Row Erupts Over European Games Plan

(ATR) European Olympic Committees president Patrick Hickey tells Around the Rings suggestions by the summer Olympic federations that his European Games plan is dead in the water is "complete nonsense".

"We will not be dictated to by the international federations," Hickey told ATR onTuesday.

"I am not interested in the ramblings of Denis Oswald in front of members of ASOIF. I met with him in Lausanne last month and he didn't express that opinion."

Hickey was reacting to criticism of the multi-sport proposal that came at the general assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) in London last week. Oswald is the ASOIF president.

ASOIF members have dismissed the games plan, claiming there is not enough space in Europe's busy sporting calendar to accommodate an event the size of the continental games. There are also concerns over the potential cost burden to sports federations.

Europe is the only continent that does not have its own games.

Hickey said 47 of Europe’s 49 national Olympic committees have supported the EOC's drive to pursue further studies into launching the event. The results of a survey of the NOCs revealed their overwhelming backing for the project. Only Norway and Sweden opposed the idea.

"We are not dealing with ASOIF, we are dealing with the European federations. They are the ones who control their sports in Europe," Hickey said.

The IOC member from Ireland added that some people were jumping the gun in criticizing a proposal that is still at the feasibility stage.

Following the backing of the NOCs, consultants at Deloitte were commissioned just a few weeks ago to provide an independent assessment of whether a continental games is viable. Hickey metwith Deloitte officials on the sidelines of SportAccord last week to discuss the study's progress.

"We have no preconceptions, we need to get answers... if this is not going to work because the calendar is too cluttered or there are some other obstacles," Hickey said.

"They will tell us if this is possible or not. If they say no, we will forget about it. If yes, it will go before the EOC general assembly in Sochi in November."

"But we are going to determine this ourselves, not by other people."

IOC president Jacques Rogge, who was behind the launch of the European Youth Olympic Festival when he was headof the EOC, has offered support to Hickey in his attempts to get a European Games off the ground.

Speaking to ATR after ASOIF's general assembly, Oswald claimed the European Games plan was a "non-starter" due to the crowded sporting calendar on the continent. For most federations, contributing additional time, finances and technical staff to preparations for a regional games was a major issue, he added.

"Our first concern is for the athletes. In Europe there are so many competitions. We should not push the athletes to do any more," Oswald said.

However, the lure of TV rights and sponsorship revenues from the games may encourage European federations to find a way to participate. The EOC has previously indicated to ATR that major multinational companies have expressed interest in sponsoring a European Games.

The results of Deloitte's feasibility study, which will decide the future of the European Games plan, are expected to be made public within three months.

A report on the initiative will be presented to EOC delegates at its general assembly in Sochi, the 2014 Winter Olympic host city, in November.

Written by Mark Bisson