The participants also received updates on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games; the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games; the LA28 Olympic Games; and anti-doping matters following the 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport, which was held earlier this month in Busan, Republic of Korea. 

The Olympic Summit recapped the IOC’s ongoing “Fit for the Future” consultations. “Over the past six months, we’ve experienced a fast-paced environment. Thank you to all of you for your time and effort in providing feedback on the ‘Fit for the Future’ consultations. Your insights have helped us identify both opportunities and challenges, guiding us toward collective success as one Olympic family,” Coventry said when welcoming the participants.  

While discussing the “Fit for the Future” process, the 14th Olympic Summit endorsed the principles established by the IOC’s Working Group on the protection of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, notably that the existing Principles and Olympic Charter Rules provide strong tools to ensure that the Olympic Movement remains politically neutral.  

During the wide-ranging discussion, the importance of political neutrality for the Olympic Movement was acknowledged, as it allows athletes to access sport across the world without interference. At the same time, it was highlighted that the concept of political neutrality within the Olympic Movement and sport needs clearer definition, and its practical application should be further clarified. The IOC’s Working Group will take this up.  

The Summit also reaffirmed that athletes have a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organisations. As role models in society, athletes have at the same time a responsibility and an obligation to respect, uphold and promote the Olympic values, before, during and after competition. 

In light of the discussion around the principles, the Summit supported the IOC EB’s recommendation that youth athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions, in both individual and team sports. The definition of youth competitions and the application of these recommendations depends for this purpose on the regulations of each International Federation (IF). The Summit participants committed to take these discussions back to their organisations for their consideration. It was recognised that implementation by the stakeholders will take time. 

In addition, the standard protocols of the IF or the International Sports Event Organiser regarding flags, anthems, uniforms and other elements should apply, provided that the national sports organisation concerned is in good standing. 

The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all IFs and International Sports Event Organisers for their own youth events. 

At the same time, and based on the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, all athletes and their entourage must continue to support the Olympic Movement’s mission to promote unity and peace. Athletes and entourage members who act against this peace mission could be removed from competitions by the IF, their National Federation, their National Olympic Committee or the International Sports Event Organiser. 

In parallel, the IOC’s Recommended Conditions of Participation for International Federations and International Sports Event Organisers of 28 March 2023 should remain in place for senior competitions, and will be reviewed as necessary.  

Existing sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments should also remain in place. In particular, the restriction on accreditations or invitations to international sports events or meetings for government officials from Russia and Belarus should remain in place for both senior and youth events.  

IFs should continue to refrain from organising or supporting international sports events in Russia. This recommendation no longer applies to Belarus. 

With its considerations today, the Olympic Summit recognised that athletes, and in particular youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments – sport is their access to hope, and a way to show that all athletes can respect the same rules and each another.  

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

IOC President

Kirsty COVENTRY (Chair)

IOC Vice-Presidents

Juan Antonio SAMARANCH

Nawal EL MOUTAWAKEL

Gerardo WERTHEIN

Pierre-Olivier BECKERS-VIEUJANT (excused)

Athletes’ Commissions

Emma TERHO, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission

Gaby AHRENS, Chair of the ANOCA Athletes’ Commission

DING Ning, Chair of the OCA Athletes’ Commission

Isabel SWAN, Chair of the Panam Sports Athletes’ Commission (excused)

Johanna TALIHARM, Chair of the EOC Athletes’ Commission (excused)

Ken WALLACE, Chair of the ONOC Athletes’ Commission

International Federations/Associations

Ingmar DE VOS, President of ASOIF

Nenad LALOVIC, IOC EB Summer IF Representative

Ivo FERRIANI, President of WOF

Husain AL-MUSALLAM, President of World Aquatics

Sebastian COE, President of World Athletics

Johan ELIASCH, President of FIS

Gianni INFANTINO, President of FIFA

Jae-youl KIM, President of the ISU

Luc TARDIF, President of the IIHF

Morinari WATANABE, President of the FIG

National Olympic Committees/Associations

Robin MITCHELL, President of ANOC

Mustapha BERRAF, President of ANOCA

Spyros CAPRALOS, President of the EOC

Timothy FOK, Acting President of the OCA

Neven ILIC, President of Panam Sports

Baklai TEMENGIL, President of ONOC (excused)

GAO Zhidan, President of the Chinese Olympic Committee

Gene SYKES, President of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee

Guests

Kristin KLOSTER, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Milano Cortina 2026

Humphrey KAYANGE, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026

Nicole HOEVERTSZ, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for LA28 (excused)

Witold BAŃKA, President of WADA

Valérie FOURNEYRON, Chair of the International Testing Agency (ITA)

Andrew PARSONS, President of the IPC

Observers

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa AL-THANI, Senior Vice-President, ANOC

Jacques ANTENEN, Chair-elect of the ITA

Michael Vick Leads the 2026 Class

A Deep, Diverse 2026 Class

By Canton Citizen

It was a season to remember for Canton Youth Football’s seventh grade team, which advanced all the way to the AYF Super Bowl for the first time. Led by head coach Jeff Eckler and assistants Mark Thomas, Pat Hurley, Rick Darr, Dennis Crowe, Jay Baldiga, Chris Kennedy and Jack Connolly, the Bulldogs went 8-1 against a tough slate of Hockomock League teams before meeting their match against North Attleboro (also 8-1) at Dedham High School last month.

Team members included Ryan Crowe, Alex Darr, JJ Eckler, Abel Kesselman, Richie Savery, Declan Anastasia, George Max Kimball, Mike Simone, Rowan Hurley, Max Thomas, Anthony Pazini, Jordan Blair, Sean Kennedy, Colton Baldiga, Tommy Foley, Rory McDonald, Kam Camillo, Ronan French, Jax Son, Brian Flannery, Luke Erhard, John Joyce and Matthew Dutkiewicz.

The Bulldogs would like to thank the high school squad, who came down to run live plays against them, the eighth-grade team for all the scrimmage time, and Ed and Keri Mantie from Mantie Strength Academy for preparing them to be “stronger, bigger and faster!”

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=132925

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

As the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank aids an average of 400,000 people each month and distributes more than 50 million pounds of food per year.

If You Donate $10

Provides enough food for 20 meals

If You Donate $100

Gives a family one month’s supply of diapers for one baby

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a full school year of weekend food packs for three elementary school students through the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program

If You Donate $10,000

Purchases 40,000 pounds of fresh produce—enough to nourish over 4,000 households with 10-pound boxes of healthy food each year

Donate Here

Frosted Faces Foundation

Frosted Faces works to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome senior dogs and cats, offering tailored veterinary treatment and behavioral support and connecting them with families ready to let them live out their golden years in a loving home.

If You Donate $10

Provides lifesaving vaccines that protect pets and prevent the spread of disease

If You Donate $100

Funds the spay or neuter of one pet, helping stop unwanted litters and reduce overcrowding in shelters

If You Donate $1,000

Makes essential dental surgery possible for one senior pet

If You Donate $10,000

Offers 20 grants to families facing financial hardship so they can continue caring for their beloved senior pets

Donate Here

Foundation for Women Warriors

Foundation for Women Warriors enhances the personal and economic well-being of women veterans and their families by providing financial management education, childcare assistance, professional development, and critical goods.

If You Donate $10

Delivers a biweekly newsletter to 100 women veterans with relevant resources such as career and internship opportunities, mental health services, and more

If You Donate $100

Covers two days of childcare for a child of a student or working veteran

If You Donate $1,000

Partially funds one month of daycare or camp for a child of a student or working veteran

If You Donate $10,000

Provides financial education and assistance to three women veterans and their families, helping ensure financial stability during the military to civilian transition

Donate Here

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center serves adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its nationally recognized programs provide liberal arts education, practical skills development, employment, and dignity for a lifetime.

If You Donate $10

Funds a purchase of art supplies

If You Donate $100

Covers one week of culinary training

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a month of pool supplies and upkeep

If You Donate $10,000

Fuels the center’s buses for one month to transport students to their jobs, volunteer sites, and community activities

Donate Here

Sports 4 Kids

Sports 4 Kids uses sports as a platform to build confidence, leadership, teamwork, and connection among low-income and homeless youth. The organization hosts free clinics in underserved neighborhoods and schools, donates sports equipment to children in need, and more.

If You Donate $10

Provides a new basketball, soccer ball, or set of cones for a free youth sports clinic

If You Donate $100

Equips one under-resourced school with a starter kit of sports equipment for its physical education program

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a 10-week community clinic, providing coaching, snacks, and sports gear for 100-plus children in low-income neighborhoods

If You Donate $10,000

Sponsors a full season of GearUp Initiative events, helping collect and distribute more than 1,000 pieces of sports equipment and expand volunteer opportunities across San Diego County

Donate Here

Father Joe’s Villages

For 75 years, Father Joe’s Villages has provided housing, healthcare, employment training, and compassionate services to help thousands of people each year move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

If You Donate $10

Feeds one person for one day

If You Donate $100

Supports essential services, like three meals a day for a parent and child in a shelter for a week

If You Donate $1,000

Offers two weeks of shelter for a family

If You Donate $10,000

Empowers 20 individuals through the nonprofit’s Culinary Arts Program

Donate Here

PARTNER CONTENT

Faces of Healthcare 2025

Why San Diego’s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive L…

Thomas J. Krum

OBITUARY

Thomas J. Krum, known to his listeners as ‘John Thomas’ passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at this home in Johnstown, NY. Born in Kingston, NY on December 15, 1946 he was the son of the late Thomas and Winifred Grube Krum. A graduate of SUNY Ulster, Tom obtained his degree in Business Administration. He also had certifications from the Radio Advertising Bureau and the Career Academy of Broadcasting. Tom had a true love for the game and worked for various local companies including WGY Radio, The Albany- Colonie Yankees, The Albany- Colonie Diamond Dogs, GE/ Empire Broadcasting and The Leader Herald. Tom had extensive experience in sports management and broadcasting. He developed lasting relationships with players, coaches, celebrities and anyone who would talk about the game. Tom served as a Master of Ceremonies and guest speaker at many events. He was inducted into the Glove City Colonials as the first and only broadcaster and was awarded Broadcaster of the Year by The Hearst Newspaper. He had well over 3000 play by play broadcasts and interviews spanning a 40 year career. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn L. LaPorte Krum; his brother, Robert Krum and his wife Elaine; his stepson, James Reed and his wife Kara; his step-grandson, Jacob Reed and his fiance Sarah Cuscino; and several nephews. Services are private. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rose & Hughes Funeral Home, 200 Church Street, Amsterdam, NY. Please visit the online memorial at www.roseandhughesfh.com In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Tom’s love for the game, consider donating to your favorite local youth sports program or volunteer your time as a coach.