IOC Session Begins Milestone Debate

(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach opens the Sochi IOC Session today that will help shape the future of the Olympic Movement.

Around the Rings is told that 107 IOC members and sports federation leaders are attending the 126th IOC Session, which Bach says is "a great opportunity to look to the future of the Olympic Movement as we prepare our strategic roadmap, the Olympic Agenda 2020".

Five members are excused, the IOC not giving reasons: Kun-Hee Lee; Princess Haya Al Hussein, Saku Koivu, Mounir Sabet and Randhir Singh.

"I hope it will be lively and that we will have many contributions by as many members as possible," Bach said earlier this week.

At last night’s Session opening ceremony, Bach set out why he started his "dialogue for change" so soon after succeeding Jacques Rogge as IOC president.

First, because he promised it in his election program. Second, "because it is always better to make changes when an organization is successful rather than when it is in a crisis".

The debate over the next one-and-a-half days will focus on themes including: athletes; universality, diversity; Olympism; ethics-governance; and uniqueness of the Games.

It will build on the IOC Executive Board’s unprecedented four-day brainstorming meeting in Montreux in December and Bach’s discussions with government leads, IF and NOC presidents.

"We should not expect any immediate decisions," Bach said in his speech last night.

"First we want to have an open, transparent discussion about the future of the Olympic Movement. We want to collect even more ideas and positions.

"After this, Olympic Winter Games working groups and commissions, including representatives of our stakeholders, will have the task of transforming all these debates into recommendations for decisions."

Bach said decisions would be made at the Extraordinary IOC Session Dec. 7-9 in Monaco, which would establish the Olympic Agenda 2020.

Speaking about sustainability, Bach said the Session will address questions about restructuring the bidding procedure "by giving more room for creativity and diversity to the candidate cities, by focusing more on sustainability and legacy from the very beginning".

Asked by Around the Rings at his press conference Tuesday if the ban on IOC members visiting bid cities would be discussed and if he welcomed such a move, Bach said the IOC’s attitude to the bid procedure had to change.

"We have to see what the IOC members are thinking of this," he said. "If it helps to make a judgement then you can have visits. I am absolutely open and neutral… it depends on the system established then we see what is best for the procedure."

Bach

said this week the composition of the sports program, the management, the cost and the legacy of the Olympic Games would be debated.

He said credibility of sports competitions and sport organizations was "extremely important for our future".

"The fight for the clean athletes - this should be our motto in the Olympic Agenda 2020. Fighting for the clean athletes means we have to protect them from doping, any kind of manipulation and related corruption," he said last night.

The IOC Session will also consider growing the attraction of the Olympics to a younger audience.

"We have to consider how we can convince the youth of the world not only to watch, but to play sport. We have to find ways to get the "couch-potatoes" off the couch," he said.

Speaking about the goals of the IOC Session earlier this week, Bach told a press conference that the Olympic Charter was not cast in stone.

"We have to adapt to modern times and if change or amendments of the charter are needed I am sure IOC members will be ready to vote for these kind of amends," he said.

"First of all we have to discuss the issues and substance and see how this can be addressed legally."

Bach admitted the IOC’s seven-year rule for sports bidding to get on the Olympic program was "more or less obsolete".

The German has talked in his election manifesto about refreshing the program and is open to the possibility of adding more sports, events and disciplines.

"I personally would be very much in favor," said Bach. "The seven-year rule is more or less obsolete. If the IOC, organizing committees and international federations agree then the seven-year rule must not be applied.

Around the Rings spoke to baseball and softball leaders Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter at the Session opening ceremony last night. Following their unsuccessful joint bid for inclusion in the 2020 and 2024 Games, both expressed hope that the sports might be offered another chance to get onto the 2020 Games program.

It will be a long day for IOC members. The IOC Session debate is not scheduled to finish before 7:00 PM tonight. A press conference with IOC communications director Mark Adams follows.

Discussions will wrap up Thursday morning, with a set of recommendations expected. The afternoon is devoted to reports from the IOC coordination commissions and OCOGs.

The IOC president will host a dinner Thursday evening. On Friday he will attend a press conference at the Main Press Centre at 2:00 PM.

Written by Mark Bisson.

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