Montreux, Dec 14, 2013: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concluded a four-day brainstorming seminar today in Montreux, Switzerland, where discussions were led by IOC President Thomas Bach and centred on key issues pertinent to the future of the Olympic Movement.
The ideas generated at the meeting will form the basis of the Olympic Agenda 2020, a roadmap for the Olympic Movement under Thomas Bach’s presidency that is expected to be finalised by the end of 2014. The ideas and proposals generated will be discussed by the full Session of the IOC in Sochi, and those selected will then be taken forward in working groups, which will present concrete proposals later in the year.
The seminar was the start of a dialogue promised by the President during his campaign for election, and focused on the themes outlined in his electoral programme in addition to the ideas and comments of the five other presidential candidates, with whom President Bach held separate discussions in September and October. Ideas also came from other IOC members and the broader Olympic family.
Discussions centred on five main themes: The Uniqueness of the Games; Athletes at the Heart of the Olympic Movement; Olympism in Action; The IOC’s Role; and The Structure and Organisation of the IOC. The outcomes will form part of a wider debate at the Session in Sochi, but the successful discussions have already led to a number of decisions indicating the broad agreement on the future strategic direction. The decisions included:
Protecting Clean Athletes
• To fund new research into anti-doping, in particular into new techniques for the detection of prohibited substances and methods, with an initial budget of USD 10 million. The IOC invites world governments represented in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to match this amount.
• An increase in support to protect clean athletes from any manipulation or related corruption was also approved. The Executive Board created a fund of USD 10 million. It also approved the setting up of an Olympic Movement monitoring tool to collate alerts and information on manipulation through betting. The “Integrity Betting, Intelligence System” (IBIS) will collate and distribute intelligence and research from International Federations. It was also announced that the IOC would sign a memorandum of understanding with Interpol at the beginning of next year.
Sustainability
• The Executive Board discussed issues with regard to the sustainability of the Olympic Games from the bidding procedure to the Programme of the Games, Games Management and finally the Legacy of the Games. These issues will be further addressed at the Session in Sochi and subsequent working groups. But the Executive Board already took two decisions in this respect.
1. Establishing a working group on cost management for the Olympic Games to facilitate further discussions
2. To encourage the cities with bids already underway for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games to make the broadest possible use of temporary and/or dismountable facilities.
Youth Olympic Games
• Some new sports and disciplines not currently on the Olympic Programme will be showcased at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014. (Sport Climbing, Roller Sports and Skateboarding as well as Wushu which was already planned)
Olympic TV Channel
• The Executive Board agreed to a feasibility study for an Olympic TV Channel by OBS
IOC Membership
• Regulations of the Nominations Commission will be changed with a view to have more transparency in the candidacy of IOC Members
Following the 126th IOC Session in Sochi, working groups including representatives of stakeholders will be established to translate the discussion into concrete recommendations. This Olympic Agenda 2020 will then be presented for final approval to an IOC Extraordinary Session to be held on 6 and 7 December 2014 in Monaco. —- IOC
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