IOC Latest - Kuwait Banned for Rio 2016; 2024 Bids Update

(ATR) Kuwait is likely to be suspended from the Olympics after the government failed to strike a deal with the IOC after months-long row over its sports law.

The Kuwait NOC was banned on Oct. 27 following the government’s failure to amend the law to comply with the Olympic Charter. Despite meetings between the Kuwait government, UN officials and the IOC in January, relations have deteriorated and no deal has been brokered.

"Since the last executive board meeting there has been no positive development because of the attitude of the government," IOC communications director Mark Adams told a press conference.

"It shows no signs of wanting to remedy the situation and instead is continuing various court actions. In these circumstances it is unlikely the situation will be resolved before the Games in Rio. We believe that Kuwait will remain suspended."

The IOC board decided today to "exceptionally authorize the qualified athletes to take part in Rio". They would compete as independent athletes under the Olympic flag.

Adams said the IOC had spent some time negotiating an outline settlement but Kuwait declined to accept.

But the IOC is holding out an olive branch for Kuwait.

"Should they come back we would welcome it. We are very happy to put that back on the table. We are always ready to discuss. Our main interest is to make sure the athletes take part," he said of the deal announced for Kuwait athletes.

"It’s pre-emptive. Hopefully it won’t be necessary. But in the current state given two months to go it’s very likely," Adams said.

Organising Committees Report

On Thursday, the IOC executive board received updates from the organizers of the next four Olympics in Rio, PyeongChang, Tokyo and Beijing

Assurances were given by Rio 2016 leaders that the Zika virus was not a major health risk. The IOC confirmed that the training session doubling as a test event for the velodrome would go ahead as planned on June 25-26.

2024 Bids Advance to Phase 2

Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome were transitioned to the second stage of the bidding process today.

"No significant issues were flagged at this stage that would merit not supporting the advancement of particular city to the next stage," the IOC communications chief told the media briefing.

"As a result the executive board confirmed that all four cities for 2024 should advance to stage two of the candidature process."

Frank Fredericks, chair of the IOC’s 2024 evaluation commission, updated the board "highlighting each city’s main opportunities and challenges".

"To allow the cities to course-correct what they are doing and not to exploit each others’ problems and challenges, we will keep that confidential," Adams said.

He said the four candidates were the "first cities to receive the full benefits of [Agenda 2020] changes", noting that concept was focused on sustainability and legacy, reducing venue costs and flexibility.

Olympic Channel Launch

The IOC is set to reveal the launch date for the Olympic Channel later this month. Adams said progress was being made and the channel had more than 70 people from 21 nationalities working in Madrid. The launch date, not expected before Rio, would come in the "next weeks".

Tokyo Bid Payments Scandal

The IOC and Tokyo Olympic president Yoshiro Mori confirmed that the 2020 vote-buying allegations were not discussed during the EB meeting on Thursday. "Not at all," Mori told reporters.

Around the Rings spoke to the under-pressure Japanese IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda, the former Tokyo 2020 bid chief who has admitted knowledge of the payments totaling $2 million to Singaporean company Black Tidings. He has said they were legitimate consulting fees and fully audited.

Takeda told ATR he met with IOC president Thomas Bach on Wednesday in Lausanne and explained "how the current situation is". He declined to elaborate.

French prosecutors are investigating the payments as part of a wider probe into the disgraced former IAAF president Lamine Diack and his son Papa Diack. A Japanese investigation into the bid vote-buying allegations could be completed in the next three to four weeks.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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