MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach recently revealed 40 proposals that make up the Olympic Agenda 2020, which is a roadmap for the future of the Olympic movement, which will be discussed and voted on by the full IOC membership at the 127th IOC session to be held on 8 and 9 December in Monaco.
During the public launch of the recommendations president Bach called the 20+20 proposals “the culmination of a year of open, transparent and widespread debate and discussion, which had already begun in mid-2013.”
“These 40 recommendations are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When you put them together, a picture emerges that shows the IOC safeguarding the uniqueness of the Olympic Games and strengthening sport in society,” he added.
Some of the key areas addressed by the recommendations are:
- Launch of an Olympic TV Channel to provide a platform for sports and athletes beyond the Olympic Games period, 365 days a year. To fully connect with the digital age and connect with young people on their terms which will be a worldwide platform and an opportunity to spread Olympic values as well as highlighting the IOC’s many cultural and humanitarian projects. Candidate cities may also be given exposure during the bidding phase.
- Changes to the bidding process with a new philosophy to invite potential candidate cities to present a project that fits their sporting, economic, social and environmental long-term planning needs. The organisation of sports and events outside the host city and even, in exceptional cases, outside the host country could also be allowed, always respecting the integrity of the Olympic Village.
- Reducing costs for bidding by decreasing the number of presentations that are allowed and providing a significant financial contribution from the IOC. At the same time emphasising that the sustainability of a bid must be taken into consideration right from the beginning.
- Move from a sport-based to an event-based programme. Create limits on accreditation for athletes, coaches and other athlete support staff to ensure that the games do not grow bigger. Allowing more than 28 sports to be on the programme while respecting these limits.
- Strengthen the sixth fundamental principle of Olympism by including non-discrimination on sexual orientation in the sixth fundamental principle of Olympism in the Olympic charter.
- Adapting and further strengthening the principles of good governance and ethics to changing demands. Ensuring compliance with the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance and transparency of accounts with the IOC’s financial statements to be prepared and audited according to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) even when not legally required. Strengthening the independence of the IOC Ethics Commission with the chair and members of the commission to be elected by the IOC Session. The IOC will also create the position of compliance officer to advise IOC members, staff, NOCs and IFs with regard to compliance.
The recommendations were first presented to a round table of athletes, many of whom actively contributed to the Olympic Agenda 2020 process. The athletes remain at the centre of all 40 of the proposals, with the protection of the clean athletes being at the heart of the IOC’s philosophy. The central importance of the “athletes’ experience” will be introduced into the evaluation criteria with no compromise on the field of play for athletes, and the paramount importance of the Olympic Village.
The 40 recommendations were finalised by the IOC executive board in October following presentations from the chairs of the 14 Working Groups that were set up to refine the proposals earlier this year. In addition to members of the Olympic Movement, including national Olympic committees, international federations, sponsors and athletes, the working groups consisted of experts from civil society such as the United Nations, Google/YouTube, Transparency International, the Clinton Foundation, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the World Bank.
