IOC Elated by UN Resolution on Sport Autonomy

(ATR) The IOC president is "very happy" about a recent resolution adopted by the United Nations recognizing the autonomy of sport.

Thomas Bach said it’s the first time the UN has made this acknowledgement.

"This is very much important for the IOC, for the international federations, for the NOCs remembering the many discussions we had in the past regarding this issue," Bach tells Around the Rings.

The resolution was adopted at the 69th regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York. According to the document, the general assembly "supports the independence and autonomy of sport as well as the mission of the IOC in leading the Olympic Movement."

Bach said the autonomy will help solve problems in sport in a couple ways.

"First of all, the resolution makes it clear that within this autonomy, it's also implied that participation of the great sports events, where the United Nations are stressing the importance and the promotion of values with regard to big sports events, that also means that you have to participate, that any kind of boycott is going against these values.

"Secondly, this resolution gives the NOCs, national federations, and international federations a very strong reference point in all the discussions and negotiations with governments because this resolution has been adopted by consensus."

The IOC president says a resolution of this kind has been under discussion for awhile.

"Before any big sports event, you can see this discussion taking place," said Bach. "Then I took, last year in November, the opportunity during my speech at the general assembly of the United Nations to put this issue on the table and to request the respect for the responsible autonomy of sport.

"Since then, there have been many conversations on many levels and they were lasting until the last minute before this resolution was tabled, so I'm really very, very happy with this result."

Reported byEd Hula in Lausanne

Written by Nick Devlin

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