Shift in power heralds changes to Oly movement
26 Dec 2013 5:36 AM IST
The 59-year-old German claimed an overwhelming victory over five rivals in a secret ballot by his fellow IOC members in Buenos Aires in September, which was widely interpreted as a message that the IOC wants to sail in the safe waters as it has been during Rogge’s 12-year tenure at the helm of the world’s leading sports organisation.
Rogge, who succeeded Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2001, has restored the reputation of the IOC after the bribes-for-vote scandal over the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. The affair clouded Samaranch’s final years in power. The 71-year-old Regge took a hard line against doping and ethics violations, created the Youth Olympics in 2010 and oversaw a growth in financial reserves. Under his watch, the IOC has also taken the Olympics to new places, including awarding the 2016 Games to Rio de Janerio.
Although the Belgian has left the Olympic Movement in much sturdier shape, the ninth IOC president has much to do. Bach’s first priority is to ensure a successful Sochi Winter Games next February. The build-up has been overshadowed by western criticism of a recent Russian law outlawing the promotion of gay propaganda among minors, an issue that has raised concerns about the conditions for athletes and spectators.
The IOC has said it received assurances from the Russian government that it will respect the Olympic Charter as public protest zones would be set up in Sochi during the Games. And with less than three years to go, preparations for 2016 Games in Rio remain dogged by construction delays, environmental worries and financial uncertainties.
There are even much bigger threats to the long-term health of the movement. Among the most pressing problems for IOC is reforming the sports programme, keeping the Games manageable for the hosts and at the same time not seeing incomes dwindle and continuing the fight against doping and match-fixing.
Rogge, who succeeded Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2001, has restored the reputation of the IOC after the bribes-for-vote scandal over the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. The affair clouded Samaranch’s final years in power. The 71-year-old Regge took a hard line against doping and ethics violations, created the Youth Olympics in 2010 and oversaw a growth in financial reserves. Under his watch, the IOC has also taken the Olympics to new places, including awarding the 2016 Games to Rio de Janerio.
Although the Belgian has left the Olympic Movement in much sturdier shape, the ninth IOC president has much to do. Bach’s first priority is to ensure a successful Sochi Winter Games next February. The build-up has been overshadowed by western criticism of a recent Russian law outlawing the promotion of gay propaganda among minors, an issue that has raised concerns about the conditions for athletes and spectators.
The IOC has said it received assurances from the Russian government that it will respect the Olympic Charter as public protest zones would be set up in Sochi during the Games. And with less than three years to go, preparations for 2016 Games in Rio remain dogged by construction delays, environmental worries and financial uncertainties.
There are even much bigger threats to the long-term health of the movement. Among the most pressing problems for IOC is reforming the sports programme, keeping the Games manageable for the hosts and at the same time not seeing incomes dwindle and continuing the fight against doping and match-fixing.
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