Bach Sets Meeting With Brazil President

(ATR) Thomas Bach will meet Brazil president Dilma Rousseff on Friday to seek assurances about Rio 2016 preparations.

Following a three-day executive board meeting in Lausanne, Bach is flying to Rio with Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli and senior IOC executives on Wednesday night. Also on board the plane will be Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman, who was in Lausanne for 24 hours to update the EB on the city’s Olympic progress.

Bach said he would be meeting with Rio 2016 officials on Thursday and Rousseff on Friday.

Last night, the German watched his country’s annihilation of Brazil in the World Cup semi-final with Nuzman and IOC members at the Palace Hotel in Lausanne.

Speaking to a press conference that wrapped up the IOC EB meeting, he said "watching the match together was also an expression of sportsmanship and fair play. We both appreciated this very much."

Bach denied that the goodwill built up about the World Cup following Brazil’s progress to the semi-finals would be eroded by the humiliating defeat to Germany.

"I can fully understand, in Brazil, there will be this day of mourning. But the Brazilians are optimistic people. They know that after each defeat, there is a new victory waiting for you, and I am sure they will grasp this opportunity," he said.

He suggested the mostly smooth running of the World Cup bodes well for the staging of the Olympics, citing figures from Rio 2016 which apparently show the "positive attitude of the Brazilian population with regards to the World Cup and Olympics."

"We are very happy with this result and happy that many of the concerns which were mentioned before this World Cup [mass anti-government demonstrations] did not turn into a reality," Bach told reporters.

He noted the progress on the Rio 2016 project since the outpouring of concerns at a joint IOC/ASOIF meeting in April, saying there was now "dynamism in the preparations," particularly from the city, mayor and state governor, which had spurred progress on the venues. Work on the delayed Deodoro Olympic Park began last week.

The IOC has to "stay vigilant," he said, adding "there is still no time to lose. But you really feel the determination and enthusiasm from the organizing committee and their partners."

Bach said the challenge for Rio 2016 was is in delivery and testing of the Olympic venues. "It’s now about the venues first of all ... we [need to] keep this dynamism that the venues are getting ready in time. In time that means for the test events."

"Then we will have to evaluate these test events. I think this is the major issue to address now… to be in time, to respect the schedule for the venues, and to do so in close cooperation with our coordination commission but also with the international federations," he said.

While there was no accredited anti-doping lab in Brazil for the FIFA World Cup, Bach said he was confident one would be ready for the Olympics.

He also said Felli would be staying on a few days in Brazil to speak with authorities to discuss if and how the IOC needed to adapt its ticketing regulations for the 2016 Games to fit with the legislation of the host country.

IOC Brainstorms Olympic Agenda 2020

The IOC executive board heads to a Montreux retreat in October to finalize the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations set to be voted on in December.

IOC president Thomas Bach revealed to a press conference Wednesday that the brainstorming session would take place "to concentrate fully on Olympic Agenda 2020."

"This October meeting will have the task to prepare the recommendations for the IOC Session in Monte Carlo," he said.

IOC members at the meeting will review the recommendations made by 14 working groups and make decisions that will bring a raft of changes to the IOC and Olympic Movement.

Around the Rings is told the brainstorming session will take place Oct. 22-24.

Bach convened a similar brainstorming session in the Swiss resort last December to discuss initial proposals to revamp the IOC and Olympic Games.

"There are many ideas and many projects being discussed right now, and I’m sure that if this gets improved, it will not fail to have an effect on future organizers and bidders for the Olympic Games," Bach said, referring to the efforts of 14 working groups as part of Olympic Agenda 2020.

In December, the formalized ideas of the working groups will be presented to the IOC Extraordinary Session in Monaco for approval.

"The Olympic Agenda 2020 is about changing some major issues in the Olympic Movement and this ranges from the bidding procedure to the composition of the program and to more sustainability for the Games," Bach added.

Olympic TV Channel, Sponsors

Bach is serving as chairman of one of the fourteen working groups – the Olympic TV Channel.

"There is more and more input coming, not only with the IOC members, but also the major stakeholders. We have consulted the sponsors. We have consulted the broadcasters," Bach said of the progress towards launching the Olympic TV Channel.

The IOC chief also responded to how the potential changes resulting from Olympic Agenda 2020 might affect commercial revenues and current top IOC sponsors.

"We are very happy with their support and the input they are giving, not only financially, but also with regard to the promotion of the Olympic values," Bach said.

"Our TOP sponsors are making very thoughtful and good submissions and this we appreciate."

Bach expressed satisfaction that there are numerous willing entities cooperating to transform Olympic Agenda 2020 into tangible, sustainable results.

"Everybody is looking to make a contribution and this creates a very positive attitude for change," Bach said enthusiastically.

"I hope we can maintain this momentum until December and that the vote will reflect this momentum of change for the Olympic movement."

Written by Mark Bisson and Brian Pinelli

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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