Sports Bulletin

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.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (November 4, 2021):-The sixth and final meeting of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 concluded today, rounding off three days of discussions during which the Organising Committee’s readiness was highlighted by the positive feedback received from recent test events. Speaking about this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission Chair, Juan Antonio Samaranch, said: “There’s been extensive testing taking place in recent weeks in China at the Olympic and Paralympic venues. This is effectively the warm-up for next February’s Games, and the feedback we’ve received from both athletes and International Federations has been very encouraging. The quality of the venues in particular has been praised, as well as the organisational support and on-ground operations being delivered in China.” He continued: “In addition to updates on Games preparations, these meetings also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible amount of work being undertaken together to deliver safe Games. This was evident just recently when the IOC, IPC and Beijing 2022 united to collaborate on the production of the Playbooks. With only three months until the Games begin, we’re continuing to work diligently together, through every final detail. This will ensure everyone is fully prepared for what are set to be spectacular Winter Games.” Speaking by video link, the President of the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee, Cai Qi, said: “The Games preparations are now entering the final sprint phase. At present, COVID-19 is still spreading around the world, posing challenges to the Games preparations. Beijing 2022 will work closely with the IOC and the IPC to guide all stakeholders, ensuring compliance with the Playbooks, with the good wishes of ‘Together for a Shared Future’, and in the Olympic spirit of togetherness.” He concluded: “We will overcome all difficulties and challenges, complete all the preparations and deliver Games that are impressive and full of unforgettable memories.” COVID-19 countermeasures were a consistent theme throughout the discussions, as the IOC, IPC and Beijing 2022 continue to prioritise the health and safety of Games participants and the local population. The Commission heard that these measures will continue to be refined over the coming weeks in preparation for the publication of the second version of the Playbooks, due to be released later this year. A summary of test events and activities was also provided to the Commission. So far, international competitions in speed skating, figure skating, short track speed skating, wheelchair curling, bobsleigh and skeleton all took place in October. In November, further international events for luge, freestyle skiing and snowboard will take place, while ice hockey testing activities have also been planned. Some of these events form part of the global calendar of Beijing 2022 qualification events taking place over the next few weeks. In this respect, it was noted that 76 per cent of athlete quotas for next year’s Olympic Winter Games are still to be confirmed by mid-January. The test events and activities taking place in China just now are being conducted in Beijing 2022 venues. In this respect, construction of all permanent venue infrastructure is finished, with temporary venue infrastructure installation nearing completion. Consequently, with attention now turning towards operational delivery, Beijing 2022 explained plans to increase opportunities for national and international media. Underpinning Beijing 2022’s preparations is its commitment to deliver carbon-neutral Games. A key contribution to this is maximising the use of existing venues. As the world’s first “dual Olympic city”,  in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5, five of the six competition venues in the Beijing zone were used during the Olympic Summer Games Beijing 2008. In addition, the Coordination Commission received details about Beijing 2022’s use of renewable energy for all competition venues; low-emission, natural CO2 refrigeration systems, which are being used for the first time in ice venues in China and at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; and various other sustainability initiatives being implemented for the Games. An update on Beijing 2022’s Olympic Torch Relay was also provided. This included details of the Olympic flame Exhibition Tour, which will be taking place over the coming weeks, together with further details about the Olympic Torch Relay during the three days leading up to the Opening Ceremony on 4 February. Another topic of discussion was Games legacy, with the Beijing 2022 organisers revealing that they are well on track to engage 300 million Chinese people in winter sports. This follows remarks made by IOC President Thomas Bach on the occasion of 100 days to go, when he said: “If you have 300 million more people participating in winter sports, this will be a huge legacy for global winter sports. It will also be very important for the legacy of the Olympic venues [in China] because, with this participation, the use of these venues after the Olympic Games is secured.” The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will close on 20 February, before the Paralympic Winter Games take place between 4 and 13 March.

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (October 24, 2021):-The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it will cut its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, as part of its commitment to tackling climate change. The announcement was made by IOC President Thomas Bach during the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), currently taking place in Greece. It comes ahead of the UN Climate Summit (COP26) due to be held at the end of October in Glasgow, Great Britain. 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. “The climate crisis is arguably the biggest challenge humanity is facing,” said President Bach. “It is affecting all areas of our lives, including sport of course, as an important part of society. By further reducing our carbon emissions, we strengthen our contribution to the realisation of the Paris Agreement, follow the latest science on climate change, and contribute better to this global effort. We urge all other sports organisations to follow suit.” In order to achieve the 50 per cent cut in emissions by 2030, the IOC has set an intermediate reduction target of 30 per cent, to be achieved by 2024. Its action plan to deliver on this commitment will now be updated with increased efforts to reduce emissions in the areas of travel, energy use and procurement. Aligning with the latest science The IOC’s announcement comes following the publication of the Sixth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. Published in August 2021, the report found that human-induced climate change is intensifying at an unprecedented pace. Sport is increasingly affected, both in winter and summer. Unreliable snow and temperatures impact winter sports, while increasing summer heat threatens the health of athletes, event organisers and fans. In 2018, working with UN Climate Change, the IOC helped develop the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework – which aims to drive climate action across the sports world – and has taken a leadership role in its implementation. More than 270 sports organisations from around the world have signed up to it so far, including the IOC itself. Based on the latest data from the IPCC report, all signatories to the Framework will be required to reduce their emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, in order to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5?C.