IOC President Wants More Funding for Athletes -- On the Scene

IOC president Thomas Bach says today’s athletes need more assistance than ever to win an Olympic medal.

Bach made the comments Monday as part of his opening address to the Olympic Solidarity commission meeting in Kuwait City. Olympic Solidarity funds national Olympic committees and athletes worldwide through the IOC’s television and marketing revenues.

In recent years, winning medals has become more difficult, the German acknowledged.

"It’s not enough just to have a good coach," Bach said.

"Nowadays, to win a medal you need much more human resources" he said, listing a series of aids athletes need, ranging from sport science to nutrition.

Chief among the needs, Bach said, were "much more financial resources."

"We hope to address this issue with Olympic Solidarity."

Possible 2015 Date for First Beach Games

ANOC vice president Patrick Hickey says 2015 would be an ideal year for the inaugural ANOC Beach Games, but no decision has been made.

"Many dates werediscussed," said the IOC Executive Board member and head of the European Olympic Committees.

Hickey is a member of ANOC’s new events commission, which met on March 29 in Kuwait City.

"Several avenues are being explored" he said of the Games’ future. The commission explored several ideas for a host and format as well.

"Three or four fairly well-known cities" have already expressed interest in the Beach Games, Hickey said, and he expects more to come soon.

SportAccord, the umbrella organization for international sports federations, has also been trying to organize a Beach Games in 2015.

It remains unclear if SportAccord is now collaborating with Sheikh Ahmad's organization to organize ANOC's first multisport event.

SportAccord director general Vlad Marinescu declined to comment.

ANOC’s other new event—an award gala—will make its debut during the ANOC General Assembly in Bangkok this November.

The exact awards are still being worked out, but Hickey said best male and female athletes from the London and Sochi Games will be honored, as will the best NOC, best contributor to an NOC and a hall-of-fame style award.

"Athletes will have pride of place" Hickey said of the ceremony. "We’ll all be proud of it."

Mexico Out of 2024

Mexico will not bid for the 2024 Olympics.

Felipe Munoz, former Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) president tells Around the Rings, the committee rejected a government inquiry to study a bid.

Munoz, a member of the ANOC Executive Committee said the country might bid for a 2028 Olympics.

Reports surfaced last week that the government wanted to bid for the 2024 Games.

Written by Ed Hula III

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