Sports Bulletin

KARACHI (Sports Bulletin Report):-President,  Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Lt Gen Arif Hasan, who is also chief of the Commonwealth Games Association of Pakistan, viewed off that the warm reception accorded to the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton, which arrived in the city for the first time would help to display the positive image of the country across the world. "An overwhelming turn-out of the citizens at Queens Baton Relay receptions in Karachi is a testimony to the fact that Pakistan's is a sports-loving nation and it will help us restore and host international sporting events in the country which in turn would promote peace and harmony in the society. He was speaking at a reception hosted by Queens Baton Relay Organising Committee Chairperson Fatima Lakhani to celebrate the successful holding of the QBR handing over events in the city. POA Secretary-General Mohammad Khalid Mehmood, Deputy Secretary-General Mohammad Jahangir, Organising Committee Deputy Chairman Syed Waseem Hashmi, Secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput, Tehmina Asif, Veena Masood, Nargis Rahimtoola, Asif Azim, Parvez Ahmed, Col Nasir, Imtiaz Ahmed and Asghar Baloch among other sports dignitaries and organizers attended this grand reception. Gen Arif Hassan further said that the participation of squash legend Jahangir Khan, hockey great Hasan Sardar and other sports greats including Inam But, Arshad Nadeem, Talha Talib, and Haider Ali added warmth and dignity to the QBR receptions as these are our national heroes and people love to follow them in words and deeds. Gen Arif Hasan was all praise for the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, security apparatus of the province, the British Deputy High Commissioner Martin Dawson, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Karachi Grammar School Administrator, Sindh Madressatul Islam VC Dr Mujeebuddin Memon, and all other dignitaries and sports personalities and last but not the least the citizens of Karachi who were part of the warm reception of QBR. Later souvenirs were distributed among the organising committee members by Gen Arif Hassan. Also, special gifts were given away to all participants of the reception on behalf of Fatima Lakhani and Syed Waseem Hashmi on this occasion.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-At the invitation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the leading representatives of the Olympic Movement met on for the 10th Olympic Summit, which was held virtually. Meeting was chaired by the IOC President of the Olympic Summit involves the leading representatives of the Olympic Movement. It forms part of the ongoing dialogue and consultation on subjects of significance for the future of the Olympic Movement. The main areas under discussion were as follows: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 The Summit appreciated the overwhelming global success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with regard to the athletes, the worldwide audience and the Olympic values. The athletes expressed strong satisfaction that the Games had taken place despite the unprecedented challenges. The Games reached a total global broadcast audience of more than three billion people across linear TV and digital platforms, and were watched on digital platforms with more than 28 billion video views in total on the Olympic broadcast partners’ digital platforms. All this made the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 the most engaged Olympic Games ever, the most watched Olympic Games ever on digital platforms, and the first “streaming” Games. Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 The participants were informed of the final preparations for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, with a series of successful test events. The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be the start of a new era of global winter sport. With 300 million Chinese people engaging with sports on snow and ice, global participation in winter sports will be taken to new levels. The Summit participants welcomed the strong support for the Games by the UN Member States, which adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution by consensus of all 193 Member States. In addition, the Resolution was co-sponsored by 173 UN Member States. The Summit stands firmly against any politicisation of the Olympic Games and sport, and strongly emphasised the need for the political neutrality of the IOC, the Olympic Games and the entire Olympic Movement. Future Editions of the Games The Summit was updated on the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, which will be the first Olympic Games to be fully organised and benefitting from the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020.  These Games will be sustainable, inclusive, urban, youth-oriented, and gender-equal. The Organising Committee has the ambition for the Games to be the first climate-positive Olympic and Paralympic Games. The youth-oriented initial sports programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 was welcomed by the participants. It will build on the success of Tokyo 2020 with 28 initial sports on the programme, including the new sports of skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, to be submitted for approval at the upcoming IOC Session. A pathway for potential inclusion by the IOC Session in 2023 has been provided to boxing (AIBA), weightlifting (IWF) and modern pentathlon (UIPM), subject to the fulfilment of conditions specific to each of them. Olympic Qualifiers The Summit appreciated that International Federations (IFs) and Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will have the offer to create a direct Olympic association with the Olympic qualifying events. This will also benefit the athletes who participate in these events. The Olympic Summit supported the comprehensive offers for the development of dedicated Olympic qualifying brands for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the use of the Olympic digital broadcast platforms. Olympic Virtual Series The Summit received a review of the successful first edition of the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021, bringing together the virtual sports of five International Federations and reaching nearly 250,000 participants, with more than two million entries. The Summit noted that, building from this this strong base, the Olympic Virtual Series is planned to continue on an annual basis, providing opportunities for IFs to reach out, engage with and promote their sports, and reach new communities. Details for the Olympic Virtual Series 2022 will now be confirmed in the first half of 2022, including the timing and the sports to be included. Sports Calendar The Summit discussed the ongoing coordination of all stakeholders for the international event calendars, with the Summit noting the importance of all sports having the opportunity to promote and develop their respective sports, for the wider benefit of a diverse global sports landscape. The attendees voiced serious concerns over proposals from FIFA for a biennial World Cup and the impact on the world-wide sport event calendar. It was noted that, until today, there has been neither any information nor consultation with other IFs, Continental Associations of NOCs or the IOC. The FIFA President explained that the ongoing discussions in FIFA were broader in scope than a biennial World Cup, and that what had been presented so far, was only the preliminary results, which are still under discussion within FIFA. He offered to engage with the Olympic Movement in these discussions.  Anti-corruption The Summit noted the success of the 4th International Forum for Sports Integrity last month. Representatives of the Olympic Movement, governments, intergovernmental agencies, betting entities and other experts are strengthening their cooperation in the fight against corruption, in order to protect the credibility and integrity of sport - in particular through the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS). The Summit welcomed the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the IOC and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The aim is to fight corruption and crime in sport, with a particular focus on preventing youth crime, violence and drug use through sport. The Summit expressed its firm commitment to continuing to strengthen this fight against corruption in sport. Anti-doping The Summit welcomed the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s wide-ranging governance reforms that were agreed by its Foundation Board last month. These reforms will increase the representation within WADA of athletes, independent members and National Anti-Doping Organisations, while also maintaining the unique and successful 50-50 partnership between the sports movement and governments of the world. This latest round of reforms will ensure that WADA’s governance model is effective and reflects international best practice. The Summit was informed that the anti-doping programme for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 carried out by the ITA had been fully and successfully implemented despite the challenging COVID-19 circumstances. The comprehensive pre-Games testing programme and the long-term storage of samples, introduced for the first time, were also welcomed. The Summit welcomed the full delegation of the anti-doping system by the IOC to the International Testing Agency (ITA), for management, and to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), for sanctioning. This avoids any perception of a conflict of interests, and adds greatly to the credibility of the process.  It is also strongly supported by the athletes.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will submit the following proposals on membership to the 139th IOC Session, which will be held in Beijing in February 2022. It follows the recommendations of the IOC Members Election Commission: Election of three new IOC Members Election of four IOC Honorary Members Re-election of one IOC Member Re-election of and change of status of one IOC Member, and Extension of the term of office of one IOC Member. Three new IOC Members proposed for election The EB today approved the nomination of three candidates for election as IOC Members by the Session in Beijing. Two candidates, one woman and one man, have been proposed as Independent Individuals: Danka Barteková (Female, year of birth: 1984, Slovakia)  Yiech Pur Biel (Male, year of birth: 1995, Refugee, UNHCR). Biel’s nomination is possible following the amendments made to the Olympic Charter in Tokyo, allowing for up to seven IOC Members to be elected in special cases without a nationality or National Olympic Committee (NOC) requirement. One candidate has been proposed linked to his function within an International Federation: David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (Male, year of birth: 1973, France) The candidates have been subject to integrity checks conducted by the IOC Ethics Commission. IOC Honorary Members Reaching the age limit at the end of the year 2022, three IOC Members will be proposed to the IOC Session for election as IOC Honorary Members, with their terms starting on 1 January 2023: Richard W. Pound, Q.C., AD.E. (Canada) Alex Gilady (Israel) Pál Schmitt (Hungary) The EB will also propose to the IOC Session in February 2022 to elect René Fasel (Switzerland) as an IOC Honorary Member, having served more than 10 years as an IOC Member. Fasel’s IOC membership was ceased in September this year. IOC Member to be re-elected in 2022 Arriving at the end of his eight-year term, Poul-Erik Høyer (Denmark, membership linked to his function as President of the Badminton World Federation, elected in 2014) will be proposed for re-election.  IOC Member to be re-elected in 2022 and change of status Also arriving at the end of her term, Mrs Nicole Hoevertsz (Aruba, membership linked to her function as Secretary General of the NOC of Aruba, elected in 2006, re-elected in 2014) will be proposed for re-election and for a change of status to Independent Individual due to the positions held within the IOC, including IOC Vice-President and Chair of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. Extension of a term of office of an IOC Member In addition, the IOC EB agreed to submit to the Session the extension of the term of IOC Member Mr Luis Alberto Moreno (Colombia, membership as Independent Individual, elected in 2016), for four years, starting from 1 January 2024, as the age limit will be reached at the end of 2023. The Chair of the IOC Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport Commission and Permanent Observer of the IOC to the United Nations since 2019, Moreno plays an important role in the relationship between the IOC and the UN.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 reached a global broadcast audience of more than three billion people, according to independent research conducted on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A total of 3.05 billion unique viewers tuned in to coverage across linear TV and digital platforms. Official coverage on Olympic broadcast partners’ digital platforms alone generated 28 billion video views in total – representing a 139 per cent increase compared with the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and underlining the changing media landscape and Tokyo 2020’s designation as the first streaming Games and the most watched Olympic Games ever on digital platforms. In a survey conducted with the athletes, it was clearly demonstrated that participation in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was important to them. Regarding their motivation to compete, 93 per cent of athletes stated that it was important “to compete at the biggest multi-sports event on earth”, and 84 per cent rated it important “to become an Olympian”. “These Olympic Games were a success with regard to the athletes, the worldwide audience and the Olympic values, as demonstrated in the research. As the most-watched Olympic Games ever on digital platforms, with more than 28 billion video views in total on the Olympic broadcast partners’ digital platforms, they have really become the first streaming Games. Overall, they reached a total global broadcast audience of more than 3 billion people across linear TV and digital platforms,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The final venue master plan and the dates for the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 have been approved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  Gangwon 2024 will host the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games from 19 January to 1 February 2024. A total of 81 events, building on the sustainable overall size of Lausanne 2020, are scheduled for a fortnight of competition and celebration. The event programme was finalised with the confirmation of the venue master plan and includes the events of halfpipe (freestyle skiing and snowboard), dual moguls (only freestyle skiing), and cross (freestyle skiing and snowboard) with venues for those events now approved ( the details of the Gangwon 2024 event programme are available here ). This has been done in partnership with all seven Olympic Winter International Federations. The Games will benefit from the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. They will take place in four locations: Gangneung (for ice sports), PyeongChang (for Nordic and sliding disciplines), Jeongseon High 1 (for Alpine skiing and dual moguls), and Hoengseong (for the remaining freestyle skiing and snowboard events). The 1,900 participating athletes will stay in one of the two Youth Olympic Villages (YOVs): Gangneung-WonjuNational University YOV or Jeongseon High 1 Ski Resort YOV. This will ensure sustainable Games, an optimised spectator experience, and strong mobilisation and participation in the local youth activities and athletes’ educational programmes. In addition, with a new focus on the Jeongseon area, this master plan opens new long-term prospects for Gangwon province and Jeongseon county. Coordination Commission Chair and IOC Member Hong Zhang said: “With this plan, the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 represent a symbolic bridge between the legacy of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the empowerment of tomorrow's youth and the future transformation of an entire region.” Shin Chang-jae, President of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (GYOGOC), said: “These future Games already prefigure the founding principle of ‘togetherness’ at all stages of creation. The Gangwon 2024 Organising Committee is honoured to have the full support of the Gangwon region and Jeongseon county. It is a promise for the future of a region, but also for a whole generation.”

Islamabad (Sports Desk):-The resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” was adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by 173 Member States at the 76th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA) in New York. It calls for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, from seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, on 4 February 2022, until seven days after the end of the Paralympic Games. The resolution “underlines the importance of cooperation among Member States to collectively implement the values of the Olympic Truce around the world, and emphasises the important role of the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the United Nations in this regard”. It also expresses “the expectation that the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be a meaningful opportunity to harness the power of sport to advance the world by fostering an atmosphere of peace, development, resilience, tolerance and understanding, and welcoming all the delegations of National Olympic and Paralympic Committees to participate in the Games”. The resolution “calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee in their efforts to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”. “The IOC very much welcomes the great support for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 by all the UN Member States, expressed through the adoption by consensus of the Truce Resolution. This is a great recognition of the mission of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to unite the best athletes of the world in peaceful competition, and standing above any political dispute,” IOC President Thomas Bach said. During the debate on the resolution, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was represented by IOC Member and Permanent Observer for the IOC to the UN, Luis Alberto Moreno. He delivered the speech of the IOC President, who could not be present due to the current pandemic situation. In the speech, the IOC President stressed the importance of peace and solidarity in our divided world: “By adopting this resolution, you are supporting the mission of the Olympic Games to unite the best winter sport athletes of the entire world, without any discrimination whatsoever, in a peaceful and respectful competition. This bond of our shared humanity is even more relevant in our polarised world today.” “We can only accomplish this mission if the Olympic Games stand above and beyond all political, cultural and other differences. This is only possible if the Olympic Games are politically neutral and do not become a tool to achieve political goals,” he continued. The Olympic Truce has a 3,000 year-old history, dating from when the Ancient Greeks established the “Ekecheiria” – a sacred truce – to allow the participation in the Olympic Games of all athletes and spectators from the Greek city-states, which were otherwise almost constantly engaged in conflict with one other. “In this way, there was from the very beginning an inseparable link between the Olympic Games and peace, which allowed the ancient Olympic Games to take place for approximately 1,000 years. Just a couple of weeks ago, the original parties of the Ekecheiria – the cities of Olympia, Ilida and Sparta – have solemnly renewed their pledge with their Olympic Truce declaration. I hope that this meaningful initiative is an encouragement for all UN Member States,” the IOC President said in his speech. IOC President Bach explained: “Today, the Olympic athletes demonstrate to the entire world that yes, it is possible to be fierce rivals and engage in intense competition, while at the same time living peacefully and respectfully together. In the Olympic Village, the athletes from every corner of the world are living together in harmony. In the Olympic Games, we are all equal, irrespective of social background, gender, race, sexual orientation, or political belief. In the Olympic Games, everyone respects the same rules – rules set by the IOC and the Olympic Charter. In this spirit, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will be an important moment, “President Bach concluded.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (November 16, 2021):-Following a two-year consultation process with more than 250 athletes and concerned stakeholders, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today released its new “ IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations”.  Through this Framework, the IOC seeks to promote a safe and welcoming environment for everyone involved in elite-level competition, consistent with the principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter. The Framework also acknowledges the central role that eligibility criteria play in ensuring fairness, particularly in high-level organised sport in the women’s category. The document is issued as part of the IOC’s commitment to respecting human rights (as expressed in Olympic Agenda 2020+5), and as part of the action taken to foster gender equality and inclusion. In issuing this Framework, the IOC recognises that it must be within the remit of each sport and its governing body to determine how an athlete may be at a disproportionate advantage compared with their peers, taking into consideration the nature of each sport. The IOC is therefore not in a position to issue regulations that define eligibility criteria for every sport, discipline or event across the very different national jurisdictions and sport systems. Therefore, the aim of this Framework is to offer sporting bodies – particularly those in charge of organising elite-level competition – a 10-principle approach to help them develop the criteria that are applicable to their sport. Sports bodies will also need to consider particular ethical, social, cultural and legal aspects that may be relevant in their context. The document was developed following an extensive consultation with athletes and stakeholders concerned. This included members of the athlete community, International Federations and other sports organisations, as well as human rights, legal and medical experts. It replaces and updates previous IOC statements on this matter, including the 2015 Consensus Statement. This Framework recognises both the need to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their gender identity or sex variations, can practise sport in a safe, harassment-free environment that recognises and respects their needs and identities, and the interest of everyone – particularly athletes at elite level – to participate in fair competitions where no participant has an unfair and disproportionate advantage over the rest. Lastly, the IOC notes that most high-level organised sports competitions are staged with men’s and women’s categories competing separately. In this context, the principles contained in the Framework are aimed at ensuring that competition in each of these categories is fair and safe, and that athletes are not excluded solely on the basis of their transgender identity or sex variations. Where eligibility criteria must be set in order to regulate the participation in the women’s and men’s categories, the establishment and implementation of such criteria should be carried out as part of a comprehensive approach grounded on respect for internationally recognised human rights, robust evidence and athlete consultation. In so doing, precautions should be taken to avoid causing harm to the health and well-being of athletes. While the Framework has been drafted with the specific needs of high-level organised sports competitions in mind, the general principles of inclusion and non-discrimination should be promoted and defended at all levels of sport, especially for recreational and grass-roots sport. Although the Framework is being released today, the IOC is also planning a comprehensive roll-out phase, including webinars that may support IFs and athletes on this journey, starting after the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (November 12, 2021):-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced an extension to its support agreement with The Adecco Group, the world’s leading talent solutions company, to help strengthen its support for athletes through Athlete365 Career+. The agreement ensures that athletes around the world will receive even greater support and assistance as they transition into life after sport. “The extension of our agreement underlines our commitment to supporting athletes at every stage of their lives,” said IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair  Emma Terho.  “Transitioning into a new career can be a challenging moment, and we are proud that Athlete365 Career+ has already supported thousands of athletes to successfully navigate this challenge. We are grateful that The Adecco Group will continue to make its resources available to athletes as they transition from competing on the field of play to competing in the labour market.” The IOC and The Adecco Group began working together in 2005 on what was then known as the IOC Athlete Career Programme. Since then, the programme, now known as Athlete365 Career+, has provided career development resources and training to more than 50,000 athletes, helping them to maximise their employment opportunities. “At The Adecco Group, we believe in the power of sport and athlete-talent potential,” said Alain Dehaze, CEO The Adecco Group. “For over 16 years, we have worked with the IOC to support athlete careers beyond sport. This support agreement meets with our purpose – to make the future work for everyone. In the next four years, we will be powering Athlete365 Career+ through talent solutions, expertise, and online resources. Our goal is to increase our reach and impact on the athlete community, helping athletes design their next career; positioning them as an unbeatable talent in the broader labour market.” The new agreement focuses on supporting the IOC in the development, management, implementation and coordination of IOC Athlete365 Career+. It also invests into powering Athlete365 Career+ through a blended offering based on three core pillars. The first pillar focuses on athlete career transition solutions. Aiming to support athletes’ career development, online resources will be provided via an Athlete Career Portal accessible from Athlete365, including a bespoke Athlete Attributes Assessment tool to help athletes understand and further build their unique skillset and hidden attributes. Through this pillar, the agreement will also offer the possibility of training to interested NOCs on matters such as career coaching and empowering administrative staff to better support athletes in designing their next career. The second pillar focuses on the provision of expertise and promotion. This support will be in the form of research and thought leadership to position athlete talent into the labour market. The third pillar of the programme will seek to strengthen the athlete employer initiative, working inside and outside the sports industry to build a global network of athlete employers. These arrangements will seek to further develop educational tools and curricula such as the Power Up workshops. IOC Athletes’ Commission Vice-Chair and Chair of the Athlete365 Career+ Steering Committee Seung-min Ryu added: “Transitioning to a new career after sport brings new challenges, but it does not have to promote fear if you are prepared. Through Athlete365 Career+, we strive to be a leader in the career transition for athletes in the fact that we are there for support and solidarity while empowering athletes to carry the beneficial skills learned on the field, throughout their lifelong journey.” Athlete365 Career+ has developed significantly over its many years of delivery. In the last five years, the Olympic Solidarity Athlete Career Transition programme has made funding available to 58 NOCs to organise Outreach workshops for their athletes to equip them with skills around self-knowledge and career exploration. In 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these workshops pivoted to global digital delivery, resulting in Power Up online workshops having been delivered in six languages to over 1,000 participants from all around the world. In total, over 13,000 athletes have attended in-person or online outreach workshops since 2007.

SPORTS DESK Islamabad (November 9, 2021):-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) extended their memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the cooperation between the two organisations in fighting corruption and crime in sport. The new agreement has a particular focus on preventing youth crime, violence and drug use through sport and was signed today at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, by IOC President Thomas Bach and UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly. “The IOC is a values-based organisation. Therefore, we have the duty to uphold good governance and integrity,” said the IOC President. “This MoU will greatly strengthen the cooperation between the IOC and UNODC. We will cooperate in a number of different areas, specifically on capacity-building, training programmes and awareness-raising events that aim to tackle corruption and crime in sport. In addition, we collaborate in the prevention of the manipulation of sports competitions. Through the extended cooperation, we will also use sport as a tool to prevent youth crime, violence and drug use.” UNODC Executive Director Waly said: “2021 is a landmark year for global anti-corruption action, and international mobilisation to protect the integrity of sport is stronger than ever. Under the new agreement, UNODC and the IOC will build on this momentum to help countries safeguard sport, but also leverage its power to strengthen youth resilience against crime, and shape more inclusive and just societies.” The IOC and UNODC have a long-standing relationship. The two organisations regularly review the effectiveness of their joint initiatives and develop them further to address new trends and needs. The new MoU signed today is set to remain in force until the end of 2025 and covers the following areas of cooperation: supporting capacity-building, training programmes, awareness-raising events and related initiatives aimed at tackling corruption and crime in sport, including within sports organisations and in relation to the manipulation of sports competitions, as well as preventing youth crime, violence and drug use through sport; exchanging information and expertise, including through participation in conferences, regular meetings, contribution to studies, development of technical tools and publications regarding tackling corruption and crime in sport, as well as preventing youth crime, violence and drug use through sport; and supporting activities to enhance sport’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and also promoting sport for development and peace through joint programming, including in the context of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other sports events. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the International Forum for Sports Integrity (IFSI), which brings together over 500 stakeholders representing the Olympic Movement, intergovernmental agencies, governments, the betting industry and other sectors.

SPORTS DESK Islamabad (November 9, 2021):-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on November 8, 2021 announced the winners of the prestigious award for the best broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Awards were presented across 12 categories: Best Coverage by the Host Broadcaster; Best Athlete Profile; Best Equality & Inclusion Content; Best Innovation; Best Olympic Digital Service; Best Olympic Feature/Documentary; Best Olympic Programme; Best On-Air Promotion; Best Social Media Content/Production; Digital Fan Engagement; Commentary; and a Lifetime Commitment Award. IOC President Thomas Bach, said: "The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were the most engaged Olympic Games ever and another landmark moment in sports broadcasting history. Through the IOC’s partnerships with leading media companies around the world, we are able to share the magic of the Olympic Games to inspire billions of people. Our close partnership with our broadcasters is a great reflection that we can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger, if we work together – in solidarity. There were more submissions for the Golden Rings Awards than ever before, and the breadth, diversity and creativity of the production is testament to the passion and commitment of the individuals who work with us to broadcast the Olympic Games.”  Best Athlete Profile     Gold: TV Globo - “Rayssa Leal” - Producer: Carol Oliveira - Director: Rafael Pirrho Silver: 7Network - “Kai and Saya Sakakibara” - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin Bronze: MARCA Claro - “Paula Pareto” - Producer: Gustavo Ramirez Beguerisse - Director: Juan Carlos Lopez de la Cerda Best Coverage by the Host Broadcaster         Gold: OBS - Sailing Team - Producer: Henry Mok - Director: Leon Sefton Silver: OBS - Cycling - Mountain Bike - Producer: Chris Jensen - Director: Olivier Moser Bronze: OBS - Surfing Producer: Helen Borobokas - Director: Lyle Fielmich Best Equality & Inclusion Content (Presented by Worldwide TOP Partner P&G) Gold: NBC Universal NBC Olympics' - Coverage of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad - Producer: Rob Hyland - Director: Mike Sheehan Silver: Televisa - Legacy of Champions: Ricardo del Real - Producer: Javier Sahagun - Director: Amaury Salyano Bronze: Sky New Zealand - Sky's Tokyo 2020 reporting team Producer: Andrew Hawthorn - Director: Matt Quin Best Innovation Gold: Eurosport Discovery - The Eurosport Cube - Producer: Paul Whipps - Director: Alex Dinnin Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Olympics' Friends and Family Integration - Producer: Lee Ann Gschwind - Director: Mike Sheehan Bronze: NHK - Real-time sign language commentary with CG animation - Producer: Toru Ogawa - Director: Tsubasa Uchida Best Olympic Digital Service Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Sports - Producer: Eric Hamilton - Directors: Alexis Coble and Sam Tydings Silver: TV Globo - Repercussion - Producer: Yas André Yasaka - Director: Chico Leao Bronze: CBC/Radio-Canada - Full digital product experience - CBC/Radio-Canada Team Best Olympic Feature/Documentary  Gold: NBC Universal Imagine - Producers: Philip Parrisch, Elinore Wright, Aaron Cohen, Jack Felling - Director: Philip Parrish Silver: Sky New Zealand - One Fern: One Hundred Years - Producer and Director: Paora Ratahi           Bronze: 7Network - Jess Fox Gold Medal Split Screen - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin Best Olympic Programme Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Olympics' Coverage of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad - Producer: Rob Hyland - Director:Mike Sheehan Silver: BBC - Today at the Games - Producer: Mike Jackson - Director: Matthew Griffiths Bronze: France TV - Highlights of Tokyo 2020 - Producers: Pascal Golomer, Gilles Silard, Frederic Gaillard, Laurence Beyssac, Fabrice Colin - Director: Didier Fraisse Best On-Air Promotion Gold: France TV - Sumo - Producer: Hugues Allart - Director: Geoffroy Barbet-Massin Silver: NBC Universal - Tomorrow in Tokyo - Producer: Jack Felling - Director: Jack Felling Bronze: TV Globo - Anime - Producer: Yas André Yasaka - Director: Chico Leao Best Social Media Content/Production           Gold: 7Network - From Little Things, Big Things Grow - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin Silver: BBC - BBC Sport - TikTok - BBC Sport Digital Video Team     Bronze: SBS - Tokyo 2020 Direct Cam - Producer: Lee Moon-Ki - Director: Mok Jungwoong Digital Fan Engagement Gold: OBS Commentary Gold: OBS Lifetime Commitment Award Velitchka Nedialkova, ZDF The Golden Rings Awards is a prestigious international competition organised by the IOC to promote and award excellence in the broadcasting of the Olympic Games. The winners were selected by an international jury headed by IOC Member Anant Singh, who is a leading professional in the film and media industries, Chair of the IOC Communications Commission and a member of the IOC's Olympic Channel Commission and the Digital & Technology Commission. In addition, Olympic Orders were presented to Peter Diamond, Vice President NBC Olympics and Besim Hasani, former President of the Kosovo Olympic Committee. The awards ceremony took place in the IOC’s headquarters, Olympic House, in Lausanne, where the IOC is currently hosting a series of IOC commission meetings.