(ATR) The IOC’s incoming Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi tells Around the Rings he is ready for a new challenge.
Dubi takes over from Gilbert Felli on September 1 after seven years as IOC sports director.
Looking ahead, he said tweaking to streamline operations of the Olympic Games management department would be carried out to gain efficiency and to clarify the way it works with external stakeholders and OCOGs.
"That we can do immediately," he told ATR, indicating that no major overhaul was on the cards ahead of the Olympic Agenda 2020 decisions coming in December at the IOC’s Extraordinary Session in Monaco.
"But if we have more changes, it will be upon the results of Olympic Agenda 2020. Any change of strategy in the approach to business is Agenda 2020.
"It’s important for me to mention that Gilbert was always part of these discussions because it’s been outstanding what he has been doing," he said. "There is no intention on my side to come and say, ‘Everything that was done in the past we change for the future.'
"When someone was really great, you have to recognize it and this is the case.
"But what we can modify, we will modify, and then we will see the results in December," he added. "Then depending where we go, we have to be prepared for more strategic development."
Dubi says he brings a different personality and style to the role of Olympic Games executive director, but promises to continue the good work of his predecessor.
Despite officially retiring in September, Felli will take on a troubleshooting role for the IOC on the Rio 2016 Olympic project, which has been plagued by delays, as well as special duties for the IOC, such as speaking roles at Olympic conferences.Dubi said Felli will remain an invaluable asset.
"Gilbert, with his expertise and love for the [Olympic] Movement, has to be available. He wants to be available," he said.
"Take conferences. We are invited everywhere. Gilbert is a fantastic advocate for the cause. He incarnates the [Olympic] values. Something like this would be ideal because he knows it inside out and he is great at it," Dubi added.
Dubi on Rio Challenges
With intense pressure on 2016 Olympic organizers to complete venues on time, including the IBC next summer, Dubi said "tight monitoring" of projects in the coming months is vital.
"No one would hide from the fact that some of [the venues] are on a critical path, but they know what they have to do. They have to have the resources and contracts in place. It has to be monitored on a daily basis so that it doesn’t slip," he explained.
"Is it an easy situation? No. No one said it was. Is it one to be monitored? Yes, extremely closely," he added. "They are not at three shifts [a day] and seven days a week… yet."
Like Sochi 2014’s fast-track construction projects, he said Rio’s Olympic projects could move to three shifts.
"If need be, this will be done."
On Deodoro, the delay-hit second Olympic Park where eight sports will be staged, Dubi said he was reassured to hear from Rio’s mayor that construction had started before the end of the World Cup.
"Deodoro will be a fantastic new area for the Games," he emphasized.
Dubi will be part of an IOC delegation traveling to Rio next week to evaluate the first Rio 2016 test event, an ISF sailing regatta.
Reported by Mark Bisson
Homepage photo: Getty Images
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