Deadline Looms to Propose Olympic Changes

(ATR) Just hours remain for public comment on ways to change the Olympics and the IOC.

April 15 is the deadline to submit comments via email to OlympicAgenda2020@olympic.org.

IOC president Thomas Bach is soliciting public comment as part of the program he calls Olympic Agenda 2020. Launched soon after his election last September, Bach is leading a top-to-bottom review of how the IOC and the Olympic Games operate.

No word has come yet from the IOC as to the number of comments received.

The New York-based activist group All Out claims it has directed more than 115,000 emails to the IOC regarding discrimination based on sexual preferences. The group seeks IOC backing for language in the Olympic Charter that prohibits the games from being awarded to any place where laws discriminate against gays, lesbians, and transgenders. All Out would also like to see a commitment from the IOC to oppose any discriminatory legislation introduced after the games are awarded. All Out was prominently involved in the outcry over the Russian anti-gay propaganda law enacted the year before the Sochi Olympics.

The IOC was not available for comment on the All Out press release issued today.

The overall structure of Olympic Agenda 2020 is based on three broad themes: sustainability, credibility and youth. Within those five, other themes are included:

- Uniqueness of the Olympic Games

- Athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement

- Olympism in action: keeping Olympism alive 365 days a year

- The IOC’s role: unity in diversity

- IOC structure and organization

The close of public comments is the last step before a number of "working groups" are named by the IOC president. Those groups will cull through the ideas proposed by the public, as well as the IOC membership and stakeholders.

In December 2013 Bach got the process rolling with a four-day conclave of the IOC executive board to brainstorm ideas. Then in February at the IOC Session ahead of the Sochi Olympics, Bach presided over a wide ranging discussion by the members about things they wanted to see addressed.

The working groups are to meet in June, ahead of the next Executive Board meeting set for July. Further refinement of proposals as well as publication follows. All of it comes to a head in early December when the IOC will hold an extraordinary Session in Monaco to decide what changes to make.

"Every comment is welcome," says Bach.

Written by Ed Hula

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