IOC President Salutes Croatia, Explains Rio Questions

(ATR) IOC President Thomas Bach says he means no slight to the Paralympics or Rio police over his cancelled plans to attend the opening of the Games Sep. 7.

Bach spoke at a press conference in Zagreb, Croatia Saturday where he explained the scheduling conflicts that have kept him from the Paralympics.

While he originally planned to go to Rio de Janeiro for the opening ceremony, the state funeral for former West German President Walter Scheel was scheduled for the same day. Bach called Scheel a "great friend" for 40 years and said "human reasons prevailed" in his decision.

"I know that this is exaggerated in the press because, supposedly, I am the first president of the IOC in 32 years has not attended the opening of the Paralympic Games," said Bach.

Explaining further the difficulties of the schedule of an IOC president, Bach said his visit to Croatia, meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the NOC, was rescheduled from June. He had to cancel that trip to attend the funeral of Muhammad Ali in the U.S.

Bach also noted that his absence has nothing to do with the police inquiry in Rio de Janeiro over sales of tickets allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland. IOC member from Ireland and OCI President Patrick Hickey is not allowed to leave Brazil pending a possible trial. Last week Brazilian investigators said they wanted to speak to Bach but said they do not regard him as a suspect.

"Hickey is innocent until he is proven guilty, and I as president of the IOC have not received any official invitation of the Brazilian government," said the IOC leader.

Since his arrest in Brazil, Hickey has temporarily resigned his OCI and IOC positions.

Bach began his visit to Zagreb with a meeting with Croatia President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and with members of the Croatian team from the Rio Olympics which won 10 medals, including five gold.

"President Grabar-Kitarovic told me this morning she said that Croatia is a small country, people with a great heart, and I would add you're a small country of great athletes, because of that heart," Bach said.

Bach professed surprise at the realization that the day was also the third anniversary of his election as IOC president. This was his first visit to Croatia in that capacity.

The IOC president heads to New York this week for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly.

Written by Ed Hula.