Preamble

Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continued its consultations with all the stakeholders of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The first took place with the International Olympic Summer Sports Federations. Those with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the athletes’ representatives, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), other International Federations (IFs) and other stakeholders will follow in the coming days.

This communique sets out the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB), together with their implementation in cooperation with all the stakeholders concerned. The IOC will continue to act as a responsible organisation. In this context, the IOC asks all its stakeholders within their own remits to do everything to contribute to the containment of the virus.

Communique

This is an unprecedented situation for the whole world, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this crisis. We are in solidarity with the whole of society to do everything to contain the virus.

The situation around the COVID-19 virus is also impacting the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is changing day by day.

The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.

The IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they can. We will keep supporting the athletes by consulting with them and their respective NOCs, and by providing them with the latest information and developments, which are accessible for athletes worldwide on the Athlete365 website and via their respective NOCs and IFs.

The IOC has confidence that the many measures being taken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation of the COVID-19 virus. In this context, the IOC welcomes the support of the G7 leaders as expressed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who said: “I want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics perfectly, as proof that the human race will conquer the new coronavirus, and I gained support for that from the G-7 leaders.”

We will continue to act in a responsible way and have agreed the following overriding principles about the staging of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020:

1. To protect the health of everyone involved and to support the containment of the virus.
2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.

The IOC will continue to monitor the situation 24/7. Already in mid-February, a task force was set up consisting of the IOC, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

The purpose of the task force is to ensure coordinated actions by all stakeholders. It has the mission to keep a constant appraisal of the situation to form the basis for the ongoing operational planning and necessary adaptations. The task force also monitors the implementation of the various actions decided. The IOC will continue to follow the guidance of this task force. The IOC’s decision will not be determined by financial interests, because thanks to its risk management policies and insurance it will in any case be able to continue its operations and accomplish its mission to organise the Olympic Games.

A number of measures have been taken.

The format of all the test events in March and April has been altered to allow for the testing of essential Games elements; the lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece and subsequent elements of the Torch Relay in Japan are being adapted; the entire Games preparation supply chain has been analysed; and alternative plans are in place in the event of anticipated disruption.

At the same time, the topics and issues which were identified by the IOC Coordination Commission for the Games as priorities continue to retain the full attention of Tokyo 2020, the IOC and the Olympic stakeholders. In this respect, work is ongoing for the preparation of athletics road events in Sapporo; heat countermeasures continue to be detailed and refined on a sport-by-sport basis; and transport and crowd movement planning remain a key focus of attention.

Concerning the next meetings, especially the upcoming Coordination Commission visit and various project reviews, adjustments have been made to the agenda and participation. While the activities remain planned on the same dates, the participation in Tokyo will be reduced while ensuring the Coordination Commission members can attend the most important part of the meeting by teleconference. The same will be done for any subsequent visits until further notice.

The day-to-day work between all organisations continues, although on a remote basis.

Currently, all Olympic Movement stakeholders and the athletes face significant challenges around securing the final qualification places for the Games. In some countries, athletes are even finding it hard to continue their regular training schedules. The IOC is reassured by the solidarity and flexibility shown by the athletes, the IFs and the NOCs, that are managing these challenges across a number of sports.

To date, 57 per cent of the athletes are already qualified for the Games. For the remaining 43 per cent of places, the IOC will work with the IFs to make any necessary and practical adaptations to their respective qualification systems for Tokyo 2020, in line with the following principles:

1. All quota places that have already been allocated to date remain allocated to the NOCs and athletes that obtained them.
2. The possibility remains to use existing and scheduled qualification events, wherever these still have fair access for all athletes and teams.
3. All necessary adaptations to qualification systems and all allocation of remaining places will be:
   1. based on on-field results (e.g. IF ranking or historical results); and
   2. reflect where possible the existing principles of the respective qualification systems (e.g. use of rankings or continental/regional specific event results).

Any increase in athlete quotas will be considered on a case-by-case basis under exceptional circumstances, with the support of the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020.

The IFs will make proposals for any adaptations to their respective qualification systems based on the principles outlined above. The adaptations need to be implemented sport by sport because of the differences between qualification systems. The IOC has already put in place an accelerated procedure to solve this situation. Any necessary revisions to the Tokyo 2020 qualification systems by sport will be published by the beginning of April 2020 and communicated to all stakeholders.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is our number-one concern. All measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support teams. We are an Olympic community; we support one another in good times and in difficult times. This Olympic solidarity defines us as a community.”

The President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), Francesco Ricci Bitti, added: “I would like to thank all those involved in the organisation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and all the athletes and the International Federations for their great flexibility. We share the same approach and the same principles as the IOC, and we are as committed as the IOC to successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. We will keep in touch and have further consultations with all stakeholders concerned.”

After its consultations with the IFs, the IOC will follow up with the NOCs and the athletes’ representatives in the coming days.

Click to learn more…

Adopted by the Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport Katowice, Poland, 7 November 2019

Condemning the practice of doping in sport, in violation of the principles and rules of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and other international instruments, and its detrimental impact on the integrity and spirit of sport, the health and well-being of athletes, the educational value of sport for youth, and the fairness of sports competitions;

Acknowledging that 20 years after the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), substantial progress has been achieved in the fight against doping in sport, namely widespread adoption of the rules, governance reforms, enhanced compliance, increased re-analysis of samples, development of intelligence and investigative capacity, increased awareness and education, and advances in science and medicine;

Convinced that the 2021 version of the Code and International Standards will continue to drive further progress;

Aware of the increasingly sophisticated strategies and technologies used to illegitimately enhance sport performance;

Recognizing the negative impact of doping scandals and the subsequent actions taken by WADA and its stakeholders to strengthen the global anti-doping program;

Highlighting that the issue of doping in sport is complex and can only be confronted by the uncompromising commitment of all stakeholders toward the implementation of a multipronged strategy;

Stressing that enhanced cooperation, cohesion, and collaboration amongst anti-doping stakeholders is fundamental to the fight against doping in sport;

Emphasizing that the Olympic and Sports Movement, Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations, and intergovernmental organizations, together with WADA, have complementary roles and responsibilities to fight doping in sport and protect clean athletes, and that all stakeholders need to intensify their joint efforts;

Welcoming the increased funding provided to WADA by the Sports Movement and by Governments;

Calling upon all organizations that benefit from clean sport, including private sector organizations, professional leagues, and university sport to support and contribute to the fight against doping in sport;

Encouraged by the growing engagement of athletes in the fight against doping in sport; and

Affirming that to foster a clean sport environment, all individuals, bodies, and organizations involved in sport should have appropriate anti-doping education to preserve the spirit of sport, promote the values of sport and ultimately protect all athletes, so that an athlete’s first experience is through education rather than doping control.

The World Conference:

As to the Review and Amendment of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards

1. Reaffirms that the improvement in, strict implementation of, and monitoring of compliance with the Code and International Standards is essential for an efficient fight against doping in sport; and
2. Welcomes the decisions of WADA’s Foundation Board and Executive Committee to approve, respectively, the revisions to the Code and International Standards, which, following an extensive and transparent global consultation process, will come into force on 1 January 2021.

As to the World Anti-Doping Agency

3. Recognizes and fully supports the essential role played by WADA as the world regulator in antidoping in sport, and enjoins all stakeholders to reiterate and strengthen their support;
4. Encourages WADA to: continue leading the fight against doping in sport; use all means available to provide support and guidance to enhance anti-doping capacity amongst all Signatories; enforce compliance with the Code and International Standards; and ensure appropriate consequences for non-compliance; and
5. Commends the Olympic Movement and Governments for the reiterated commitment to provide equal funding of WADA’s approved annual core budget and stresses the need to ensure WADA has the appropriate level of resources to fulfill its mission.

As to the Olympic and Sports Movement

6. Requires all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement, in particular, the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, International Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees, National Paralympic Committees, and other Major Event Organizers to implement and be fully compliant with the Code and International Standards;
7. Urges all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement to strengthen cooperation amongst each other as well as with Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations and delegated third parties such as the International Testing Agency with a view to enhancing anti-doping capacity across all sports disciplines and regions of the world; and
8. Encourages all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement to use all means available to reiterate the importance of protecting clean athletes and to promote the values of clean sport.

As to the National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations

9. Requires National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to implement and be fully compliant with the Code and International Standards; and Katowice Declaration
10. Urges National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to strengthen cooperation with their counterparts around the world, in particular in regions where anti-doping activities and programs remain underdeveloped.

As to Governments

11. Requests that Governments take the necessary actions to implement and comply with the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport;
12. Urges Governments to adopt appropriate measures to deter doping in sport, protect whistle-blowers, and allow for the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies or other relevant authorities and Anti-Doping Organizations; and
13. Urges Governments to provide the appropriate financial support to their National or Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to ensure compliance with the Code and International Standards.

As to Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel

14. Encourages athletes, athlete support personnel, other individuals, bodies, and organizations to: continue to take an active role in the development of anti-doping policies and programs; respect anti-doping rules; publicly  and actively promote the values of clean sport; and disclose any knowledge they have of doping practices; and
15. Recognizes the utmost importance, for the fight against doping in sport, of respecting athletes’ rights and of taking into account the expression of their views and contributions; and welcomes the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act.

The KatowiceWorld Conference on Doping in Sport calls upon all stakeholders in the fight against doping in sport, including the Sports Movement, Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations, and athletes, to reinforce their efforts to strengthen their cooperation in every way possible; to present a unified front with a view to eradicate doping in sport; to increase resources dedicated to protecting clean sport; and to bring all perpetrators to account, without limitation.

The leadership and some members of Saint Lucia’s Athlete’s Commission were formally presented on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, as one of the events marking Olympic Week 2019. Secretary General of the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Inc., Alfred Emmanuel, said that a number of meetings spanning over the period of a year were scheduled to get the Commission going.

“An Athlete’s Commission is a body of eligible athletes that will be responsible for highlighting Athletes’ issues and assist with their own development over time. It is mandatory for us as an Olympic Committee to have this Commission going. We have been back and forth with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) legal department on it,” said Emmanuel.

Eligible athletes of the Commission would be those athletes who would have participated in one of the last three editions of either a Central American and Caribbean Games, a Pan American Games, a Commonwealth Games or an Olympic Games…learn more

SLOC Inc President Fortuna Belrose and Project Development Officer Andy Behl face the local media at Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated headquarters Tuesday morning.

Former Peace Corp Volunteer Andrew Steven Behl, who has had a long association with Sporting and Community life in Saint Lucia has taken up a two year posting with the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Incorporated (SLOC Inc) as its Project Development Officer.

” It is important for us to deliver on the programmes that we are capable of actually doing. We conducted a search for an ideal person who would assist us in crafting the way forward with our organisation to ensure we continue to develop and produce Olympians and people who believe in excellence from the sporting fraternity,” said SLOC Inc President Fortuna Belrose while introducing Behl to the media.

She added that the post was advertised in the local media and on social media as well and Behl emerged as the best candidate for the post following interviews by a committee set up by the SLOC Inc.

” We have found a gentleman with a wealth of experience with respect to sport development. He has worked in the international arena with elite athletes in both management and governance. His focus while here will be on assisting and conducting assessments that will allow the SLOC to develop its strategic plan for the next five to 10 years, and of course provide support to our affiliates to enable them to become better and stronger at what they do,” added Belrose.

Behl gave some pointers on his own expectations of the new role and said it was a pleasure to work with affiliates of the SLOC to increase their efficiency.

” I look forward to bring my passion and experience on the ground here and some perspectives from overseas. A key aspect of my work will be working hand in hand with affiliates. ….. opening up lines of communication and dialogue and serve as a conduit between them and the Olympic Committee to better understand the resources that are available whilst helping the Committee understand the challenges and goals that affiliates have, ” he disclosed.

Behl’s functions with the SLOC Inc has been facilitated and funded by the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO)

Good morning to all. Happy New Year

Last year, we built on the success we enjoyed in 2017. You will recall in 2017 we won gold medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games which were held in the Bahamas. Our Beach Soccer team won the first ever scheduled Beach Soccer of the Games and Julien Alfred won the 100 meters in the Bahamas.

In 2018 we recorded yet another successful year. I say so because our St. Lucian athletes Levern Spencer and Julien Alfred gave us the results we were looking for. In the case of Levern she stamped her authority at the Commonwealth Games In Australia in April winning the gold medal. She also became a three time gold medalist at the CACSO Games. Establishing a record for the Games as the longest gold medal winning streak of any event. In Julien’s case she won a silver medal at the most prestigious Sporting Event for juniors the Youth Olympics. She did so In Argentina last October 2018.

Both of these young people were celebrated by our nation. And we continue to laud them. As they display great positive attitudes and values that our organization expouse. They relish success, demonstrate humility, they focused, they are disciplined and above all they continue to display a high level of commitment and passion. They are indeed the models for all of us. And we thank all those who worked with them to enable them to achieve the results they did. We thank the Athletics Association for remaining vibrant so that our young people can continue to get these opportunities.

We also have a number of young people who enthusiastically continue to pursue their passions through sport. And we continue to work through the National Sports Federations to support them.

We were able to send delegations to the Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games. But there is much work to be done.

We have approved Elite athlete support grants for Sandisha Antoine who is a triple and long jumper, Stephanie Devaux Lovel a sailor. In both cases the support is to enable these athletes through to their preparation for the PanAm Games in Lima, Peru in the hope too that they would qualify for Tokyo. Stephanie has already qualified for PanAm. We have also secured three Olympic Solidarity Scholarships for Luc Cheviere for Sailing Levern Spencer Janelle Schaper. As you all know Julien Alfred has herself secured a scholarship and should be leaving for Texas shortly. We will continue to monitor her through her National Federation.

The (SLOC Inc.) remains committed to serving our athletes within the framework issued to us by the IOC. And we are working assiduously with them (that is the athletes) to operationalising their own Commission that would serve as a voice for them within and without. In fact Stephanie Devaux Lovell and Adrian Albert were beneficiaries of the Miami conference for athlete representatives.

The SLOC Inc has a membership of 20 National Sports Federations. Each of these are autonomous and they are affiliated to their respective national sports Federations. All personnel who make up these Federations are volunteers. And we thank those volunteers who remain faithful to the cause of sports. But as we continue to grow and move to a higher level in the sports many have to review their status and assess whether they are having the level of impact that they potentially can have. Because sports organization benefits society in a myriad of ways. particularly helping our nation understand the value and how to appreciate success, how to engage our youth, and how to remain focus.

With the support of the Pan American Games Organization we have secured the services of the Project Development Officer who will work with the SLOC to strengthen its programming and also be available to offer technical services our membership. Earlier this week we introduced Mr. Andy Behl who worked here previously as a peace corps volunteer. He understands our language. More importantly he is highly trained and has experience internationally. He has worked for the USOC and the Singapore Government in sports development.

PanAm also provided some additional resources for infrastructural projects and we are working with our affiliates to deliver the projects identified. We also provide funding to facilitate their programming and in the last year we expended over one million dollars on programs for our membership. That includes Training, Travel, Camps and the staging Events and Tournaments.

This year Gene Morelle of the Volleyball Association completed the Executive Masters in Sport Organization and Management in Switzerland. Young Naima Hazel and Mickali Charlemagne attended a continental swim camp in Miami. Two Netball Officials went on to Barbados for further training. Neso Etienne attended a Taekwondo camp in the Dominican Republic.

Our organization is financially supported by PanAm IOC, and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Our Audited statements will be made available to the media via our website once they become available.
Sadly Jonathan Everette Honorary member of the SLOC passed and we are working on a project to memorialise him. Former National Table Tennis player Paul Christopher passed recently and we have offered our condolences. Immediate Past President of the (SLOC Inc.) Richard Peterkin was awarded the Olympic Order.

Looking towards 2019 we plan :

* Development of Strategic Plan 2024
* Support Building capacity initiatives for our membership
* Panamerican Games 2019
* Tapping on the IOC programs
* Panam Projects execution.

We certainly want to thank the Executive Board and in particular Secretary General Alfred Emmanuel and Administrative Assistant Greta Stedman for their efforts.

Affiliates of the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee  Incorporated (SLOC Inc.), responded in encouraging numbers to participate in a training session initiated by the leadership of the organisation to bring affiliates up to date regarding requirements of funding agencies that fund its programmes.

” It  has been mandated by our funding agencies to account for funds disbursed in a specified manner,  so the (SLOC Inc) in turn  appreciates that members account for funds received in a like manner, ” said Secretary General Alfred Emmanuel.

Emmanuel conducted the session that gave those present an appreciation of the extent funding agencies verify the disbursement of allocations  they provide for programmes of National Olympic Committees. 

The gathering at the headquarters of the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee for the training sessions included  Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers. Participants worked with several documents including travel itineraries, receipts for  particular travel,  hotel reservation, four other receipts  or  invoices of their choice.

” The attendance of the three specified personnel was  required since they will now have to play a very important part in the accounting process, ” Emmanuel continued.

As part of the session, President of the SLOC Inc. Fortuna Belrose made a slide presentation on the objectives of the SLOC inc, its mandate and challenges.

The Executive Board of the Saint Lucia  Olympic Committee Incorporated (SLOC Inc) has extended congratulations to young female sprinter  Julien Alfed on the achievement of her silver medal performance in the women’s 100 metres  at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

“Julien has really done us proud. She has won Saint Lucia’s first medal at the Youth Olympic  Games.  In fact,  if you recall,  Julien has now  distinguished herself as a junior athlete. She has won medals  at the Commonwealth Youth Games , the first Gold medal for Saint Lucia  at the Commonwealth Youth Games  and of course she has done it again this year winning for us a silver medal  at Youth Olympics. We have been at the youth Olympic Games for the last three times over the last 12 years, ” President of the (SLOC Inc.) Fortuna Belrose said in a statement Monday night.

“We are indeed heartened by this achievement  for a young person. We trust that other young persons will see sports as an avenue to go out and make themselves, their family and their country proud, “she stated.

Belrose took the opportunity to thank all those who played a role in Alfred’s success on the track thus far.

“We are very grateful to her coach  Cuthbert Modeste for the work and effort that  he put in to ensure she was ready for the event and to thank her family for their support during these times. And of course to the Athletic Association for making the recommendation . We really want to thank all the persons around her who really supported her, ” she mentioned.

The (SLOC Inc.) President  went on to highlight that it was a period of continued celebration for the Organisation as the medal comes on the heels of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognising the contribution of IOC member and Immediate Past President of the (SLOC Inc.) Richard Peterkin who has been conferred with the Olympic Order.

“This we see as reward and recognition   for his work in Governance and Finance  within the Olympic Movement, and that’s another opportunity that we do have to celebrate. As an Olympic Committee we will continue to do all that we can to ensure our  people in the movement  and our youngsters get the opportunities to compete and meet their potential and  aspirations through sport.” Belrose stressed.

Meanwhile the (SLOC Inc.) is in the process of planning a fitting welcome for the team on return to the island this weekend.