A week to go! AIPS Centennial Celebration to light up UNESCO headquarters on August 6

The AIPS Centennial Celebration to be held at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) headquarters is fast approaching.

This special event will take place next week Tuesday (August 6) in the heart of Paris, marking the significant return of AIPS to its birthplace on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of its founding. The ceremony, which will showcase a perfect blend of sports, music and dance, is scheduled to start at 9:30am (attendees are to arrive between 9:00am and 9:20am, when the doors will be closed).

AIPS was founded in the French capital on July 2, 1924, just before the opening of the VIII Olympics that year in Paris, and early this month marked a century of unwavering commitment to protecting the ethical principles of sports journalism around the world.

PARTNERSHIP WITH UNESCO The partnership with UNESCO could not have come at a better time, especially as both parties share a common objective of building a better future for the next generation through sport and culture. This collaboration is geared towards harnessing the power of sport for peace and development.

NESSUN DORMA Also, Puccini Festival Foundation has allowed AIPS to use “Nessun Dorma”, of Puccini’s Turandot, probably one of the most popular arias of all times, as the theme song of the AIPS Centennial. In fact, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the great maestro’s death. AIPS Secretary General Jura Ozmec explained that the partnership “is a bond between sport and music,” serving as a “source of peace”.

JOURNALISTS ON THE PODIUM During the event in Paris, AIPS is set to continue its tradition of honouring journalists who have covered 10 or more Olympic Games. Top sports champions of the past will present awards to these long-serving journalists who have each dedicated nothing less than 18 years to capturing and telling countless summer and winter Olympic stories. The first edition of the AIPS Journalists on the Podium took place at London 2012 with more than 100 Olympic journalists recognised.

ATHLETES OF THE CENTURY The result of the engaging AIPS Athletes of the Century (1924 – 2024) poll, which was launched on July 2, will be announced at the ceremony.

KATAKLO To pay homage to AIPS and the Olympic Games, Kataklo Athletic Dance Theater, founded by Giulia Staccioli, rhythmic gymnastics finalist at the Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympics, has prepared a four-part choreography which will start from the iconic boxing ring image of AIPS and progress to the launch of good wishes towards Milano Cortina 2026.

100 OLYMPIC STORIES One of the highlights of the AIPS Centennial Celebrations so far is the launch of this unique project: 100 Olympic Stories told by 100 Young Reporters from 100 Nations in 100 Seconds. Visit www.aips100.com to find out more. Around 130 enthusiastic young reporters, all continents represented, took part in this cultural and educational initiative that has inspired them to dig through archives in search of the iconic athletes and moments that have shaped the Olympic history of their respective countries. It is a project that promotes unity in diversity.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED To attend the AIPS Centennial Celebration in Paris, journalists, athletes and guests have to

REGISTER HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewH2-nNYnYhBYu641ze5dUZK-wIEYJ9IeofrM-2Q5E0TkoBg/viewform?pli=1

NOTE: Unregistered individuals will not be granted access to the event.

 AIPS Media