Latest news with #OlympicCommittee
Euractiv
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Poland's ex-president Duda set to join International Olympic Committee
WARSAW – Andrzej Duda, who stepped down as Poland's president after 10 years, is set to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC), signaling a new chapter in his public career. The Polish Olympic Committee reportedly voted overwhelmingly to recommend Duda for IOC membership, and the IOC is expected to approve his membership during its next annual session, RMF FM reported. Duda was succeeded as president by Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist aligned with the ruling PiS party, who narrowly defeated pro-European candidate Rafał Trzaskowski from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform in the June 1 election. Before the election, media reports suggested Duda harbored ambitions to succeed former IOC head Thomas Bach, although that role traditionally goes to former athletes. The position is currently held by former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry. If confirmed, Duda will join other former regional leaders involved in Olympic structures, such as former Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid, who became president of the Estonian Olympic Committee in October 2024. RMF FM also reported that Duda plans to establish an international think tank aimed at connecting political and business leaders from Central and Eastern Europe. (de)
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- Gulf Today
8 athletes to represent UAE at World Games
The UAE is gearing up to participate in the 12th edition of the World Games, scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from August 7th to 17. The UAE will be represented by a delegation of eight male and female athletes, competing across three disciplines: jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and triathlon. The national jiu-jitsu team includes six athletes: Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69 kg), Mahdi Al Awlaki (77 kg), Saeed Al Kubaisi (85 kg), Asma Al Hosani (52 kg), Shamsa Al Amri (57 kg), and Shamma Al Kalbani (63 kg). At just 19 years old, Asma has already made history for the UAE. In 2023, she became the first Emirati woman to win a gold medal in martial arts at the Asian Games, claiming victory in the women's 52kg jiu-jitsu event in Hangzhou, China. Born in Abu Dhabi, Asma began training in jiu-jitsu at the age of 11 through a school program and joined the national team by 2016. She was balancing a demanding training schedule with her studies in mechanical engineering at Khalifa University. Prior to her Asian Games success, Asma secured the 52 kg title at the JJIF World Youth Championships, where she defeated fellow Emirati and teammate Shamsa Al Ameri in the final. In addition, Maryam Al Shamsi will represent the UAE in the triathlon competitions, while Mohammed Touizi will compete in muaythai. To ensure optimal preparation, the Technical and Sports Affairs Department at the UAE National Olympic Committee recently conducted a joint virtual meeting with the participating sports federations. The meeting focused on finalizing logistical and technical preparations ahead of the global event, which is expected to bring together over 5,000 athletes from 118 countries, competing in 34 sports disciplines. The World Games is a prestigious multi-sport event held every four years and organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA)—an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IWGA comprises 40 international sports federations, each contributing to a unique and diverse sporting program beyond the Olympic Games. Since the UAE's debut at the 8th edition of the World Games in 2009 in Taiwan where Mohamed Shehab secured a bronze medal in snooker, the country has earned a total of 12 medals in the event's history. Faisal Al Ketbi, a member of the national jiu-jitsu team, won both gold and silver medals in the 10th edition held in Poland in 2017. The national air sports team also added a bronze medal in the mixed category of parachuting at the same edition. The UAE's best-ever performance came in the previous edition in 2022, held in Birmingham, United States, where the delegation secured a record eight medals: two gold, one silver, and five bronze. The medals came in jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and freefall parachuting. Following the 11th edition in Birmingham, the UAE rose 10 places in the all-time World Games medals table to 56th place out of 101 participating countries.
South China Morning Post
05-08-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
World Games 2025: Hong Kong's athletes ‘fully prepared' for Chengdu showpiece
Hong Kong's athletes have set off for Chengdu as the mainland Chinese city prepares to host the World Games, which will open on Thursday. Advertisement The Games, an international multi-sport event held every four years, consists of sports and disciplines that are not contested in the Olympics. This year's edition in Chengdu, in China's southwest, will last from August 7 to 17, and will feature more than 200 medal events across 34 disciplines. Hong Kong athletes will compete in seven of the sports: air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing and wushu. The city's delegation is led by chef de mission Wong Po-kee, the honorary deputy secretary general of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Advertisement 'The World Games represents the highest level of international competition for non-Olympic sports,' Wong said. 'More than 20 athletes from Hong Kong, China have qualified to participate, which is a testament to the city's exceptional sporting talent.
Globe and Mail
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
U.S. government restricts sports visas for transgender women
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Monday it has updated its immigration policy to restrict visa eligibility for transgender women seeking to compete in women's sports. Under the policy update, USCIS will consider 'the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women' as a negative factor when evaluating visa petitions in categories such as O-1A for extraordinary ability, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for highly skilled workers, and national interest waivers. 'USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women,' said USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser. 'It's a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the U.S. to participate in women's sports.' The move aligns with broader efforts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to regulate transgender participation in athletics and follows similar policies enacted at the state level across the country. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee last month updated its policy to align with an executive order signed earlier this year by Trump barring transgender women from competing in women's sports. Trump signed the 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' order in February, a directive that supporters said will restore fairness but critics argue infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.
Reuters
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US government restricts sports visas for transgender women
Aug 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Monday it has updated its immigration policy to restrict visa eligibility for transgender women seeking to compete in women's sports. Under the policy update, USCIS will consider "the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women" as a negative factor when evaluating visa petitions in categories such as O-1A for extraordinary ability, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for highly skilled workers, and national interest waivers. "USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women," said USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser. "It's a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the U.S. to participate in women's sports." The move aligns with broader efforts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to regulate transgender participation in athletics and follows similar policies enacted at the state level across the country. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee last month updated its policy to align with an executive order signed earlier this year by Trump barring transgender women from competing in women's sports. Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" order in February, a directive that supporters said will restore fairness but critics argue infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.
