On his arrival in Paris, the President visited the headquarters of the Motorcycle Companies Service, “La Barracks for Bikers”, which will be part of the security forces during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
President Bach opened the second day of the EC meeting with a moving tribute to IOC honorary member Henry Kissinger. Upon learning of his death at the age of 100, the President said: “Henry Kissinger was an extraordinary man – and a sports enthusiast – who was a friend of the Olympic Movement for 25 years. Everyone knows the very sharp and analytical mind of Henry Kissinger. He always impressed you with his genius, while putting you completely at ease. He was a very empathetic person with a good sense of humor. The president added: “He gave me valuable advice on all the many geopolitical issues that the world and sport have had to face in recent years. I will greatly miss a brilliant man and a warm friend. As a sign of respect, the IOC Executive Board observed a minute of silence and the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at the Olympic House in Lausanne. See also “Honorary Members Section”.
During its meeting, the EC discussed the next editions of the Olympic Games and Olympic institutional issues and took a number of decisions.
Following a recommendation from IOC Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, chaired by IOC member Karl Stoss, the IOC Executive Board invited the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) and the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to engage in targeted dialogues with a view to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games winter of 2030 in France. Alps, and the 2034 edition in Salt Lake City, Utah. The IOC will now begin further discussions with the preferred hosts, led by their NOCs, with the aim of awarding the two editions at the 142sd IOC session in July in Paris. Furthermore, the IOC Executive Board decided to grant the non-edition specific project, Switzerland 203x, a special status by inviting it to enter into a “privileged dialogue” for the 2038 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Read the full press release here.
Fifty days before the opening ceremony of the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024, the IOC Executive Board was informed of preparations for the next Winter YOG. Speaking via video conference, Coordination Commission Chairman and IOC Member Hong Zhang warmly welcomed the appointment of the new Chairman of the Gangwon 2024 Winter YOG Organizing Committee (YOGOC), Choi Jong-gu (see also under “Gangwon 2024”). YOGOC Secretary General Kim Chul-min reported on the operational readiness and key milestones achieved in preparation for Gangwon 2024. Full detailed information here.
The IOC Executive Board also approved the list of 32 athletes – 18 women and 14 men – who will apply election to the IOC Athletes’ Commission next year at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Four positions are up for election. The candidates, who were nominated by their respective NOCs and Athletes’ Commissions, come from 15 sports and 32 NOCs. All the details here.
The EC also heard an update on next summer YOG Edition, Dakar 2026. Present at the EC meeting, the President of the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026, Kirsty Coventry, said of the progress of the project: “It is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the OCOG teams and the IOC, allowing the necessary revisions and adaptations to the Dakar 2026 project in the current context. The general coordinator of the organizing committee, Ibrahima Wade, and the IOC member in Senegal, Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, presented the updates on the YOG Dakar 2026, focusing on recent key developments. here.
The EC also approved nine applications for a change of nationality. All nine are destined for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Details here.
