, athletics and athletics for women with a disability.

Olympic beach volleyball champion Emanuel Rego has been elected Chairman of the Brazilian NOC’sAthletes’ Commission by his fellow Commission members. This election took place during the first working meeting of the Commission elected for the 2013-2016 period, held on 26 February at the NOC headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Hortência Marcari, basketball world champion and Olympic medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Games, was elected as Vice-Chairman. NOC President and IOC member Carlos Arthur Nuzman opened the meeting. Info at www.cob.org.br.

Giovanni Malagò is the new President of the Italian NOC (CONI). A member of the CONI Executive Board, he replaces Gianni Petrucci as President. Fifty-four-year-old Malagò is the Chairman of Circolo Aniene, Italy’s most famous rowing club. He was President of the organising committee of the World Swimming Championships held in Rome in 2009. Info at www.coni.it.

The first working meeting about Venezuela’s participation in the South American Youth Games was held this week at the seat of the Venezuelan NOC. Manuel Rondón is the Chef de Mission for these first Games, which will bring together young athletes aged 14 to 17 from 18 to 29 September 2013 in Lima (Peru).

ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES 
SOCHI 2014

The deadline for candidatures for volunteering for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi has now passed. More than 200,000 people have expressed interest. It is estimated that 25,000 volunteers will take part in the Winter Games next year. In total, volunteers will make up approximately 30 per cent of the Games workforce. Find out more at www.sochi2014.com and www.olympic.org (“News” section).

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) held its first project review with the Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang (POCOG) on 27 and 28 February. A team led by IPC Director General Xavier Gonzalez met a POCOG delegation led by its President, Kim Jin-sun. Issues discussed included the structure of the Organising Committee, accessibility, venues and infrastructure, communications and broadcasting.

Furthermore, the IPC and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), operating EUROVISION, have formed a multiservice partnership covering the audio-visual rights on all platforms for the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, the Summer Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 and other sports events for people with disabilities. More info at www.paralympic.org.