On the Scene - Rogge Defends Wrestling Vote, Explains YOG 2018 Decision

(ATR) IOC president Jacques Rogge says wrestling can still save itself from Olympic oblivion but must fight hard to survive.

"We have established a fair process by which the sport not included in the core has the chance to compete with the seven other sports for the slot on the 2020 Games," he said Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference wrapping up the two-day IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Rogge said he was aware of the angry backlash from the global wrestling community following Tuesday’s decision.

"We knew even before the decision was taken that whichever sport was not included in the core program would lead to criticism from the followers of that particular sport," he said.

Rogge said he had contacted Rafael Martinetti, president of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles. The IOC chief is to meet with the FILA leader to discuss the proposal to the IOC Session to vote wrestling out of the 2020 Olympics.

"FILA has reacted well to this disheartening news. They have vowed to adapt the sport and vowed to fight to eventually be included in a 2020 slot."

The Belgian denied there was a conflict of interest in the voting system that knocked out wrestling. Some IOC EB members have strong links to sports federations, with Craig Reedie, C.K. Wu and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. associated with badminton, taekwondo and modern pentathlon, respectively.

Asked for his message to athletes and youngsters around the world involved in wrestling, he said: "Wrestling will participate at Rio 2016. To the athletes who train now I say continue training for your participation at Rio 2016."

Financial Issues for Snubbed 2018 YOG Bids

Rogge confirmed that Buenos Aires, Glasgow and Medellin had been shortlisted in the race for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Guadalajara and Rotterdam were today dropped from the race.

Explaining the decision, he said: "It is true that we spotted potential issues with financial guarantees."

Asked by a Colombian TV presenter why Medellin was sent through to the next phase, Rogge said: "Your file [bid dossier] is a very good file together with the other files [Buenos Aires, Glasgow]."

IOC vice president Thomas Bach had earlier praised the Medellin bid in comments to the TV crew. "I have been there and there is excellent organizational talent in the city," he said. "Overall, they have presented a very good project which received good marks in the evaluation."

No Yellow Card for Rio 2016 – Yet

Around the Rings has learned that Rio 2016 Olympic organizers are experiencing more problems in preparations ahead of the IOC’s Coordination Commission visit to Rio de Janeiro next week.

Rogge was asked if Rio deserved a yellow card to serve as a warning to 2016 authorities to step up a gear.

As chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Athens 2004, Rogge himself had recommended the former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch wave a yellow card at the Greek organizers. This he did.

Rogge today said he hoped it wouldn’t be necessary for Rio 2016.

"Today, nobody has requested from the Coordination Commission to take a yellow card. I am confident it is not going to be the case in the future," he said.

Rogge Faith in McQuaid Leadership of UCI

The IOC EB did not discuss the fallout from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

Calls for International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid and honorary UCI president Hein Verbruggen to step down have come ever since Armstong came clean about his doping past in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.

But Rogge told the press conference that McQuaid retained his confidence.

"There is an ongoing discussion between WADA and the UCI. We call upon both parties to reconciliate with each other and to find a solution to this crisis together," Rogge said.

Government Interference in Russian NOC Sacking?

In the wake of Vladimir Putin sacking Russian Olympic Committee VP Akhmed Bilalov last week, Rogge was asked if he would investigate possible government interference in the affairs of the NOC.

The Russian president reportedly fired Bilalov amid ongoing delays and cost overruns in construction of ski jumps for the Sochi 2014 Games.

Rogge said he had asked the Russian NOC for details about the sacking.

"What I know is that Mr. Bilalov has been discharged form his public functions and the Russian NOC will take steps to examine the issue of Mr. Bilalov and we have asked to be informed."

Reported in Lausanne by Mark Bisson

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