The IWGA member federations will meet on Monday for their Annual General Meeting Which are the most important items on the Agenda of the AGM?
José Perurena: We will receive an update from our friends in Wroclaw, who will be the hosts of the tenth edition of The World Games next year. I think the delegates of our member federations will be keen on receiving news about progress towards Wroclaw. And of course the representatives of TWG 2021 in Birmingham/Alabama will give an update about their current state of play. Last but not least: our 37 member federations have to decide about the revision of our constitution. The changes are not major, but the appointed commission has proposed some updates to ensure good governance and compliance with Swiss law, following the move of our office from the USA.
José Perurena: We will receive an update from our friends in Wroclaw, who will be the hosts of the tenth edition of The World Games next year. I think the delegates of our member federations will be keen on receiving news about progress towards Wroclaw. And of course the representatives of TWG 2021 in Birmingham/Alabama will give an update about their current state of play. Last but not least: our 37 member federations have to decide about the revision of our constitution. The changes are not major, but the appointed commission has proposed some updates to ensure good governance and compliance with Swiss law, following the move of our office from the USA.
You do not have any membership applications on the agenda. Why not?
José Perurena: A number of federations have applied to become IWGA members. But we have postponed decisions about these until our next AGM in 2017. We did this because we wanted first to conclude the work on our constitution. And there is another reason: our cooperation with the IOC is becoming ever closer. We need to evaluate what this kind of closer cooperation means for our member federations. You see, we already have 37 members. But there is only room for around 30 sports on the program of each World Games. So we have to think very carefully about whether we can expand without promising too much.
You will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the IOC on Tuesday. What can you tell us about the content?
The new Memorandum of Understanding will be much more specific than the one that was signed in 2000. Recommendation 6 of the Olympic Agenda 2020 called for “closer cooperation regarding the sport programme composition and their respective evaluations”. The MoU describes how the two organizations can work together as a team on communication, promotion and programmes. Another example: The IOC will provide its expertise when needed. I would like to thank Dr Thomas Bach for helping us to become such an important part of the Olympic movement.
How will closer cooperation with the IOC change the IWGA?
For the better, I hope! We will have to become even more professional and structure our work for more success in the future. I’m convinced that this relationship will be for our mutual benefit.
There are 15 months left before TWG 2017 starts. How do you assess the status of preparations in Wroclaw?
The Wroclaw Organizing Committee established a new board in February. Marcin Przychodny took over as President of WOC, with Adam Roczek as his deputy. We see that both of them are working very hard to come to grips and catch up with the pending decisions on the agenda. The next 15 months will be very busy for them, but we are very confident that, under their leadership, the Games will be a great success.
Would you please describe the milestones on the road to Wroclaw?
As we get nearer to the day of the opening ceremony (20 July 2017) the roadmap is set: WOC is about to sign some very important contracts for TV production and marketing and with other service partners. The second meeting of all the competition managers is scheduled for late August in Wroclaw. And we will have another meeting with the representatives of those NOCs that give support to their World Games athletes. This is another aspect of our cooperation with the IOC. President Thomas Bach has urged the NOCs to support The World Games family.
José Perurena: A number of federations have applied to become IWGA members. But we have postponed decisions about these until our next AGM in 2017. We did this because we wanted first to conclude the work on our constitution. And there is another reason: our cooperation with the IOC is becoming ever closer. We need to evaluate what this kind of closer cooperation means for our member federations. You see, we already have 37 members. But there is only room for around 30 sports on the program of each World Games. So we have to think very carefully about whether we can expand without promising too much.
You will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the IOC on Tuesday. What can you tell us about the content?
The new Memorandum of Understanding will be much more specific than the one that was signed in 2000. Recommendation 6 of the Olympic Agenda 2020 called for “closer cooperation regarding the sport programme composition and their respective evaluations”. The MoU describes how the two organizations can work together as a team on communication, promotion and programmes. Another example: The IOC will provide its expertise when needed. I would like to thank Dr Thomas Bach for helping us to become such an important part of the Olympic movement.
How will closer cooperation with the IOC change the IWGA?
For the better, I hope! We will have to become even more professional and structure our work for more success in the future. I’m convinced that this relationship will be for our mutual benefit.
There are 15 months left before TWG 2017 starts. How do you assess the status of preparations in Wroclaw?
The Wroclaw Organizing Committee established a new board in February. Marcin Przychodny took over as President of WOC, with Adam Roczek as his deputy. We see that both of them are working very hard to come to grips and catch up with the pending decisions on the agenda. The next 15 months will be very busy for them, but we are very confident that, under their leadership, the Games will be a great success.
Would you please describe the milestones on the road to Wroclaw?
As we get nearer to the day of the opening ceremony (20 July 2017) the roadmap is set: WOC is about to sign some very important contracts for TV production and marketing and with other service partners. The second meeting of all the competition managers is scheduled for late August in Wroclaw. And we will have another meeting with the representatives of those NOCs that give support to their World Games athletes. This is another aspect of our cooperation with the IOC. President Thomas Bach has urged the NOCs to support The World Games family.
How will the IOC be involved in TWG 2017?
The IOC will send a much bigger delegation to TWG 2017 than we saw in the past. Experts from the IOC sports department will support us with their observations when it comes to evaluation of how individual sports performed, and of the Games as a whole. This means that we have to deliver an outstanding event. We want to prove that our sports are on the same level as those on the Olympic programme.
Next year in Poland and in 2021 in Birmingham/Alabama. Do you have any idea where TWG2025 will take place? In other words: Have you received any hints about which cities are interested in hosting The World Games 2025?
Yes, several cities have already indicated that they are thinking about hosting our event in 2025. And we are expecting further expressions of interest. But it is way too early to get into the details or to talk about bids because we won’t start the bidding process before January 2018.
- If you are asked: “What are The World Games?” what’s your answer in two sentences?
The Games of the future. The friendly Games.
The IOC will send a much bigger delegation to TWG 2017 than we saw in the past. Experts from the IOC sports department will support us with their observations when it comes to evaluation of how individual sports performed, and of the Games as a whole. This means that we have to deliver an outstanding event. We want to prove that our sports are on the same level as those on the Olympic programme.
Next year in Poland and in 2021 in Birmingham/Alabama. Do you have any idea where TWG2025 will take place? In other words: Have you received any hints about which cities are interested in hosting The World Games 2025?
Yes, several cities have already indicated that they are thinking about hosting our event in 2025. And we are expecting further expressions of interest. But it is way too early to get into the details or to talk about bids because we won’t start the bidding process before January 2018.
- If you are asked: “What are The World Games?” what’s your answer in two sentences?
The Games of the future. The friendly Games.
By: Editor
RSS Feed