On the Scene - IOC Reserves Grow, Beijing Criticisms, London Reports

Rogge Says IOC Reserves Grow, Despite Recession

During his traditional IOC presidential report to the IOC Session, Jacques Rogge said the IOC is healthy.

Rogge proclaimed an increase in the IOC reserves, investments, revenues, and its ability to not cut funding for NOCs and International Federations—despite the economic downturn, as proof of the strength of the IOC.

He told members that IOC reserves have grown from $105 million in 2001 to $422 million at the end of 2008.

“Two major sports are knocking at the door” Rogge noted about the possible addition of golf and rugby to the 2016 Olympics, but urged some caution as the Games grow again.

“We must resist the temptation for over complex Games,” he said.

Rogge indicated no change from an agreement struck earlier this year with the IOC and USOC to review the revenue sharing deal. The USOC and IOC agreed that the former would help pay costs related to organizing Games and in 2013, the two will review the program for 2020 and beyond.

Currently, the USOC receives nearly 13% of all T.V. revenue and 20% of TOP Sponsor revenues.

The agreement was reached in the late 90s and “the Olympic family feels this no longer represents…reality” Rogge said..

He said reports from all five coordination commission chairs indicate preparations for the Games are “going well”.

“We owe it to the athletes to stage impeccable Games” Rogge said.

The IOC must “preserve the ability” for Olympics to inspire the youth of the world Rogge said. He said he is confident the Games are doing that when looking at the revenue and broadcasting of the Olympics.

Rogge thanked the “very competent” staff of the IOC who he said were imperative to the success of the Olympics, and promoting Olympic values. He reminded everyone promoting those values “is where the heart of our mission lies.”

Final Report for Beijing

Beijing 2008 gave its final report to the IOC, concluding its presentation with the slogan, "Beijing: Once an Olympic City, Always an Olympic city."

Wang Wei, secretary general of the Beijing organizing committee, reported a surplus of $167 million against $3.015 billion in total revenue.

Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, sent his regrets.

Wang said it was an Olympiad "where miracles were created, dreams fulfilled," and athletes performed their best in the Olympic spirit.

The new Beijing Olympic Development Association will manage the surplus from the Games.

Post-Games Beijing, according to the Olympic organizers, is now a cleaner and more beautiful city with more convenient public transport and sustained economic growth. It still enjoys the spirit of Olympic volunteerism and Olympic education continues. Beijing is also "more civilized, more open, more harmonious" while utilizing the Olympic venues and carrying on the Olympic legacy.

Hein Verbruggen, the chairman of the Evaluation Commission which assessed Beijing in its candidature phase, and then the Coordination Commission, said the 2008 Games were "a force for good and a catalyst for change in China.

"The decision to award the Games to Beijing has proven to be the right choice," he said. "The world's most populous nation deserved the right to host. and they did it magnificently. The Games have come out of the Beijing experience stronger than ever, xei xei (thank you) China, xei xei Beijing."

Beijing Lessons Learned

While Verbruggen praised the Chinese people for their friendship and hospitality and the BOCOG staff for excellence and Games organization, he noted areas that could have been improved, including the level of integration between all Games functions and the organizing committee.

"The decision process at venue level often proved long and tedious," he said.

Ensuring a festive atmosphere in some areas proved challenging, particularly on the Olympic Green, where Verbruggen said "more people should have been welcomed and more activities planned."

He said security needs to be correctly balanced with public participation "so as not to dampen the party mood."

Protests along the International Torch Relay route were a misuse of Games symbols and the Olympic image, Verbruggen said. The IOC has said that International torch relays will no longer be held.

"The torch relay painfully reminded us that our Olympic values can be misused," Verbruggen said. "The risk of seeing our images and values exposed in such a way is very real and it could happen at any edition of these Games."

He said the Olympic brand can sometimes be tainted by "wrongly targeted campaigns or demonstrations," but it is strong and resilient and "ultimately came out of these Games reinforced."

Regarding criticism of the IOC on human rights issues, Verbruggen argued that the Beijing Games elevated international dialogue.

"Although we care very much for the ills of the world, we must be realistic. Our influence lies in areas of sport and Olympic Games."

Frustration over lack of tickets at venues that were then shown on television to have empty seats were another problem.

Verbruggen said that may have been due to a lack of interest among Chinese fans when Chinese athletes were no longer competing.

Inconsistency in the quality of presentation across different sports and venues proved another issue.

Tough Act to Follow

Verbruggen warned subsequent Summer Olympic hosts about trying to match Beijing in scope and grandeur.

"Other hosts should be looking at making their Games unique, inspirational and contributing in their own way to the Olympic vision," he said. "Many aspects of the 2008 Games may remain unmatched, and so be it."

London Report

London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe told IOC members that “we are delivering the Games we promised” in his report to the IOC Session.

Coe noted the extensive work taking place across the East London site of the Olympic Park. The work includes remediation of contaminated soils and the removal of high power electric lines that once crisscrossed the venue.

“I am proud that sport and the Games has kicked this off”, said Coe.

With David Bowie’s “We Can Be Heroes for Just One Day” as the soundtrack, Coe showed a video featuring the experience of the handover of the Olympic flag after the 2008 Olympics.

Chief operating officer Paul Deighton reported that Games transport was in the process of being validated and tested. He said all 55,000 rooms needed for the Games are under contract.

More than 40 NOCs have visited LOCOG so far to prepare for the Games, he said.

Decisions on three venues are still pending Coe told the IOC Session: boxing, rhythmic gymnastics and badminton. December is the deadline to sort this out.

Nuzman Returns to Copenhagen

IOC member Carlos Nuzman of Brazil offers thanks to his colleagues for their support of the Rio de Janeiro bid for 2016. Nuzman left Denmark last weekend to return to Rio for celebrations that followed the Brazilian victory.

He said the crowds and their exuberance matched the response to Brazil’s victory in the 2002 World Cup.

“Obrigado” is how he ended his brief remarks from the floor of the IOC Session.

He was congratulated by ex-rivals Juan Antonio Samaranch, Jr of Spain, Chiharu Igaya of Japan and Anita DeFrantz of the U.S.

“We in North America are prepared in any way possible to help Rio de Janeiro prepare fantastic Games for the athletes,” said DeFrantz.

Scoring, Village and Promotion Questions for Singapore YOG

Questions about scoring and opening dates for Olympic Village were raised in the report of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games at the Session.

Kevan Gosper of Australia wanted assurances that attention was being paid to have proper scoring equipment. Chairman of the IOC Press Commission, Gosper also urged YOG organizers to raise the profile of the Games, especially through major news agencies which are located in Singapore.

Pal Schmitt said that organizers should consider opening the YOG Village six days before the games instead of the four now planned,

YOG chairman Ser Miang Ng, also IOC member from Singapore said that scoring was being prepared. He said that opening the village earlier would be considered, but that cost was an issue.

First Innsbruck Winter 2012 YOG Report

Innsbruck made its first IOC Session report Wednesday, introducing a new chief executive and promising the finish of the games village three months before the Games.

Gian Franco Kasper, the chair of the IOC coordination commission for Innsbruck and the president of the International Ski Federation president, called the decision by the IOC to place the inaugural Winter YOG “a lucky one”, given the experience of the Tyrol region of Austria with winter sports.

Kasper will convene the first meeting of the commission later this month in Innsbruck.

Written by Ed Hula, Karen Rosen and Ed Hula III.