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The IOC, the IPC and Airbnb announce summer festival of Olympian & Paralympian Online Experiences

With the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 postponed until 2021, the IOC, the IPC and Airbnb will bring the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics online with a curated programme of activities hosted by athletes for the first time in history. Bookings for the five-day event will open on 22 July, with more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences offered by Naomi Osaka, Yusra Mardini, Rui Hachimura, Allyson Felix, Lex Gillette, and others. Fans who book will proudly support their heroes ahead of Tokyo 2020, as proceeds will provide valuable income to athlete hosts, now and beyond the festival, including some who are on the road to their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Worldwide Olympic Partner Airbnb are announcing a five-day summer festival featuring more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences hosted virtually by some of the world’s best athletes. The festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences will kick off on 24 July, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin, and is an opportunity for athletes to generate income while they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their sport with guests. “The Olympic Games bring the whole world together and, whilst we will all have to wait one more year to celebrate in Tokyo, the Olympic flame continues to be the light at the end of the dark tunnel humankind is currently going through,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “It demonstrates that we are stronger together. This festival is a great platform to unite and inspire the world in the spirit of friendship and solidarity this summer. The IOC puts the athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and supports them at every stage of their journey. We are delighted to collaborate with Airbnb to provide innovative economic empowerment opportunities for Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the world.” Throughout the five days of programming across multiple time zones, the line-up will showcase a variety of interactive Online Experiences that guests can book on Airbnb from 22 July. Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on the Airbnb Olympic and Paralympic YouTube channels. While many hosts will continue to offer their activities after the event ends, like the art of reinvention with Olympian Simidele Adeagbo (skelton, Nigeria) and positive thinking with Paralympic hero Stephen Miller (athletics, Great Britain), several will be once-in-a-lifetime Online Experiences available exclusively during the festival*, like: 25 July: Build resilience to overcome obstacles with Yusra Mardini (swimming, IOC Refugee Olympic Team Rio 2016); learn about returning to sport after motherhood with Allyson Felix (athletics, USA); and work up a sweat in an inclusive session with Tatyana McFadden (athletics, USA) 26 July: Cook up a storm with legend Colin Jackson (athletics, Great Britain); join a scenic training ride with Jonny Brownlee (triathlon, Great Britain); discover velodrome secrets with Elia Viviani (track cycling, Italy) 27 July: Chat mind, body and spirit with Jackie Joyner-Kersee (athletics, USA); push through boundaries and level up in life with Meb Keflezighi (marathon, USA); get vulnerable to unlock greatness with Kerri Walsh Jennings (beach volleyball, USA); and Zumba beachside in paradise with Tom Hintnaus (athletics, Brazil) 28 July: Get a glimpse into quarantine training with two-time Grand Slam-winning Naomi Osaka (tennis, Japan); run, breathe and connect with sprinter Zhenye Xie (athletics, China); learn a Grand Slam-inspired training regime with Sania Mirza (tennis, India); and master perseverance with Pita Taufatofua (taekwondo and cross-country skiing, Tonga) 29 July: Fall in love with sneaker culture with Rui Hachimura (basketball, Japan); get up close and personal at home with Jordy Smith (surfing, South Africa); see beyond the boundaries of vision with blind champion Lex Gillette (athletics, USA) “At a time when it is difficult for people to gather and celebrate the exceptional performance of athletes, Airbnb is proud to host the summer festival, which is a new way to experience the Olympic and Paralympic spirit online,” said Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia. “Guests will be able to connect and interact with some of the most elite competitors within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, giving them even more reasons to cheer them on next year.” While the festival will give fans unprecedented global access to connect with athletes from over 20 countries and regions, all from the comfort of their homes, numerous Online Experiences in the line-up will also meaningfully promote: Economic opportunities for athletes: Just as Online Experiences were launched as a way for hosts to earn money during the global pandemic, Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences are a new platform to provide direct earning opportunities for athletes, underlining the efforts of the IOC, the IPC and Airbnb to support athletes, and to put them at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Resilience through adversity: Numerous athlete hosts will inspire perseverance through their Online Experiences, like Yusra Mardini, the Syrian swimmer who became a member of the first ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team in 2016 and whose story became known for saving 20 lives with her sister, including their own lives, during a treacherous journey from Syria to find safety in Europe, who will host a one-off workshop on resilience. Another inspiring option is co-hosted by Tegla Loroupe, Chef de Mission for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and Rio 2016 Olympian, IOC Refugee Olympic Team hopeful for Tokyo 2020 James Chiengjiek Nyang, as they will welcome guests will transport guests virtually to the Tegla Loroupe Training Centre in Kenya. Tegla has been the guide and mentor to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. Learn more about the IOC Refugee Olympic Team here. The world-class hospitality of Japan: In addition to the Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences, and as a way to celebrate Tokyo 2020, local hosts in Japan will offer guests a way to travel the country and explore its cultures and traditions from their living rooms. Through support from Shibuya City Tourism Association, local hosts will lead a package of unique online activities like Become a Ramen Expert and A Tour of Historic Shibuya. Other ways to be virtually transported to Japan will include Sake Secrets from Japan's Oldest Brewery and Explore Kyoto Where Unique Old Gods Live. "Paralympians and Para athletes are masters of innovation and finding creative solutions to daily challenges they face,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons. "The summer festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences celebrates this tenacity and gives Para athletes a platform to share their stories to empower others, while also offering a new earning opportunity especially needed during these difficult times." For more information on the summer festival line-up, visit airbnb.com/festival. If fans miss the chance to participate in the five-day event, many athletes will continue to host their Experiences – both online and in person in countries where it’s safe and permissible to do so – with even more to be added to Airbnb in the coming months and years. Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are interested in sharing their passions with guests to earn supplemental income can learn more and sign up to become a host here Source:

IWF Athletes’ Commission Nomination Process

IWF is opening up the nomination process for its Athletes' Commission. In order to fulfill the IWF Constitution and By-laws, the IWF has the responsibility to give athletes a voice in its governance and decision making process, as athletes are the building blocks of the sport itself. The Athletes’ Commission will provide the voice and view of the athlete to each of the current standing committees and commissions. Additionally, they will be solicited for agreement by a majority on all reform and governance documents, and qualification documents created between now and the subsequent election. Term of the position: From 1st September 2020 until after the scheduled dates of the Tokyo 2020 (1) Olympic Games. Nomination process: Athletes have the possibility to nominate themselves, can be nominated by a fellow Athlete or by their National Federation; Athlete candidates must be in good standing relationships with their member federation and receive their federation’s endorsement. Eligibility criteria: Athlete must be at least 18 years of age at time of application; Clean Anti-Doping record/No ongoing Result Management case against the Athlete; Athlete must have represented their member federation in ONE of the following: 2012 and / or 2016 Olympic Games, 2014 and / or 2018 Youth Olympic Games 2016 to 2019 Youth, Junior, or Senior World Championships 2016 to 2018 Continental Championships or Games The working language of the IWF is English and the candidates must have a minimum of a conversational capability Please send the nomination forms and letter of interest to [email protected] latest by 12 August 2020. Further information on the nomination process and the form itself can be found

IWF Events Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic – IWF Competition Calendar 2020 Update

After the cancellation and postponement of many IWF events in the first part of the year, sadly it has been announced by the corresponding Organizing Committees that more IWF Events shall be cancelled or postponed due to the virus. Please find the list of IWF Events affected by the virus: September African Junior and Youth Championships – POSTPONED New date: 05-11 December 2020 October South American, Ibero-American & OPEN Senior Championships – POSTPONED New date: 12-19 December 2020 FISU World University Championships – CANCELLED Pan-American Junior Championships – POSTPONED New date: 21-29 November 2020 In case there are further changes in the calendar, the IWF Member Federations will be notified

1st Online PanAm Cup LIVE by ZKC

Nobody would have thought at the beginning of the year that almost all events and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have to be cancelled or postponed due to a world pandemic. To build on the hiatus of events during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Pan-American Weightlifting Federation together with the International Weightlifting Federation is introducing the: 1st Online PanAm Cup LIVE by ZKC. The event aims to provide a safe competition opportunity for the athletes training at home by prioritizing health and safety at the time of the Pandemic. Athletes have the choice to compete from their HOME (e.g., garage, terrace, garden, etc.) or, where they are allowed to do so, at their TRAINING FACILITY (e.g., national training centre, local club or gym, etc.). The online event will be held this weekend - 18 to 19 July 2020, where around 70 Athletes from 15 countries will compete with each other. Weightlifters in the Female categories will compete on the 18th July (Saturday) and Male categories will be held on the 19th July (Sunday). The competition will start at 10AM (GMT-5)/ 5PM (CET). The live broadcast of the event can be followed by everyone on the IWF YouTube Channel. What does it make this competition unique by holding it online? Athletes are lifting at the same time but at different locations, and all attempts will be taken by rounds, Athletes are lifting real weights in front of the camera, seeing each other’s attempts via video conference, Athletes are competing against each other - ensuring real competition atmosphere, Trying out a new competition format, The event will be supported by a commentator. The event will be assisted by the IWF Technology and Information System (TIS) and International Technical Officials (ITOs). As this competition will not strictly adhere to the IWF TCRR, the IWF / PAWF will not officially recognize the results and new record(s), however, there will be a virtual Medal Ceremony, awarding the Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist in each category, as usual, Snatch, Clean&Jerk and Total. If you wish to know more about the Course of Competition or Regulation of the online event, including the timetable click on the links. The full entry list will be available before the competition on the IWF website, under the IWF Competition

Postponement of the Youth Olympic Games 2022

Senegal and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have mutually agreed to postpone the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2022 to 2026 President Macky Sall's proposal was welcomed by IOC President Thomas Bach, following in-depth discussions on the subject. This postponement meets the requirement of responsibility and the concern for efficiency imposed by current circumstances. The postponement of Dakar 2022 allows the IOC, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Federations (IFs) to better plan their activities, which have been strongly affected by the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, by the subsequent postponements of major international sports events, and by the operational and financial consequences of the global health crisis. At the same time, it allows Senegal to carry on the excellent preparations for the Youth Olympic Games. The two leaders, who praised the progress made so far, have jointly renewed their confidence in Dakar 2022 President Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, IOC Member in Senegal, and both remain fully committed to the great success of these Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever to be organised in Africa. The IOC and Senegal understand that this news will be disappointing for many young athletes. Both parties can only appeal to their understanding. This agreement results from the large scale of the operational challenges which the IOC, the NOCs and the IFs are facing following the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. With this in mind, the IOC will continue to offer all IFs and NOC Continental Associations the full content of the educational programmes of the Youth Olympic Games. This will allow for the objectives of this very important and much-appreciated component of the YOG to be maintained through the many events organised between now and 2026, in particular during the Continental Youth Games. “This amicable agreement illustrates the mutual trust between Senegal and the IOC. I would like to express my sincere thanks to President Macky Sall, a great friend and supporter of the Olympic Movement, for this exceptional relationship of trust and quality. For all these reasons, I am sure that, together, we will organise fantastic Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 for Senegal, the entire African continent and all the young athletes of the world,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “I would like to reiterate that the IOC has my full support for the organisation of the Youth Olympic Games, postponed to 2026. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my confidence in the Executive Board and welcome the commitment of its teams, working side by side with us, to make Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event in Africa, a successful and memorable occasion”, said President Macky Sall. The agreement was approved today by the IOC Executive Board, and will be submitted to the IOC Session for ratification this Friday, 17 July 2020. Source:

Cancellation of the 2020 World University Weightlifting Championships

After careful consideration, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced today the cancellation of the 2020 World University Weightlifting Championships that should have taken place in Gangjin (KOR) from 20 to 24 October 2020. In their statement FISU announced the following: " During this challenging period most of countries keep facing today, it is FISU’s duty to make cautious decisions in order to ensure the safety of all people involved in its events. As you know, we have been closely monitoring the current situation and have tried so far to react accordingly in the best possible way. Following the discussions that were held between FISU and your Organising Committee, the situation has been reported and discussed with the FISU Steering Committee that took place on Monday, 13 July. As a result, we hereby confirm the cancellation of the 2020 World University Weightlifting Championship. This has not been an easy decision to make but we truly believe it is the wisest choice in these