[한국 최초 IOC문화 및 올림픽 헤리티지위원회위원임명(IOC족보 인명부에 3연속 등재되다)]
토마스 바흐 IOC위원장은 2022년 10월 서울 개최 ANOC총회 기간 중 최초로 IOC위원장이 직접 공식 행사를 통해 올림픽 노벨상으로 불리우는 IOC쿠베르탱 메달을 전수한 바 있는 필자(윤강로/尹康老) 한국도핑방지위원회(KADA)자문위원 겸 국제스포츠외교연구원(ISDI)원장)에게 이번에는 강원2024동계청소년올림픽대회 폐회식 전날인 1월31일 강릉올림픽박물관에서 IOC문화 및 올림픽 헤리티지위원회위원(IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Member) 임명장 서한을 직접 전달하였습니다.
동 위원회는 전세계 특히 청소년층을 중심으로 문화, 예술, 역사, 학문적 연구 및 전통적 수집품을 통한 가치 확산 등 광범위하고 전반적인 올림픽운동활동에 IOC집행위원회, IOC총회 및 IOC위원장에게 자문하는 IOC에서 가장 중요한 역할과 사명을 수행하는 위원회 중 하나로 알려져 있습니다.
동 위원회는 태국 IOC위원인 Mme Khunying Patama LEESWADTRAKUL이 맡고 있습니다
인사차 동 위원장에게 인사차 서한을 보냈더니 답신과 전화통화 함께 3월 초 태국 방콕 방문 초청을 해 주어 첫 출장을 가게 되었습니다.
동 위원회는 올림픽 어젠더 2020+5와 IOC 문화 및 헤리티지 담당부서의 활동에 대한 최적의 실행계획수행을 지원하며 UNESCO를 비롯한 전세계 관련 아카데미, 올림픽 및 스포츠박물관, NOC및 올림픽조직위원회 문화담당부서, 주요 연구센터, 대학교 및 IOC 인정기구들과 협업합니다
필자는 한국인으로는 최초로 (1)2008년 올림픽 IOC평가위원과 (2)2022년 IOC쿠베르탱 메달리스트에 이어 (3) 2024년 1월31일부로 IOC 문화 및 올림픽 헤리티지위원회위원임명으로 IOC홈페이지 명단에 공식 등재됨으로써 K-스포츠외교의 일익을 담당하게 된 셈입니다.
(임명장 년도인 2024를 2023으로 미스 타이핑 되었습니다)
스포츠외교활동 42년 만에 (1) IOC평가위원(2008년 올림픽유치) (2)ANOC공로훈장 (3)IOC쿠베르탱메달수여에 이어 (4) IOC 문화 및 올림픽 헤리티지 위원회위원으로 IOC족보에 지속적으로 등재되는 영예를 누리게 되었습니다.
대한민국 스포츠 발전을 위해 후배 양성과 후배들의 국제스포츠기구진출 교두보 마련을 위해 죽어지고 썩어 짐으로 미래 한국스포츠외교의 결실을 맺게 하는 밀알이 되어 헌신하라는 사명으로 알고 마음에 새겨 헌신하겠습니다.
이 또한 지속적으로 베풀어 주시고 계시는 하나님의 은혜와 인도하심의 결과입니다. 모든 영광을 하나님께 올려 드립니다
1월27일 자 외신보도에 의하면 프랑스 Macron대통령이 인도의 2036년 올림픽 및 패럴림픽 유치 및 개최에 따른 지지 다짐(France will help support India’s 2036 Olympics bid, President Macron vows)대목에서 Paris2024올림픽 및 패럴림픽 개최 경험을 공유할 뜻을 전달하였으며 이를 위해 특히 주요 국제스포츠 이벤트 조직과 관련하여 전문가 교류를 실시할 것(particular by exchanging expertise regarding the organization of major international sporting events)이라고 지지 표명을 한 것으로 알려졌습니다.
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, India, January 26, 2024 celebrating Republic Day (Photo: X/@EmmanuelMacron/ 2024년 1월26일 Delhi에서 Macron프랑스 대통령과 Modi인도 총리)
Emmanuel Macron프랑스대통령은 인도의 계획중인 2036년올림픽 및 패럴림픽 유치에 프랑스국가차원의 지지를 제공하겠다(offered his nation’s support for India’s planned bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games)고 언급하였다고 외신이 보도하였습니다.
이러한 발표의 Macron대통령의 인도 국경일 행사 (during his state visit to Delhi during Republic Day ceremonies)참석 차 Delhi 국빈방문 시 발표되었다고 합니다.
Macron대통령은 “우리는 기쁜 마음으로 스포츠 관련 한 층 더 강력한 협조관계를 구축할 것임”(We will be delighted to build a stronger cooperation on sport) “우리는 향후 인도가 올림픽개최의지에 대하여 확고하게 지원할 것임”(We will definitely support your intention to organize the Olympic Games in India for the future.)이라고 언급하였다고 합니다.
인도는 아직까지 2036년올림픽유치를 위한 인도 내의 도시를 제안하고 있지 않지만(yet to propose a host city or region for the bid) Ahmedabad가 타당성 조사착수 및 주요 스포츠 복합단지 건설 마스터플랜 작성 후 가장 관심 있는 도시로 부상하였다(stood out as the most interested city after launching a feasibility study and master plan for the construction of a major sports complex)고 합니다.
Modi총리는 2023년 10월 인도 Mumbai개최 IOC총회에서 인도의 올림픽유치결심에 대하여 강조한 것으로 알렸습니다.
Macron프랑스 대통령은 2017년 Paris2024올림픽유치를 위해 IOC본부를 직접 방문하였으며 최종유치결정투표로 가는 길목에서 IOC평가위원회와 Bach IOC위원장을 대통령 궁(Élysée Palace)으로 초청하는 등 적극적인 행보로 유치 성공에 견인차 역할(an instrumental supporter of the Paris 2024 Olympic bid) 을 하였는데 그 결과 Paris2024-LA2028-IOC등 3자 협정을 통해 Paris2024올림픽유치(in the run-up to the final vote when a tripartite agreement sent the Games to France and the 2028 edition to Los Angeles )에 성공하였다고 합니다.
프랑스는 French Alps지역에서 2030년 동계올림픽 및 패럴림픽 관련 IOC가 선호하는 1순위 개최후보지로 낙점 되었으며 오는 7월 Paris2024올림픽 개회식 전에 열리는 IOC총회에서 IOC위원들의 찬반 투표로 최종 확정될 예정입니다.
Macron프랑스대통령은 “프랑스는 제2차 세계대전을 기념하는 금년에 전세계를 Paris에서 열리는 올림픽 및 패럴림픽 대회와 불어 권 국가 정상회의에 환영하는 바임. 우리의 친구들인 여러분을 환영함”(France will welcome the whole world this year with the commemoration of the Second World war, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and the Francophonie summit. You are welcome, our friends.)이라고 언급하였다고 합니다.
인도 정부와 프랑스는 이러한 의미의 맥락이 담긴 다음과 같은 공동성명서를 발표를 통하여 양국관계를 공식화 하였다고 합니다:
“스포츠 협력강화의 중요성을 인식하면서 Modi총리와 Macron대통령은 인도 선수들이 특히 주요 스포츠 이벤트를 겨냥하여 안도선수들에게 기회를 제공하기 위하여 인도 스포츠 대표단에게 프랑스의 훈련 시설 사용 편의 제공을 통하여 스포츠산업의 경제적 활동가들 간에 청소년 교류와 연결을 강화하기로 합의 하였음. Macron대통령은 프랑스가 인도의 2036년 올림픽 및 패럴림픽 유치 맥락에서 주요 국제스포츠 이벤트조직과 관련한 전문지식과 기술을 교환함으로Paris2024올림픽 및 패럴림픽 개최 경험을 공유하고자 한다는 뜻을 전달하였음”(Recognizing the importance of strengthening sports cooperation, Prime Minister Modi and President Macron agreed to boost youth exchanges and links between economic actors of the sports industry by facilitating the hosting of Indian sports delegation in French training facilities in order to create opportunities for Indian athletes, particularly with a view to major sporting events. President Macron conveyed that France would share its experience of hosting the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024 in context of India’s bid to host the Olympics and Paalympics Games in 2036, in particular by exchanging expertise regarding the organization of major international sporting events.)
IOC에 따르면 인도의 올림픽유치는 최소 10개국이 관심을 표명한 가운데 가장 활발한 활동을 전개하여 온 것(India’s Olympic bid has been the most active among at least 10 interested parties according to the IOC)으로 평가되어 왔다고 합니다.
독일은 ‘미래’올림픽유치를 위한 공공 협의 과정(a public consultation process for a ‘future’ Games)에 착수하였으며 얼마전까지 한국을 비롯하여, 인도네시아, 카타르, 헝가리, 튀르키예, 이집트 및 영국 들이 올림픽유치관심에 대하여 모두 공공연하게 발표한 바 있다고 합니다.
IOC는 소위 비공식적인 “지속대화논의”(informal ‘ongoing discussions’)에 관련된 국가올림픽위원회의 면모를 밝히고 있지 않으며 2036년 올림픽개최지선출에 대한 시간표도 정해 놓고 있지 않은 상태(have not set a timetable for the election of the 2036 host )이긴 하지만 미래유치위원회(FHC: Future Host Commission)는 2025년 차기 IOC위원장 선출 전은 2036년 올림픽 및 패럴림픽 대회 개최지결정을 없을 것이라고 암시한 바(has hinted that there will be no decision before the next IOC president is elected in 2025) 있다고 합니다.
1월25일자 외신에 따르면 3년 자격정지 상태인 영향력 있는 올림픽지도자 Sheikh Ahmad 쿠웨이트 IOC위원에 대하여 제네바 법정에서 위조죄 유죄판결이 확정되었으며(his forgery conviction upheld by the Geneva Court of Appeal)스위스 항소 법정에서 판결이 내려 졌지만 감옥 행은 아니라고(he will not go to jail, a Swiss appeals court said in a ruling published on Monday) 1월22일 언급하였다고 합니다.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah 쿠웨이트 IOC위원(공식적으로 자격정지 중)이자 자리에서 밀려난 ANOC회장(the ousted ANOC President)겸 전임 OCA회장이었던 그는 자신의 위조죄가 확인(his conviction for forgery ratified) 되었지만 집행유예 선고를 받았으므로 감옥에는 가지 않을 것(will not be imprisoned as he was given a suspended sentence)이라고 합니다.
제네바 법정은 Sheikh Ahmad가 3명의 변호사 및 한 명의 고문과 함께 오랜 동안 불화관계에 있던 쿠웨이트 정부관리에게 국가 전복 시도 혐의가 있다고 비난함으로 그들을 해하려 했다는 가짜 동영상을 제작하였음을 적시한 바(A court in Geneva had found that Al-Sabah, together with three lawyers and an adviser, had produced fake videos to harm members of the Kuwaiti government, with whom he has a long-standing feud, by trying to blame them for an alleged coup attempt in the country) 있다고 합니다.
첫 번째 사례에서 Sheikh Ahmad는 30개월 징역형 선고를 받은 바 있으며 15개월은 집행유예(sentenced to 30 months in prison, half of which was suspended)라고 합니다.
Sheikh Ahmad의 첫 사례 유죄 확정에 덧붙여(In addition to confirming the first-instance conviction of Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah) 법원은 그의 전직 변호사인 정치학자와 쿠웨이트 출신 보좌관과 제네바에 근거를 둔 변호사에 대하여서도 유죄판결을 내렸다(a political scientist, the court also upheld the convictions of his former lawyer, a Kuwaiti assistant and a Geneva-based lawyer)고 합니다.
하지만 또 한 명의 변호사는 스위스 제네바 관할 주 법원에서 항소하여 불기소 처분을 받았다(another lawyer was acquitted on appeal by the Cantonal Court of Geneva)고 합니다.
항소법원은 새로운 법정이 정의한 바 에 따르면 Sheikh Ahmad가 “불법적인 이익편취목적으로”(with the aim of obtaining an unlawful advantage)행동했으며 하급법원의 선고를 변경하여 2년 집행유예 징역형에 3년 간 보호관찰 형을 언도하였다(modified the lower court's sentence by imposing a two-year suspended sentence with a three-year probation period)고 합니다.
Sheikh Ahmad는 첫 번째 사례에서와 같이 기소된 혐의 사건에 아무런 잘못이나 연관관계가 없다고 부인하였다(denied any wrongdoing or connection with the alleged incidents)고 합니다
2년 간 FIFA집행위원으로 재직하다가 미연방 검찰에 의해 뇌물 죄 혐의로 연루된 후 2017년 그 직을 사임한(after being implicated in alleged bribery offences by US federal prosecutors) 바 있는 Sheikh Ahmad는 두 번째 판결에 대하여 IOC본부가 위치한 Lausanne소재 스위스연방 법원에 항고할 수 있다(can appeal the second-instance verdict to the Swiss Federal Court in Lausanne)고 합니다.
제네바 법원 판결문은 무려 거의 190페이지에 달하며 2023년 12월18일자로 되어(Geneva ruling is nearly 190 pages long and is dated 18 December) 있지만 Sheikh Ahmad가 쿠웨이트에서 국방장관으로 교체된 후 시일이 경과되어 2024년 1월22일자에 법정판결내용이 공표되었다(made public by the court last Monday, days after Sheikh Ahmad was replaced as defence minister of Kuwait)고 합니다.
Sheikh Ahmad의 스포츠 경력은 광범위한데 IOC에서만 다음과 같은 직책을 맡은 바 있다고 합니다:
(1)President of the Olympic Solidarity Commission (2012-2018);
(2)Vice-Chairman of the Olympic Channel Services S.A., Switzerland (2015-2018);
(3)Sport for All 위원회 위원 (1992-1995),
(4)Olympic Movement 위원회 위원 (as NOCs representative, 1995-2001),
(5)"IOC 2000"위원회 위원 (Executive Committee, 1999),
(6)Olympic Solidarity (2000-2011)위원회 위원,
(7)International Relations국제관계위원회 위원 (2002-2014) 및
[Thomas Bach IOC위원장과 강릉올림픽박물관(GOM)에서의 뜻 깊고 뜻 밖의 수확을 한 은혜 넘치는 해후(2024년 1월31일)]
Bach IOC위원장이 강원2024동계청소년올림픽대회(1월19일~2월1일)참가 차 방한 하기 2주 전인 1월 초 필자는 Bach IOC위원장에게 서한을 보냈습니다.
Bach IOC위원장이 대회 총괄지휘 차 강릉에 체류하는 동안 6년 전인 2018년 4월 필자의 요청과 Bach IOC위원장의 주선으로 스위스 Lausanne올림픽박물관과 강릉올림픽박물관(GOM)과의 업무협약식과 연계된 MOU체결 건을 상기 시켜 주었습니다.
이에 의거하여 건립된 평창2018 유산 제1호인 GOM을 방문 할 것을 부탁 드렸으며 김진선 前 3선 강원도지사 겸 평창2018동계올림픽조직위원회 초대위원장이 김홍규 현 강릉시장에게 전화하여 이를 성사시키도록 국내외 양동작전에 들어갔습니다.
이어서 필자는 강릉시장명의로 Bach IOC위원장에게 보내는 영문 초청장 서한 내용과 이메일 주소 및 이메일 발송 영문내용까지 초안을 만들어 보내 주었으며 IOC실무선과 수시로 체크하여 Bach IOC위원장에게 강릉시장명의의 초청장이 접수된 것을 확인하였습니다.
바쁜 일정을 고려하여 대회 폐회식 전날인 1월31일 오전에는 평창2018 동계올림픽개최 6주년 기념행사에 참가 한 후 오후 2시에 GOM을 정식 방문하게 되었습니다.
강릉 시민 스마일 협회 여성 구성원들이 박물관 입구에서 김홍규 강릉 시장과 함께 따뜻한 미소로 Bach IOC위원장을 환영하였으며 필자는 현관입구에서 입장하는 Bach IOC위원장에게 아주 낮은 자세로 겸손한 마음으로 맞이하였습니다.
필자를 보고 반갑게 미소와 다정한 인사말(“Herzlich Willkommen, Herr President!/진심으로 환영합니다, 위원장님! 이라고 필자가 Bach IOC위원장의 모국어인 독일어 사용)을 주고 받으며 준비된 방명록코너로 가서 필자는 박물관에 Frame해서 추후에 전시할 것이니 정식으로 방문 감회를 써 줄 것을 부탁 하였습니다.
그는 꼼꼼하게 손 글씨로 소감메시지를 정성껏 쓴 후 오늘이 몇일이냐고 필자에게 묻자 "31st January 2024"라고 알려주었으며 그는 날짜를 쓰고 나서 방명록메시지 엣지를 마무리 하였습니다. 강릉 시장과 강릉시 공무원의 안내 및 통역으로 박물관을 둘러 보면서 특유의 유머도 잊지 않는 가운데 노고를 치하 하였습니다.
정성껏 준비하여 마련된 다과 테이블에서 강릉 최고의 전통 차와 다과를 시식하면서 대화를 이어 갔는데 김홍규 강릉 시장과 Bach IOC위원장의 선물 교환에 이어 필자도 준비해 온 작은 기념품 등을 선물하였습니다.
Bach IOC위원장은 답례로 자신이 쓴 서한이 담긴 작은 봉투를 필자에게 주면서 잘 읽어 보고 올림픽운동에 기여하라고 건내 주었습니다.
나중에 귀경길에 읽어 보니 기쁜 내용이 담겨 있었습니다. 내용은 나중에 공개하고자 합니다.
이어서 동선을 따라 나머지 전시품을 둘러 보다가 제가 무상 기증한 올림픽 소장품 코너를 유심히 보는 동안에는 필자가 강릉시장 측 설명대신 관련 스토리를 곁들이자 필자의 동영상에서의 제 모습을 보며 아주 젊었을 적 시절 갔다며 30년도 더 된 것 같다며 Joke도 하였습니다.
필자는 강릉 시장이 주역(Host)이므로 Bach IOC위원장과의 친소 관계를 떠나 운집한 TV카메라와 사진 촬영 장면에서는 주로 뒷전에 서서 낮은 자세로 임했습니다.
대회기간 중이라 서울-강릉 구간 KTX좌석이 새벽 06:01분 열차 편으로 강릉에 와서 스위스: 독일의 여자 아이스하키 준결승 경기를 관람하면서 오전 시간을 보내고 점심은 강릉시청 직원들과 인근 식당에서 강릉 식 만두 국을 즐겼습니다.
행사가 모두 끝나고 귀경 열차도 17:16분 편 밖에 없어서 오후 시간을 저를 위해 수행한 강릉시청 직원과 담소하며 보내다가 귀경 열차에 몸을 싣고 19시경 청량리 역에 도착하여 역내 식당에서 간단한 저녁식사를 미치고 귀가 하였습니다.
[멕시코, 2036 올림픽 유치경쟁에서 철회하고 청소년올림픽(YOG) 또는 Pan Am게임유치로 선회하다]
2024년 1월이 지나가기 전에 2036년올림픽유치희망 13개 국가들 중 폴란드에 이어 멕시코도 유치철회방향으로 선회하는 모양새인 듯 합니다.
멕시코의 경우 2036년 올림픽유치를 내려 놓고 청소년올림픽 또는 Pan Am게임으로 타깃으로 삼고 있다는 외신 보도입니다.
멕시코관계자에 따르면 이미 IOC와 이와 관련하여 논의를 했는데 멕시코로서는 10여개 국가들과의 유치경쟁이 매우 어려워(the competition is very tought) 보이며 청소년올림픽유치로 선회하는 것이 더 확실한 결과를 가져올 수 있다라는 계산이 섰다고 합니다.
Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) President Mary José Alcalá (centre) and Mexico Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard (left) deliver letter of interest to IOC President Thomas Bach at headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland March 24, 2023 (COM/Twitter Photo)(2023년 3월24일 멕시코 NOC위원장인 Mary José Alcalá<사진 가운데>와 멕시코 외무부장관<사진 좌측>이 Thomas Bach IOC위원장에게 2036년 올림픽유치 관심표명서한을 전달한 바 있습니다/출처: 멕시코 NOC website)
멕시코는 2036년 올림픽유치시도를 내려 놓고 주요 종합스포츠이벤트유치로 추구 방향을 재 조정하였다(recalibrated its pursuit to host major multi-sports events dropping a bid to stage the 2036 Olympic Games )고 합니다.
그 대신 멕시코올림픽위원회(COM: Mexican Olympic Committee)위원장인 Maria Jose Alcala는 1월16일(화) 멕시코가 이제는 가까운 장래에 청소년올림픽 또는 Pan Am 게임(Pan American Games)유치를 목표로 설정할 것이라고 언급하였다고 합니다.
Reuters통신 뉴스에 따르면 Alcala 위원장은 이러한 결정이 IOC와 해당 이슈에 대해 논의한 후 내려 진 것이라고 하면서 청소년올림픽이나 Pan Am 게임은 2036년 이전 대회가 될 것이라고 언급하였다고 합니다.
IOC는 논의 중인 2036년올림픽유치희망국가들에 대하여 언급하지 않았지만 독일과 인도는 이미 활발하게 캠페인을 벌이고 있으며 한국, 인도네시아, 카타르, 헝가리, 튀르키예, 이집트 및 영국 등은 모두 공공연하게 대회유치관심을 표멍한 바 있는 것으로 알려지고 있습니다.
1월 초 폴란드는 2036년올림픽유치에 대하여 준비부족을 이유로 뒷걸음질치며 철회 움직임(Poland backtracked on its intentions to bid for the 2036 edition because it was “not ready”)을 보인 바 있습니다
2026년 청소년올림픽은 아프리카 세네갈의 수도 Dakar에서 개최 예정이며 따라서 유치가능차기대회는 2030년 대회까지는 없는 것인데 인도는 2036년 올림픽유치를 위한 디딤돌로써 2030년 청소년올림픽을 유치하겠다는 의도를 밝힌 바(shown interested in bidding for those Games as a stepping stone to prepare for a possible 2036 Olympics) 있다고 합니다.
하지만 IOC는 2030년 청소년올림픽 개최지 결정에 대한 시간표를 정하지 않고 있는(has no set timetable for the awarding of the 2030 Youth Olympics) 상태입니다.
멕시코의 경우 콜롬비아가 대회 재정 의무조항을 지키지 못한 후(after it missed a financial milestone) Barranquilla2027 Pan Am게임 개최권을 박탈당함에 따라 대체개최국물색에 나서면서 추가적인 기회가 열린 셈인 바 대회를 주관하는 Pan Am 스포츠 기구(PASO: Pan American Sports Organization)는 해당대회유치에 대한 재 유치를 위한 경쟁의 문을 열었으며 2019년 대회개최지인 페루의 Lima와 파라과이의 수도 Asunción이 관심을 표명하고 있는 상황입니다.
Alcala COM 위원장은 “멕시코에서는 Nuevo Leon만이 유일한 Pan Am 대회유치를 위하여 접촉해 왔으며 아직 논의 중임”(There is an approach from Nuevo Leon [Mexico], they are the only ones who have approached us. That is still under discussion)이라고 밝혔다고 합니다.
뒤늦게 콜롬비아의 Barranquilla는 납부마감기일이 경과한 시점에서 마케팅 지불 금인 USS$ 8백만 불(약10.4억원)을 즉각적으로 지불함으로 대회를 다시 가져오겠다고 노력 중(trying to win those Games back by offering an immediate payment of the USD $8 Million marketing fees that are now overdue)이라고 합니다.
PASO는 2월 중 이러한 이슈에 대한 논의와 결정을 위하여 임시총회를 계획하고(PASO has scheduled an extraordinary congress in February to determine next steps)있다고 합니다.
멕시코는 2026년 FIFA월드컵축대회를 미국 및 캐나다와 공동으로 개최하기 위하여 준비 중이며 현재 2027년 FIFA여자월드컵축구대회를 미국과 공동 유치 하려는 계획으로 미국 측과 협이 중(that is still under discussion)이라고 Alcala COM위원장은 언급하였다고 합니다.
[WADA(세계도핑방지기구), 아시아 및 오세아니아 사무소장으로 일본의 Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto를 임명하다]
1월19일 세계도핑방지기구(WADA)는 일본 출신 Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto를 아시아/오세아니아 사무소장으로 임명하였다고 합니다. 그녀는 2024년 3월1일부로 취임합니다.
(Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto/출처: WADA website)
Dr. Mayumi YaYa YamamotoWADA 어시아/오세아니아사무소장은 3월1일부터 근무를 시작하면 사무소는 일본 도쿄에 둔다고 합니다.
WADA를 위해 20년간 봉직한 Yamamoto소장은 2023년 12월31일부로 은퇴한 전임 소장인 Mr Kazuhiro (Kazu) Hayashi의 후임으로 알려져 있으며 그는 재임 20년 간 WADA의 아시아/오세아니아에서 WADA의 존재감을 부각시켰으며 또한 아시아-오세아니아 및 세계적으로도 도핑방지노력을 통한 영향력을 발휘함으로(a significant and lasting impact on anti-doping efforts in the region and globally) 괄목할 만하고 지속적인 활동에 매진한 바 있다고 WADA는 그의 활액에 대해 칭송하였다고 합니다.
2012년 이래로 Dr. Yamamoto신임 소장은 도핑방지교육을 이끌어 왔으며 일본도핑방지기구(JADA)의 “PLAY TRUE 2020, Sport for Tomorrow”프로젝트를 선도해 왔다고 합니다.
이러한 그녀의 역할 가운데 그녀는 아시아/오세아니아 지역 스포츠조직들을 비롯하여 각국정부 및 도핑방지기구들과의 다양한 협업을 통해 맡은 바 책무를 성공적으로 일구어 왔으며 글로벌 도핑방지공동체의 다양한 이해당사자들과도 깨끗한 스포츠(clean sport)를 실현시키기 위한 홍보 활동에도 매진하여 왔다고 합니다.
올 3월1일부터 개시되는 그녀의 WADA 아시아/오세아니아 지역 사무소장이라는 새로운 역할을 통하여 Dr. Yamamoto는 아시아/오세아니아 지역에서 WADA =의 이해당사자들을 포용하는 중요한 역할을 수행할 것이라고 합니다.
남아공 Cape Town에 위치한 (1)아프리카 지역 WADA사무소와 스위스 Lausanne에 위치한 (2)유럽지역 WADA 사무소와 우루과이 Montevideo에 위치한 (3)미주대륙 담당 사무소 및 (4)아시아/오세아니아 지역 사무소(일본 도쿄 소재)들의 우선과제들은 WADA의 전략적 우선과제들과 일맥상통하도록 유지되고(guided by the Agency's strategic priorities) 있다고 합니다.
특히, 대륙 별 지역 사무소들은 해당공공기관당국자들, 지역 스포츠기구들과 연락하여 소통하며, 각 대륙의 이해당사들에 대한 지원을 통하여 도핑 방지 프로그램을 가동하여 발전시키고, WADA법령에 상응하도록 함으로 훈련을 지원하고 교육프로그램 실행에 협조하며 WADA에 대한 각 지역에서의 재정 기여금 수집을 용이하게 하도록 협업9 complying with the World Anti-Doping Code, support training, cooperate in the implementation of education programmes, and facilitate the collection of WADA's financial contributions in each region )하도록 되어 있다고 합니다.
올해 3월1일부터 개시되는 Dr. Yamamoto신임 소장의 임명에 대하여 Olivier Niggli WADA사무총장은 “ Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto는 스포츠와 도핑 방지에 대하여 광범위한 경험의 소유자이며 그녀는 2009년 시작된 WADA표준 및 조화 협력 팀과 그 분야의 경력을 시작한 바 있음”("Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto has extensive experience in sport and anti-doping, having started her career in the field with WADA's Standards and Harmonisation team in 2009)이라고 언급하면서 Niggli사무총장은 그녀에 대한 신뢰감을 표명하였으며 그녀가 전임자인 Mr. Kazuhiro (Kazu) Hayashi의 뒤를 이어 뛰어난 유산을 지속적으로 계승 발전 시킬 것이라고 덧붙였다고 합니다.
Dr Yamamoto 는 국제관계 학사학위 및 스포츠사회학 석사학위에 이어(following a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master's degree in Sociology of Sport) 2009년에 영국 Loughborough대학교 스포츠비즈니스 연구원으로부터 스포츠 장책 및 매니지먼트 철학 및 스포츠 정책 철학 박사학위를(her PhD in Philosophy of Sport Policy in Philosophy in Sports Policy and Management from the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University in the UK in 2009) 받았다고 합니다
그녀는 야구선수출신(a former competitive basketball player)이며 지금은 가족 및 친구들과 함께 레크리에이션 농구를 즐기고(now enjoys playing recreational basketball with friends and family) 있다고 합니다
어제(1월21일) 튀르키예 IOC위원 겸 SportAccord신임회장 겸 세계 양궁(World Archery)회장 겸 WADA집행위원과의 오전 개별 미팅 차 강릉에 경포대에 위치한 IOC본부호텔로 지정된 SkayBay호텔을 방문하였으며 IOC본부호텔로비에서 많은 IOC위원들과 오랜 만의 해후를 겸한 이야기 꽃을 피우며 함께 나누는 시간을 갖기도 하였습니다.
너무 반가운 나머지 기념사진촬영하는 것도 깜빡했습니다. 그래도 올림픽 친구들을 오랜 만에 만나서 너무 반가웠습니다.
김재열 신임 IOC위원 및 국제빙상경기연맹(ISU)회장을 비롯하여 그와 커피숍에서 담소하고 나오던 오스트리아 NOC위원장 겸 IOC위원 겸 동계올림픽 미래유치위원회(FHC)위원장인 Karl Stoss와 첫 대면도 이루어졌습니다.
Bach IOC위원장은 아쉽게도 이번에는 만나지 못하였습니다. 다음 번을 기약하면서…
(Ugur Erdener 튀르케얘 IOC위원 겸 신임 SportAccord회장 겸 세계양궁(World Archery)회장 겸 WADA집행위원과 스위스 Lausanne 개최 IOC집행위원회 Coffee Break시간에 함께 담소하는 중/뒤쪽에서 걸어오고 있는 Thomas Bach IOC위원장이 보입니다)
[폴란드신임체육장관, 폴란드의 2036년올림픽유치 주춤하다(Poland backtracks on 2036 Olympic bid)라고 언급하다]
폴란드 Slawomir Nitras 신임 체육부장관은 2024년 1월5일, 폴란드는 2036년 올림픽 및 패럴림픽 유치를 진행할 준비가 되어 있지 않다(his nation is not ready to launch a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036)고 강조하였다고 합니다.
(Left to right) Poland’s former Minister of Sport and Tourism Kamil Bortniczuk, President of the Polish Olympic Committee Radosław Piesiewicz and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda September 27, 2023 (Photo: POC)(좌로부터: 폴란드 전임 체육장관 Kamil Bortniczuk, 폴란드NOC위원장 Radosław Piesiewicz 및 폴란드 대통령 Andrzej Duda/2023년 9월27일/출처: 폴란드 NOC)
2023년 Duda 폴란드 대통령의 2036년 올림픽유치 캠페인이 임박했다는 지난 9월 선언을 Nitras신임 체육장관이 폴란드 라디오 방송 인터뷰에서 한 걸음 물러 나는 어조의 발언을 했다고 합니다.
폴란드 뉴스 통신사에 따르면 그는 “유치를 하려면 다른 나라들과의 경쟁에 참여해야 할 필요가 있는데 폴란드는 준비가 되어 있지 않고 있음”(It would be necessary to make a bid and participate in a competition with other countries)이라고 발언하였다고 합니다.
2023년 10월15일 열린 폴란드 의회선거에 앞서 Duda 대통령은 폴란드 올림픽위원회, 체육관광부 및 정부가 함께 협의 한후 2036년 올림픽개최 노력을 시작하고자 하는 것이 우리의 야심이며 의도임을 이야기 하고 싶음”(After consultations with the Polish Olympic Committee (POC), the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the government, I would like to say that it is our ambition and intention to start efforts to hold the Summer Olympic Games in our country in 2036)이라고 언급한 바 있다고 합니다.
그러면서 그는 2023년 10월6일 Bach IOC위원장과의 회동 중 바르샤바를 중심으로 대회를 개최하고자 하는 계획을 설명하면서 서한도 전달하였는데 이는 폴란드 Krakow 및 Malopolska에서 성공적으로 개최된 2023년유럽게임에 힘 입어 나온 발상이었다고 합니다.
Nitras 신임 폴란드체육장광은 대회유치계획을 지지한다고 하면서 “대통령의 성명서와는 동 떨어지게 전 정부는 이러한 방향으로 어떠한 조치도 취한 바 없음” (apart from the statement made by the president, the previous government had taken no steps in this direction.)이라며 주의를 환기시켰다고 합니다.
2023년 12월13일 부로 신임 폴란드 체육부장관에 취임한 Nitras의 이러한 발언은 전임 장관인 Kamil Bortniczuk을 염두에 둔 발로 해석된다고 합니다.
2019년부터 IOC가 도입한 새로운 규칙에 따르면 과거 관행이었던 대회개최 7년전에 올림픽개최지를 선출하지 않고 있으며 Brisbane2032의 경우 대회개최 11년 전인 2021년에 결정하였으며 2030년(French Alps) 및 2034년(Salt Lake City) 동계올림픽 개최지를 대략 10년 전인 금년 7월 IOC총회에서 선출할 예정입니다.
2023년 Bach IOC위원장은 2036년 올림픽개최지 결정은 자신의 12년 임기가 종료되는 2025년 이후 후임 IOC위원장이 결정하도록 하겠다고 의도를 언급한(he intends to leave the 2036 decision to his successor after his term ends in 2025) 바 있으며 그는 논의 중인 2036년올림픽 유치후보도시 수가 2자리 수(double digit)라고도 언급하였다고 합니다.
IOC는 그러한 관련 유치희망도시들과의 논의 내용을 대외비로 취급하고 있지만 폴란드를 차치하고라도 10개 지역이 손 꼽히는데 (1)한국, (2)인도네시아, (3)인도, (4)독일, (5)카타르, (6)헝가리. (7)튀르키예, (8)이집트, (9)멕시코, (10)영국 등이 거론되고 있다고 합니다.
폴란드는 지금껏 올림픽개최가 전무하지만 두 번의 동계올림픽유치를 시도하였다고 실패한 바 있는데 Zakopane2006 은 결선진출에 실패하였으며 Krakow 2022는 주민투표로 뒤짚어져 유치를 철회한 바 있습니다.
또한 폴란드의 Poznan2014는 청소년올림픽유치경쟁에서 중국의 Nanjing에게 개최도시 자리를 내 준 바 있습니다.
[The 9th IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach’s 10-Year Long Leadership (so far) & Contribution together with Highlights of his Famous Analects and Speeches (2013-2023)]
아래 글은 Thomas Bach 제9대 IOC위원장(2013~2025)의 10년 간의 리더십 공헌과 기여 발자취와 더불어 그분이 창출해 낸 그분 만의 둑특한 어휘와 어록 그분의 탁월한 스포츠외교력의 발판이된 여러가지 케이스를 특집 형태로 종합 편집하여 Thomas Bach IOC위원장 본인에게 보낸 내용입니다.
그분은 평창2018동계올림픽 및 패럴림픽의 안전하고 성공적인 개최를 위하여 남북한을 오가는 셔틀 외교를 통하여 북한의 참가와 남북한 서울-평양 2032올림픽 공동유치의 근간을 마련해 주기 위해 애쓰신 세계스포츠대통령입니다.
IOC나 대한체육회(KSOC)에 아무런 직위도 없는 필자에게 IOC집행위원회 결정을 통해 2022년 10월 21일 ANOC서울총회 말미에 필자의 40년 간 올림픽운동에서의 헌신과 섬김을 인정하여 스포츠부문 Nobel Prize로 불리기도 하는 IOC쿠베르탱 메달을 공식 행사를 통해 한국인 중 최초로 직접 전수해 주신 고마운 그분의 10년간의 업적을 기리기 위해 아래 글을 그분에게 헌정하였습니다.
물론 그의 IOC위원장 임기는 현재로서는 2025년까지이지만 지난 10월 인도 Mumbai개최 IOC총회에서 몇 몇 IOC위원들이 Bach IOC위원장 임기를 정식으로 제안하였기 때문에 내년 Paris2024올림픽 개최식 전에 열리는 IOC총회에서 정식 안건으로 상정될 경우 최소 4년 임기가 연장될 개연성도 상존하고 있는 상황입니다.
"The 9th IOC President Thomas Bach is often characterized by his simple but long-lasting magic words penetrating and appealing to the global sport people, especially in the Olympic Movement.
Even myself have continuously been intrigued and touched by his pithyepigramthatstingsthe people to the quick even into our heart and memory.
As for me personally, the most universal and touching word is “Unity in Diversity”, followed by many others, including but not limited to “There is no one-size-fits-all solution”, “without losing political neutrality”, “Olympic legacy for sustainability, flexibility, practicality, good governance, gender equality, “Unifying Power of sport and Olympics to bring together people”, exquisitely melted in his brain child masterpiece, “Olympic Agenda 2020+5”, which is a “Strategic Roadmap of the Future Olympic Movement” and updated Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Strong, Together” in the IOC’s 130-year long history as of 23 June 2024 since its creation in 1894.
Dr. Thomas Bach as unprecedented performing designer and strategist of the destiny of the future Olympic Movement, more importantly for me, is one of my three most respected IOC Presidents along with the 2nd IOC President Baron Pierre de Coubertin, IOC Founder and Renovator of the modern Olympic Games and I was also awarded the IOC Pierre de Coubertin Medal in October 2022 and the 7th IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch who saved the Olympic Movement from several attempts of Olympic boycott, especially Seoul 1988 Games.
My very first personal gift for him was a 4-line poem presented at the time his visit to Gangneung City for his honorary citizenship in mid-March 2018, during which he named it as an “Olympic City”, actually Ice sports venue city of the PyeongChang2018 Winter Games.
The second and third versions of my 4-line poems dedicated to him were also presented in honor of and with my highest respect to his century-long global contribution to the successful organization of the PyeongChang2018 Winter Olympic Games, which is still remembered as “Peace Olympics” thanks to his unique and unprecedented diplomatic skills and leadership between two Koreas through the Olympic bridges. No one will dispute the fact that he well-deserves the Nobel Peace Prize recipient at an appropriate timing in the very near future, I believe."
(IOC President’s First Gift for me after Signing Ceremony of MOU Between Olympic Museum and Gangneung Olympic Musuem, Lausanne/April 2018)
1.IOC President’s Key-Handover Ceremony from the late Jacques Rogge, the 8the IOC President
1)“Many thanks for this symbolic act of handing over the key, which is now a traditional part of IOC history. We both know very well that this handover includes the challenge of taking on the huge demands and responsibility of this office.”
2)“You(Rogge) have left the Olympic Movement a solid foundation and you have every reason to be proud of your great achievement, which has benefited sport worldwide. Here, this evening, we would like to express to you our gratitude, recognition and respect.”
2.From his Acceptance Speech of the Election of the 9th IOC President in the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires on 10 September 2013
1)“First of all, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all my dear friends and colleagues who voted for me this morning.
2)This is really an overwhelming sign of trust and confidence.
3)But I would also like to thank my fellow candidates, who I greatly respect, and all those who did not vote for me this time.
4)I will also work for and with you in the coming years and want to win your confidence, too.”
5)“I know about the great responsibility of an IOC President."
6)“This makes me humble.
7)“I want to lead the IOC according to my motto”: ‘Unity in Diversity.’
8)“I want to be a President for all of you.”
9)“This means I will do my very best to balance well all the different interests of the stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.”
10)“This is why I want to listen to you and to enter into an ongoing dialogue with all of you.”
11)“You should know that my door, my ears, and my heart are always open for you.”
(Bach’s manifesto states he wants to keep the Olympic Games “unique” and not “diluted by other events,” while ensuring the awarding of the Games is based on “the interest of the IOC in an in-depth review and risk analysis of a bid on the one hand, and the interest of a potential bidder in a social and promotional return on investment in the other.”)
3.At his term as President of the IOC has passed its 10-year anniversary,we can now recognize“Thomas Bach’s Ten Commandments”for the Olympic Movement (Ref.: The Sports Examiner)
1)Bidding for Olympic Games should not create losers, who waste millions for absolutely no return.
(The IOC now selects its hosts through a mostly-private discussion process.)
2)An Olympic Games must conform to the city, region or country where it is held, and not require unnecessary expenditures.
3)It is considered best if no new venues or permanent constructions are undertaken for a Games, unless as part of an otherwise useful local development plan.
4)Sport must go to where the people are, not require people to come to it.
(This was successfully demonstrated at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires at the free, open-air opening ceremony at the iconic Obelisk, and transferred to Paris 2024 with its opening on the Seine.)
5)Sport must appeal to youth, or in Olympic-speak, “be more urban” and “youth-oriented.”
(Thus the inclusion to the permanent program of skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing from 2028 and the IOC moving toward its own “e-sport Olympics.)
6)Sport governance through the “solidarity model,” in which money is distributed through National Olympic Committees for development projects and athlete support, rather than simply paying athletes directly through prize money.
7)Strict requirements for gender equality in terms of the number of men’s and women’s athletes competing, which will be reached at Paris 2024.
8)Strenuous anti-doping measures, preferably handled by an independent agency; the IOC created the International testing Agency in 2018, which has quickly absorbed most of the anti-doping programming for Olympic-sport federations.
9)Athletes are not responsible for the actions of their government, so long as they are not affiliated with their government.
10)The IOC should respect, follow and implement the directives and regulations of the United Nations.
4.My Personal & Thankful Communications Opportunities with IOC President Thomas Bach for a SDGs-Oriented Olympic Movement in the Future
(IOC Pierre de Coubertin Medal Presentation to Rocky YOON by IOC President Thomas Bach 21 October 2022, Seoul)
5.Presentation of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal to Rocky Yoon Kang-Ro by IOC President Thomas Bach /Seoul, October 2022
“It is with great pleasure to inform you that the IOC Executive Board, which met today, has decided to award you the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for blending culture and sport in such a unique way in your publishing” (Letter by IOC President Thomas Bach about the decision by IOC Executive Board dated 9 September)
Dear friends,
For our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, theOlympic Games were always much more than just a sporting event. He wanted to make the world a better place through sport and its values. This remains the overarching mission of the IOC and the entire Olympic Movement to this day.
Dear Rocky,
Having known you for such a long time, I can say from personal observation that during all these many years, your commitment to the Olympic Movement has always been a reflection of this vision of our founder.
Making the world a better and more peaceful place through sport has always been your guiding principle throughout your illustrious career.
At the Korean Olympic Committee, as the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee was formerly known, you were deeply involved in the successful organisation of the Olympic Games Seoul 1988. These Games left a remarkable sporting legacy to the people of Seoul and the Republic of Korea.
My personal connection to Seoul and Korea also began during these Games. At the time, I was the athletes' representative on the Games' steering committee. Ever since then, Seoul and its people have a very special place in my heart.
After the closing of the Olympic Games Seoul 1988, promoting the legacy of these Games has been the guiding theme of your career. As Standing Advisor to the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, you have taken part in long-term projects including the Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum, which is taking place this week right here in Seoul.
You spent more than two decades as an official delegate for the NOC of the Republic of Korea, serving the development of sport and spreading the Olympic values throughout the country. During this time, your outstanding dedication to the athletes is reflected in the fact that you were a leading member of the South Korean delegation for an incredible ten editions of the Olympic Games.
Over the years, you have always shown a desire to share and pass on your extensive Olympic experience. Most recently you did so by providing guidance and counsel to the Organising Committee of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 in your capacity as senior advisor to the OCOG President.I am very grateful to say that the IOC, through its Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, has also benefited your deep expertise.
Your belief in the power of sport has also guided you in your current role as President of the International Sport Diplomacy Institute. In this capacity, you are continuing to keep the legacy of Seoul 1988 alive, in particular through your active engagement with young people. With your lectures at renowned universities, you are inspiring the new generation with our shared Olympic values.
Perhaps nothing illustrates your passion for sport better than the creation of the Pyeongsan Sports Museum close to your home town, where thousands of Olympic artifacts and memorabilia are on display, many from your private collection.
Having just recently published the book “True Record and Stories of Korea Sports Diplomacy” you show no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, your unwavering commitment and enthusiasm for the Olympic Games continues to reach new heights. This is why today, we salute and honour your unique contribution and deep-rooted attachment to the Olympic values.
Dear Mr. Yoon Kang-Ro, dear Rocky,
In recognition of your outstanding achievements in supporting the cause of world sport and your faithfulness to the Olympic ideal as illustrated by Pierre de Coubertin, reviver of the Olympic Games, it is an honour and pleasure to present you with the Pierre de Coubertin Medal.
*Rocky YOON’s Thank-you Note to IOC President Thomas Bach at the IOC Pierre de Coubertin Medal Awarding Ceremony (Seoul, 21 Oct. 2023)
Honorable IOC President, Dr. Thomas Bach,
Distinguished guests who are present here today to attend the Awarding Ceremony of this prestigious Baron Pierre de Coubertin Medal out of busy schedule.
Very good morning!
First and foremost, I am deeply touched and grateful to IOC President Thomas Bach who is sharing this space with us at this present time and made this possible at the IOC EB held on 9 September for his generous and insightful decision and consideration to award to me the Coubertin Medal.
When I receive his letter, I couldn’t believe my eyes, but soon I realize that this is really happening to me.
I am very much excited, tremendously honored, incredibly privileged, and enormously and immeasurably pleased not only to become a recipient of this medal but also to receive it at first hand from IOC President Thomas Bach who has come a long way for this ceremony as well, on the auspicious occasion of the first Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum as a key-note speaker, which ended yesterday.
This medal is so important in giving me a sense of encouragement and motivation and inspiration to move forward together to build a better society concerned with the preservation of human dignity during the rest of my life.
Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy, found in efforts and educational value of good example based on the universal, fundamental and ethical principles.
No one will dispute the fact that IOC President Thomas Bach is by far the greatest global leader in the 21st century Olympic Movement with vision, wisdom, ability and inspiration to upgrade and re-design the modern Olympic Movement with his brain child masterpiece, Olympic Agenda 2020+5, ensuring and realizing transparency, sustainability, good governance, cost-effectiveness, best possible efficiency of the Olympic Games as well as equal and balanced opportunities in a spirit of the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.
Coubertin was a pioneer and forefather with a crystal clear vision for the initial Olympic Movement above and beyond time and space toward universality and sportsmanship with values of Olympic motto of Faster, Higher, Stronger, and recently strengthened with one simple but very meaningful and unifying word “Together” by IOC President Thomas Bach. Baron Pierre de Coubertin devised and designed Best Optimized Olympic Concept and vision suggesting to revitalize human values from teenagers, youth to produce a better and more peaceful world through sport.
In full alignment of the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, President Bach’s vision is well reflected and echoed in his connotative and implicative words of “Unity in Diversity”, Unifying Power of Sport and Olympics to bring together people, cultures, ideas, and lifestyles over Five Rings around the world. I would like to define it as a new revolution of the modern Olympic Movement in order to discharge prejudice and discrimination of any kind.
On each and every occasion of his speech, IOC President Thomas Bach impressed the world with his own expressions, such as “There is no one-size-fit-all solution”, “This world is run by politics and not by sports organizations” as a reason why sport stay on neutrality, to say the least.
In order to eliminate mal practices, danger and risk factors of the past Olympic Host City selection process, he reformed it and created the new age Olympic Host selection system by creating “FHC” system, thereby enabling IOC to choose best optimized Olympic Host Cities “whenever timing is right”. I think he must be an Olympic genius and here of heroes in the 21st century Olympic Movement.
During the 128 years of the Olympic Movement, in my judgment, I can say there have been three most outstanding and greatest IOC Presidents, Firstly, Baron Pierre de Coubertin who served 21 years. Secondly, Juan Antonio Samaranch who also served 21 years. Thirdly and most importantly for the vast majority of the global stakeholders, I believe, the current IOC President Thomas Bach who has served 9 years so far and will serve only 3 more years, but I believe his term should be extended likewise in accordance with his achievements and role to play in order to overcome on-going and rapidly approaching crisis facing the global Olympic Movement including but not limited to pandemics.
Once again, I would like to reiterate my profound gratitude to IOC President Thomas Bach for his generous and insightful decision awarding this prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Medal to me in person. Thank you for your attention. And may God bless you and the Olympic Movement.
6.Quotations (76) from IOC President Thomas Bach’s Speech at the 130th Extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne on 11 July 2017
“Charge boldly through the clouds and do not be afraid. The future belongs to you.”
“Let us show that sport is also always about ambition and optimism
“Let us not rest on our current position of strength.”
“Let us make sure that we can enjoy such stability also in the years to come”
1)“A warm welcome to all of you to this extraordinary IOC Session.”
2) “It is an extraordinary meeting because we are at an important juncture for the Olympic Movement.”
3) “Our discussions and decisions today will chart the course of the Olympic Games for the foreseeable future.”
4) “We will be discussing two separate but related decisions.”
5) “Both will affect the future of the Olympic Games in profound ways.”
6) “In this respect, now is a moment to shape the future of our Movement. “
7) “This is why I am looking forward to an interesting debate today.”
8) “We can have this discussion from a position of strength and stability.”
9) “You will see this when the audited accounts will be presented and we can hopefully approve the financial figures.”
10) “This gives us the opportunity to once more look at our governance structures.”
11) “The financial figures are not only audited by our external auditors, but they are also always closely monitored by our Audit Committee and our Internal Auditor.”
12) “Let me thank the members of our Audit Committee under the great leadership of its Chair, Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, for their hard work and good advice they are giving us on this matter throughout the year.”
13) “This Audit Committee is of course further supported by the Finance Commission who again monitor the financial flows and operations of the IOC.”
14) “Let me also acknowledge and thank all its members and its Chair, Ser Miang Ng, for their valuable contribution.”
15) “The financial figures take into account the record amount that we have distributed to Rio 2016. ”
16) “We have made a tremendous effort, together with the IFs and NOCs, with additional financial contributions and savings at the same time, to make the first Olympic Games in South America a reality, despite all the unprecedented challenges of our Brazilian friends.”
17) “As you approve the audited accounts, I hope you take all this into consideration.”
18) “Following the approval, we can then proceed to publish the Annual Report.”
19) “As always, the Annual Report will provide an in-depth account of our activities, making all the IOC’s financial flows fully transparent and demonstrating that we are distributing 90 per cent of all our revenues for the development of sport worldwide.”
20) “This very high percentage of redistribution to support world sport is something that we can be very proud of.”
21) “Our strong and stable financial situation allows us to focus almost all our energy on the overarching mission of the IOC, to make the world a better place through sport.”
22) “This is the solid foundation that we can build on for our future.”
23) “This strong position of the Olympic Movement is also demonstrated by a great opportunity that we will discuss today.”
24) “This is about awarding the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028 at the same time in Lima this September.”
25) “As you have seen and heard this morning, and as confirmed by the report of our Evaluation Commission, we have two outstanding candidatures for 2024.”
26) “With Los Angeles and Paris, there are two fantastic cities from countries with a profound Olympic history.”
27) “The two candidate cities are enthusiastic and dynamic.”
28) “They are promoting the Olympic Games and the Olympic spirit in a great way.”
29) “The Candidate Cities for the Olympic Games 2024 are the first to fully benefit from the significant changes that resulted from Olympic Agenda 2020.”
30) “The Evaluation Commission has come back with praise for both candidatures.”
31) “Both cities have really embraced Olympic Agenda 2020, in particular by using a record number of existing and temporary facilities.”
32) “This is something we have not seen in this dimension in the history of the Olympic Games.”
33) “Such proposals lead to significant cost reductions in the organization of the Olympic Games.”
34) “This sets a precedent to make the Games more sustainable and more feasible for the future.”
35) “It is exactly this spirit of Olympic Agenda 2020 that we are promoting.”
36) “As you can see, this is a golden opportunity.”
37) “It is hard to imagine something better.”
38) “This is why the Executive Board asked the IOC Vice-Presidents to study how the Olympic Movement could make the most of this unique constellation.”
39) “The Executive Board is unanimously supporting their recommendation not to miss this golden opportunity.”
40) “The Vice-Presidents will give you even more reasons why this double allocation should happen and how we can make it happen.”
41) “We can create a win-win-win situation for the entire Olympic Movement, for Los Angeles and the United States of America, and for Paris and France.”
42) “While the allocation the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028 at the same time is about seizing an opportunity, the next decision is about addressing a challenge.”
43) “This decision is about reforming our current candidature procedure with a view to the Olympic Winter Games 2026.”
44) “The challenges that we face here are both external and internal.”
45) “Firstly, there is a profound change in the decision-making process in many Western countries.”
46) “In the past, when we saw that a candidature enjoyed the support of the government, of the opposition, of business and of the sport community, then we were sure that the candidature had broad public support.”
47) “This has changed dramatically, inparticular in Europe.”
48) “Today, when people see that the government, the opposition, business and the sport community, in other words, when the entire establishment is united behind one project, then the people immediately have mistrust and conclude that something must be terribly wrong.”
49) “In many countries, populist movements are on the rise.”
50) “As we have seen in the recent past, these populist movements can be very effective, even if they might still be too small to run a government.”
51) “But they have a strong influence over policy and political decision making.”
52) “The New York Times described this quite well recently when they wrote:
53)“Western populism may be entering something like its awkward teenage years – able to borrow the car but not own it, have an influence on the household but too young to run it.”
54) “We may not like this new political reality, but we cannot ignore it. “
55) “This is the external challenge.”
56) “But we have to acknowledge that internally, with our candidature procedure, we have given some arguments to this public scepticism and mistrust.”
57) “In a nutshell, the candidature procedure, which worked very well in the past, has become too expensive and too onerous for some potential candidate cities today.”
58) “We have been asking too much too soon from the candidate cities.”
59) “For all these reasons, it is extremely difficult for sport and government authorities in many countries today to come back with a second candidature, when a first one was not successful.”
60) “In particular, this is limiting the number of potential candidates for Olympic Winter Games, where for geographic reasons, but increasingly also because of climate change, we had and continue to have a much smaller number of potential candidate cities.”
61) “Because of the fact that the Olympic Winter Games 2014, 2018 and 2022 are all held in completely new winter sport destinations, there is a public perception that this trend will continue.”
62) “It is therefore in our best interest to demonstrate that traditional winter sport destinations in the Americas, Europe or Asia are most welcome as Olympic hosts.”
63) “The world is changing at an ever-faster pace.”
64) “It has changed in profound ways even in the time since we passed Olympic Agenda 2020.”
65) “It has changed in profound ways even in the last few months, even in the last weeks and days.”
66) “We need to continue to address this change.”
67) “The Vice-Presidents will share the details of the proposal, unanimously supported by the Executive Board, for a new approach for the Olympic Winter Games 2026.”
68) “As you can see, these two decisions before us will have far-reaching implications for the future of the Olympic Games.”
69) “One is an opportunity, the other one a challenge.”
70) “Both are an occasion to remind ourselves of our founder, Pierre de Coubertin who once said:
71)“Charge boldly through the clouds and do not be afraid. The future belongs to you.”
72) “Let us take courage from his words.”
73) “Let us show that sport is also always about ambition and optimism.”
74) “Let us not rest on our current position of strength.”
75) “Let us make sure that we can enjoy such stability also in the years to come.”
76) “In this spirit of ambition and optimism, I wish us all fruitful discussions and a successful Extraordinary Session.”
7.IOC President Thomas Bach’s Secret of the Success of the PyeongChang2018 Winter Games
(IOC President Thomas Bach and his Awarding of Seoul Peace Prize 2021)
1)“The secret of PyeongChang2018’s success in encouraging North Korean participation was due to political neutrality.”
2)“It would be “naïve" and "unrealistic" to believe the Olympic Games can ignore wider political developments.”
3)“It would only be possible to be able to this while remaining strictly neural.”
4)“This world is run by politics and not by sports organizations.”
5)“Therefore, to preserve the autonomy, we have to have a partnership and mutual respect.”
6)“On the one hand, our respect for the priorities of politics, and on the other hand, their respect of the politics for the autonomy of the IOC, making them aware that we can only accomplish our mission if we have this autonomy, if we are politically strictly neutral.”
7)“And what this means, you can see from the Korean issues.”
8)“If we would not have been strictly politically neutral, we could never have achieved the joint march behind the one flag nor the joint women's ice hockey team.”
8.IOC President Bach’s writing to Olympic Movement: Olympism and Corona (29 April 2020)
OLYMPISM AND CORONA
With the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are all living in much uncertainty. At this point in time, this uncertainty is far from subsiding. We are all only beginning to understand the far-reaching consequences of the coronavirus crisis around the world. What is certain, however, is that this pandemic has affected and will affect all areas of society, including all of us in the world of sport, significantly. The global spread of the virus has meant that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have had to be postponed to 2021, a historic decision that was taken in order to safeguard the health of the athletes and the hundreds of thousands of people involved in the Games. In this respect, please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation to each and every one of you for your strong support of the decision by the IOC Executive Board to postpone the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which we took together with our Japanese partners and friends. Given the difficult circumstances we are all currently facing, the very broad and overarching support for this decision was not a foregone conclusion. This is why the support of all 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), all Summer Olympic International Federations (IFs) plus the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the continental athletes’ commissions for this historic postponement is a great demonstration of the unity of the Olympic Movement under these unprecedented circumstances.
1)Coronavirus crisis management
Now we have another unprecedented challenge ahead of us – organising the postponed Olympic Games. This is a first in our long Olympic history, and it is an immense task for the IOC, our Japanese partners and friends, and all the members of our Olympic community. 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. For our part, we have made it clear that the IOC will continue to be responsible for its share of the operational burden and its share of the costs for these postponed Games, under the terms of the existing agreement for 2020 that we have with our Japanese partners and friends. Although it is too early to give an exact figure, we already know that we have to shoulder several hundred million US dollars of postponement costs. This is why we also need to look into and review all the services that we provide for these postponed Games. With regard to supporting the Olympic community that is affected by this crisis, we are already in fruitful discussions with the athletes, the NOCs and the IFs, as well as our commercial partners and sponsors. As immediate measures, we have already extended all Olympic grants to the NOCs to cover their preparations for the Games. This also applies to the grants for 1,600 Olympic Scholarship athletes worldwide and the IOC Refugee Team. The joint Task Force with the symbolic name “Here we Go” is already working at full speed in a highly professional way. It has established the priorities and management strategies to make these postponed Olympic Games feasible and successful. These priorities include first of all to create a safe environment with regard to health for all participants. Here, we can continue to rely on the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning potential adaptations to the organisation of mass gatherings. With regard to feasibility, the IOC has provided a wide-ranging catalogue of cost-saving measures to the joint Task Force. By following this strategy, we have the unique opportunity to turn the celebration of the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 into a festival of unity for humankind, and a symbol of human resilience to overcome this coronavirus crisis. Imagine what a powerful signal of hope these Olympic Games will be for the world during these unprecedented times. The Olympic flame can be the light at the end of the dark tunnel that humankind currently finds itself in.
2)The post-coronavirus world
At this moment, nobody knows what the realities of the post-coronavirus world will look like. What is clear, however, is that probably none of us will be able to sustain every single initiative or event that we were planning before this crisis hit. We will all need to take a close look at the scope of some of our activities and make the necessary adjustments to the new realities. In this context, the IOC administration is reviewing the IOC’s budget and priorities. This review will shortly be presented to the IOC Executive Board for discussion and approval. The motto when we launched Olympic Agenda 2020, and which is written on the wall at Olympic House: “Change or be changed”, is in this crisis-time more relevant than ever. As challenging and difficult as the circumstances may appear right now, if we draw the right lessons from the current situation, we can shape our future to even strengthen the relevance of our Olympic Movement in the world. Therefore, we should drive further the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020, in particular with regard to sustainability, in order to address this crisis. To accomplish this, as a responsible organization we should dare to look into the future of the world after this crisis. History tells us that significant crises or systemic shocks, like the coronavirus pandemic, have profound and far-reaching impacts on society at large. Therefore, we have to imagine in what kind of post-coronavirus world sport, the Olympic values and the Olympic Games will find themselves in. At this moment in time, nobody can truly predict the realities of this post-coronavirus world. But if we want to be prepared, we need to try to look further ahead. To this discussion I would like to contribute some food for thought: One could imagine three broad scenarios, while bearing in mind that these are by no means exhaustive, nor likely to become reality in their pure form, but will differ according to their national, regional and cultural background. In the first scenario, society will try to continue much like before the crisis. With this scenario, the current crisis would most likely exacerbate already existing social and economic inequalities. Too many inequalities and inefficiencies in too many societies have been laid bare in this crisis. The world will not be able to overcome these by blindly following computer algorithms based on data stemming from the past, like from the financial crisis in 2008. This crisis is very different. To overcome this crisis will require human excellence, experience and creativity. The second scenario is largely characterized by society and nations driven even more by egoism and self-interest. This scenario could lead to even more divided societies, to more inequalities, with all the social risks this entails for the political systems. It would lead to a dramatic worsening of international relations, protectionism and political confrontation in all aspects of human life: the economy, sport, culture, humanitarian aid, everything would become a political tool in this political confrontation. The main features of the third scenario are more solidarity and international cooperation. This scenario would mean that we have understood that we cannot predict or shape the future state of the world by relying solely on technology, and that no individual, no government, no nation can solve the big problems of humanity on their own. This would lead to efforts to share the hardship of the crisis in a fair way among people and nations, and to strengthen a fair and cooperative world order. Whichever elements of these scenarios are dominant, there will be a fundamental effect on sport and society at large. Being united by our Olympic values of peace, solidarity, respect and unity in all our diversity, we can make an important contribution to this post-coronavirus world. We can do so from a strong basis. Thanks to the many reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020 we are enjoying long-term stability. This allows us to shoulder not only our share of the postponement costs of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 but at the same time keep assisting the athletes and the Olympic stakeholders. Yet there is no reason to be complacent. This post-coronavirus world will confront us with more challenges, in particular social, economic and political ones. Therefore, we have to drive Olympic Agenda 2020 forward and adapt it.
3)Social impact
We can fairly assume that, in the post-coronavirus society, public health will play a much more important role. Sport and physical activity make a great contribution to health. While studies by the WHO had already demonstrated this with stunning results concerning non-communicable diseases, the coronavirus crisis teaches us how much a sound general health situation helps to overcome communicable diseases as well. Sport and physical activity are therefore the perhaps most low-cost tool for a healthy society. To make this even more evident too, the IOC is about to conclude a new Memorandum of Understanding with the WHO. We can highlight the significance of sport for inclusivity and integration. Sometimes, sport is the only activity that unites people regardless of their social, political, religious or cultural background. Sport is the glue bonding a society together. Such inclusivity is even more important in otherwise deeply divided societies. We shall also have to consider what social distancing may mean for our relations with e-sports. Whilst maintaining our principles by respecting the “red line” with regard to the Olympic values, we encourage all our stakeholders even more urgently to “consider how to govern electronic and virtual forms of their sport and explore opportunities with game publishers” (Declaration of the 8th Olympic Summit, 7 December 2019). Some IFs have already been very creative by organizing remote competitions. We should further strengthen these moves and encourage our joint working group to address this new challenge and opportunity.
4)Economic impact
Without any doubt, the current health crisis will lead to a long and deep economic crisis, the effect of which on sport may differ from country to country. This will depend greatly on the importance governments will give to the enormous social capital represented by sport when it comes to the allocation of the financial assistance provided by them for the recovery of economy. Therefore, we should strongly request governments to appreciate and honor the immense contribution of sport to public health, its importance for inclusion, social life and culture, and its important role for their national economies. In Europe, for example, a recent study showed that sport contributes more than two percent to GDP, a contribution which makes sport economically more important than a number of more traditional economic sectors. The same study found that nearly three per cent of all jobs in Europe are sport-related. Sport is therefore a big employer. This study, like many others, demonstrates that sport can play not just a positive social role but also an economic one in helping the world to recover from the crisis. We are not part of the problem. We can be part of the solution. To achieve this, governments must include sport in their economic support programmes. However, for most sports events, as for all sectors of society, things will not be as they were before. This is why the IOC should further strengthen the sustainability and feasibility reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020 with a new phase of the “New Norm” to make even more savings possible for the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games. These new measures should lead to an even more restricted footprint for all the stakeholders at the Olympic Games. The IOC will also study whether and how we can accelerate our response to climate change. The IOC as an organization is already carbon neutral, as the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 should also be. Our new aim could be to make them both climate positive even before 2030, which is the year targeted by the international community to achieve their climate goals. For the Olympic Movement as a whole, we may also have to look more closely into the proliferation of sports events, as we already discussed at previous Olympic Summits. The financial pressure on all the stakeholders, including NOCs, IFs and Organizing Committees, may require more consolidation in this respect.
5)Political impact
At least in some parts of the world, we may see more nationalism, more protectionism and, as a result, more political confrontation. Here, our Olympic values of solidarity, peace, respect for each other and for the global rules of sport need to be emphasized. By living in and strengthening solidarity we can show that respectful international cooperation produces better and fairer results than isolationism. We all have to make every effort to ensure that the Olympic Games are supported by the entire international community as the demonstration of the “Unity of humankind in all our diversity”; that the Olympic Games are building bridges for everybody without any kind of discrimination; and that therefore the Olympic Games as this unique sports, cultural and social event should be beyond any political or other divisive considerations.
6)The way forward
I hope that with these ideas I can contribute to a comprehensive discussion.Therefore, I propose a wide-ranging consultation among all of us under the guidance of the IOC Executive Board and the IOC Session, as we did for Olympic Agenda 2020. Already the Ancient Greeks, to whom we owe the Olympic Games, knew that with every crisis comes an opportunity. Let us take this opportunity in a way of unity and creativity to emerge from this crisis even stronger than before. The post-coronavirus world will need sport, and we are ready to contribute to shaping it with our Olympic values.
Lausanne, 29 April 2020 Thomas Bach
9.Strategic Framework on Huma Rights to realize best practices in the selection of future Olympic Games hosts at the IOC Executive Board on 9 September 2022)
1)“This Framework will fundamentally shape the working practices of the IOC, the Olympic Games, and the entire Olympic Movement, ensuring that human rights are respected within our own respective remit”
2) “The overarching mission of the Olympic Movement, as you know, is for sport to contribute to a better world ... It will address selection of future Olympic Games hosts and the delivery of the Olympic Games.”
3) “What is clear ... is the [host city selection] procedure, and there, you can see from this Human Rights Framework that the Future Host Commission, which is leading this process, will be guided by the U.N. [Guiding Principles])”
(1)Equality and non-discrimination (2) Safety and well-being (3)Livelihood and decent work (4)Voice (5)Privacy
*Four related Goal Targets:
(1)Athletes (2) IOC/IF/NOC and organizing committee workforce (3)Workers in supply and value chains (4)Olympic-related communities
4) “We have, of course, taken note of this report.
5) With regards to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which fall within our remit, the IOC worked together with the organizing committee to ensure that all the obligations in the Host City Contract were met, and if you read the report by the U.N. High Commissioner and you look into the recommendations which are directed to the wider society, there is the call, therefore, for respect of the U.N. [Guiding Principles], and this is what we are doing
10. IOC President Thomas Bach’s Position on Russia’s Participation in the Paris 2024 Games (IOC EB in March 2023)
1)“It is deplorable to see that some Governments do not want to respect the majority within the Olympic Movement and all stakeholders, nor the autonomy of sport which they are appraising and requesting from other countries in countless speeches, UN resolutions, European Union declarations and at every other opportunity.”
2)“It is deplorable that these Governments do not address the question of double standards with which we have been confronted in our consultations.”
3)“We have not seen a single comment on their attitude on the participation of athletes whose countries are involved in the other 70 wars and armed conflict in the world.”
4)“It is even more deplorable that they grossly neglect the very clear statement of the two special rapporteurs from the UN Human Rights Council, while in other issues they are always highlighting their firm requests for the respect of human rights.”
5)“That both sides in this confrontation are not satisfied to say it diplomatically might indicate that we found some middle ground on which we all can move forward to make a contribution to understanding and peace through sport”
6)“Today after all the responses we got, I can only reaffirm that the entire Olympic Movement strongly stands by its values and by its mission to unite the world in a peaceful competition.”
11. IOC President Thomas Bach’s Message at Mumbai IOC Session (15 October 2023) about the Petitions by some IOC Members for the Extension of IOC President’s Term of Office
1)“First of all, say thank you very much for your kind words of support, because I think these words of support are not only directed to me, they are directed to all of us”
2)“What made us overcome the challenges we had was exactly this unity, this support which you expressed with regard to many items overall at the time, and we can only be credible if we are appealing to all these divisive forces in the world, if we are appealing to respect the unifying of sport if we ourselves are unified.”
3)“Otherwise, we have no credibility. If we are divided, how can we teach others about unity and our unifying power.”
4)“You also know I am very loyal to the Olympic Charter”
5)“Being a core author of this Olympic Charter drives me to be more loyal to this Olympic Charter.”
6)“You have heard the explanation of the chair of our Legal Commission in this direction”
7)“Thank you very much again, I am very touched by your support and friendship.”
12. Midway Report about Olympic Agenda 2020+5 by IOC President Thomas Bach at Mumbai 2023 IOC Session on 10 October (What we can achieve together)
1)“Our world has changed in fundamental ways in recent years.”
2)“As we anticipated at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we are now facing its far-reaching social, financial, economic and political consequences, which are exacerbated by the ongoing conflicts, wars and natural catastrophes that we must address.”
3)“Olympic Agenda 2020+5 is our roadmap to prepare ourselves for this new world, and we can be proud of the progress that has been made across all 15 recommendations since it was adopted in March 2021.”
4)“The accomplishments described in this Report are great examples of what we can achieve together, and are testament to the tremendous amount of work that has been carried out in partnership with our stakeholders.”
5)“There is still more to be done, but we can already look forward to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as the Games of a new era, inspired by Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5 from start to finish.”
13. Thomas Bach IOC President as Chair of IOC Refugee Foundation (14 December 2023)
1)“Sport is about so much more than physical activity.
2)Sport is empowerment.
3)Sport is health.
4)Sport is inclusion.
5)Sport is respect.
6)Sport is solidarity.
7)Sport is belonging.
8)Sport is peace.
14. Thomas Bach IOC President’s Message of Condolences in Memory of the late Henry Kissinger (IOC Honor Member)
1)“When I was elected IOC President in 2013, I approached him and asked whether he would be ready to advise the IOC and me, as he had done through the IOC 2000 Commission. "
2)“He immediately said yes. Since then, we spoke regularly and became friends.”
3)“He gave me invaluable advice in all the many geopolitical issues the world and sport had to face in recent years.”
4)“I will greatly miss a brilliant man and a warm-hearted friend. My thoughts are with his beloved wife Nancy and all his family.”
*I would also like to pay my homage and personal respect to the late Henry Kissinger, the last IOC Honor member, who recently passed away. And I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to his bereaved family and the entire Olympic Movement. He kindly sent to me his message about my book publication as follows:
“Dear Professor Yoon,
Thank you for sending me a copy of your book, “When Sport meets the World Over Five Rings”
It gives me a very interesting and complete picture of the vast amount of planning and work that goes into hosting a successful Olympics.
Your enthusiasm, knowledge and experiences are a valuable resource and I appreciate your graciousness in thinking of me.
Warm regards,
Henry A. Kissinger”
15. IOC President Thomas Bach’s Brilliant Brain Child and a New Strategic Roadmap for the Future Olympic Movement, Olympic Agenda 2020+5 (Ref.: IOC website)
The 15 recommendations are based on key trends that have been identified as likely to be decisive in the post-coronavirus world. They are also areas where sport and the values of Olympism can play a key role in turning challenges into opportunities.
The key trends include:
1)The need for greater solidarity within and among societies;
*The growth in digitalization, while keeping in mind the need to expand digital capability to the currently digitally underserved;
-The urgency of achieving sustainable development;
-The growing demand for credibility, both of organizations and institutions; and
-The need to build resilience in the face of the financial and economic consequences that will result from the COVID-19 pandemic and which will influence priority-setting among governments and enterprises.
2) The 15 recommendations, which have been inspired by these trends, call upon the IOC and the Olympic Movement to:
(1) Strengthen the uniqueness and the universality of the Olympic Games
(2) Foster sustainable Olympic Games
(3) Reinforce athletes’ rights and responsibilities
(4) Continue to attract best athletes
(5) Further strengthen safe sport and the protection of clean athletes
(6) Enhance and promote the Road to the Olympic Games
(7) Coordinate the harmonization of the sports calendar
(8) Grow digital engagement with people
(9) Encourage the development of virtual sports and further engage with video gaming communities
(10) Strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(11) Strengthen the support to refugees and populations affected by displacement
(12) Reach out beyond the Olympic community
(13) Continue to lead by example in corporate citizenship
(14) Strengthen the Olympic Movement through good governance
(15) Innovate revenue generation models.
(A handover ceremony of the keys to the IOC)
(Thomas Bach as an Olympic Champion Montreal 1976)
[Henry Kissinger IOC명예위원(IOC Honour Member)생전에 필자에게 보내온 자필서명감사서한과 그의 작고에 따른 Thomas Bach IOC위원장의 조의 표명 메시지]
미국 국무장관을 역임하고 죽의 장막이었던 중국과 미국을 핑퐁 외교로 사상최초로 미-중 외교관계를 수립한 것으로 전세계 유명인사로 명망이 높았던 故 Henry Kissinger(향년 100세)가 최근(2023년 11월29일) 별세하였습니다.
Bach IOC위원장은 “본인이 2013년 IOC위원장으로 선출되었을 때 IOC 2000 위원회를 통하여 참여한 바 있었던 그에게 다가가 IOC와 본인을 위해 자문해 줄 수 있는지 여부를 물었음. 그는 즉각적으로 그렇게 하겠다고 화답하였음. 그 이래로 우리는 정규적으로 만나 이야기를 나누었으며 친구가 되었음. 그는 모든 많은 지정학적인 세계적 이슈들과 최근 스포츠가 직면한 문제들에 대하여 본인에게 일일이 소중한 충고와 자문을 아끼지 않았음. 본인은 이렇게 명철한 분이며 따뜻한 마음의 소유자였던 그분을 그토록 그리워하는 마음 임. 나의 이러한 생각을 그가 사랑했던 아내인 낸시와 그의 모든 가족과 함께 하며 고인의 명복을 비는 임” (When I was elected IOC President in 2013, I approached him and asked whether he would be ready to advise the IOC and me, as he had done through the IOC 2000 Commission. He immediately said yes. Since then, we spoke regularly and became friends. He gave me invaluable advice in all the many geopolitical issues the world and sport had to face in recent years. I will greatly miss a brilliant man and a warm-hearted friend. My thoughts are with his beloved wife Nancy and all his family.)이라고 조의를표명하였습니다.
그분이 생전에 필자에게 보내 주었던 자필서한내용을 함께 공개합니다.
Lastly, I would pay my homage and personal respect to the late Henry Kissinger, the last IOC Honor member, who recently passed away. And I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to his bereaved family and the entire Olympic Movement.
The contents of the “Letter from the late Henry A. Kissinger”
“Dear Professor Yoon,
Thank you for sending me a copy of your book, “When Sport meets the World Over Five Rings”
It gives me a very interesting and complete picture of the vast amount of planning and work that goes into hosting a successful Olympics.
Your enthusiasm, knowledge and experiences are a valuable resource and I appreciate your graciousness in thinking of me.
Warm regards,
Henry A. Kissinger”
“친애하는 Rocky YOON교수,
영문으로 쓴 스포츠외교현장이야기 책은 성공적인 올림픽을 치르는데 필요한 방대한 분량의 기획과 작업을 거쳐 완성된 흥미롭고 완전한 그림을 나에게 보여 주었소.
귀하의 열정과 지식과 경험은 소중한 자산이며 특히 나를 생각하는 예의 바른 정중함에 감사하는 바이오.
