Governing Bodies
Only fully-vaccinated IOC members to present medals at Tokyo 2020
Only fully-vaccinated International Olympic Committee (IOC) members will be able to present medals to athletes at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as part of COVID-19 countermeasures in place at the event.
IOC President Thomas Bach made the revelation prior to a meeting with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike today, before the organisation later confirmed the “significant change” in a statement.
Bach yesterday said athletes would put their own medals around their necks during the ceremonies at Tokyo 2020 to limit the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
The medal presenters, typically members of the IOC or other guests, will be required to wear disinfected gloves.
One IOC member and one International Federation representative will be present at each event, while athletes will stay on their own podium module during the entire duration of the ceremony.
Bach said today that he had been fully vaccinated and was being tested daily, while claiming close to 100 per cent of the IOC membership and staff had also been double-jabbed.
His meeting with Koike came as Tokyo reported 1,308 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily total in the Olympic and Paralympic host city for six months – eight days before the Games are due to open.
COVID-19 concerns have dominated the build-up to the event, and several teams have already been affected by positive cases upon their arrival here.
Bach claimed the rules outlined in the playbook – which the IOC and Tokyo 2020 hope will ensure the Games are “safe and secure” – were “working” and “are being enforced”.
“They [people in the Olympic Village] know it is in their own interest to be safe,” Bach told Koike.
Bach used much of his message to Koike as an attempt to win over a Japanese public which has been critical of him and the IOC following the decision to press ahead with staging the Games during a pandemic.
He claimed the Olympic Games would be the “most restrictive sports event ever” as the IOC and organisers “wanted to avoid any kind of risk for the people of Tokyo and the people of Japan”.
“These Olympics will be a historic for another reason, and they will be the most followed Olympic Games ever,” Bach said.
“The world is looking at Tokyo, at Japan, and the world is longing for these Olympic and Paralympics.
“The expectations are higher than ever before at an Olympic Games.
“This is a great moment for Tokyo and also for Japan, because billions of people worldwide will be glued to their screen and will greatly admire, and be grateful, to the people of Tokyo and people of Japan for what they have achieved under these very difficult circumstances.”
Koike, who had been critical of the IOC following the decision to move the Olympic marathon and race walk events from Tokyo to Sapporo because of concerns over high temperatures in the capital, said she “hopes everyone will abide by the rules” that are being implemented at the Games.
A fourth state of emergency came into force in Tokyo this week in response to a rising number of COVID-19 cases, leading to the decision to ban spectators from almost every Olympic venue.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, pushed back to this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, are due to open on July 23 and close on August 8.
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The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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