Olympic Channel Begins Live Coverage -- Federations Focus

(ATR) The newly launched Olympic Channel by the IOC will begin live broadcasting events from the International Federations on Sep. 1.

The first event will be the International Ice Hockey Federation’s final Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Throughout the rest of 2016, the channel will provide live coverage of 35 events for 10 IFs.

Sports that have already partnered with the Olympic Channel include: ice hockey, canoe, table tennis, badminton, triathlon, archery, wrestling, shooting sport, basketball and fencing.

"We look forward to working with our IF partners to help distributetheir events and extend their reach to fans around the world," OlympicChannel general manager Mark Parkman said. "Placing a spotlight onOlympic sports and athletes outside of the Games themselves is one ofthe key priorities of the Olympic Channel."

The digital platform launched on Aug. 21 during the Rio 2016 closing ceremony and will seek to bolster viewership for each IF event with live coverage, highlights and original programming.

"The launch of Olympic Channel is a key milestone for the Olympic Movement and a result of Olympic Agenda 2020," said IOC president Thomas Bach. "It is the start of an exciting, new journey for athletes, fans and new generations to connect with sport and the Olympic values every day of the year."

ITF Partners with Special Olympics

The International Tennis Federation and Special Olympics are teaming up.

The ITF will provide access to teaching and coaching resources for both children and adults, provide high quality training opportunities and support the inclusion of tennis as an official Special Olympics sport.

"We share common values with a strong focus on providing sporting opportunities for all and recognize the positive impact that sport can have on the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities," said ITF President David Haggerty.

In return, Special Olympics will recognize the ITF as an international partner and acknowledge the ITF Coach Education programs as examples of best practices in supporting the growth and development of inclusive sport for all.

The organization will also use ITF’s Play and Stay/Tennis 10 campaigns as training and competition programs for people with intellectual disabilities and increase the number of tennis schools and tennis players with intellectual disabilities around the world.

"Special Olympics looks forward to a meaningful partnership with the International Tennis Federation and their 211 member nations, giving access to our athletes for coaching, training and other opportunities," said Jon-Paul St. Germain, Special Olympics Sport Partnerships Senior Director.

The International Triathlon Union Meets At Rio Games

Several important topics were debated at the ITU Executive Board meeting during the Rio Olympic Games.

The ITU stated "lengthy" discussions were held on a range of governance issues with the most pressing matter being the existing anti-doping practices and ways they can be improved to continue to "ensure a level playing field for triathlon athletes".

The board expressed support for the current decisions adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning anti-doping.

The World Cup calendar and the 2017 budget were approved by the ITU Board. The budget will be put to a vote at the ITU’s Congress, to be held in Madrid in December 2016.

The board also voted to maintain its agreement with the organization that hosts the duathlon long distance world championships - the International Powerman Association - until 2020.

"We witnessed two incredible triathlon events at the 2016 Rio Olympics," stated ITU President and IOC member Marisol Casadoat the meeting.

"From the Brownlee brothers going 1-2 in the men’s event to Gwen Jorgenson winning the first-ever gold medal in the sport for the USA, the triathlon races, set at famous Copacabana Beach with Sugar Loaf Mountain rising in the background, will go down as a historic moment in our sport."

ITU Opens Athlete Committee Nominations

The InternationalTriathlon Union is seeking nominations for its next Athletes Committeethat will serve a two-year term and will be included in its executiveboard decisions.

The committee will be composed of 10 members,five from each gender, from at least three continents. A maximum of twoparatriathletes from each gender can also serve on the committee.

Athletesmay nominate themselves or any other athlete who has points in the ITUPoints or ITU Paratriathlon Points Lists in the past four years.

Nominations close on Sep. 11 and voting will close on Sep. 28. ITU will announce the winners on Sep. 30.

Written by Kevin Nutley, Gerard Farek and Courtney Colquitt.

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