IOC Executive Board takes a number of far-reach decisions for the future of Olympic Games
Changes to the event programme and the athlete quotas for Tokyo 2020, the 2024/2028 Candidature Processess and and the principles of the candidature process for the 2026 Olymic Winter Games were among the decisions made by the IOC Executive Board (EB) during its meeting in Lausanne on Friday 9 June.
The changes to the event programe and athlete quotas for Tokyo 2020 will make the Games more youthful, more urban and will increase female particpation. By reducing the overall number of athletes, the EB also reduced the Games’ footprint. The full programme of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games can be found here.
The overall composition of the sports programme for the 2024 Olympic Games was also approved with it decided to include all 28 sports on the programme at Rio 2016. The inclusion of weightlifitng, it was decided, would be dependent on the International Weightlifting Federation demonstrating that it had addressed the doping problem facing the sport.
In regards to the 2024/2028 Candidature Process, the IOC Vice-Presidents presented their recommendations and it was approved that, given the excellence of the two Candidate Cities for 2024 and their compliance with Olympic Agenda 2020, there should be a joint award of the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games. The existing legal and procedural frameworks would allow for such a decision. This proposal will now need to be approved by an IOC Extraordinary Session which will take place on the occasion of the 2024 Candidate City Briefing.
The IOC EB also approved the principles of the candidature process for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, presented by the IOC Vice-Presidents. Building on the changes set out in Olympic Agenda 2020 and to respond to an ever-changing enviornment, the proposal aims to significantly reduce bid costs; increase involvement of IOC Members; increase flexibility and tailor to the needs of a city/region; and position the IOC as a proactive and supportive partner of cities.
In regards to good governance, the EB approved the Rules for the Application during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 of Articles 7, 9 and 10 of the Code of Ethics and of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions. The EB also received an update on the main activites being carried out to protect clean athletes.
