The two officials acted as respective figureheads for successful Olympic and Paralympic bids from Paris for 2024 and Los Angeles for 2028.

The two were originally rivals but became increasingly close as negotiations took place with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to finalize a joint hosting agreement.

“In this resolutely benevolent and optimistic spirit, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, and Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, decided to considerably strengthen the ties between their two cities between now and the Games of 2024 and 2028 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding cooperation, known as ‘Olympic twinning’,” read an invitation sent out by Paris’ City Hall.

“Its objective: that the two cities share their good practices and devise together new solutions that will further improve the lives of the inhabitants.”

The partnership will focus on three key areas: the fight against climate change, solidarity and innovation.

It will be unveiled by both Hidalgo and Garcetti on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris.

This will come during a C40 Summit on Air Pollution Control at the hotel attended by Mayors from around the world.

Hidalgo is chair of the C40, while Garcetti will be another speaker during the three-day event due to start on Sunday (October 22).

IOC President Thomas Bach is also expected to attend.

Yuriko Koike, the Governor of 2020 Olympic host city, Tokyo, is also expected to be among those taking part in the Summit.

By Nick Butler

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

The IOC has announced a new approach to the Candidature Process for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, based on increased flexibility and an in-depth dialogue with the IOC and the Olympic Movement. “It has been reformed and redesigned to enable cities and NOCs to have even more sustainable, feasible and cost-effective Olympic Winter Games, and to align with their local, regional and national long-term development goals,” the IOC explains in a press release, also stating that the 2026 Host City Contract will include an IOC contribution to the success of the Games estimated at 925 million US$, based on contributions related to broadcast and TOP program revenues; host broadcasting and services provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services and transfer of knowledge activities.

In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, the new Candidature Process is based on increased flexibility and an in-depth dialogue with the IOC and the Olympic Movement. It has been reformed and redesigned to enable cities and NOCs to have even more sustainable, feasible and cost-effective Olympic Winter Games, and to align with their local, regional and national long-term development goals.

A two-stage approach

The Candidature Process for the Olympic Winter Games 2026 ensures a reduction in the workload for the candidates by requiring fewer deliverables, and comprises two stages:

• A new, one-year non-committal Dialogue Stage (October 2017 to October 2018) that will provide Interested Cities and NOCs with an opportunity to engage in a collaboration with the IOC to assess the benefits and requirements related to hosting the Games. Cities will not be required to submit any formal proposals and guarantees, or make any presentations. The IOC and Olympic Movement will take a more proactive role in assisting and supporting them well before any commitments are made, by sending teams of technical experts to help develop their candidature. The cost of this assistance provided to all Cities will be covered by the IOC. In October 2018, the IOC Session, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, will invite a number of Interested Cities to participate in the Candidature Stage.
• A shortened formal Candidature Stage (October 2018 to September 2019) with streamlined procedures enabling those selected Candidate Cities to work closely with the IOC to ensure the best possible Games delivery and long-term legacy plans. Candidates will be asked to submit a single Candidature File, due in January 2019, and the number of questions in the questionnaire has been reduced by one third.

Stronger IOC support

The Host City Contract 2026 will be published in July 2018, and will include an IOC contribution to the success of the Games estimated at USD 925 million, based on contributions related to broadcast and TOP program revenues; host broadcasting and services provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS); and transfer of knowledge activities.

The new process for the Olympic Winter Games 2026 builds on the recommendations of the Olympic Winter Games Strategic Working Group, composed of IOC Members, representatives from the seven Winter International Federations, National Olympic Committees, winter-sport Olympians, TOP Partners, the IOC administration and experts. The Working Group conducted a review of the Olympic Winter Games by focusing on their uniqueness and specificity, and paid particular attention to issues related to sustainability, legacy and the process of applying for and hosting the Games.

To better support Games organizers, the IOC’s “Games Management 2020” initiative has been established to identify ways to further reduce the cost and complexity of hosting the Olympic Winter Games. This set of measures will help Organizing Committees, from the very start of the project and through their entire lifecycle, to streamline their planning, make better use of IF and NOC technical expertise, improve venue planning and adapt service levels to their actual needs and use.

Moon was speaking during a ceremony held in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square to commemorate the 72nd National Police Day.

He urged police to continue to strengthen their counter-terrorism measures before the Games begin.

“Tourists coming to Korea from around the world have cited ‘safety’ as the most satisfying factor of their travels here,” Moon declared.

“Our nation has been designated as the country with the ‘safest public order in the world’ for the past two years.

“All of our police forces must protect visitors, as well as Olympians, from any act of terrorism.

“Our police have successfully maintained security at previous international sporting events, including the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, the FIFA 2002 World Cup, the International Association of Athletics Federations 2011 World Championships in Daegu and at the Gwangju 2015 Universiade.

“I ask the police to prove to the world once again, this time in Pyeongchang, that Korea is the safest nation in the world.”

Moon and other Government colleagues are delivering messages promising the safety of the country on an almost daily basis in an attempt to downplay safety concerns.

Tensions have continued to rise in the region following a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months.

Matters have been escalated further by the increasing rhetoric between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

French Sports Minister Laura Flessel warned last month that if the crisis deepened and “our security cannot be assured, the French Olympics team will stay at home.”

Alfons Hörmann, the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, also claimed he would understand if his country’s athletes did not want to compete because of safety concerns.

But a flood of other sports officials have come out and publicly declared that they have no safety concerns and fully intend to participate.

This includes the International Olympic Committee.

They also claim to be “closely monitoring” the situation on the Korean Peninsula and that they have been in “close contact” with Governments and the United Nations over recent months.

The Winter Olympics are due to take place in Pyeongchang from February 9 to 25, with the Paralympics following from March 9 to 18.

By Nick Butler

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.