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FIS hosts 15th Youth and Children’s Seminar On 4 October, the International Ski Federation (FIS) staged the 15th edition of the Youth and Children’s Seminar in Zurich (Switzerland), which was the largest ever with 137 attendees from 51 countries. The seminar included keynote speeches, workshops and discussions on the theme of “Parenting in Snow Sports”. It also featured a presentation from the Head of Sport for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020, Simone Righenzi, who highlighted how Olympic Agenda 2020 has shaped the event’s focus on health, nutrition and education – all key issues for parents of young athletes. FIBA celebrates 85th anniversary On 29 September, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) celebrated its 85th anniversary in Geneva (Switzerland). A gala dinner brought together representatives from FIBA’s headquarters, the five regions and its national member federations, as well as guests of honour. As part of the festivities, seven basketball personalities – and for the first time, a team – were inducted into FIBA’s Hall of Fame “Class of 2017”. NEWS IN BRIEF Organisers have confirmed the venues for the 19th edition of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Men’s World Championship, which is set to run from 10 to 30 September 2018. For the first time, the event will be jointly hosted by two different countries. Pool matches will take place in the Bulgarian cities of Sofia, Varna and Ruse, and the Italian cities of Bari, Bologna, Florence, Milan and Rome, while the semi-finals and final will be staged in Turin (Italy). “By having joint organisers we are giving two passionate fan bases the opportunity to cheer on their national teams in their own countries, which will help develop the sport,” said FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graca F°, at the countdown launch event in Rome’s Palazzo Poli on 5 October. On 22-24 September, the Japan Wrestling Federation hosted its first-ever United World Wrestling (UWW) level 1 coaches course, which teaches coaches essential skills and provides tools for them to develop their wrestling programmes efficiently. Participants in the course included Japanese Olympic champions Kaori Icho and Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, as well as coaches from China and the Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, in India, an eight-day level 1 coaches course proved similarly successful by attracting more than 80 coaches from across the country. Afterwards, the Wrestling Federation of India expressed its ongoing support of the UWW’s “Grow Wrestling” initiatives and confirmed its desire to cooperate in other projects related to development of wrestling in South Asia. Olympic gold medallist Aldo Montano (ITA) has been elected president of the International Fencing Federation’s (FIE) Athletes’ Commission. The commission, which comprises elite fencers from around the world and gives a voice to athletes in the activities and decisions of the FIE, met on 7 October in Lausanne to elect a president and hold its first meeting with its new members to prepare a working calendar. Montano, who won gold in the men’s sabre event at the Olympic Games Athens 2004, will serve a four-year term, and also becomes a member of the FIE Executive Committee. VENUES CONFIRMED FOR 2018 FIVB MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MONTANO ELECTED PRESIDENT OF FIE ATHLETES’ COMMISSION WRESTLING INITIATIVE REAPS BENEFITS IN ASIA Above Olympic champion Kaori Icho participated in UWW’s coaching course Below Aldo Montano will serve a four-year term as president of the FIE Athletes’ Commission OLYMPIC REVIEW 21