Summer and Winter Olympics Chiefs Speak of Legacy Strategies

(ATR) Olympic leaders underline the importance of sport as a catalyst for change for developing nations Monday at the Global Sports Industry Congress in London.

Speakers included Sochi 2014 president and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko, Mike Hooper, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Rio 2016 director Jeanine Pires and IOC member Craig Reedie.

Sochi 2014 will be a "catalyst for change" within Russia, Chernyshenko told delegates.

"More and more nations want to bring big cultural and sports events to their countries. We, in Russia, have been successful in bidding for the 2013 World Athletics Championships, 2013 Universiade [World Student Games] and a Formula One Grand Prix in 2014," he said.

"We have a clear strategy that sport can be the catalyst to improve the economic and social life of our country."

Russia is also vying to stage the 2018 World Cup but faces stiff competition from the England, Holland-Belgium and Spain-Portugal bids.

Chernyshenko claimed the Winter Games will bring the concept of volunteering in Russia up to Western levels.

"We have had three people [in every 100] volunteering while Canada this year [Vancouver] had 35. We want to multiply by 10 people who are socially active," he said.

"We are encouraging the authorities and stakeholders to make very tangible changes like these as I believe this [Sochi 2014] is a catalyst for change in our country."

While Sochi prepares, the aftermath of the eventful Delhi Commonwealth Games continues.

Games CEO Hooper told delegates that, in his opinion, India was not in a position to bid for the 2020 Olympics.

"Many things need to be done before they can take that step," he said.

Brazil has achieved what India aspires to and Jeanine Pires, a Rio 2016 director, put an optimistic face on the aspirations of an "emerging nation" hosting the two major events in sports – the Olympics and World Cup – within two years.

"These events don’t solve our problems. We have objectives we need to achieve before, during and after these events. It’s an opportunity to show the world that there is more to Brazil than stereotypes," said Pires. "The infrastructure from the 2014 World Cup in Rio will be a legacy for the 2016 Olympic Games."

Munich 2018 Chairman Learns from Coe

Skating legend Katarina Witt, who heads the Munich 2018 bid, said in a media briefing on the sidelines of the conference that the IOC should not turn its back on established nations in the race to spread the Olympic gospel.

"There is a lot of emerging nations talk, and taking the Olympics to Rio and Sochi has shown a willingness to take a new direction, but you also need to keep your traditions and nurture your heartland," she told reporters.

"If you don’t take care of the roots, interest will disappear. You need to keep people interested."

Witt admitted to learning from the experience of fellow Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe.

She added: "I spoke to Seb a few months ago… things make sense during the journey but it is always nice to have people you can always ask. It’s like an athlete preparing for your own Olympic Games."

Reedie: Athlete Focus for London 2012

IOC Executive Board member Craig Reedie spoke of his pride in theplan for London 2012 during a later discussion of what makes a perfect major event.

"The most important feature is the athletes," said Reedie.

"In London they can see the stadia in which they will compete from their rooms in the [Olympic] village and could walk to the venues. If you have good facilities and look after the athletes you will get good sport.

"It’s down to people. In 2000, in Sydney the whole city adopted the Games and made it fun. Here we have one of the most cosmopolitan cities on earth… if we can’t throw a party in London I would be very surprised."

In a wide-ranging session, VISA executive vice president Colin Grannell brought input from his position as a representative of one of the IOC’s major backers and suggested that London’s huge sponsorship portfolio could be a victim of its own success.

"London has 34 sponsors. In a way, from a commercial perspective, you could say that’s too many as it's difficult to maneuver and do the things you want to do," said Grannell.

"But that’s what LOCOG wants to do and without the input from these sponsors the Games just would not happen. The 205 nations would not be able to get there and compete. You would be left with just the top 40 and it would not be a truly global event we all want."

The financial imperative was made stark by Finnish IOC member and five-time Olympic sailor Peter Tallberg in his closing remark: "Without a successful Games, international sports federations would go bankrupt," he said.

With reporting by Adrian Hill in London.