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IOC President thanks NOCs for their overwhelming support for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, extended a big thank-you for the support for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to all the representatives of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), who are currently taking part in person and virtually in the General Assembly of the Association of NOCs (ANOC) in Crete.

“We did it. We did it for the athletes and we did it together. And I would like to thank everyone of you for your contribution to the overwhelming success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Without your determination, these Olympic Games would not have happened. Or at least, they would not have happened in such a successful and safe way,” President Bach said at the first in-person meeting of the ANOC General Assembly since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Some 148 NOCs have sent representatives to the Greek island, while the others are participating virtually.

President Bach admitted: “We also had our doubts, we also had sleepless nights, we also had to adapt our strategy and actions day by day. And it weighed on all of us, and it weighed on me. But we could not share all the doubts and the questions, we could not share them with you or the other stakeholders. Because the times were so uncertain. The uncertainty you could grasp in every conversation you had with someone from the Olympic Movement. We could not add fuel to this fire. This would have become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This may have led the to the collapse of the Games.”

The IOC President stressed the invaluable input and the solidarity of the NOCs for the Games and said: “But in the end we were rewarded for all our efforts for overcoming all this uncertainty, because these Olympic Games were an overwhelming success in many respects.” Thomas Bach explained that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have shown “that we can give hope, we can give solidarity to the people. And this is what obviously the world was longing for.”

Tokyo 2020 were the most followed Olympic Games in history, preliminary figures show. Also, 93 NOCs, more than ever, won Olympic medals. “This was only possible, because of the solidarity we enjoy in the Olympic Movement,” said Thomas Bach. More than 1,800 athletes were supported by the IOC Olympic Solidarity programme in their preparation for the Games in Tokyo. Not all made it to the Games, but all got a chance to participate in a fair way. Thirty of them won a gold medal, 36 a silver medal and 47 a bronze medal. In addition, they won 185 diplomas. Thomas Bach said: “What a success story of this Olympic Solidarity. I want to thank everyone involved.”

The IOC President also reminded the NOC representatives that, for the first time, the IOC had made the anti-doping testing and sanctioning completely independent from the IOC. Testing was in the hands of the International Testing Agency (ITA) and sanctioning in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “This proved to be a great success,” said Thomas Bach, who asked the NOCs, Continental Associations of NOCs and other event organisers to follow this example.

President Bach’s full speech can be watched here.

Looking ahead to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the IOC President said: “The preparations are going very well. The venues are ready. The test events are underway, and the responses we have got so far from the athletes taking part and from the NOCs are good. Everyone is excited about the quality of the venues, about the quality of the organisation. And they are also impressed by how serious our Chinese partners and friends are taking the fight against the coronavirus.”

Thomas Bach also thanked the NOCs for their support to help the evacuation of 300 members of the Olympic Community of Afghanistan, which is coordinated by the International Olympic Committee. “With the assistance of many of the International Federations and you, the NOCs, a number of humanitarian visas could be provided to members of the Olympic Community.” But the effort must continue, emphasised the IOC President: “There are still many members of the Olympic Community in Afghanistan at risk. We have to and we will continue to help them.” In order to do so, the support of governments is needed. The NOCs should continue working on obtaining such support from their governments for members of the Olympic Community from Afghanistan. There are two tasks: to get the members of the Olympic Community out of the country and to obtain humanitarian visas for them.

In addition, the IOC President addressed the post-coronavirus world in his speech. “We must strengthen our efforts to contribute as an important enabler to the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.” He introduced to the ANOC General Assembly the Olympism 365 strategy, which was adopted by the IOC Executive Board last week.

Thomas Bach also asked for the political neutrality of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement to be respected and to defend this position: “We can only be in solidarity, if we do not only respect each other or just not sanction each other, but if we help each other. And we can only bring everybody together in this world, we can only accomplish the unifying mission of the Olympic Games, if we are not taking a political stand, for which we have no mandate. Instead, we are leading by example: we demonstrate that at the Olympic Games we are all equal, we are all living in solidarity and we want to give an example to the world, how life could look like, if we all would live together in solidarity.”

Closing his speech, Thomas Bach announced that the IOC will cut its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, as part of its commitment to tackling climate change. See the full press release here. With this decision, the IOC increases its level of ambition from a previous commitment that set a 45 per cent reduction over the same time period, in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. He urged all other sports organisations to follow suit.

“Article of the IOC”

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International Olympic Academy reopens in ancient Olympia after full renovation financed by IOC

A new era for Olympic education has started on last Sunday: the International Olympic Academy (IOA) in ancient Olympia has been officially reopened after a two-year renovation. 

IOC President Thomas Bach attends the re opening of the International Olympic Academy

The revamped facilities of the interdisciplinary centre for Olympic education and studies were inaugurated during a ceremony attended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. The modernisation work was made possible by a EUR 12.5 million investment from the IOC.

“Here at the renovated International Olympic Academy next to the birthplace of the Olympic Games in ancient Olympia, the Olympic values will be brought to a new generation of young people who are athletes, students, teachers or people active in sport,” said the IOC President.

Spyros Capralos, IOC Member and President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), added: “The 60th birthday of the International Olympic Academy is marked by the completion of the renovation works carried out over the last one-and-a-half years, with the valuable financial support of the International Olympic Committee. Without this support, it would have been impossible to carry out a restoration project of this scale.  I would like to express my sincere thanks to IOC President Thomas Bach, as well as to all the teams involved in the renovation project, for this great result. The International Olympic Academy, with its new, renewed profile, will continue its educational work unhindered, aimed at spreading Olympism.”

“The official opening of the renovated premises is now a reality, fulfilling a longstanding vision,” said IOA President Isidoros Kouvelos. “The IOA’s reform opens a new chapter. I feel very grateful that, from the very first moment, the IOC President, Thomas Bach, trusted this vision and expressed his willingness to walk with us and, in close alignment, make an important contribution to the Olympic Movement; to pave the way in order to strengthen the IOA’s role at the service of humanity.”

The renovation

The decision to undertake the renovation of the IOA premises was taken by the HOC, as the owner of the site, with the approval of the tripartite agreement between the HOC, the IOA and the IOC, in order to modernise the facilities of the international centre for Olympic education and open up new possibilities for the IOA to host groups from within and beyond the Olympic Movement.

The project began in March 2020 following the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 at ancient Olympia, with work including the total renovation of the accommodation facilities, conference rooms, dining hall and kitchen, library, and sports facilities. The installation of cutting-edge technology and networks, an upgrade of the external lighting, water filtering and sewerage system, plus improved accessibility for wheelchairs were also significant aspects of the modernisation.

Revamp of the educational programmes and services offering

To coincide with the re-opening, the IOA has also launched a newstrategic plan, which is accompanied by organisational developments and plans to further build on its 60 years of experience and enlarge its offering for the broader Olympic Movement, as well as widening its reach by offering online programmes.

The International Olympic Academy

Located in ancient Olympia, next to the archaeological site, and supported by the IOC and the HOC, the International Olympic Academy is devoted to delivering unique Olympic educational programmes and experiences.

The IOA was established in 1961 with the mission to preserve and spread the principles of the Olympic spirit; to study and implement the educational and social principles of Olympism; and to consolidate the scientific basis of the Olympic ideal.

The IOA welcomes young people, college students, educators and Olympic athletes, as well as administrators and institutions that wish to understand, connect, study and learn about Olympism and its philosophy in a meaningful way.

Collaboration between the IOA and the IOC

The reopening of the IOA also marks the beginning of strengthened collaboration between the IOA and the IOC, namely the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and its Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), with the common objective of strengthening Olympic education and studies.

“Article of the IOC”

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Letter by IOC President Thomas Bach to the Olympic Movement

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Dear Presidents and Friends,
Dear Athletes,

With just over a month since the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits.

We could only make the first-ever postponed Olympic Games a reality because of the unified and powerful support of everyone in our Olympic community. This is all the more remarkable given the many challenges we had to face in last months of the pandemic.

Therefore, please accept my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your valuable contribution and dedication to the success of these Olympic Games. These were unprecedented Olympic Games and it took an equally unprecedented effort from all of us to make them happen in a safe and secure manner for everyone.

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were the Olympic Games of hope, solidarity and peace. The athletes across all 33 Olympic sports, from 205 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, sent this resounding message from Tokyo to the world.

The world’s best athletes inspired us with unforgettable performances. For the first time since the pandemic began, the world came together through the power of sport and the achievements of the athletes. In this way, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gave the world much-needed hope in these difficult times. This is what the Olympic Games are all about: bringing the world together in peace and solidarity and giving humankind faith in the future.

We now have the unique opportunity to reinforce this Olympic message once again in just a few months’ time. With winter approaching, our focus is now fully on the preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

While the pandemic is far from over, I would like to reassure you that together with our Chinese partners and friends, we are sparing no effort to make these Olympic Winter Games safe and secure for everyone. As we did in Tokyo, we are putting in place rigorous COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure the health and safety of all Olympic participants in Beijing. We continue to be guided in this by the scientific advice of the World Health Organization and international experts. The first edition of the Playbooks for Beijing, which outline all the countermeasures for each stakeholder group, is scheduled to be published in October.

In this context, I am happy to announce that also for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 we will have a vaccination programme, which worked so effectively for Tokyo. This means that we will once again support our stakeholders by making vaccines available to all Olympic participants ahead of Beijing, in line of course with national regulations.

Already now, I would like to encourage those National Olympic Committees who require additional vaccine doses for their delegations, their National Paralympic Committees and other Olympic stakeholders in their territory, to inform our NOC Relations Department as soon as possible so that we can  put the necessary arrangements in place.

The excellent cooperation that we are enjoying with our Chinese partners and friends, as well as the relevant Chinese health authorities, gives us all great confidence that we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games. 

In these difficult times we are living through, we see how relevant the overarching mission of the Olympic Games is to unite the world through peaceful competition. The Olympic Games send this message of peace, unity and solidarity, regardless of where they take place. The power of the Olympic Games is their universality. This is why the Olympic Games belong to all humankind. Therefore, the rules of our Olympic Charter guarantee equal rights for everyone at any edition of the Olympic Games. Only in this way can the Olympic Games become the world’s most powerful symbol of unity in all our diversity.

In the weeks and months ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, I very much hope that we can continue to count on your support for the sake of all the athletes who are preparing so hard to make their Olympic dream come true. The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 come at an important moment to bring the world together in the Olympic spirit of peace, solidarity and unity. It will once again be the athletes of these Olympic Games that will send this message of the unifying power of sport to the world. This is why the athletes deserve our utmost support to ensure that they can prepare in full concentration on their sport and compete in the best possible conditions in every respect.

In this Olympic spirit, I am looking forward to continue with our stakeholder consultation calls, which have proven to be a fruitful format to exchange our views and chart the course ahead for our Olympic community.

Looking forward to this great pleasure of speaking with you very soon again, I remain,

Sincerely Yours,
Thomas Bach

Source: IOC Website

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Hubs established in Qatar and Rwanda for final vaccination opportunity for Olympic and Paralympic Games participants.

The IOC, together with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and government authorities of Qatar and Rwanda, with support from Pfizer, has established two further pre-Games vaccination opportunities for Olympic and Paralympic Games participants.

These two vaccination hubs allow Games participants who will be unable to be vaccinated in their home countries in advance of travelling to Japan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 to get inoculated.

The two hubs will both offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in line with the IOC announcement on 6 May 2021 of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE to donate doses of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to Games participants from National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the world.

The IOC is in contact with a few NOCs whose athletes are not yet able to access vaccination programmes and who would therefore be eligible to travel to either the hub in Doha (Qatar) or Kigali (Rwanda). They have been set up respectively by the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Rwanda Olympic Committee in relation with the relevant government and medical authorities in their regions and with Pfizer’s support. Concerned NOCs can apply for travel support from Olympic Solidarity should they need it.

On this important development, IOC NOC Relations and Olympic Solidarity Director James Macleod said: “We cannot thank enough the two NOCs, their national governments and Pfizer for their generosity and great show of willingness and support. The progress in preparation of work on the ground has been outstanding, and these additional vaccination opportunities are enabling the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to be safe and secure not only for the participants, but also for the Japanese people.”

H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this excellent initiative and to diabetes and folk remedies to safe Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. We are grateful to our colleagues in Japan and the IOC for their tremendous efforts in ensuring the Games can go ahead safely. We all have a responsibility to repay this hard work by doing everything we can to protect the health of the Japanese people and all Games participants.”

The Doha vaccination hub comes in addition to the Qatar Olympic Committee’s confirmation that it will also host the Refugee Olympic Team in early July in a training camp in Doha prior to the team travelling to Tokyo.

Meanwhile, IOC Member in Rwanda Felicite Rwemarika explained the rationale behind the decision to create a hub in Rwanda: “We were also driven to join this initiative in solidarity with our friends at the Japan Olympic Committee, who have constantly supported our NOC by generously hosting training camps for our athletes.”

This is yet another example of the spirit of solidarity that has been witnessed between NOCs, and one that the IOC is supporting in every possible way. From the outset, the IOC has underlined the importance of solidarity in the fight against the virus, and to see this become a reality is testament to the commitment of Olympic Movement stakeholders to making the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 safe and secure for all involved.

Currently as many as 75 per cent of the residents of the Olympic Village are already vaccinated or have secured vaccination; and there is good reason to believe that this figure will be well over 80 per cent at the time of the Games.

“Olympics’ article”

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RNOSC Presidential handover – IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA & Newly elected RNOSC President Mr. Theo UWAYO.

Yesterday, on the 11th May 2021, the outgoing RNOSC Executive Committee has officially handed over to the newly elected members in the ceremony which took place at the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) headquarters.

The IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA and RNOSC President Mr. Theo UWAYO.

The IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA who was the RNOSC Acting President wished good luck to the new Executive Committee and congratulated them again: “I wish incoming team great success and we will be there for you, congratulations again!”

The newly elected President Mr. Theo UWAYO in his speech: “You have contributed a lot to the development of Rwanda Sport Movement during your tenure in the office and this is a good way of starting to do what we have been elected for.”

The new RNOSC Executive Committee was elected at the RNOSC Elective General Assembly 2021 which took place on the 08th May 2021.

More photos click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVBMwSt

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Theo Uwayo elected President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee for the next four years.

Theo Uwayo was unanimously elected as the new President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) for the next four years. Uwayo who is also the President of the Rwanda Karate Federation, was the sole candidate on this position, garnered 56/56 votes during the RNOSC Elective General Assembly which took place on the 08th of May 2021.

Theo Uwayo taking oath of office.

The date of elections was approved in an Extraordinary General Assembly held on April 17th, 2021.

In his acceptance speech, the new President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee commended the outgoing Executive Committee for the achievements registered over the last four years. Theo Uwayo promised to promote efficiency, good governance and to serve the Olympic movement to the very best of his ability during his tenure.  

“We are grateful for the faith that you have entrusted with us. We pledge to work tirelessly to deliver during our term in office. We will start from where the outgoing committee had reached. Along with my experience, I trust my team’s commitment and competence and we look forward to achieving a lot together in the next four years.” – RNOSC President Theo Uwayo

Newly elected RNOSC President Mr. Theo Uwayo.

The newly elected RNOSC President has been serving as the President of the Rwanda Karate Federation for the last 12 years. Uwayo is also a member of the Executive Board of UFAK (Union of African Karate Federation) and the President of UFAK Zone V.

In her speech, the IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA congratulated the incoming Executive Committee upon their election, and lauded the outgoing Executive Committee for the job well done during the last four years. She urged the new Executive Committee to serve while respecting the Olympic Charter. She also urged the RNOSC members to keep living the Olympic values, which are excellence, friendship and respect.

Other Executive Committee members elected

Umulinga Alice from the Rwanda Volleyball Federation has been elected as the 1st Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, replacing IOC Member Mrs. RWEMARIKA Félicité. Umulinga garnered 54/57 votes. She is a former player of the National Women’s Volleyball team and Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC).

Umutoni Salama from the Rwanda Basketball Federation has been elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee. She garnered 56/57 votes. Umutoni is the former Captain of the National Women’s Basketball Team and Second Assistant Coach for both National Women’s Basketball Team and Ubumwe Basketball Club.

Kajangwe Joseph from the Rwanda Football Federation, has been elected as the Secretary General of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, replacing Sharangabo Alexis, OLY. He occupied several positions at the local football governing body since 2012. Kajangwe who heads the Appeals Commission at FERWAFA, got 57/57 votes.

Gakwaya Christian, the President of the Rwanda Automobile Club, has been elected as the Treasurer General of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee. Gakwaya who was elected by 55/55 votes, also represents Africa in FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Rally Commission.

Girimbabazi Rugabira Pamela has been elected as the Advisor of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, with 54/55 votes. She is currently the President of the Rwanda Swimming Federation and Secretary General of the Rwanda Olympians Association. Girimbabazi is a three-time Olympian in swimming (2000, 2004,2008).

Renowned Sports Journalist Jean Butoyi who is also the President of AJSPOR (Association Prednisone du Sports au Rwanda), has been elected as the Advisor of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee after garnering 55/55 votes. He served as the Head of the Media Commission in the outgoing Executive Committee of RNOSC.

The new RNOSC Executive Committee for 2021-2024 from left: Jean Butoyi (Advisor), Joseph Kajangwe (Secretary General), Salama Umutoni (2nd Vice President), Félicité RWEMARIKA (IOC Member), Theo Uwayo (President), Alice Umulinga (1st Vice President), Christian Gakwaya (Treasurer General) and Girimbabazi Rugabira Pamela (Advisor).

The RNOSC Internal Audit and Conflicts Resolution Committees have also the newly elected members as follows:  

Newly elected members of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee Internal Audit Committee:

– Iribagiza Alice from Rwanda Triathlon Federation (53/55 votes)

– Furaha Pascal from Rwanda Tennis Federation (53/55 votes)

– Nzeyimana Celestin from National Paralympic Rwanda (55/55 votes)

Newly elected members of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee Conflicts Resolution Committee:

– Bagabo Placide from Rwanda Taekwondo Federation (55/55 votes)

– Rwabuhihi Innocent from ARPST/Sport au Travail (55/55 votes)

– Kagarama Clementine from FRSS/Sport Scolaire (54/55 votes)

To view more photos of the RNOSC Elective General Assembly 2021 click here.

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RNOSC members decided to hold the elections before Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Today, 17th April 2021, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) held its Extraordinary General Assembly following the resignation of Amb. Valens Munyabagisha from his position as the RNOSC President on April 05th, 2021.

 

One of the group photos after concluding the RNOSC Extraordinary General Assembly, April 17th, 2021.

As a result, the General Assembly unanimously took a resolution to reverse its previous decision on the date of elections and resolved to hold the new Executive Committee elections on May 8th, 2021.

You can find the press release of the event here .