Governance and Games preparations top agenda of ASOIF Council
During its last meeting of the year, held on 2 November 2022, the Council of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) discussed important topics, including the methodology for the next International Federation (IF) governance assessment, preparations for the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympic Games as well as the creation of a new Sustainability Consultative Group.
Following the publication of ASOIF’s Fourth Review of IF Governance in June this year, it was agreed to revise the methodology for the next assessment, due to start at the end of 2023. ASOIF's Governance Task Force (GTF) will be tasked to establish a working group of IF representatives dedicated to draw up these modifications.
ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti, who chaired the meeting, said on this occasion: “After four assessments over six years, it is important to consider the progress made by the IFs and modify certain aspects ahead of the next governance review. For instance, it will make sense to probe several crucial issues in more detail, while reducing the focus on some basic topics that almost all IFs have already covered. As IFs evolve in their governance efforts, so must the methodology.”
To enhance continuously ASOIF’s governance and transparency, the Council approved a new set of internal financial rules and an expenses policy and agreed to publish the detailed breakdown of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games revenue share distributed to the IFs.
While discussing the Olympic Movement’s current affairs, the Council today reiterated its full support of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) recommendations regarding the participation of Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials in international competitions, acknowledging the different conditions faced by the IFs when implementing the recommendations. Also, the Council took note that various significant initiatives of the IOC, namely the Olympic Qualifier Series, the Olympic Virtual Series and Olympic qualification branding, undertaken in the context of the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5 Recommendation 6, had caused certain challenges. Therefore, the Council requested ASOIF’s Commercial Advisory Group to assess the situation and provide support to the IFs to address the issues.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the Paris 2024 Games are accelerating and the Council was updated on the latest developments as well as remaining challenges, such as cost optimisation and venue planning for certain sports. ASOIF took part in the last Paris 2024 Coordination Commission meeting in August and the LA28 Coordination Commission visit in September. The Initial Sports Programme for the LA28 Games was approved in February by the Session of the IOC. Today, the Council members discussed the next steps, which include a new intermediate stage in 2023 to determine the disciplines for each sport.
In another important decision, the Council agreed to set up a new and distinct Consultative Group, fully dedicated to the pressing subject of sustainability. In addition, the Council consented to dissolve the Parasport Consultative Group, given that the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO) is now firmly established and effectively coordinating para-related activities with the IFs and the International Paralympic Committee.
Finally, the Council members were updated about the upcoming ASOIF Medical Workshop, to be held on 28 and 29 November in Lausanne. Led by ASOIF's Medical and Science Consultative Group (AMSCG), the workshop will bring together the IF Medical Chairs to address together critical topics like mental health and COVID-19. The Council also approved the AMSCG’s proposal to carry out a pilot study with five selected IFs, aimed at assessing the current magnitude, characteristics and circumstances of harassment and abuse towards elite athletes.
The next ASOIF Council meeting will be held in March 2023.