Milan IOC Session Set to Be Moved

(ATR) International Olympic Committee communications director Mark Adams confirms thatif Italy’s bid for the 2026 Winter Games is added to the shortlist of candidates on Monday, the 2019 IOC Session will need to be moved.

"If an Italian candidacy were to go ahead then the Milan Session would not happen in Milan," Adams said, answering a question posed byAround the Rings."Let’s wait for the Session to see if they are accepted as a candidate."

The Olympic Charterprohibits a country bidding for the games from hosting the IOC Session where the vote will be taken. Milan was chosen last year as the host for the 2019 IOC Session, even though there was talk the city could be part of a 2026 Winter Olympic bid. It now appears that a bid from Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, with Turin also hosting events, will materialize.

It appears likely that voting for the 2026 Gameswould be moved up to next July in Lausanne when the membership meets to review the technical aspects of the bids that move on to the final stage of the process.

Adams addressed media after day one of the IOC Executive Board meeting in Buenos Aires preceding the opening of the Youth Olympic Games in the Argentine capital this Saturday.

Besidesexpressing the IOC’s "ongoing extreme concern with the grave situation" regarding the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and its current governance, Adams reviewed the wide-ranging topics and issues discussed by president Thomas Bach and the IOC Executive Board members.

Adams said there has been no changeregarding the IOC freezing payments to the embattled International Biathlon Union (IBU) in the wake of a doping cover-upand bribery scandal that forced former presidentAndersBesseberg to step down.OlleDahlin was elected new IBU president in early September.

"Direct financial payments will not resume until changes are made to the IOC’s satisfaction," Adams said."It’s a matter of meeting and discussing with the new president and finding out if we’re happy with the new situation."

He also revealed that there was a discussion surroundingWADA’s controversial decision to reinstate Russia’s anti-doping lab RUSADA last week despite protestfromathletes andnational anti-doping authorities.

"The IOC follows the recommendation of the independent WADA compliance review committee," Adams advised.

The IOC spokesperson also revealed that an IOC high-level advisory board on human rights is being confirmed. He said it should be finalized at the upcoming December executive board meeting in Tokyo.

Adams confirmedthat Senegalis poised to be named as a single candidate to hostthe next edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2022. Senegal hosting the YOG willmarkthe first time that an African nation willhost a global multi-sport Games along with the IOC.

Adams also highlighted the upcoming inauguralOlympism in Action Forum this Friday and Saturday in Buenos Aires, where critics of the IOC have been invited to speak their mind.

"Sixteen-hundred participants from the Olympic movement and civil society will take part in theOlympism in Action Forum, including critics of the IOC," Adams said. "There should be some interesting conversation about the future of sport."

Providingtime for IOC members to thoroughly assess the results and content which comes out of the Forum, the IOC Session in Buenos Aires is scheduled for October 8-9, following the opening of the YOG on Saturday.

The IOC will conclude the two-day executive board meeting on Thursday with President Bach addressing the media at 2 p.m. local time.

Written by Brian Pinelli in Buenos Aires

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