Thomas Bach Wants to Be Visionary

(ATR) Thomas Bach will explore prospects for the future intersection of sports, social media and technology in a tour of Silicon Valley later this week.

The IOC president will visit Google, Facebook and Twitter, as well as Olympic sponsors Visa and Samsung (at its research center). He will also touch base with start-ups and private equity companies.

"We want to suck the brains of the brain trusts of the different big companies," Bach said in an exclusive interview with Around the Rings, "to learn how they see the future, to learn what their vision is and then to see which role sport can and will play in 20-25 – maybe already 10 – years from now."

Bach and delegations from the IOC and USOC have been touring proposed venues for the 2024 Summer Games and meeting with bid officials the past two days.

He leaves for the San Francisco Bay area Tuesday and will remain there until mid-day Friday.

Bach said the real purpose of the visit to Northern California is to find out if the vision of the Olympic Movement – "to make the world a better place through sport" is complementary to the companies’ vision of making the world a better place through technology.

"If their answer is yes," he said, "then maybe (we will) start discussing how we can make it even more complementary."

For the youth of the world, Bach added, "it’s not only about staying active, it’s about communication, it’s about integration of society to which sport can contribute a lot – at least as much as technology. It is about the future education -- there sport can contribute a lot -- and then the Olympic Games as the showcase for unity."

Rio Budget Cut Worries

Amid increasing worry from international federations about the impact of budget cuts on the Rio Games, IOC staff will meet with representatives of the summer sports on Tuesday in Lausanne.

"We all know that Brazil is facing a crisis which is beyond the influence and control of the organizing committee," Bach said. "As a result of these meetings, the Olympic movement will show solidarity with the Brazilians in order to achieve a balanced budget which will then serve as a solid foundation for the next seven months to have finally successful and excellent Olympic Games in Brazil."

Zika Virus Reaction

On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus, which is suspected of causing birth defects, an international public health emergency. Cases in Brazil have increased in recent months, leading to concern among spectators and athletes who plan to go to the Olympic Games.

"Even now, there is no travel warning from the World Health Organization," Bach said. "We’ll also have to realize that the Olympic Games are taking place in winter time. That means that the breeding of the mosquitoes is not so prevalent.

"We’re in contact with the National Olympic Committees to make sure that in the end when it comes to the Games, we will have done everything possible to protect the athletes and the spectators."

When Brazil was awarded the Games in 2009, no one could have foreseen a mosquito-borne illness causing such alarm.

Such a new development "makes life interesting," Bach said.

Too interesting? "It can never be too interesting," he said. "The Chinese are very wise people and they have a wish. ‘May you live in interesting times.’ And this is what we are doing."

Reported by Karen Rosenin Los Angeles

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