윤강로의 스포츠세상 - Rocky YOON's Sport World

[차기 ANOC회장 후보 확정하다(ANOC confirms presidential nominees)]

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10월15일자 외신기사내용 정리하여 공유합니다.

Alejandro Blanco(스페인)와 Mustaphe Brraf(알제리)가 화요일 공식적으로 국가올림픽위원회연합(ANOC) 회장직의 유일한 후보 2명으로 발표되었으며, 이는 총회 승인을 조건으로 한 권력 분담 제안의 길을 열게 되었다(Alejandro Blanco and Mustapha Berraf were officially announced on Tuesday as the only contenders for the Association of National Olympic Committees presidency, paving the way for a proposed power-sharing arrangement, subject to General Assembly approval)고 합니다

1. ANOC(국가올림픽위원회연합) 회장 선거

1) 후보 확정: Alejandro Blanco(스페인 NOC 회장)와 Mustapha Berraf(아프리카 NOC 연합 회장) 두 명만 공식 후보로 발표됨.

2) 후보 등록: 두 후보 모두 2026년 9월 9일 마감일 이전에 필요한 지명과 추천을 받았으며, 10월 9일 이전에 NOC들에 공식 확인됨.

3) 총회 준비: 안건과 관련 문서들은 회의 30일 전까지 모든 NOC에 공유될 예정.

[Alejandro Blanco]

1) 스페인 올림픽위원회 회장, 21년 이상 재임.

2) IOC에서 남미 지역 NOC-정부 갈등 중재자로 활동한 경험 있음.

3) 선거 슬로건: “Listen. Unite. Deliver. 206 voices. One Olympic Movement.”

4) 목표: 독립적이고 단합된 ANOC, 회원 NOC들의 목소리를 강화하고 실질적 해결책 제공

[Mustapha Berraf]

1) 아프리카 NOC 연합(ANOCA) 회장, 8년간 재임, 그 전에는 20년 가까이 부회장.

2) 캠페인 비전: “VISION 2036 – One Olympic Family. One Shared Future.”

3) 10가지 전략적 약속: NOC 자율성 보장, 자유로운 활동과 발전 지원 등.

4) 리더십 철학: “결정 전에 경청, 행동 전에 결집, 리더십 전에 봉사

[공동 제안]

1) 두 후보는 경쟁을 접고, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 아시안게임 기간에 공동 이니셔티브 서명.

2) 2026~2030년 공동 프로그램 작성, 목표·우선순위·실행안 포함.

3) 권력 분담 안: Berraf가 2026~2028년 회장, 이후 Blanco가 2028~2030년 회장으로 이어받는 방식 제안.

4) Blanco는 아직 공식적으로 이 제안에 대한 입장을 밝히지 않음

[선거 일정]

-2026년 12월 7~8일, 홍콩 총회에서 회장 선출 예정.

-이 자리에서 ANOC 수석부회장과 각 대륙 별 부회장도 확정됨.

요약하면, ANOC 회장 선거는 두 후보(Blanco-Berraf)만 출마하며, 권력 분담을 통한 공동 리더십 제안이 핵심 쟁점입니다. 총회에서 이 제안이 승인될지가 관건입니다.

[ANOC confirms presidential nominees]

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Alejandro Blanco and Mustapha Berraf were officially announced on Tuesday as the only contenders for the Association of National Olympic Committees presidency, paving the way for a proposed power-sharing arrangement, subject to General Assembly approval.

Both candidates received the necessary NOC nominations and endorsements ahead of the 9 September 2026 deadline and were confirmed to NOCs prior to 9 October 2026. Following that deadline, the agenda for the General Assembly, together with all relevant documents (including any NOC proposals), will now be finalised and shared with all NOCs at least 30 days in advance of the meeting.

Blanco, the current president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), announced his candidacy in September with the aim of "making the Association of National Olympic Committees stronger". He's led COE for over 21 years, and the 76-year-old has also been appointed by the International Olympic Committee on various occasions as a mediator in South America for the resolution of conflicts between the NOCs and their governments.

The Spaniard outlined his platform, which centres on creating a united, independent ANOC that is close to its members and capable of strengthening the voice and role of the NOCs, turning their needs into concrete solutions. "Listen. Unite. Deliver. 206 voices. One Olympic Movement," he stressed.

Berraf, the president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, hinges his campaign on 'VISION 2036 – One Olympic Family. One Shared Future'. First announced in July, it sets out 10 strategic commitments, including building a stronger and more united ANOC, founded on preserving the autonomy of NOCs, safeguarding and enabling them to work freely and develop. "Trust is not inherited. It is earned through listening, dialogue and action," the Algerian stressed in his manifesto.

He also highlighted his understanding of leadership, based on a clear approach: "Listening before deciding, rallying before acting, and serving before leading." Berraf's eight years leading ANOCA, after almost two decades as its vice president, signals a natural extension of his long-standing commitment at national, continental and international levels.

Both long-time sports administrators, however, have put aside their rivalry and recently signed a joint initiative at the sidelines of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in support of the Association of National Olympic Committees, which must be ratified by the General Assembly. Berraf and Blanco will jointly draw up a common programme for the 2026–2030 term, setting out their shared objectives, strategic priorities and proposed actions for the future of ANOC.

Berraf outlined a proposed power-sharing arrangement with Blanco in a press release issued by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). Under the proposal, Berraf would lead ANOC from 2026 to 2028, with Blanco taking over for the remaining two years until 2030. The ANOCA statement also claimed that both officials shared the belief that "at a time when the international Olympic Movement is facing growing challenges, cooperation among national Olympic committees and the unity of the Olympic family are essential conditions for strengthening ANOC". Blanco has yet to comment publicly on the proposal or confirm the views attributed to him in the statement.

The ANOC presidential elections will be held during the General Assembly in Hong Kong on 7 and 8 December, which will also see the election of ANOC’s Senior Vice President and confirm the Vice-Presidents from each of the Continental Associations.

*References:

-insidethegames

-ANOC website

-Qatar Tribune X

[국제스포츠계 최근 동향 5-Ring Circus(10월13일 현재)]

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10월13일자 외신기사내용 발췌하여 공유합니다.

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1. 올림픽 관련 소식

(Brisbane 2030 올림픽조직위 CEO Cindy Hook)

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1) LA 2028

(1) 로스앤젤레스 시의회, 13-0 만장일치로 여러 안건 통과.

(2) 90일 내 LA 기업 계약 기회 보고서, 60일 내 문화 프로그램 현황 보고서 요청.

(3) 청소년 스포츠 파트너십(2026-27) 계획 승인: LA28 자금으로 2,146만 달러 지원.

(4) 2026 FIFA 월드컵 “Kick It in the Park” 관전 행사 경험 보고서도 요청.

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2) Brisbane 2032

(1) CEO Cindy Hook, 올해 말 계약 종료 후 사임 발표.

(2) 조직위원회 기반 구축·비전 수립·브랜드 개발 등 초기 성과 강조.

(3) 후임 CEO는 향후 몇 달 내 임명 예정.

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3) Alps 2030 동계올림픽

(1) 조직위원회, 21억 3,500만 유로(약 $ 23억 9,100만 달러) 예산 승인.

(2) Nice에서 Lyon으로 아이스 종목 개최지 변경으로 약 1% 증가.

(3) 예비비는 1억 9,800만 유로(전체의 9.3%).

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2. 국제 올림픽 기구 및 단체

1) ANOC(국가올림픽위원회연합): 12월 홍콩 총회에서 회장 선출 예정.

(1) 후보: Mustapha Berraf(알제리), Alejandro Blanco(스페인).

(2) 2년씩 권한 공유 제안, 합법성 검토 중.

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3. 스포츠종목별 소식

1) 육상:

-케냐 마라톤 선수 Ronald Kori, 생체 여권 분석 결과 도핑 의혹으로 잠정 정지.

2) E-스포츠:

-IOC와 관계 재검토 중이지만, 국제e스포츠연맹(IESF) “올림픽과 공동 미래 가능” 발표.

-세계적 거버넌스 구조, 통합 규칙, WADA 도핑 규정 준수 제안.

3) 피겨스케이팅:

-미국 Ilia Malinin, Milano Cortina 2026에서 카자흐스탄 Mikhail Shaidorov 축하 → 페어플레이상 수상.

4) 여성 Flag Football:

-“Grand Slam of Flag” 신설, 2027 Super Bowl 전 주에 첫 대회.

(1) 참가국:

-캐나다, 미국, 멕시코, 중국, 영국, 스페인.

(2) 총상금

-$50만 달러, 여성 플래그 풋볼 역사상 최대.

-LA 2028 올림픽 정식 종목 데뷔 예정.

4) 축구:

-Netflix, 2030 FIFA 월드컵 스페인·안도라 독점 중계권 확보.

-스페인 경기·준결승·결승은 무료 지상파에서도 제공 예정.

5) 체조:

-미국 코치 Artur Akopyan, 성적·신체적 학대(Physical & Emotional Misconduct; Sexual Harassment; Sexual Misconduct) 혐의로 영구 자격 박탈(permanent ineligibility).

-과거 세계 챔피언, 유명 선수 지도 경력.

6) 사격:

- ISSF 월드컵(카이로) → 노르웨이의 Jeanette Duestad, 여자 50m 소총 3자세 우승.

7) 테니스:

-국제테니스연맹(ITF), 러시아·벨라루스 테니스 연맹 제명 유지 결정 (우크라이나 침공 대응).

*요약:

-LA 2028 준비 상황, Brisbane 2032 CEO 교체, Alps 2030 예산 승인 등 올림픽 관련 주요 이슈와 함께 도핑, e스포츠, 페어플레이상, 여성 플래그 풋볼 신설, Netflix 월드컵 중계권, 체조 코치 영구 제명 등 다양한 국제 스포츠 소식을 전해 드렸습니다.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council passed by 13-0 a series of motions made regarding the 2028 Games, including for a report within 90 days from multiple City departments on contract opportunities for L.A. businesses for 2028, a report in 60 days on the status of the Games cultural programs, and approved the 2026-27 plan for the Youth Sports Partnership – funded by LA28 – for $21.464 million.

A report was also requested from City staff on the lessons learned from the City’s “Kick It in the Park” watch parties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● Cindy Hook, the 2032 organizing committee chief executive, said she will finish her contract term with Brisbane 2032 at the end of the year and then leave the committee. She said in a statement:

“As CEO, I am proud to have built the organisation from the ground up, set the Games vision and Games plan, designed and executed a clear strategy, created the brand narrative and launched incredible emblems and driven early market momentum and commercial wins.

“The foundations for success have been well laid. This is the right time to hand over to a new CEO for the next phase.”

Hook, 62, an American, came to Brisbane 2032 in 2022, having retired as the head of Deloitte’s Asia-Pacific practice, and expecting to return to the U.S. But she having been the head of Deloitte’s Australian practice to 2015-18, decided to take on a new challenge in Brisbane.

The organizing committee said that a search will be undertaken and “an appointment is expected in the coming months.”

● Olympic Winter Games: Alpes 2030 ● The governing board of the 2030 organizing committee approved a multi-year budget of €2.135 billion (about $2.391 billion U.S.), an increase of about 1%, mostly owing to the changes in the venue plan from Nice to Lyon for most of the ice events.

The contingency remains at €198 million, about 9.3% of the budget.

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● ANOC confirmed two candidates for the ANOC Presidency, to be decided at its General Assembly in Hong Kong in December: Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa head Mustapha Berraf (ALG) and Spanish NOC President Alejandro Blanco.

The two have proposed a power-sharing arrangement in which Berraf would serve for two years and Blanco for two, with a shared agenda to be published on or about 8 November, a month ahead of the vote. The concept has yet to be confirmed as legal within the ANOC structure.

● Athletics ● Another doping report in Kenyan long-distance running as Ronald Korir, 35, was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit, based on a study of his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).

Korir has a best of 2:04:22 from the 2023 Berlin Marathon; he did not finish in either of his marathons in 2025, in Osaka (JPN) and Wuhan (CHN).

● E-Sports ● Despite the implosion of the Olympic Esports Games and a move by the International Olympic Committee to re-evaluate its relationship with the gaming community, there is a future for e-sports and the Olympic Movement.

That was a significant message coming from the International Esports Federation at the Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum on Monday, as IESF Secretary General Boban Totovski (MKD) made a presentation showing “esports and the Olympic Movement are working toward a shared future, and that structured, accountable governance is the foundation that future requires.”

He was proposing a worldwide governing structure with the IESF as the governing body, national federations with licensed athletes and world, regional and national championships using title-licensing agreements with publishers. He proposed unified competition rules and adherence to the World Anti-Doping Code.

● Figure Skating ● The International Fair Play Committee’s award for the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games was awarded to American skater Ilia Malinin for his congratulations to gold-medal-winner Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) following his own disastrous Free Skate at the Games.

Shaidorov was only fifth after the Short Program, but had his best Free Skate ever and a series of errors by the skaters ahead of him resulted in a gold medal. Malinin finished only 15th in the Free Skate and eighth overall, but immediately went to congratulate Shaidorov after his scores were posted. Said Malinin on winning the Fair Play Award:

“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor.

“Congratulating Mikhail wasn’t about the results; it was about the shared journey we take as athletes. Knowing that fans worldwide connected with that moment means more to me than any medal.”

This was one of six Fair Play Awards distributed on Sunday (11th) in a special ceremony on Lausanne (SUI).

● Flag Football ● A new tournament series for women’s flag football – the Grand Slam of Flag – was announced on Tuesday, with six teams participating and the first event during the week prior to the 2027 Super Bowl in Inglewood, California.

World Champion Canada, the U.S. Worlds runner-up team, three-time World Champions Mexico, China, Great Britain and Spain will play in the first “Slam” with $500,000 in prize money on the line, the largest prize pool in women’s flag history.

The Grand Slam of Flag is being produced by SMAC Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and EverWonder Studio. Other tournament sites and dates are to be announced. Flag Football will debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 2028.

● Football ● The move from broadcast and cable to streaming of major events continued Tuesday with the announcement that Netflix has purchased the exclusive rights to show the 2030 FIFA World Cup for Spain and Andorra. Spain is one of three co-hosts with Portugal and Morocco, with three opening games to be played in South America.

There was a provision for non-streaming viewing, however: “As part of the agreement, one match per matchday will be available for free in Spain. A package of matches, including every Spain match, both semi-finals and the final, will be made available for broadcast on a national free-to-air broadcaster, ensuring broad accessibility for audiences across the country. Additional details on Netflix’s partnership with a free-to-air provider for select matches will be shared closer to the tournament.”

Netflix already purchased rights for Spain for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

● Gymnastics ● The U.S. Center for SafeSport sanctioned coach Artur Akopyan with permanent ineligibility for “Physical & Emotional Misconduct; Sexual Harassment; Sexual Misconduct,” as of 7 October 2026, subject to an appeal.

Akopyan, 65, was a seven-time Worlds medal winner and the 1983 World Champion in the Vault for the USSR, retiring in 1985. He came to the U.S. to coach and had significant success with 1991 World All-Around champ Kim Zmeskal and coached 2012 Olympic Team gold medalist – and Vault silver winner – McKayla Maroney at the All Olympia Gymnastics Center in Southern California.

Akopyan and former Bulgarian Olympic gymnast Galina Marinova, 61, own the All Olympic Gymnastics Center and have been sued over abuse – physical and verbal – multiple times. Marinova was also suspended for a year, and has been placed on probation, with education requirements.

A prior SafeSport inquiry was closed in 2022 for lack of witnesses, but re–opened in 2024 and now resulting in sanctions.

● Shooting ● At the ISSF World Cup in Cairo (EGY), Norway’s Jeanette Duestad, a six-time Worlds gold medalist, took the women’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions title, scoring 362.7 over Czech Veronika Blazickova (358.9) in Tuesday’s only final.

● Tennis ● The International Tennis Association’s Annual General Meeting took place on 12-13 October in Almaty (KAZ) and confirmed:

“During this session, The AGM Council voted to maintain the suspensions of the Russian Tennis Federation and the Belarus Tennis Federation from its membership.”

The ITF has maintained this suspension since 1 March 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

*References:

-The Sports Examiner

[Coventry IOC위원장, SportAccord2026 포럼에서 새로운 시대 적응 촉구(Coventry urges sport to adapt to new era)]

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10월6일자 외신기사내용 정리하여 공유합니다

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SportAccord 2026 포럼이 월요일(10월f5일) Lausanne에서 열리자, Coventry IOC 위원장은 국제연맹들이 점점 커져가는 지정학적·재정적·기술적 압력에 직면하고 있음을 지적하며 올림픽 운동의 미래에 대한 자신의 비전을 제시했습니다(As leaders gathered Monday for the 2026 SportAccord Forum in Lausanne, the IOC president noted that International federations face mounting geopolitical, financial and technological pressures and outlined her vision for the Olympic Movement's future)

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[기사 요약 – Coventry IOC 위원장, 스포츠의 새로운 시대 적응 촉구]

1. 포럼 개요

-2026년 Lausanne에서 열린 SportAccord 포럼 개막식에서 Kirsty Coventry IOC 위원장이 기조연설을 통해 국제연맹들이 직면한 지정학적 긴장, 재정 압박, 기술 발전, 선수·팬들의 기대 변화 등을 주요 과제로 제시했습니다. 이번 포럼의 주제는 “플레이북이 바뀔 때: 새로운 현실에서 스포츠 리더십”('When the Playbook Changes: Leading Sport in a New Reality')입니다.

2. Coventry 발언 요지

1)“가만히 서 있으면 시대에 뒤처진다. 변화 속에서도 우리가 지켜야 할 가치와 보호해야 할 것을 분명히 해야 한다.” (We cannot stand still. If we stand still, we simply become irrelevant. But as we evolve and adapt into this new reality, we have to be very clear about what it is we stand for and what we need to protect. This balance is really at the heart of Fit for the Future, our strategic direction for our Movement, and what the future looks like for all of us)

2) IOC의 전략 Fit for the Future는 이러한 균형을 핵심으로 삼고 있으며, 이제는 방향을 행동으로 옮길 단계라고 강조.

3)선수 지원과 올림픽의 독창성 보호, 역할의 명확성, 스포츠의 사회적 긍정적 영향 확대를 핵심 목표로 제시.

4)올림픽 프로그램은 무한 확장이 불가능하며, 지속가능성과 선수·팬에게 의미 있는 구성을 위해 종목 중심 평가 방식을 도입.

3. SportAccord 포럼 변화

-기존 IF 포럼에서 SportAccord 포럼으로 확대 개편, 국제연맹과 개최 도시·지역을 연결하는 City Forum 신설.

-국제연맹들이 우선순위와 경험을 공유하고 협력 방안을 논의하는 장으로 발전.

4. 2036 올림픽 유치 과정

1) 독일, 헝가리, 인도, 카타르, 한국, 남아공, 튀르키예 등 7개국이 현재 IOC와 지속 대화 중.

2) 2027년 3월 전략적 대화, 2028년 12월 우선 협상 대상 선정, 2029년 중반 최종 개최지 투표 예정.

3) IOC는 선수 경험을 최우선 기준으로 삼을 것임을 재차 강조.

5. 동계올림픽 개최 논의

1) 기후 변화와 비용 문제로 다중 허브 모델 확산.

2) French Alps 2030 동계올림픽은 네덜란드 Heerenveen (Mecca od speed skating)에서 스피드 스케이팅을 개최해 사상 처음으로 개최국 외 지역에서 종목을 치르는 도전을 맞이.

3) 김재열 ISU 회장과 Heike Groesswang IBSF 회장은 새로운 모델 속에서도 올림픽 경험을 지켜야 한다고 강조.

6. 스포츠 자율성 보호

-Coventry는 정치적 간섭으로부터 스포츠의 자율성을 지켜야 한다고 역설하며, 스포츠가 분열된 세계에서 다리를 놓고 존중과 이해를 만드는 공간임을 강조했습니다.

요약하면, Coventry IOC 위원장은 스포츠가 새로운 시대의 현실에 적응해야 하며, 선수 중심·지속가능성·자율성 보호가 핵심 가치라고 강조했습니다. 동시에 IOC는 2036 올림픽 유치 절차와 동계올림픽 개최 모델 변화를 통해 미래 스포츠 운영 방향을 구체화하고 있습니다.

[Coventry urges sport to adapt to new era]

As leaders gathered Monday for the 2026 SportAccord Forum in Lausanne, the IOC president noted that International federations face mounting geopolitical, financial and technological pressures and outlined her vision for the Olympic Movement's future

Officials from Olympic and non-Olympic sports assembled at the Olympic Museum for the opening of the forum, held under the theme 'When the Playbook Changes: Leading Sport in a New Reality'. In her keynote address, Kirsty Coventry also highlighted geopolitical tensions, economic strain, tech advances and changing expectations among athletes and fans as major issues ahead.

"We cannot stand still. If we stand still, we simply become irrelevant. But as we evolve and adapt into this new reality, we have to be very clear about what it is we stand for and what we need to protect. This balance is really at the heart of Fit for the Future, our strategic direction for our Movement, and what the future looks like for all of us."

The SportAccord Forum, which runs until 7 October and was previously known as the IF Forum, is examining some of the most pressing issues facing international federations. "For many years, the International Federation Forum has provided a private and high level meeting place for the leadership of international federations," SportAccord President Uğur Erdener said.

"It has allowed federations to speak openly about their priorities, to share their experiences, and to consider the challenges facing sport. This year, there's an important evolution. For the first time, we welcome you to the SportAccord Forum. This new identity builds on the strong foundations of the IF Forum, while creating a broader platform for discussion, connection, and cooperation. The international federations remain at the centre of the forum. Their needs, experiences, and leadership have shaped the programme before us."

Among the additions to this year's programme is the City Forum, designed to bring international federations together with host cities and regions to discuss their respective priorities and expectations and consider how major international sporting events can evolve. The increasing complexity of staging major events is also among the issues the IOC hopes to address through its 'Fit for the Future' strategy, adopted in June. Coventry thanked international federations for their 'openness' during the extensive consultation process, known as 'Pause and Reflect', which helped shape the strategy.

"Now it's about focusing on our core and on what matters most to all of us: supporting the athletes throughout their journey. Protecting what makes the Olympic Games so very unique and special. Strengthening trust and clarity across our Movement when it comes to roles. Increasing the positive impact of sport in people's lives," said Coventry. With the focus now shifting to implementation, Coventry described the next phase as 'Turning direction into action'.

"All of you at the international federations are a part of a much greater ecosystem, where you play a very crucial and essential role. And without you, we will not be able to succeed." The Olympic programme is central to those plans, with a new discipline-focused approach intended to control its continued expansion.

"It's simply not realistic for the Olympic programme to continue to grow indefinitely. We need a programme that brings together the world's best athletes. That showcases sport at a higher level. That remains meaningful for athletes and fans. That is sustainable for the future. O f course, and most importantly, we need to be able to keep the magic of the Games. We have agreed on a new methodology for evaluating the Olympic programme. A key part of this is moving towards a more discipline-focused approach. It gives us a much more precise and evidence-based way to look at the programme," she said.

The IOC has also published its pathway for selecting the 2036 Olympic host, with Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye currently in Continuous Dialogue.

No additional Interested Parties will be considered after 31 October, with presentations to the Future Host Commission scheduled for November. The IOC Executive Board will then select candidates for Strategic Dialogue in March 2027. Potential hosts will be assessed on areas including venues, athlete experience, funding, public and political support, delivery and legacy, as well as their vision and alignment with Olympic Movement objectives.

Coventry stressed that the athlete experience would remain central to selecting future hosts. "I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character," said Coventry. "Each host brought something unique through its people, its culture and the way it chose to stage the Games. But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do. As an athlete, you spend years working to make your Olympic dream come true. The experience you have when you finally reach the Olympic Games stays with you for the rest of your life. That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point."

The seven candidates are already undergoing technical evaluation, including independent assessments and public opinion polling, under the dialogue-based process introduced in 2019. Those entering Strategic Dialogue in March 2027 will receive further IOC support before site visits, with Preferred Hosts selected for Targeted Dialogue in December 2028.

The 2036 host will then be elected in mid-2029. Hosting challenges are particularly acute for winter disciplines, where climate pressures, costs and venue demands are prompting new approaches. Milano Cortina 2026 used a widespread multi-hub model, which brought logistical challenges alongside its benefits.

The issue was discussed at the Forum by International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim and International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation President Heike Groesswang, who looked ahead to French Alps 2030. The Games will again use multiple clusters and are set to break new ground by staging speed skating in Heerenveen, Netherlands, outside the host country.

"Heerenveen is like the Mecca of speed skating, it’s got an incredible venue and also amazing fans. The competition there would be absolutely fantastic. Having said that, this is the first time in the Olympic winter history where a sport or discipline will take place outside of the host country - a flying distance, so it will definitely be a challenge," Kim said. The ISU is working with the IOC and French Alps 2030 organisers to keep athletes connected to the wider Games, with Kim adding, "One of the ideas we proposed to the OCOG is to have a shuttle flight."

Kim, elected president of the Winter Olympic Federations earlier in the day, and Groesswang stressed the need to preserve the Olympic experience despite evolving hosting models. Erdener added, "No federation can address every question alone. This is why the opportunity to meet and exchange experiences is still relevant."

Coventry also called for the autonomy of sport to be protected from political interference. "Sport can bring people together. It can build bridges. It creates respect and understanding, even at times when our world is divided. Sport is a precious place and it has to be kept safe. It has to be kept peaceful. It has to be kept a space where shared values can come together and be recognised.

"We must protect the autonomy of sport from political interference so that athletes can compete based on merit and sport. And it can remain a place of excellence, friendship and respect." The forum runs until 7 October, with the SportAccord Convention set for Baku from 9-13 May 2027.

*References:

-insidethegames

--IOC website

-SportAccord website

-AIPS Photo