Pistorius Welcome in Rio -- Host City Roundup

(ATR) Oscar Pistorius would be welcome at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games if he fulfills all his judicial obligations, says Rio 2016’s executive director of communications.

Mario Andrada was responding to questions about whether Pistorius, who was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide after shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, would be welcome at the Games should he secure an early release.

"It’s not for us to judge him, personally," he said. "He was judged by South African judicial system – as soon as he fulfills his obligation with that system, he will be a free man, a free man is entitled to compete wherever he wants.

"We have to keep in our prayers and our thoughts both families. It was a tragedy, so with that in mind nothing more to say. He will be welcome in Brazil as anyone else."

Immediately following the verdict, the International Paralympic Committee said the sprinter would be banned from competition for five years unless he appealed and his sentence was formally reduced. His family has said there will not be any appeal.

However, it is unclear whether Andrada meant Pistorius was welcome to compete or welcome as simply a visitor to the Games.

The head of communications also spoke about recent events in his home country where president Dilma Rousseff was re-elected by a narrow margin on Sunday.

The controversial president’s second term in office was met with poor financial market results on Monday in Brazil, but Andrada was happy with the continuity that Rousseff’s administration would bring to Games preparation.

"Having the same government makes things easier," he said, "but Brazil is a democracy. It’s cool to be in a democracy, and it’s cool to have changes of powers when people decide to do so.

"In our case, it makes our lives easier because we know the people. They know the project, and we’ve been working with them for so long so it accelerates the process. But we would be happy anyway."

Andrada was also confident on the golf course being finished on time, despite a legal dispute by local prosecutors who say that the construction of the venue contravenes environmental regulations.

He said, "We can prove the course provides no harm to the local environment, and we trust the system."

When asked whether all the venues would be ready on time, unlike those at the World Cup, Andrada said, "There is not a chance in the world we will not be ready, venue-wise."

Stockholm Eyeing 2026 Bid

Stockholm will bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics if the bidding process is fundamentally changed, according to the head of Sweden’s national Olympic committee.

The Swedish capital was in the running to host the 2022 edition, but dropped out in January after a lack of government support.

Stefan Lindeberg was at the Host City: Bid to Win conference in London when he said, "Obviously, we have to see what comes out of the Agenda 2020 process, but I think if we see the changes being discussed then certainly we would want to bid for 2026.

"The advantage then would be that everything should be much more clear for not only the people but for the politicians. It’s obvious you cannot ask them to sign a blank sheet of paper. But if they know what are the responsibilities, and therefore the benefits, then it can be a very different outlook."

Earlier on a panel discussing the bidding process, Lindeberg called for a shorter period in which the decision would be made. He also called for more "cooperation" and openness in the first phase of bidding.

"Also, the host city contract should not only emphasize human rights – which has been there all the time in the Olympic Charter – but add the importance of adhering to international standards and conventions on issues such as workers’ rights and environmental issues," he added.

"That there is a change in attitude from the IOC, you can tell by how eager Thomas Bach has been to listen. If we had been having these discussions back in January, then I think [Stockholm] would still be in there."

The Agenda 2020 project is expected to propose changes to the bidding process, even if perhaps just softening the IOC’s language so they do not get attacked for making supposed "demands" from host cities.

Commonwealth Games CEO Seeks IOC Cooperation

As he prepares to start his new role as Commonwealth Games Federation CEO, David Grevemberg is hoping to enjoy a healthy relationship with Thomas Bach and the IOC.

Grevemberg was speaking to ATR in London just days before he officially takes office, having almost completed his role as ceo of Glasgow 2014. Like his predecessor Michael Hooper, Grevemberg insisted the Commonwealth Games were not the ‘Olympics-lite.'

"No we’re not [the Olympics-lite]," he said. "We are a recognized federation. We’re part of the sporting family, so we have a relationship with the IOC. We have 54 NOCs who are also CGAs. We have a number of sports who are in the Olympic program who are also in the Commonwealth program.

"So we have a lot of shared interests, and I would say we need to be working in partnership with the IOC and pulling in the same direction. There’s a lot of fundamental principles that we both agree with and, as a recognized federation, we subscribe to the ideals of the Olympic charter which are really fundamental principles of good sporting community. Those are important to uphold.

"But we’re also part of the Commonwealth and have responsibilities to our members. So we’re kind of a conduit in between and that’s a good place to be in."

Glasgow received many plaudits for the event this summer and was regarded by some as having saved the Commonwealth Games movement following the stuttering Delhi Games in 2010.

Grevemberg didn’t quite agree, but admitted that the issues from 2010 contributed to the success of the Glasgow Games in 2014.

Reported by Christian Radnedge

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