IOC/IAKS AWARD and IPC/IAKS DISTINCTION 2009

The IAKS, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announce this years winners of their international architectural award for sports and leisure facilities.

A jury-session with international personalities of the IOC, the IPC and the IAKS honoured seven projects with Gold, nine with Silver, eight with Bronze and argued for four Special Distinctions. The IPC/IAKS Distinction for Accessibility goes to ten participants. The winning facilities come from 14 countries worldwide.

The triumphant winner is China with two gold medals, two silver and one bronze medal as well as with two IPC/IAKS Distinctions. The Olympic Stadium (“Bird’s nest”) in Beijing won the gold medal in the category “Stadia” and also the IPC/IAKS Distinction for Accessibility for its outstanding offers for athletes and spectators with a disability.

The IOC/IAKS Award is the only international architecture competition for sports and leisure facilities. This year 117 teams of operators and designers from 26 countries took part in the IOC/IAKS Award. In the 20 year old history this competition for sports facilities has never previously seen such number of registered participants.

The IPC/IAKS Distinction is aimed at increasing the accessibility of all sports facilities and architectural projects in order to give opportunities to persons with a disability to practise and view sport freely and without barriers. For the IPC/IAKS Distinction, 54 entries have been received, this also is a new all-time high.

The winners of the IOC/IAKS Award 2009

The presentation of the IOC/IAKS Award and the IPC/IAKS Distinction will take place at the official opening of the 21st IAKS Congress in Cologne on 28th October 2009.

Download: Press release