The athlete MUHITIRA Félicien is suspended and banned from the ongoing Olympics training camp and will not take part to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
For more details, click here: Press Release – Suspension of the athlete MUHITIRA Félicien.
Generation of Champions
Itangazo rigenewe abanyamakuru: “Guhagarikwa k’umukinnyi MUHITIRA Félicien.”
MUHITIRA Félicien yahagaritswe mu mwiherero w’ikipe Olempike yitegura imikino Olempike, akaba atazanitabira imikino Olempike ya Tokyo 2020.
Inkuru irambuye, kanda hano: itangazo rigenewe abanyamakuru.
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”
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
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.
Approved Candidates for the RNOSC elections revealed.
Here is the list of the approved candidates for the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee elections which will take place on the 08th of May 2021: https://olympicrwanda.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Lisite-yabemerewe-gutorwa-muri-CNOSR_2021.pdf.
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 .
The RNOSC President resigned from his post.
On the 5th of April 2021, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha has resigned from his position as the President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee/Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association through an official letter and the RNOSC Executive Committee has received and accepted his resignation.
The IOC Member Mrs. Rwemarika Felicite who was the First Vice-President, is acting as the President while the RNOSC Extraordinary General Assembly will take place on the 17th of April 2021 to decide what to do next.
IOC and IPC respect and accept Japanese decision on overseas spectators.
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) AND THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC) WERE TODAY INFORMED BY THE JAPANESE PARTIES IN THE FIVE-PARTIES MEETING ABOUT THEIR CONCLUSION REGARDING OVERSEAS SPECTATORS AT THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 THIS SUMMER. FOR THE REASON OF THE SAFETY OF EVERY GAMES PARTICIPANT AND THE JAPANESE PEOPLE, THEIR CONCLUSION IS FULLY RESPECTED AND ACCEPTED BY THE IOC AND THE IPC.
Getty Images
During the meeting, the IOC and the IPC were informed that, as outlined in the full statement by Tokyo 2020, the conclusion of the Japanese parties is not to allow entry into Japan for overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded.
“We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world, and of course the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the Games,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “For this I am truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices.
“But we have also said that the first principle is safety. Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly. Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organise safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success.
“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit. In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”
“Article of the IOC”
Highlights of the 137th IOC Session.
From 10 to 12 March, the IOC held its second remote Session in Olympic history. IOC President Thomas Bach chaired the meeting from Olympic House in Lausanne. As at every Session, the proceedings were streamed live on YouTube.
Originally, the 137th IOC Session was planned to take place in Athens. On the opening day of the Session, IOC President Thomas Bach thanked all the Greek organisers, in particular the Hellenic Olympic Committee and its President, Spyros Capralos, for their understanding and the great preparatory work that had already gone into organising the Session. The IOC President then handed over to Mr Capralos, who opened the remote IOC Session symbolically from the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.
In his opening speech, President Bach emphasised the optimism created by the successful organisation of over 270 major sports events with measures in place to safeguard the health of all involved. He also spoke of the widespread support the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 have received from the United Nations and the G20 and G7 Leaders. Reflecting on this, he said: “Encouraged by this support, the IOC is working at full speed together with our Japanese partners and friends to make the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.” On the exceptional nature of this Olympic year – preparing for two editions of the Olympic Games in parallel – President Bach highlighted the excellent state of preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. He concluded his speech by saying that the world continues to evolve at an ever-increasing pace, which creates new challenges to turn into opportunities. “For this reason, we will discuss during this Session Olympic Agenda 2020+5, our vision for this new world. Full news release here.
The first topic on the Session agenda was Olympic Agenda 2020. The Session praised the achievements of the strategic roadmap for the IOC and the Olympic Movement. In the six years since it was adopted, Olympic Agenda 2020 has had a profound impact on the Olympic Movement and resulted in important transformations. It has strengthened the IOC and the Olympic Movement by introducing changes intended to make the Olympic Games fit for the future. It has also safeguarded the Olympic values and reinforced the role of sport in society. Commenting after the unanimous approval of the Closing Report on Olympic Agenda 2020 by IOC Members, Thomas Bach said: “Today, we look back at what we have achieved together. Over the course of the past years, all Olympic Movement stakeholders have contributed to make Olympic Agenda 2020 come to life.” He added: “With Olympic Agenda 2020 we turned the challenges into opportunities. With Olympic Agenda 2020, we have changed the Olympic Movement.” Full speech of IOC President here. Read here the full news release.
IOC / GREG MARTIN
On the first day of the Session, Thomas Bach has been re-elected for an additional four-year term as IOC President. He received 93 yes and 1 no votes from the 94 valid votes. “Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming vote of confidence and trust. For me, this is even more overwhelming considering the many reforms and the many difficult decisions we had to take, which affected all of us,” said President Bach after the election. “You know that this touches me deeply. It also makes me humble. When you elected me for the first time as your President in 2013 in Buenos Aires, I said that I wanted to lead the IOC according to my campaign motto ‘Unity in diversity’ and be a President for all of you and for all our stakeholders. This commitment is also true for my second and last term. My door, my ears and my heart remain open for each and every one of you. I hope that I can count on your continued dedication, support and friendship also during these four more years.” Full acceptance speech here and full news release here.
The Organising Committees of the upcoming Olympic Games shared anxiety progress reports on their preparations with the 137th IOC Session. Updates were also given by the Chairs of the Coordination Commissions.
Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto Seiko and CEO Muto Toshiro updated the Session on its final preparations, promising to deliver “safety first” Olympic and Paralympic Games that will excite and inspire the world. Full details here.
Zhang Jiandong, Executive Vice-President of Beijing 2022 updated the IOC Session on the progress being made. He mentioned in particular the organisation of international test events and highlighted Beijing 2022’s focus on safety with the development of COVID-19 countermeasure planning. More details here.
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and CEO Etienne Thobois provided an overview of their Organising Committee’s recent successes such as the Paris 2024 Club, Terre de Jeux 2024 programme as well as the recent Olympic and Paralympic week. More details here.
Following a report from the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Oympiad, the IOC Members heard the three levels of government in Australia testifying to the benefits of the new approach and confirming their support for the Brisbane 2032 project. The decision to enter into a targeted dialogue for the Olympic Games 2032 was endorsed by the IOC Members and the Future Host Commission will start more detailed discussions with Brisbane 2032 and the AOC. Full details here.
The Session also received an update about the progress on vaccinations and has further outlined its plans to work with the NOCs to enhance athletes’ safety as they train and compete over the coming months. Addressing the Session, President Bach informed that the IOC has received an offer from the Chinese Olympic Committee to assist in making vaccines available to NOCs in whose territories the Chinese vaccine has been approved by the relevant national health authority. Although the details are still being worked out, President Bach confirmed that the IOC is ready to pay for these additional doses of vaccines for not only the Olympic but also the Paralympic teams, as well as for two further doses, which can be made available to the population in the respective countries according to their needs. More details here.
After a lively debate, the IOC Session unanimously approved Olympic Agenda 2020+5 as the new strategic roadmap of the IOC and the Olympic Movement through to 2025. Consisting of 15 recommendations, the new roadmap builds on the achievements of Olympic Agenda 2020, and will guide the work of the IOC and the Olympic Movement for the next five years. The 15 recommendations that make up Olympic Agenda 2020+5 have been developed though an inclusive and collaborative process. They are based on key trends that have been identified through robust research as likely to be decisive in the post-coronavirus world. They are also areas where sport and the values of Olympism can play a key role in turning challenges into opportunities. The five trends are: solidarity, digitalisation, sustainability, credibility, economic and financial resilience. Full speech by IOC President here. More details here.
The IOC Session received updates on anti-doping activities from both the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA). The two organisations are working hand in hand to protect clean sport and the integrity of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, including a robust and comprehensive pre-Games anti-doping programme. Full details here.
The IOC Members approved the EB proposal to select Athens as the host city of the IOC Session in 2025. Full info here.
IOC / GREG MARTIN
You can watch the IOC Session again here.
“Article of the IOC”