Vizer Posts Olympics Manifesto

(ATR) The gap widens between the SportAccord president and the IOC with publication of a list of 20 demands.

The points are all contained in the "Sport Reform Agenda" issued by Marius Vizer a day after IOC president Thomas Bach rebuffed a request from Vizer to meet.

After launching a surprise attack against the IOC in a speech last month, Vizer is becoming increasingly isolated with a dozen and a half Olympic federations suspending or resigning from SportAccord in the aftermath so far. More are expected to follow in the days ahead.

Without apparently consulting any the leadership of SportAccord, Vizer delivered his April broadside at the open of the organization’s general assembly in Sochi.

Vizer accused the IOC of ignoring international federations and the financial needs of elite athletes. Vizer denounced the 40 Olympic Agenda reforms that Bach ushered through an extraordinary IOC Session in December.

Within hours, Olympic federations were rebelling against Vizer’s anti-IOC stance. A month later, SportAccord, the organization that purportedly represents international sports federations, is ruptured bya daily exodus of Olympic federations.

Now comes the manifesto from Vizer with a range of demands that could exacerbate the rift with the IOC.

Some are directed at securing more power and income for the sports federations represented by SportAccord, such as 50 percent ownership of the new Olympic Channel now under development, automatic IOC membership for each Olympic federation, and a demand for Olympic credentials for national federation leaders.

Another point calls for prize money for Olympic athletes. Another seeks pensions for all Olympians. Greater involvement by sports ministers in the Olympic Movement is urged.

One demand seeks the return of IOC member visits to Olympic bid cities. The IOC has rejected bringing back the visits, ended after the vote buying scandal involving Salt Lake City.

The Vizer manifesto also deals with non-Olympic sport federations, saying all deserve a share of IOC resources and that the IOC should offer "full support for multi-sport events outside the Olympics to increase exposure and opportunities for all sports." The IOC has opposed the creation of new multi-sport events that Vizer envisions.

The IOC has not reacted officially to the list of demands from Vizer, but one official at IOC headquarters in Lausanne says it is likely only to make matters worse between the SportAccord leader and the IOC president.

Executive Board member Anita DeFrantz suggests that even if she and her colleagues give approval for

the IOC president to speak with the SportAccord chief, Vizer may have little to offer.

"And in exchange, the IOC will receive what?" she asks.

Written by EdHula

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