Francesco Ricci Bitti confirmed for the third time as the head of ASOIF

• SUMMER OLYMPIC SPORTS

Francesco Ricci Bitti has been confirmed for the third time as the head of ASOIF, the association that brings together the international federations of summer Olympic sports.

The 78-year-old Italian executive, Honorary President of the International Tennis Federation and member of the National Council of CONI, was unanimously re-elected (he was the sole candidate) for his third and final term by the ASOIF General Assembly, which met today by video-conference.

Last week Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation and also a member of the CONI Council, was elected to the presidency of the AIOWF, the association representing the international federations of winter Olympic sports. For Italy and CONI, this is a prestigious double placement at the top of world sport.

Ferriani elected no.1 of the AIOWF, another CONI Board member at the top of world sport

• WINTER OLYMPIC SPORTS

Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, has been elected to the presidency of the AIOWF, the association that brings together the international federations of winter Olympic sports.

During the General Assembly held yesterday by video-conference, the 60 year old from Piedmont, member of the National Council of CONI, was voted unanimously by the seven members (FIS, IBU, IBSF, WCF, IIHF, ISU and FIL). He succeeds Gian Franco Kasper, head of the association since 2014. The Assembly instead chose Heike Größwang for the role of Secretary General, a position she also holds in the IBSF.

Ferriani has been President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation since 2010, and has been an executive member of the IOC since 2018.

His election at the head of the AIOWF confirms the international appreciation and competence of Italian sports managers. The ASOIF, the Association of Summer International Olympic sports Federations, is led by another member of the CONI Board: Francesco Ricci Bitti, Honorary President of the International Tennis Federation, is preparing to be re-elected (as the sole candidate) for his third and final term at the ASOIF General Assembly, scheduled to be held by video-conference on 9th November.

Milano Cortina 2026, Confindustria Lombardia and Veneto together for the Italian Games

• 2 PROTOCOLS SIGNED

Synergy and the best of the industrial, creative and sporting excellence of the two regions that alone produce over 30% of the national GDP in view of the 2026 Winter Olympics: this is the objective of the two Memoranda of Understanding signed by Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, Confindustria Lombardia, Confindustria Veneto, Assolombarda, Confindustria Lecco and Sondrio and Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti.

The protocols, in force until July 2026, establish a collaboration aimed at spreading and promoting the opportunities arising from participation in the selection of products, services and supplies called by the Foundation to ensure that the Olympic event is an efficient and effective success.

“I have always maintained that synergy between territories was one of the winning keys to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games,” explains Giovanni Malagò, President of the Foundation. “These Memoranda of Understanding with the two Confindustrie of Lombardy and Veneto represent a confirmation of how much the business world is at the side of this great innovative and sustainable project, which is capable of revamping the world’s view of Italy”.

“The agreements we announce today show that the Milano Cortina Games cannot wait until 2026 and must begin immediately,” says Vincenzo Novari, CEO of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. “Our challenge is to organise a great global sporting event by enhancing local excellence within a framework of economic, environmental and social sustainability, all without straining people's pockets. It is an unmissable development opportunity for the Olympic territories and a showcase for the whole country: we will show that, in addition to creativity and genius, we are able to put in place a solid culture of innovation and impeccable organisation. The two protocols are not only an invitation to companies in Lombardy and Veneto to become key members of the Games as partners - they also represent a good practice to replicate, a model to motivate all the economic energies that, in Italy, can give and receive value while embracing this wonderful Olympic adventure”.

“The Milano Cortina Olympics can represent a great opportunity for Lombardy to grow and develop, to modernise technology and to make the most of our territories while also adapting the necessary infrastructure. Lombard companies are able to meet Olympic requirements with excellent supplies in all sectors, from technical equipment to the goods and skills needed, as well as with regards to the infrastructure and security of Olympic competitions. This would provide further evidence of the strength of Made in Italy throughout the world, as well as testify to the quality and varied manufacturing capacity of our region, with important effects also in terms of economic impact for all our territories,” said Marco Bonometti, President of Confindustria Lombardia.

Enrico Carraro, Chairman of Confindustria Veneto, says, “Today we are beginning an Olympic journey, thanks to which our territory will be able to count on real investments, initiate new synergies, share skills and benefit from great visibility. We must be good at promoting and optimising all the opportunities that these major events can trigger. The platform that we are creating with this protocol aims to facilitate direct contact between the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 and the Veneto production system so that our companies are not merely spectators but can participate concretely in the organisation of the Winter Olympics by providing goods and services that have an added value”.

The territories that will host the Olympic competitions will play a key role in the preparation and development of the Olympic event, and this role in the medium term could be a strategic driver of growth and development.

“The English call it a call to action, we call it an invitation to action, but the meaning doesn't change. The Milano Cortina Olympics,” explains Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda, “represents a driving force of enormous opportunity, an accelerator that our companies are ready to push all the way, a call, for our companies, to participate, with their expertise and excellence, their products and services, of a global event. It's a path towards the Olympics that allows us to enhance and further exploit the enormous multisectorial nature of our territories and our excellence”.

“The assignment of the 2026 Winter Olympics to our territories was the result of teamwork, and this is the path on which we must continue in view of the appointment; we must give space to collaborations and synergy across the board to organise an unforgettable Olympics and maximise its impact. The signed protocol is part of this logic and will support the businesses of our provinces, not only those in the tourism sector, but also the manufacturing and service providers, in linking the many opportunities related to the preparation and management of the event, turning it into an accelerator of growth. In this regard, let us not forget that we are also facing a unique opportunity to deal with the nerve centre of infrastructures: strengthening them is an objective that not only the territory, but the country, cannot afford to miss,” comments the President of Confindustria Lecco and Sondrio, Lorenzo Riva.

“The protocol signed between the Foundation and the Confindustria is strategic for our companies: transparency and maximum involvement of the territory are the key points of this agreement, which aims to build a future of integrated and sustainable development,” says Lorraine Berton, president of Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti. “The Olympics, for the residents of Belluno, are not an end, but rather the means to keep the best energies on the territory, to give certainty to the youths and establish a serious organisation. In all this, the business world - which in our province has always made a difference - must continue to have a voice. Not only our companies, being familiar with the territory, know where, when and how to act in the best way with respect and a great sense of social responsibility. In the Table established by the protocol, we will act as a link with our companies: today, more than ever, and also as a result of the crisis triggered by Covid, entrepreneurs cannot miss any opportunity for growth. Involving local businesses is good for the territory. This is the only way we can really grow together.”

Olympic Solidarity, a worldwide programme to ensure universality in sport

• IOC

In 1960, several events led to the foundation of Olympic Solidarity. A terrible earthquake in Chile claimed thousands of victims and sparked a wave of solidarity within the sports movement, with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee covering the Chilean athletes’ travel expenses for the Olympic Games in Rome, and the Italian National Olympic Committee funding their stay in the country. During the same period, dozens of new NOCs in Africa and Asia were created in countries that had recently gained independence. Count Jean de Beaumont was moved to action by these developments and came up with the idea of creating an organisation that would assist NOCs in need – which ultimately resulted in the establishment of Olympic Solidarity.

Speaking at the 58th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Athens in 1961, Beaumont told the IOC Members that it was necessary to provide financial assistance to those countries in need and proposed setting up a commission to this end. The following year, at the Session in Moscow, he formed the Committee for International Olympic Aid.

Progress was slow, however, and the lack of financial resources hindered the implementation of programmes. At the start of 1969, at the Permanent General Assembly of NOCs, representatives launched a project to create “a technical and sporting assistance programme” for NOCs, to contribute to the development of those that needed it most. And so, on 26 April 1969, Giulio Onesti, who was chairing the General Assembly, Raymond Gafner, President of the Swiss NOC, and Raoul Mollet, President of the Belgian NOC, founded the International Institute for the Development of NOCs. Two years later, this Institute and the Committee for International Olympic Aid merged to form a joint IOC/NOC body, which became the Committee for Olympic Solidarity.

This sense of solidarity continued to grow within the Olympic Movement during the 1970s, but the lack of financial means again prevented any real progress. Nevertheless, in 1976 there were already 371 projects providing assistance to 85 countries, with the cooperation of 98 NOCs, some of which were also donating funds.

A decisive milestone was reached in 1979 in Puerto Rico, at the constitutive assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). A working group, composed of Peter Ritter (Liechtenstein), Günther Heinze (German Democratic Republic), Gafner and Mollet, was entrusted with formulating a proposal to request that the IOC distribute 20 per cent of the revenue from television rights to ANOC. The ANOC President, Mario Vázquez Raña, submitted the proposal to IOC President Lord Killanin. A second milestone was passed in 1980, when Juan Antonio Samaranch took over as IOC President. His vision, sensibilities and determination to find a solution that would meet the needs of the NOCs were fully in line with ANOC’s position.

And so, at the Olympic Congress in Baden-Baden (Germany) in September 1981, the IOC granted ANOC a subsidy for its operations for the first time, and Samaranch and Vázquez Raña set up the Olympic Solidarity Commission, whose mission was to serve the interests and needs of the NOCs. In 1983, Anselmo López became the first full-time Director of Olympic Solidarity, and it was he who implemented an administrative structure with a view to developing activities to support the NOCs. The increase in revenue from television rights, and from Games marketing in general after Los Angeles 1984, made it possible to move from a general subsidy to an income management structure that met IOC criteria. The significant NOC assistance programmes that resulted from this were developed as part of quadrennial plans, and the Olympic Scholarship Programme for athletes was created in 1992 for the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

The consolidation and real development of Olympic Solidarity could begin. A further step was taken in 2001, when a process to decentralise funds to the Continental Associations was launched. The aim was for the Continental Associations to be able to decide where financial resources were allocated, allowing greater focus to be placed on the specific needs of the NOCs. 2001 was also the year that Jacques Rogge, the longstanding President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and an active member of the Olympic Solidarity Commission since 1990, succeeded Samaranch as IOC President. He strengthened the work with Olympic Solidarity, continued the process of decentralisation, appointed Vázquez Raña as Chair of the Olympic Solidarity Commission, which was re-structured, and implemented a quadrennial plan for 2001-2004, in which 40 per cent of the development programme funds were allocated to ANOC and the Continental Associations.

The first scholarships to support athletes were allocated in 1992. Among the many athletes on all five continents who have benefitted from an Olympic scholarship over the years are Croatia’s Janica Kostelić, who went on to become a six-time Olympic medallist in Alpine skiing with three gold medals at Salt Lake City 2002 and one at Turin 2006, and Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis, who competed at two editions of the Summer Games and was ranked world no.8 in 2006. These are examples from the past; today, ahead of the Tokyo Games, more than 1,600 athletes from 185 NOCs are benefitting from Olympic Solidarity support.

The current development and assistance budget, approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission for the 2017-2020 plan, amounts to USD 509,285,000 – a figure that corresponds to the NOCs’ share of the broadcasting rights from the Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018). Olympic Solidarity redistributes these funds through three types of programmes, which are available to all NOCs recognised by the IOC: World Programmes, which cover and strengthen assistance for all sports development areas; Continental Programmes, which help to meet the specific needs of each continent; and IOC subsidies to the NOCs for participation in the Games.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of the role of Olympic Solidarity vis-à-vis the NOCs. The programmes and working methods have been adapted to the situation as required and kept in line with the budgets available. Following consultation with the Olympic Solidarity Commission, a number of measures were taken so that the programmes linked to Olympic Games preparations and participation would be extended to 2021, including Tokyo 2020 athlete scholarships, assistance for team sports, support for refugee athletes and IOC subsidies for participation at the Olympic Games. As IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Movement is facing an unprecedented challenge. The IOC has to organise postponed Olympic Games for the first time ever and has to help its stakeholders come through this global crisis. This new situation will need all our solidarity, creativity, determination and flexibility. We shall all need to make sacrifices and compromises. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. This situation requires every one of us to do our part, and this applies to all of us, including the IOC. We are glad to be able to help with our support programmes.”

As part of the IOC’s commitment to aid potential elite athletes affected by the worldwide refugee crisis, NOCs around the world were asked to identify any refugee athletes with the potential to qualify for the Olympic Games Rio 2016. These candidates were then given funding from Olympic Solidarity to assist with their preparations and qualification efforts.

Ten refugee athletes were ultimately selected to make up the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team. Acting as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide and bringing global attention to the refugee crisis, the athletes took part in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, marching and competing under the Olympic flag.

The IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020 builds on the legacy of the Rio 2016 team, which led to the creation of the Olympic Solidarity Refugee Athletes Support Programme. Through scholarships, Olympic Solidarity and the host NOCs help refugee athletes not only train with the aim of qualifying for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but also continue their sporting career and build their future. Olympic Solidarity is currently supporting 50 Refugee Athlete Scholarship-Holders from 18 host countries – from Australia to Kenya, Europe and the United States – and representing 11 sports: athletics, wresting, judo, taekwondo, cycling, swimming, badminton, boxing, shooting, karate and weightlifting.

Sustainability and legacy at the core of Milano Cortina 2026

• WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

The first International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission meeting with Milano Cortina 2026 was held virtually today, 29 September 2020. The local Organising Committee updated the Commission members on its considerable progress since winning the right to host the Olympic Winter Games last year and its desire to deliver sustainable Games with a strong legacy in the spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020 and its New Norm.

IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the members of the Commission, which is chaired by Sari Essayah. They were joined by Milano Cortina 2026 and Italian National Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagò and Milano Cortina 2026 CEO Vincenzo Novari. The Commission heard from representatives of the Organising Committee founders, including the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli; Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala; Mayor of Cortina Gianpietro Ghedina; and President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana; while an address was also delivered on behalf of the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia. The representative of the Italian Government, Valerio Toniolo; the President of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Arno Kompatscher; and the President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti, also addressed the Commission.

Speaking after the meeting, Essayah said: “Milano Cortina 2026 has made considerable progress despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The integration of Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm into the project, particularly around the use of existing venues, will provide a sustainable legacy for both international sport and local communities within Italy. We are only at the beginning of our journey and, while there are still many key decisions to be taken, I hope that these Games will be held up as an example for future Olympic Winter Games.”

She continued: “The Olympic Movement is unified in supporting the Organising Committee to realise its ambition to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave behind a legacy for generations of Italians to enjoy. The solid foundations that Milano Cortina 2026 has built are testament to the cooperation and collaboration of the Olympic and local stakeholders which shows that we truly are stronger together.”

Following this, Milano Cortina 2026 President Giovanni Malagò said: “I am delighted to welcome IOC President Thomas Bach and the Milano Cortina 2026 Coordination Commission, brilliantly chaired by Sari Essayah. I am deeply grateful for their words and the continual support they provide towards our efforts. This was our first meeting, albeit virtual, after being awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at the IOC Session. Along with the staff headed by Vincenzo Novari, during these difficult months we have been working to shape the Organising Committee and these Italian Games through an innovative and sustainable approach. We are aware of the many important challenges yet to come, but we are ready to face them as a team, with the IOC and the Milano Cortina 2026 stakeholders, in order to deliver an unforgettable edition of the Games.”
One of the major milestones praised by the Coordination Commission was the adoption, by the Italian Parliament, of an Olympic Law which dictates the organisation and governance of Milano Cortina 2026.
The Commission also heard about the development of Milano Cortina 2026 staffing, with over 50 employees now working for the organisation, many of whom hold existing expertise in winter sports events. This topic gave the Organising Committee an opportunity to detail its planned staffing model, which will see the core Organising Committee team consist of around 600 people, with four decentralised departments established to focus on Governance, Games Delivery, Digital and Revenues.
In addition, the development of Milano Cortina 2026’s Games vision was covered. This underpins its strategy right up until Games time, revolving around its desire to “Make all Italians fall in love with the Games and winter sports, and the world to fall in love with Italy”.

The Commission heard that a fundamental component of the local Organising Committee’s strategy is sustainability, in terms of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Milano Cortina 2026 explained that its Games will represent a stimulus for its economy, working towards creating new opportunities and long-term employment.

Milano Cortina 2026’s legacy plans were also detailed as it looks to leave future generations with arenas, mobility infrastructure and assets for tourism that are all financially sustainable. The Organising Committee is focused on increasing inclusion, spreading the Olympic values across the country, promoting healthy lifestyles thanks to the practice of sport, and providing the territories with stronger major events management expertise.
Another key topic was the venue masterplan. On this point, the IOC Coordination Commission highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Working Group, established by the IOC Executive Board earlier this year. This group, which is looking into the sustainability and legacy of the sliding centre and the speedskating oval, consists of the Organising Committee, the local authorities and the International Federations concerned. Its work builds on the concerns raised about those two venues by the Evaluation Commission last year.

IOC and Tokyo 2020 agree on measures to deliver Games fit for a post-corona world

• OLYMPIC GAMES

The IOC Coordination Commission and the Tokyo  2020 Organising Committee agreed today, 25 September, on a series of measures to make the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 fit for a post-corona world.

Developed in response to the postponement of this year’s Games due to the coronavirus pandemic, over 50 measures have been designed to maximise cost savings and increase efficiencies in Games delivery.

In his opening remarks to the meeting participants, IOC President Thomas Bach acknowledged the outstanding progress being made by Tokyo 2020, reinforcing his belief that next year’s Olympic Games will be the best prepared ever. He also emphasised that the coming months will require flexibility and creativity from everyone involved as the Tokyo organisers deliver Games fit for a post-corona world. In doing so, the IOC President offered his gratitude to all stakeholders, who are fully aligned with the measures being envisaged.

Today’s meeting provided the Coordination Commission with the opportunity to review the current list of measures, with more opportunities to be identified in the lead-up to the Games. These have been split into four main categories: stakeholders; infrastructure; promotion; and other areas of interest.

Examples of the initial measures include the reduction of stakeholder personnel attending the Games, streamlining transport services, adjusting spectator activities at competition venues and hosting a number of pre-Games meetings online.

Speaking after the meeting, Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission Chair John Coates said: “Built from the principles outlined by the Joint IOC and Tokyo 2020 Steering Committee, these optimisations and simplifications mark an important step towards delivering a safe and successful Games in 2021. We owe it to the public to enact these measures during these challenging times, that’s why we’ve left no stone unturned and will continue to look for further opportunities over the coming months. The unique task of reorganising an Olympic Games has called for the Olympic Movement to be stronger together – this milestone illustrates our collective commitment. The ‘Tokyo Model’ will not only deliver a Games fit for a post-corona world, it will become a blueprint that will benefit future Organising Committees for many years to come.”

Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshiro added: “Considering the current state of the world, we have been discussing how we will be able to deliver a safe and secure Games that can win public understanding in these challenging times. After we established a broader direction that the Games in 2021 should be simplified, we have been working closely together with the IOC, the IPC and various stakeholders such as IFs, NOCs, NPCs, partners and broadcasters, in every possible area that can contribute to simplifications. This process will benefit future society – becoming a role model for future global events as people adapt to living in the new normal. We will make all efforts to ensure that in the future the Tokyo 2020 Games will be a legacy. We will continue to work hard on simplifications towards next year and ask for the continued cooperation of all those involved in the Games.”

The measures were developed with support from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Tokyo 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Government of Japan. Important input was also obtained from key Olympic stakeholder groups, including National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, International Federations, Rights-Holding Broadcasters, media and TOP Partners.

With these measures now agreed, Tokyo 2020 will start estimating the provisional cost-savings that can be achieved, with a view to providing an update at the IOC Executive Board meeting in October.

COVID-19 Countermeasures

The IOC Coordination Commission also received an update on COVID-19 countermeasure planning. This detailed how the IOC, together with Tokyo 2020 and the All Partners Task Force, which includes the World Health Organization (WHO), the IPC, the Government of Japan and the TMG, with input from experts in relevant areas, have reviewed a range of scenarios. These consider the situation in Japan and globally, illustrating potential scenarios that could be in effect during the Games next year.

This strategic approach has been crucial to identifying possible countermeasures necessary to protect the health of all Games participants. It will also help build a framework for operational planning.

The possible countermeasures have been grouped into seven areas: travel/country access; physical distancing; personal protective equipment/cleaning; food and beverage; testing/tracking/isolating; information provision and vaccines.

As part of this process, the close cooperation between the IOC, International Federations and other event organisers was highlighted. This has provided vital input into an ongoing review of the best practices and key learnings taken from the resumption of sporting events in Japan and around the world.

Looking ahead, the Commission acknowledged that as countermeasures are further developed and reviewed, important discussions will continue to be conducted on a stakeholder-journey based approach, with a focus on athletes, Games-related personnel and spectators. These preparations will continue to evolve in line with the monitoring of the global situation and its impact on Games preparations.

President Thomas Bach writer to Olympic movement: olympism and corona

• IOC

Since the first “Olympism and Corona” message in April, our message about the positive health, social and economic impacts of sport on society at large has gained considerable momentum. What we can see now is that sport is widely recognised as an essential factor in fighting the pandemic, which still persists in many countries. Sport is also accepted as an integral part of the solution for the crisis recovery, which is underway in other countries.

Thankfully, we are also seeing live sports events taking place again. The very positive reception of these events clearly demonstrates that not only athletes and sports organisations but also the public at large have been longing for the return of sport as an integral part of our lives. We also see that sport can be organised safely, even under the ongoing restrictions. This should give all of us confidence in our preparations for future events, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. I would like to thank all the people who have brought us this far by working tirelessly to keep our societies going, and all of you in the sporting community who are working with great responsibility and creativity to organise sports events, safeguarding the health of all concerned.

Based on this early success, we are looking forward to the time when the many restrictions, which are essential now, can be eased. But we have to continue to act in a responsible way when it comes to planning and scheduling our sports events. The virus is not defeated yet. We must continue to contribute to its containment and be a part of the solution for the recovery from the crisis. In our planning and scheduling, we all have a great responsibility, not only for our respective stakeholders, but for the entire sports community. From experience, we know that every mishap that affects one of us affects all of us – and has the potential to undo the great progress we have made together in the past few months.

In this context, we are monitoring the potential of innovative testing methods for the safe organisation of events. In addition to the already existing test methods, there are a number of so-called rapid tests already on the market or under development. When used in combination with other virus countermeasures, such rapid tests give us an important additional tool to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved. Further to this good news with regard to testing, there are very encouraging signals from the scientific and medical community about the availability of approved vaccines in the next few months, maybe even before the end of this year.

Taken together, the developments in testing and in vaccines will greatly facilitate the safe organisation of sports events. We should all take the timing of the availability of these new tools into consideration when it comes to the scheduling of our events. Therefore, to the many different scenarios the IOC is planning for, we have added one to fully exploit the potential of testing and vaccines. On the one hand, these recent weeks have shown that we can organise big sports events in a safe way even without a vaccine. On the other hand, we have to realise that even testing methods and vaccines are not the “silver bullet” that will solve all our problems. We just do not yet know the full impact of any potential vaccine. But, altogether, there are good reasons for cautious optimism.

The IOC will continue to study these developments closely. We are also evaluating what consequences they would have for the organisation of sports events, ranging from the need to change certain rules of our respective organisations to medical, economic, social and logistical aspects. To this end, we continue to cooperate closely with the World Health Organization, public authorities, medical and scientific experts, as well as pharmaceutical companies. We are also drawing from the experience of those sports organisations that have recently organised successful events. We of course will share any insights with all those concerned among you, so that all of us in the Olympic Movement can benefit. We have shown in recent months that we are indeed #StrongerTogether. In this spirit of solidarity, we should continue to make our contribution to the containment of the virus and to the recovery from the crisis. In advance, I would already like to thank you very much for your continued cooperation in our shared endeavour to give hope and confidence to the world through sport.

The beginning of the Olympics that charmed the world. The miracle of a united Germany

• 60 years since the Olympic Games in Rome

Sixty years have passed since that unforgettable afternoon on 25th August 1960, which entered not only Italian sporting history, but Italian history as a whole. At 5.46pm, the Games of the XVII Olympiad in Rome were officially opened, among the most fascinating and engaging games of the 20th century. Italy, fresh from the organisation of the VII Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956, once again found itself four years later in the world’s spotlight for a unique and once-in-a-lifetime event.

It was a sort of redemption after the tragedy of the Second World War, a slow and difficult reconstruction, and the international distrust of a country that, up to fifteen years before, had been enslaved to a dictatorship. Sport played a key role in regaining the trust of international circles. A decisive role was played by the policies of the Prime Minister, Alcide De Gasperi, and the Undersecretary of the Council Presidency, Giulio Andreotti. Contrary to initial intentions, they avoided the liquidation of CONI, providing Giulio Onesti with new means, who was firstly appointed commissioner and then elected president.

This choice not only guaranteed the Authority with autonomy, but allowed Onesti to establish himself as a leading figure at an international level, developing a policy of amity with the emerging countries of the Mediterranean area. Rome, then, after the defeat of the 1904 candidacy, the withdrawal after the award of 1908 - following the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906 - and the lack of organisation in 1944 due to the war conflict, applied for the 1960 edition.

The Eternal City had Lausanne, Detroit, Budapest, Brussels, Mexico City, Tokyo and Toronto as adversaries. On 15th June 1955 in Paris, during the 50th session of the IOC, Rome received so many votes that it won the third round with 35 votes against 24 for Lausanne. This represented a new and great opportunity for an Italy in full economic boom.

The city was equipped with infrastructures and facilities that designed its urban structure for years, still recognisable today, thanks to the work of the architectural and engineering genius of leading figures. These included Enrico Del Debbio, Annibale Vitellozzi, Pier Luigi and Antonio Nervi, Vittorio Cafiero, Amedeo Luccichenti, Vincenzo Monaco and Luigi Moretti, to name but a few. 5,338 athletes took part in the Rome Olympics, including 611 women, representing 83 nations, which would have been 84 if Luim Esajas, the only athlete from Suriname, had managed to reach Rome. Morocco, San Marino, Sudan and Tunisia participated for the first time, while Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago chose the Antilles as their sole representative. Rhodesia united the northern and southern states under one flag.

The representative with the highest number of athletes was Germany with 293, followed by the United States (292), the USSR (283) and Italy (280). Seventeen sports were hosted: water sports (diving, swimming and water polo), athletics, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling (road and track), equestrian (dressage, eventing, show jumping), fencing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting (still target and clay pigeon), weightlifting and wrestling (free and Greco-Roman).

On that day the city was in fervent anticipation, while the organisers’ adrenaline rose bit by bit. There were the final details to fix, but above all the air was filled with the emotion of a city that, representing an entire country, had invested all of itself in the Olympics. An hour after the opening of the Olympic Stadium gates, athletes coming from the Village began to serpentine on foot towards the Foro Italico, crossing the Tiber at Ponte Milvio, and then positioned themselves at the Stadio dei Marmi to wait for the teams' parade.

According to tradition, Greece opened the parade, followed in Italian alphabetical order by the rest of the teams. At one point, the representative of the Republic of China appeared, but the sign preceding them bore the inscription Formosa since the delegation from Taiwan was forbidden from parading with the sign of the Republic of China. When the delegation was near the Authority Tribune, an official showed a large white sheet of paper with the handwriting “Under protest”.

sfilata germania But the biggest shock was to see the two united Germanies parade together (after the grumbling of the East), so much so that the President of the Republic, Giovanni Gronchi, exclaimed, “But this is a miracle!” and in contrast, IOC Chairman Avery Brundage commented, “Sometimes in sports, we can do things like that.” Almost all the delegations had now positioned themselves in the centre of the stadium, while the Italian team was just a short distance away.

Among the jubilation of the 65,000 spectators present, Italy, led by fencing champion Edoardo Mangiarotti - winner of 11 Olympic medals - made its entrance to roaring applause that greeted the athletes in blue jackets and white trousers. As was ceremonial, it was time for the opening speeches, entrusted to Giulio Andreotti and Avery Brundage, which were followed by the statement of President Gronchi who proclaimed the opening of the Games.

The Olympic pennant was hoisted and the 43-year-old Adolfo Consolini - who won gold in London in 1948 and silver in Helsinki in 1952 - pronounced the athlete oath, with the simultaneous flight of 5000 white doves and loudspeakers that spread the sound of all the bells of Rome. Finally, the most exciting moment of the ceremony was the arrival of the Olympic flame, which, in its journey between the Aegean Sea and Magna Graecia, brought to mind the champions of old. The last torch-bearer, Giancarlo Peris, was not an established champion, but rather a boy from Civitavecchia who had won the provincial 1000m cross-country running championships, as had been previously established (watch him recall the event in a video interview with Marco Pastonesi on IlFoglio.it)

Giancarlo Peris Stadio Olympico It was an image that represented how the reconstruction of Italian sport had started from the bottom. A few years later (1966), with the establishment of the Youth Games, the innovation strongly desired by the Secretary General of CONI, Bruno Zauli, would commence. That sort of relay race between the veteran Consolini and the young Peris symbolically depicted the history and future of sport to celebrate the present - that of an unforgettable Olympics.

Medals won by Italians in Rome 1960

Romano Sgheiz, Ivo Stefanoni, Franco Trincavelli, Fulvio Balatti, Giovanni Zucchi Bronze - Rowing: Coxed four

Tullio Baraglia, Renato Bosatta, Giancarlo Crosta, Giuseppe Galante Silver - Rowing: Coxless four

Valentino Gasparella Bronze - Cycling::sprint

Giuseppe Beghetto, Sergio Bianchetto Gold - Cycling: tandem

Sante Gaiardoni Gold - Cycling: 1,000m individual time trial from standstill

Sante Gaiardoni Gold - Cycling: sprint

Luigi Arienti, Franco Testa, Mario Vallotto, Marino Vigna Gold - Cycling: 4,000m team pursuit

Antonio Bailetti, Ottavio Cogliati, Giacomo Fornoni, Livio Trapè - Gold - Cycling: 100km team time trial

Livio Trapè Silver - Cycling: individual road race

Franco Menichelli, Giovanni Carminucci, Pasquale Carminucci, Gianfranco Marzolla, Orlando Polmonari, Angelo Vicardi Bronze - Gymnastics general team competition

Franco Menichelli Bronze - Gymnastics: Floor

Giovanni Carminucci Silver - Gymnastics: parallel bars

Amedeo Ambron, Danio Bardi, Giuseppe D'Altrui, Salvatore Gionta, Giancarlo Guerrini , Franco Lavoratori, Gianni Lonzi, Luigi Mannelli, Rosario Parmegiani, Eraldo Pizzo, Dante Rossi, Brunello Spinelli Gold - Water polo

Giuseppina Leone Bronze - Athletics: 100m

Francesco Musso Gold - Boxing: Featherweight

Nino Benvenuti Gold - Boxing: Welterweight

Franco De Piccoli Gold - Boxing: Heavyweight

Primo Zamparini Silver - Boxing: Bantamweight

Sandro Lopopolo Silver - Boxing: Lightweight

Carmelo Bossi Silver - Boxing: Light middleweight

Giulio Saraudi Bronze - Boxing: Light Heavyweight

Livio Berruti Gold - Athletics: 200m

Edoardo Mangiarotti, Giuseppe Delfino, Carlo Pavesi, Alberto Pellegrino, Fiorenzo Marini, Gianluigi Saccaro Gold - Fencing: team épée

Edoardo Mangiarotti, Luigi Carpaneda, Alberto Pellegrino, Aldo Aureggi, Mario Curletto Silver - Fencing: team foil

Giuseppe Delfino Gold - Fencing: épée

Irene Camber, Antonella Ragno - Lonzi, Velleda Cesari, Bruna Colombetti, Claudia Pasini Bronze - Fencing: team foil

Roberto Ferrari, Giampaolo Calanchini, Wladimiro Calarese, Pierluigi Chicca, Mario Ravagnan Bronze - Fencing: team sabre

Abdon Pamich Bronze - Athletics: race walking 50km

Wladimiro Calarese Bronze - Fencing: individual sabre

Raimondo D'Inzeo, Piero D'Inzeo, Antonio Oppes Bronze - Equestrian Sports: team show jumping

Raimondo D'Inzeo Gold - Equestrian Sports: Nations Grand Prix

Piero D'Inzeo Silver - Equestrian Sports: Nations Grand Prix

Galliano Rossini Silver - Clay Pigeon Shooting

Antonio Ciciliano, Antonio Cosentino, Giulio De Stefano Bronze - Sailing: Dragon class

Sebastiano Mannironi Bronze - Weightlifting: Featherweight

Aldo Dezi, Francesco La Macchia Silver - Canoe C2: 1,000m

Amadori feeds sport. The partnership that will accompany the Italia Team to the Tokyo Games is now underway

• CONI

Amadori, one of the leaders in Italy in the agri-food sector and specialist in the poultry sector, becomes the “ambassador” of high-quality white meat and the promoter of healthy lifestyles. It is launching the project “Amadori alimenta lo Sport” (“Amadori feeds sport”), with which it intends to promote the winning combination of varied and balanced nutrition and regular physical activity.

The kick-off is the announcement of the partnership between Amadori and CONI: the Food Group, founded in Cesena over 50 years ago, joins the panel of official partners of the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Amadori has also become the official supplier of Casa Italia at the next Tokyo Games and of the Olympic preparation centres, where the athletes of the Italia Team - the national Olympic team - are currently preparing, in their respective disciplines, for the most important sports event in the world.

The partnership with CONI and the Italia Team is part of a wide-ranging project, which will be developed in the coming months and will see Amadori involved together with sports institutions and Ambassadors from the world of sport, nutrition and lifestyle, in important events and appointments dedicated to health and wellness, for the promotion of a varied and balanced dietary model.

Amadori wants to be a reference point for millions of Italians who believe in a balanced lifestyle, in every aspect of everyday life, and in the nutritional value of white meat, which is an irreplaceable element in a varied and complete diet.

This is a large community that includes sportsmen and -women, amateur athletes, professional athletes and our national champions - the summit of a movement that makes health and wellness care a cornerstone of their daily lives.

“Our top-class supply chains are characterised by differentiating advantages in their category, which meet the needs of quality, safety and taste and provide high-quality proteins and essential nutritional elements for various people’s daily diet: from athletes of all levels to pregnant women, from the more mature population to children,” explains Corrado Cosi, Central Director of Amadori Strategic Marketing and R&D. “For all of them, our company promotes the ‘culture’ of high-quality white meat through the different lines of products coming from the Amadori integrated supply chain, 100% Italian and certified at every stage of production”.

These are the top-class Amadori chains:

- “Quality 10+”, with many proposals for chicken and turkey, reared on earth without the use of antibiotics and fed on non-GMO and vegetable feed;

“Il Campese”, outstanding supply. The slow-growing “Il Campese” chickens are reared in the open air without the use of antibiotics and fed with vegetable and GMO-free feed, and are processed using only renewable energy sources;
the “BIO” range from Amadori organic chicken farms, where the birds are reared outdoors and fed with legumes and cereals from organic farming.
Thanks to the differentiating values in its offers, Amadori has become the guarantor for anyone seeking to combine balanced nutrition, healthy lifestyle and daily exercise: “I think about training and keeping in shape, Amadori takes care of my diet.”

Tokyo 2020 Marks One Year to Games

• OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES

Today, 23 July, marks one year to go until the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 begin in 2021. Throughout the day, the Olympic Movement will be coming together to mark this key date through a series of activities taking place worldwide on digital channels.  

“With our Japanese partners and friends, we agree that we have to adapt the planning of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to the requirements of the global crisis, while maintaining the unique spirit and message that define our mission. We are working to optimise the operations and services without touching on sports and athletes. In this way we can, together with the Organising Committee, turn these postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 into an unprecedented celebration of the unity and solidarity of humankind, making them a symbol of resilience and hope. Showing that we are stronger together”.

23 July also marks the start of the IOC’s #StrongerTogether campaign. This will recognise the importance of solidarity and unity during these difficult times, acknowledging the power of sport, and in particular the Olympic Games, to bring people together.

The Olympic flame will once again lead the day's activities and help shine a light on the resilience and strength of the athletes as they continue to prepare for the Games. In addition to the Olympic and Tokyo 2020 channels, Olympic Movement stakeholders will also be activating across their digital and social media platforms over the coming days to show their support for all the athletes and Tokyo 2020. Rights-Holding Broadcasters, for example, will mark the date with original programming and interviews, covering the challenges athletes have faced during the pandemic and joining the #StrongerTogether campaign through dedicated news coverage of the Tokyo event for their audiences, both on linear TV and digital platforms.

A key component of today’s activities took place in Tokyo. There, the local organisers held a live media event at the Olympic Stadium, where they premiered a video showcasing support for all the athletes around the world. This featured the Olympic flame and inspirational Japanese athlete Rikako Ikee, with coverage of the event broadcast on the Olympic Channel.

The @Olympic Instagram account will also feature live chats with a number of top athletes throughout the day. These include Japanese gymnasts Murakami Mai at 6 p.m. and Uchimura Kohei at 7 p.m. (both JST [GMT+9]) as well as USA’s Simone Biles (gymnastics) at 2 p.m. and Nathan Adrian (swimming) at 3 p.m. (both EDT [GMT-4]).

The @Olympics Twitter account will be teaming up with past and future Olympic Games host cities and Olympic Movement stakeholders to re-create the historical journey of the Olympic flame between 8 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. CEST [GMT+2]. The flame will serve as a symbol of solidarity, hope and diversity within the Olympic Movement and around the world, conveying the global sentiment of being #StrongerTogether.

In addition, Twitter users will be rewarded with a surprise Olympic flame moment when they tag @Olympics and use #StrongerTogether and 🔥 in any tweet. They will receive an automated response featuring a video of an Olympic flame-lighting ceremony moment from past Games. 

The Olympic Channel is also preparing to relive some of the most inspiring, exciting and unforgettable Olympic moments during the 16-day period in which the Tokyo 2020 Games were meant to take place. Athletes including Nadia Comaneci, Leander Paes and Ryan Millar will also share the stories behind their great Olympic memories.