(ATR) For the fourth time since launching the Olympic Agenda 2020 reform process, IOC president Thomas Bach has summonedtogetherleaders of the Olympic Movement to a summit in Lausanne.
The fourth Olympic Summit took place at the IOC headquarters October 17.
The gathering of sport leaders included IOC vice-presidents and executive board members, international federation presidents, NOC presidents, and association leaders.
Four major topics of interest drew particular focus: protecting the clean athletes, good governance and autonomy, The Olympic Channel and the new Olympic Games Candidature procedure.
The participants came up with a number of recommendations and then fully backed the next steps for their implementation leading up to and including 2016.
"This fourth Olympic Summit shows the unity of the Olympic Movement behind the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms," Bach said. "We cannot overstate the importance of good governance, which leads to credibility.
"We need credibility for our sports organizations as well as for our sports competitions.
"With regard to the credibility of sport and the protection of clean athletes, the Summit has taken a major step forward to making anti-doping independent from sports organizations."
Protecting the Clean Athletes
The Summit requested the World Anti-Doping Associations (WADA) to study taking over the responsibility for performance enhancement drug testing as the global center of competence in anti-doping.
The study is to be undertaken by a working group established by WADA and comprising stakeholders of the Olympic Movement along with government representatives.
Also acting in the protection of athletes, all Olympic international federations have signed up for IBIS, the IOC-managed intelligence system on illegal betting, manipulation and corruption in sport.
Good Governance and Autonomy
The Summit also stressed the importance of good governance in sport and autonomy, as outlined in Agenda 2020.
Acknowledging the significant progress already being made in various sports organizations, the Summit requested IFs and NOCs to evaluate their individual status of compliance with the standards of the Basic Principles of Good Governance (PGG) in sport, and as necessary, take appropriate action to ensure full compliance.
Additionally, the Summit emphasized the necessity of the autonomy of sport, as recognized by the United Nations, to ensure the worldwide application of the laws of sport equally across the world.
The Summit granted the Autonomy Task Force the right to directly address Olympic Movement stakeholders in cases of the violation of autonomy to ensure the best and broadest application of sanctions.
Olympic Channel Update
In regards to developments with the Olympic Channel, details were provided including the appointments of key management personnel and cooperation between the Olympic Channel staff and key stakeholders such as IFs, NOCs, athletes, OCOGs, rights-holding broadcasters, TOP partners and sports organizations.
It was noted that the Olympic Channel will be digital and available on all screens and devices. The channel will target a global audience 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and particularly the youth through social media. A launch date will be determined once technology and content preparations are fully complete.
New Candidate Procedure
Participants noted the great success of the newly implemented candidature process established by Agenda 2020. Five cities are currently participating in the candidature procedure for the 2024 Olympics: Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angles, Paris and Rome.
The summit noted that all candidates had credited Olympic Agenda 2020 as a significant factor in their decisions to submit bids.
Members of the summit agreed that support from all major constituents of the Olympic Movement, Olympic IFs and NOCs, are key factors for a successful invitation phase, in addition to staging the Olympic Games.
Members of the fourth Olympic Summit included Bach and IOC vice presidents Nawal El-Moutawakel, Craig Reedie and John Coates. IOC Executive Board members present were Ching-Kuo Wu, Rene Fasel, Patrick Hickey, Claudia Bokel and Ugur Erdener.
Representing the IFs were Bruno Grandi (FIG), Julio César Maglione and Isaa Hayatou (FIFA). NOC presidents included Peng Liu (China), Lawrence Probst III (USA) and Alexander Zhukov (Russia).
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (ANOC), Francesco Ricci Bitti (ASOIF) and Gian-Franco Kasper (AIOWF) were also in attendance in Lausanne.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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