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IOC LAUNCHES NEW CANDIDATURE PROCEDURE The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a new approach to the Candidature Process for the Olympic Winter Games 2026. The new process features a deeper partnership between the IOC and the cities and National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and will lead to significant budget reductions. In line with Olympic Agenda 2020, 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. 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; and a shortened formal Candidature Stage (October 2018 to September 2019), with streamlined procedures enabling selected Candidate Cities to work closely with the IOC to ensure the best possible Games delivery and long-term legacy plans. 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 broadcasting and Olympic Partner programme revenues; host broadcasting and services provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services; and transfer of knowledge activities. The IOC has welcomed the announcement by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) executive committee ratifying board membership for the Independent Testing Authority (ITA). The approved members are: Dr Valérie Fourneyron, France (independent chair); Prof. Uğur Erdener, Turkey (IOC representative); Francesco Ricci Bitti, Italy (International Federation representative); Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe (IOC Athletes’ Commission representative); and Prof. Dr Peijie Chen, China (independent member). “The ratification of the ITA board membership represents a key milestone for the creation of the Independent Testing Authority,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “With this step, the pace is set for the ITA to become operational and to start working with a number of International Federations and Major Event Organisations. The IOC will already start to benefit from the advantages of the ITA at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.” WADA RATIFIES ITA BOARD MEMBERSHIP Above Dr Valérie Fourneyron will be chair of the ITA board