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DURING ITS MEETING HELD IN LAUSANNE TODAY, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB) WAS PROVIDED WITH A THOROUGH PROGRESS REPORT ABOUT RECENT GOVERNANCE REFORMS WITHIN THE ORGANISATION AND DECIDED TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS IN ORDER TO REMAIN FIT FOR PURPOSE. 

A year ago, the world-renowned International Institute for Management Development (IMD) presented its research into good governance at the IOC and issued a set of recommendations, aimed at helping the IOC to build its resilience and leadership position, fulfill its mission to society in its fullest and serve as a best-in-class example in a global arena in need of positive governance examples.

In particular, the IMD made 22 recommendations to improve structures and processes for governance in the more immediate term, as well as 11 recommendations for longer-term transformation of governance practices, to support the IOC on its path to continued governance improvement. In addition, the IMD identified seven dilemmas that the IOC will need to face in the next 10 years to ensure that its governance practices keep pace with its evolving role and increasing societal expectations.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Having followed up on a large number of these recommendations during the last year, key achievements by the IOC include:

• awareness training on ethical matters delivered to all IOC Members and employees;
• an awareness training programme on ethical matters, including conflicts of interest for all IOC commissions;
• strengthening of the Ethics Commission with the review of the Statutes and the Rules of Procedure and the appointment of a new independent Chair;
• the creation of a new HR Committee;
• the appointment of a formal EB secretary;
• the improvement of the preparation process and information package for EB meetings;
• the approval by the EB of the 25 recommendations to improve gender equality in the Olympic Movement; and
• the review of all the commissions, with a significant number of external IOC experts to provide appropriate support to IOC Members.

Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, IOC Member and Chair of the IOC’s Audit Committee, said: “One year after publication of the IMD review, the IOC has implemented the majority of the recommendations, and other important actions are work in progress. Olympic Agenda 2020 and support from the IOC’s Ethics Commission have been a catalyst for several reforms. As governance remains an evolving process, the IOC Executive Board today decided on more measures to further strengthen its own effectiveness.”

EB MEMBERS TO UNDERGO SELF-ASSESSMENT AND REGULAR TRAINING

Following the model of other best-in-class leading organisations, the EB decided to conduct self-assessments and regular training for each of its members, aimed at optimising their skills and expertise to effectively face current and future societal, political and technological governance challenges.

ONGOING INITIATIVES

Other significant projects have also started to address the remaining recommendations within the next two years. They include:

• a review, by the Ethics Commission, of the rules on conflicts of interest for the Olympic Movement to be presented to the IOC EB and then ultimately to the IOC Session next year;
• the contract management and procurment improvement projects, as part of the Operational Excellence Programme, which will further improve all matters related to suppliers’ due diligence, sustainable procurement and prevention of conflicts of interest;
• the implementation of recommendation 27 of Olympic Agenda 2020 related to the basic principles of good governance across the Olympic Movement;
• the implementation of the People Management 2020 programme, which will improve gender equity and succession planning;
• the new digital strategy to further improve transparency of the IOC towards its external stakeholders; and
• cooperation with a specialised company to help continue the work around human rights alignment and compliance with UN guiding principles on human rights.

A further follow-up report on the IMD recommendations by the IOC will be presented to the Executive Board during its meeting in December.

The IOC remains committed to being a strong values-based organisation and a leader in the field of sport, with the aim of being a model of governance quality.

The regional Forum on Sports and Marketing which brought together ANOCA Zone V leaders, NOCs delegates, the private sector and government representatives ended on Friday with renewed commitment to do more to promote sports.

The two-day meeting held on June 28-29, 2018 at Hotel des Mille Collines, Kigali, was organised by ANOCA / ZONE V in collaboration with Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC).

The aim of the forum was to discuss how regional Olympic committees can work together to revitalise the sports industry through business partnerships with the private sector with a focus on ending dependency on government budgets in the long run.

The forum which was officially opened by the Minister of Sports and Culture, Hon. Julienne Uwacu discussed existing challenges and opportunities as well as what needs to be done to tap into the potential of the sports industry.

At the end of the meeting, delegates agreed to advance sports and sports business in Africa, through partnerships with the private sector – with local organising committees and representatives of private sector identifying the challenges each side faces and solutions.

Following a series of deliberations, presentations and diseases and antibiotics of experiences, it was resolved that ANOCA ZONE V needs to hold regular marketing seminars at least once in every two years to allow NOCs to brainstorm and evaluate progress.

It was also agreed that ANOCA ZONE V’s main property is the youth games and they should be held at least once in every two years.

It was further agreed that ANOCA ZONE V sets up a marketing commission that would help to identify opportunities and come up with ideas that can be fully exploited.

To that end, it was agreed that National Olympic Committees (NOCs) need to send names and CVs to ANOCA ZONE V for viable candidates’ review, set to be part of the ANOCA Marketing Commission.

Delegates agreed that each National Olympic Committee (All 7 NOCs) needs to develop their own marketing strategy and send it to ZONE V for deliberation with ANOCA.

“This is to synergize and synchronize marketing strategies. Respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) marketing commissions need maximum three months to be done with the marketing strategy,” delegates agreed among the recommendations.

It was also agreed that ANOCA should approach IOC on the use of IOC marketing properties going forward.

During the board meeting which was held on Day 1 on the sidelines of the regional forum at attended by Minister Uwacu, it was resolved that Rwanda hosts next year’s ANOCA ZONE V Youth Games.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Uwacu called on NOCs and private sector on the continent to work together to advance sports and make it a lucrative industry it is supposed to be.

“Africa has a tremendous potential. It is up to us to ignite it through professionalism, leadership and passion,”

“To achieve consistent performance, we need to foster excellence, effectiveness, integrity, equity and equality, inclusion, accountability, mutual respect, enthusiasm and commitment,” Hon. Uwacu said.

She said that the Government of Rwanda is committed to supporting all programs and initiatives aimed at transforming the image of sport in ANOCA Zone V and in Africa in general.

“We are also committed to implementing the new architecture of sport in Africa initiated by the African Union Commission, whereby the 7 former zones were retransformed into 5 regions,”

“Our zone will be part of the Region 4 composed of 14 countries, and the Government of Rwanda is ready to host its permanent secretariat with your support,” she added.

The President of the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee (RNOSC) Amb Valens Munyabagisha urged countries in Zone V to fast track the process of implementing, adding that “strategic orientations” from the Kigali forum should set the region on the course for action.

Zone V President Mr William Blick, who also sits on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Marketing Commission made a presentation on the opportunities available, which can be taken advantage of, while the ANOCA Secretary General Eng Ahmed Abou Elgasim Hashim urged countries to take concrete action towards revitalising sport.

Delegates visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi where they paid tribute to the over 250, 000 killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who are buried there.

From 28-29 June 2018, ANOCA / ZONE V in collaboration with Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee will organize the first Regional Forum on Sports and Marketing which will take place at Hôtel des Mille Collines, Kigali – Rwanda.

The two-day forum will focus on discussing and deliberating strategic plan of each National Olympic Committee, member of Zone V, that must make full use of the Olympic Solidarity World Program, like the “Youth Olympic Games – Athlete Support” program, based on identification, preparation and participation but also the “Continental Athlete Support Grant” program oriented towards preparation of the African Games.

At the same occasion on the 27th June 2018, ANOCA zone V will have its Executive board meeting at Kigali Serena Hotel and will be attended by 11 delegates.

For further information, here’s Press Release regarding this forum.

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) celebrated the 70th Olympic Day in Style on June 23.

Over 7,000 children aged between 6-18 years from 16 different schools attended the celebrations. Among the guests who attended included: Parents, teachers, district officials as well RNOSC, the official organizer of the event.

The Olympic week celebration is aimed at ensuring that the positive values of the Olympic Movement which are excellence, friendship, and respect, are promoted among the children.

Every year the day is celebrated by Olympians across the world, to rejoice the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the modern Olympic Movement by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894.

During the celebration, the children matched in a Parade around Huye stadium from the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda before returning to the stadium where they participated and demonstrated skills in different sports activities which include relay races, played and displayed dribbling skills in football, sitting volleyball, high jump and danced traditionally.

In her speech, the Mayor of Huye district, Madam Veneranda Uwamariya thanked RNOSC for choosing Huye district as the venue to host the celebrations. She urged them to uphold the good relations with the district regarding promotion and development of sports, especially among the youth at the grassroots through the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect which are in line with Rwandan morals and ethics.

RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha who was also the guest of honor in his speech he said every year the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee organizes the celebration of the Olympic week mean to encourage and educate the youth about the three Olympic values in Sports.

“As the youth is the hope of our future, we decided to collaborate with Huye district to celebrate Olympic Day as one of the districts with many schools which are located closer.”

“The other reason is that Huye district which is renowned to promote and develop different sports competitions and games was ready to host the event. We also have plans to organize the celebrations in the districts with time as part of the plan to tutor the Rwandan youth the Olympic values.” He added

The Olympic Week celebrations kicked off on June 20 and were concluded by awarding the best schools in different activities.

Best Secondary Schools:

Basketball – Boys: 1. Petit Seminaire Baptiste, 2. GS des Parents,

Volleyball – Boys: 1. GS Gatagara, 2. EAV Kabutare

Football – Girls: 1. EAV Kabutare, 2. GS Gatagara

Football – Boys: 1. EAV Kabutare, 2. GS Gatagara

Best Primary Schools:

Football – Girls: 1. EP Ngoma Catholique, 2. EP Ngoma Adventiste

Football – Boys: 1. EP Ngoma Catholique, 2. GS Butare Catholique.

National Sports Federation have pledged to power and strengthen capacity for both elite sports and Sports For All as a way to develop sports in the country.

This was discussed during a one-day consultative meeting organized by the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) and attended by both Olympic and Non-Olympic National Sports Federations on June 5, 2018 and June 12, 2018 respectively.

 The RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha said that those two meetings aimed at coming up with a way forward to increase the number of sports participants, to develop Rwanda sports as well as to uplift sports disciplines which are lagging behind.

One of the challenges raised by sports bodies was the problem of financial constraints which is an issue for the bodies to reach out to all corners of the country especially in schools.

 To overcome this challenge, a resolution was raised for each federation/association to task themselves by coming up with an action development plan before submitting it to RNOSC, so that they may be offered some assistance in close collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Culture in developing sports countrywide.

 The other is that all sports bodies should work hand in hand with the Schools federation “Fédération Rwandaise du Sport Scolaire (FRSS)”, to develop sports in schools.

 All federations yet again agreed to psychosomatics of anxiety and anxiety Car Free Day and Sports For all, especially Sports For All Commission at RNOSC, “Association Rwandaise pour la Promotion du Sport au Travail (ARPST)”, “Association des Educateurs Physique et Sportif (AEPS)”, “Association Nationale pour la Promotion du Sport Féminin (ANPSF)”.

They were tasked to take a comprehensive understanding of Car Free Day and Sports For All on how the two can attract many participants when it comes to both the male and female participation across all provinces.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss about the implementation of Rwandan Government’s policy of a sport development culture that will significantly contribute to improved health of individuals, promotion of social cohesion and to generate economic benefits to participants and the country in general.

“We as the institutions in charge of tackling the development of sports we have to think how sports can be turned into an economic brand that can drive development in sectors like tourism for instance Tour of Rwanda and Marathon races.” RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha said.

Apart from the RNOSC Ordinary General Assembly which takes place once every year, it was agreed that RNOSC should hold this platform of consultative meetings with sports Federations to resolve the daily challenges in sports.