(ATR) A full schedule of IOC Commission meetings are ongoing this week, all of which are being conducted virtually for the first time.
Twenty commission meetings are on tap over the course of nine days, concluding with the Athletes and Athletes’ Entourage meetings on Nov. 12.
Czech NOC president Jiri Kejval chairs the Marketing Commission, one of three commissions holding meetings on Nov. 5.
"The Marketing Commission meeting now has increased significance – in this meeting we want to show all stakeholders that despite these difficult times we are making progress and working hard to fulfill our mission in the Covid environment, while also preparing for the post-Covid era," Kejval tells Around the Rings.
Kejval offers insight on the marketing efforts in collaboration with rights holding broadcasters during a pandemic, as he is also chair of the Television and Marketing Services Commission.
"Sport broadcasting is one of the sectors hardest hit by the Covid crisis," Kejval says. "Sport broadcasting needs a successful Tokyo 2020, and that’s what we will deliver as our President said in his message to the Olympic Movement 'The Olympic Flame can be the light at the end of this dark tunnel '".
"The Games should therefore be seen as a great opportunity for broadcasters and also show how we can organize major sports events in the Covid environment, while providing hope of a return to normalcy," said the Czech NOC leader.
"This is our biggest task and it must be based on the mutual trust existing between the IOC, our partners and all stakeholders."
Sergey Bubka, the veteran chairman of the Athletes’ Entourage Commission, looks forward to continued progress, despite hurdles caused by the pandemic, during his commission’s meeting next week, Nov. 12.
"Of course Covid has created a lot of difficulties for all of us, the IOC Athletes Commission and all other commissions, particularly the Entourage Commission," Bubka tells Around the Rings.
"We would like to have a meeting to discuss different issues, an overview of what has been done over past year, what we have achieved and what we plan to do.
"We will look towards Tokyo 2020, for the preparation for activities, and what will be done for athletes.
"We also have a joint meeting with the Athletes’ Commission – we closely cooperate and work together to move in the same direction because the task is so important for Entourage."
The IOC Athletes’ Entourage is among the largest and most diverse of all IOC commissions, with 38 members of varying expertise contributing.
"Entourage is really big group who work and help athletes, support athletes, train athletes, and guide athletes," says the Ukraine NOC president and former pole vault world record holder.
"For us it’s important to have different representatives from the doctor side, the athlete side, the family, parents, lawyers, organizers and managers. It is an important group for athletes who face different issues during their careers.
"We have very fruitful discussions, and sometimes one day for us is not enough."
Bubka says anti-doping is always a critical point of discussion among his commission meetings.
"We produce a four-year plan which is very important for us and we continue to protect clean athletes placing a lot of importance on education regarding clean sport for the entourage."
The primary purpose of the IOC commissions is to advise the IOC Session, IOC Executive Board and IOC President on their fields of expertise. The commissions meet at least once a year to fulfill this purpose. The meetings have traditionally been grouped in a cluster around the same week.
Striving For Gender Equality
The composition across 30 IOC commissions has shown progress towards gender equality with 47.7 percent of positions held by women in 2020, an increase from 45.4 percent in 2019.
The 2020 IOC commissions’ composition includes the appointment of two new female chairs: Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, IOC Member in Thailand, has been appointed chair of the Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission; and Zhang Hong, IOC Member from China, is chair of the newly-formed IOC Coordination Commission for the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games.
The total number of the 30 commissions chaired by women has increased to 11, or 36.7 percent.
Written and reported by Brian Pinelli
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