The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board concluded a four-day brainstorming seminar today in Montreux, Switzerland, where discussions were led by IOC President Thomas Bach and centered 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 road map for the Olympic Movement under Thomas Bach’s presidency that is expected to be finalized by the end of 2014. The ideas and proposals generated will be discussed by the full Session of the IOC in Sochi, Russia, 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 Bach during his campaign for election, and focused on the themes outlined in his electoral program, in addition to the ideas and comments of the five other presidential candidates, with whom Bach held separate discussions in September and October. Ideas also came from other IOC members and the broader Olympic family.
Discussions centered 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 Organization 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 $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 $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 Program 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.
- Establishing a working group on cost management for the Olympic Games to facilitate further discussions; and
- Encouraging 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 Program 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 Dec. 6-7, 2014 in Monaco.
This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at ISMG@aol.com. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.