(ATR) The EOC has restated that Russia remains the preferred bidder for the Games, despite new allegations about a state-supported doping cover-up at the Sochi 2014 Olympics.
The European Olympic Committees led by Pat Hickey met Thursday before today’s EOC Seminar in Tarragona, Spain.
Around the Rings is told that the EOC executive committee discussed Russia’s European Games bid and agreed to maintain its position set at SportAccord last month. The current stance therefore represents no change from the decision taken at the EOC general assembly in November to make Russia the preferred host.
Sochi and Kazan are still the current choice of the EOC to co-host the second edition of the multisport event in 2019.
The EOC, however, said in April it was in talks with other potential bids for the Games "as a matter of good governance and risk management". The final decision is linked to whether the IAAF and IOC decide to lift the suspension of Russian athletics on June 17.
Pierce O'Callaghan, the EOC’s European Games senior consultant, is tasked with advising Hickey and the European Olympics ruling body on the matter. He is thought to be in contact with the Russian Olympic Committee as well as other NOCs as part of the EOC’s back-up plan.
On the sidelines of SportAccord last month, Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told reporters including ATR that "Russia has never sent an application to host the European Games." He said "Russia is absolutely busy until 2020", comments which appeared to throw Russia’s preferred hosting status into doubt before the EOC moved to clarify that nothing had changed.
WADA is investigating the allegations of state-sponsored doping at the Sochi 2014 Games following revelations in the New York Times by Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory, and whistleblower Vitaly Stepanov. Among their claims are that tainted urine samples were switched for clean ones.
IOC president Thomas Bach attempted to regain the initiative in the fight against doping on Wednesday, declaring that entire Russian sports federations could be dished out along with lifelong bans for "any implicated person" if the allegations of state-sponsored doping at the Sochi 2014 Games were proven.
Bach was asked if the Russian Olympic Committee might be banned but refused to speculate "because there comes a decision we have to make between collective responsibility and individual justice".
Hickey, who had lunch with the King of Spain on Thursday, left Tarragona last night to attend the German NOC’s (DOSB) 10th anniversary celebrations. Bach and German chancellor Angela Merkel were also among dignitaries present.
Delegates at Friday’s EOC Seminar hosted by the Spanish NOC and its president Alejandro Blanco were updated on Rio 2016 preparations among a range of other issues. IOC and Rio Olympic officials reported. Updates also came from WADA and ANOC representatives.
The first Piotr Nurowski Prize for winter sports will be awarded at the EOC Seminar, which concludes Saturday lunchtime. The prize, named after the late Polish NOC president, was launched in 2011 for summer sports, and has now been extended to include winter sports.
One of five nominees will become the Best Young European athlete for winter sports at the annual seminar.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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