On 24 October, President Malagò will announce Team Italy’s Flag Bearer

• ROAD TO PYEONGCHANG 2018

The Italian flag bearer at the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang will be announced by CONI President, Giovanni Malagò, in a press conference that will be held in the Italian Olympic Committee’s Salone d'Onore on Tuesday 24 October 2017 (beginning at 13:00), following the National Committee’s proceedings.

The flag bearer will be given the Italian flag by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on 18 December at the Quirinal Palace, and will lead the Italian Team in the opening ceremony on 9 February (12:00 Italian time) at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

The date for the announcement of the standard bearer was not chosen at random: this year, 24 October also marks the date that the Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia. The Ceremony will be shown live on the Olympic Channel.

The torch will arrive in PyeongChang on 31 October and begin its tour of the Korean peninsula. Over 101 days, with the help of 7500 torch bearers (and 2018 back-up torch bearers), it will pass through 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, highlighting the Asian country’s technology and traditional culture.

The Olympic rings arrive at Buenos Aires to celebrate one year to go to the Youth Olympic Games

• #1YEARTOGO

The setting up of the Olympic rings at the downtown obelisk of the Argentine capital city marked this Thursday the beginning of the final countdown for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, a multi-sports celebration that will gather almost 4000 elite athletes from 206 countries on October 6-18 next year. The sculpture of the Olympic symbol was unveiled during a ceremony led by the Mayor of Buenos Aire, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, the president of Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, Gerardo Werthein, and the president of the Coordination Commision for Buenos Aires 2018 from the International Olympic Committee, Li Lingwei.

"It is a dream that is coming true. The fact that our country can organize a Youth Olympic Games is a huge responsibility. It is also a unique opportunity to demonstrate what we are capable of the Argentines", said Rodríguez Larreta. "We are very proud that Argentina receives almost 4000 athletes, their family and their companions. We will be the center of attention of the world during those two weeks", he added. On August 6 next year, the Obelisk will also be part of the opening ceremony of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, that will be the first of its kind to be held outdoors. Following the idea of making the Games inclusive, the 32 disciplines included in Buenos Aires 2018 sports program will be distributed between four parks around the city: the Youth Olympic Park (in the south), the Green Park (on the north), the Urban Park (on the east) and Tecnópolis Park (on the west).

“This proyect for Argentina is something we have been waiting for over 50 years, for the Games to be in our country”, stated Werthein during the ceremony, that counted with the presence of the Rio 2016 gold medal winners Santiago Lange and Pedro Ibarra. “This will be very organized, sustainable, without white elephants Olympic Games. Each venue that has been built has an owner and a porpuse. That will be the legacy”, he added. On behalf of the IOC, Lingwei, one of the best badminton players in history, underscored that “in 365 days Buenos Aires will be ready to open its doors to the world and showcase the very best of Argentina. Athletes and sports fans will experience not only fantastic competitions but a festival of sport and culture spread across four parks throughout Buenos Aires.” “It has been a journey by young people and for young people. A big thank you goes to the tremendous efforts of the talented organising committee who have reached every corner of the city with the many projects to bring sport to the people of Buenos Aires,” she added.

Buenos Aires 2018 will also feature for the first time in history the same number of male and female athletes. The 3998 athletes that will compete in 241 events are also to take part in educational and cultural activities during the Games. At the same time, spectators will be able to enjoy the competitions as well as a comprehensive events and celebrations program that will include introduction to sports activities, following the idea of knowing the transformative power of the Olympic values.

Buenos Aires 2018 will also mark the first time in history in which there will be the same amount of athletes men than women. The 3,998 athletes who will compete in 241 events will also participate in educational and cultural activities throughout the Games.

The 2019 CIO session assigned to Milan

• DECISION IN LIMA

Milan to host the CIO session in 2019. The members of the International Olympic Committee voted unanimously for the Lombardy province capital no the penultimate day of the Session being held in Lima. About 20 minutes of presentation, accompanied by attractive videos, ambitious proposals and programmes in the spirit of unity of purpose in the name of passion for sports, celebrated as an instrument for community union and collective growth. In the end, the Contract between CIO, CONI, the Municipality and the Region was signed.

The application for candidacy was illustrated for the CIO members by project coordinator, Diana Bianchedi, by the mayor of the city, Giuseppe Sala, by the Lombardy Regional Councillor for Sport, Antonio Rossi, and by the CONI CEO, Giovanni Malagò, who highlighted the virtues “of a cutting-edge, modern and dynamic city that is in Lombardy and Lombardy is the Italian region that has made the biggest contribution to Italian sports in the Olympics. 22% of the Italian Olympic medals come from this Region. Milan has a great sports tradition and in 2019 it will also celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Edoardo Mangiarotti, the greatest Italian athlete who has won the most awards with 13 Olympic medals to his name, including 6 gold medals, fourth in the all-time Olympic global rankings”.

Also on the stage at Lima were the CONI Vice-Secretary General, Carlo Mornati (also an Olympic medal winner from Lombardy) and the Milan City Councillor for Sport, Roberta Guaineri.

Italy had already hosted seven CIO sessions (three on the occasion of the Turin, Rome and Cortina Games and four in Rome, the last in 1982 a few months after the death of Giulio Onesti): this is the first time ever for Lombardy. The 2019 Milan CIO session – an event that will attract about ten thousand people in one week and that will be held at the MiCo conference centre with the opening ceremony at the Scala - will assign the 2026 Winter Games. The last Olympic assignment in Italy dates back to 1966 with the assignment in Rome of Munich and Sapporo.

Speech by Diana Bianchedi

Speech by Giuseppe Sala

Speech by Antonio Rossi

Speech by Giovanni Malagò

IOC makes decision by simultaneously awarding Olympic Games 2024 to Paris and 2028 to Los Angeles

• THE SESSION IN LIMA

The Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lima, Peru, today elected Paris as host city of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad 2024 and Los Angeles as the host city of the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad 2028.

"Congratulations to Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028! This historic double allocation is a ‘win-win-win’ situation for the city of Paris, the city of Los Angeles and the IOC," said the IOC President, Thomas Bach. 

"It is hard to imagine something better. Ensuring the stability of the Olympic Games for the athletes of the world for the next 11 years is something extraordinary," Bach commented.

"These are two great cities from two great countries with a great Olympic history. Both cities are very enthusiastic about the Games and are promoting the Olympic spirit in a fantastic way," Bach added.

While celebrating the decision, Paris and Los Angeles both expressed their excitement in bringing home the Olympic Games.

The idea of a Tripartite Agreement came to light after a working group of IOC Vice-Presidents studied the possibility of a double allocation of the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028. The working group was set up in March 2017. 

With the blessing of the 130th IOC Session that met in Lausanne in July, the IOC, Los Angeles, Paris and their National Olympic Committees have been working together in order to reach the agreement that was ratified by the IOC Session today.

Los Angeles and Paris have put together very inspiring projects. Both have embraced Olympic Agenda 2020, particularly in the way they are planning to use a record-breaking number of existing and temporary facilities.

PyeongChang 2018 Six Months To Go!

Today is just six months away from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. The Olympic flame will arrive at the Olympic Plaza in PyeongChang on February 9th and this will signal the start of an amazing 17 days of world class winter sports action in South Korea.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee will have a few more marquee announcements and events in the lead up including the unveiling of the Olympic Medals and the 100 days to go celebrations, November 1^st 2017, which will also coincide with the start of the Olympic Torch Relay. From Incheon to PyeongChang a total of 7,500 torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame around 17 cities nationwide on a route that is exactly 2,018 km.

'Viva' Rio 2016, the IOC celebrates the Brazilian Games with a documentary

Lights, colours, emotions, memories. Exactly one year ago, the Maracanã stadium, dressed up for the occasion, hosted the Rio 2016 inaugural ceremony. The suggestive storyboard, to the rhythm of music, narrated Brazil to the world, and marked the start of the 31st Summer Olympic Games: the first time the five circles had embraced South America. In the temple of soccer, a long parade of 207 nations celebrated the event.

Italy, the 102nd, led by the Head of Mission Carlo Mornati, entered the stadium at 9.52 pm local time (2.53 am in Italy) led by the 'Divine' Federica Pellegrini, in front of the fascinated eyes of the President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, of the Secretary General Roberto Fabbricini and of the then Premier Matteo Renzi.

One year after, the IOC, through the Olympic Channel, recalls the Brazilian Games with a series of social initiatives and the publication of "VIVA", a documentary which, through the narration of those who took part, reveals the behind the scenes of that ceremony (watch film here).

After 19 days of excitement and achievements - celebrated in the impressive Casa Italia, at the Costa Brava Club – the Italia Team took ninth place in the Olympic medal table, making the podium 28 times (8 gold medals, 12 silver medals and 8 bronze medals): like in the previous two summer Games but with a higher total number of silver medals (12, three more), despite the penalizing program and about 50 medals altogether missed by Russia and China.

An event well worth remembering then and one to be re-lived by the Italian protagonists who took part in it, including through the images of "Games to remember - Re-Experience Rio2016", produced by the Olympic Channel (the video).

Passion in the air 200 days from the start of PyeongChang 2018

Today marked 200 days until the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The milestone was celebrated with the President of the Republic of Korea, MOON Jae-in, visiting the host city PyeongChang to show his support for the Games. As the nation’s passion and excitement continues to grow in the final few months before the world’s biggest sporting event kicks off in Korea, the 200 days to go milestone was also celebrated in Seoul and across Gangwon Province throughout the weekend.

As his first visit to PyeongChang as the country’s president, President MOON celebrated the 200-day milestone with the organizing committee staff, volunteers, and local residents at the Alpensia Convention Center – to be used as the Main Press Centre during the Winter Games.  President MOON discussed the work of the organizing committee and thanked the staff for their hard work and dedication. The host nation’s president also became the latest PyeongChang 2018 Honorary Ambassador to promote the Republic of Korea’s first Winter Games ever. 

MOON Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea said, “For the government, this will be the first major international event since we took office. I believe the government has an obligation to make the Games a success.

“Up until now, the government left this job to the Organizing Committee and Gangwon Province. Now with 200 days left, the central government will join forces to make the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games a complete success. “This is a chance for the people of our nation to heal and regain hope by successfully hosting the Olympic Winter Games”. Celebrating the 200 days to go mark in Seoul, the PyeongChang 2018 Village was created along the Han River, the major river crossing Seoul, at the Hangang Summer Festival starting from July 21 – August 20. Visitors will be able to experience PyeongChang 2018 in advance through fun activities such as flash mobs, art displays, and movie nights.

A special ‘G-200 Fireworks Festival’ was held in Chuncheon - the capital of Gangwon Province - on Saturday (July 22) with more than 200,000 onlookers including invited dignitaries, athletes, media, local residents and visitors to the area enjoying the entertainment. The colorful array of fireworks at the “G-200 Fireworks Festival’ was enhanced with a choral performance from the Chuncheon Children’s Choir and a host of other activities including a dance performance by the Gangwon Provincial Dance Company. Olympic speed skating silver medalist KIM Chul-min and speed skating record holder in the 3000 and 5000 meters KIM Bo-reum both gave congratulatory messages to the crowd.

The firework festival will now be a legacy celebration to be held each year in the province to engage the nation and retain the Olympic spirit that is building ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the Games on February 9^th. President of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee LEE Hee-beom said, “After years of planning and preparation we are now just 200 days away from the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. We are putting the final touches on what will be the biggest Winter Games ever. “It will also be a Winter Games that will open up new horizons for the Gangwon Province as a tourist destination, and Asia as a winter sports hub for us all to enjoy for many years to come. Now is the time to share the passion and plan your Olympic journey with us. We are ready to showcase the best of winter sports and welcome the world class athletes that will come to PyeongChang to go for Gold.”

The start of the Games on February 9^th will bring to an end the 101-day Olympic Torch Relay that will commence on November 1^st to cover the length and breadth of the country, giving as many people as possible the chance to be part of the Olympic celebrations in their homeland. To add to the spirit of the Olympic Torch Relay, a special theme song was premiered at the firework festival that will be played throughout the journey of the flame to PyeongChang. The song was performed by Korea’s R&B diva, Insooni who was also appointed as a PyeongChang 2018 Honorary Ambassador prior to her performance.

Over the next seven months, PyeongChang will focus on delivering one of the most exciting sporting and cultural events ever to come to Korea. The Games hope to bring people together to share the vision of New Horizons, providing a chance for everyone to learn and experience winter sports, to share the wonders of Korea with the rest of the world and to invite the world to come and experience PyeongChang and Korea in person. Just like the 1988 Seoul Summer Games, the first Olympic Games to be held on the Korean peninsula 30 years ago, PyeongChang 2018 can open doors for the next generation and bring new life, excitement and energy to the dynamic and ever-evolving country.

Opening ceremony in Gyor, the Italian flag flies: at the start of the XIV edition of the EYOF

• EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

Announcement from the National Council

• CONI

The 254th CONI National Council met this afternoon at 3:00 PM in the Foro Italico Salone d'Onore to discuss the following order of the day:

Six candidates approved for IOC Athletes’ Commission elections in PyeongChang

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board today approved the candidatures of six winter sports athletes for the IOC Athletes’ Commission elections, which will be held during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 next February.

Welcoming this approval, current Chair of the Commission Angela Ruggiero said: “I am delighted with the calibre of candidates running for a place in the IOC Athletes’ Commission. I have every confidence in each candidate to strongly represent athletes in the Olympic Movement and continue the excellent work of the IOC Athletes’ Commission to date. I wish all of them the best of luck, and urge all Olympians competing in PyeongChang next year to vote for the candidates they wish to represent them on the IOC.”

Nominated by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the candidates vying for two available positions originate from three continents and represent five different sports.

The candidates are: Astrid Uhrenholdt JACOBSEN (NOR) (skiing/cross-country); Ander MIRAMBELL (ESP) (skeleton); Kikkan RANDALL (USA) (skiing/cross-country); Emma TERHO (FIN) (ice hockey); Hong ZHANG (CHN) (skating/speed-skating); and Armin ZOEGGELER (ITA) (luge).

Two seats on the Commission will become available in 2018, with current Chair Angela Ruggiero and member Adam Pengilly finishing their terms of office next February. All athletes participating in the next Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang will be eligible to vote for their preferred candidates. After approval by the IOC Session, the two elected Olympians will become IOC Members for an eight-year term.

Six representatives have been nominated by the IOC President to form the Election Committee to oversee the IOC Athletes’ Commission election. The Committee is composed of: Nicole Hoevertsz (Chair of the IOC Election Committee and representing the IOC Legal Affairs Commission); Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant (representing the IOC Ethics Commission); James Tomkins (representing the IOC Athletes’ Commission); Dagmawit Girmay Berhane (representing the IOC Members Election Commission); Ivo Ferriani (representing the Association of International Olympic Winter Federations (AIOWF)); and Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski (representing ANOC). The Election Committee will be responsible for ensuring that the procedures and regulations are followed at all times as well as certifying the final vote count.

A joint meeting to discuss future strategies

Following the candidatures’ approval, the IOC Athletes’ Commission joined the Executive Board for a joint meeting in order to discuss the development and implementation of their future strategy.

“Our mission is to represent athletes within the Olympic Movement and support them to succeed on and off the field of play,” explains Angela Ruggiero. “Today, we discussed the key challenges of the Olympic Movement relating to athletes and highlighted the ways in which our strategy would help address these points. I look forward to building on this incredible momentum and maximising the positive impact we can make on behalf of athletes and the Olympic Movement”.

Throughout the strategy development process, the IOC Athletes’ Commission has engaged with a number of stakeholders and partners, including IOC leadership, International Federations and Continental Associations Athletes’ Commissions, to mention but a few. Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Tony Estanguet said: “We recognise that the Olympic Movement is not free of challenges, and the IOC Athletes’ Commission has been, and continues to be, key to addressing issues such as doping”.

He added: “We are absolutely delighted to have the full support of the IOC President and IOC Executive Board, and very much recognise the fundamental role of the Olympic Movement stakeholders in the successful delivery of our strategy. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership and collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure that we can serve our peers in the best possible way”. The IOC Athletes’ Commission will finalise its strategy over the coming months, and it will be formally presented for approval by the IOC Executive Board this September.

An active Commission for and by athletes

Reflecting the Olympic Agenda 2020 aim of placing the athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and strengthening the support to athletes, the IOC Athletes’ Commission serves as a link between athletes and the IOC. The majority of members of the Commission are elected directly by Olympic athletes and act as the athletes’ representatives in the Olympic Movement. Members of the Commission are also present on the majority of IOC commissions, and the Chair serves on the IOC Executive Board as a full member.

The goal of the IOC Athletes’ Commission is to ensure that the athletes’ viewpoint remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement decisions. Additionally, an integral part of the work is to support athletes on and off the field of play and to promote the protection of clean sport.

The Commission members are also involved in many key IOC activities and fully integrated into the IOC decision-making process. This includes the process for evaluating Candidate Cities seeking to host the Olympic Games and the composition of the sports programme for the Games.