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Wait Continues for Winter Sports Decision
IOC president Jacques Rogge says decisions on some new events for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics will be delayed pending the outcome of site inspections in the Black Sea resort.
Rogge confirmed that the 12 disciplines, including women's ski jumping, would be the focus of discussion at the IOC Executive Board meeting Tuesday and Wednesday on the sidelines of SportAccord in London.
A ruling on additions to the Sochi Games was expected this week after the IOC postponed a decision from its EB meeting in October, to allow its experts additional time to assess world championships in each of the events over the winter.
The disciplines under consideration are: women's ski jumping, which was turned down twice in its efforts to get on the Vancouver program; ski halfpipe (men and women); ski slopestyle (men and women); snowboard slopestyle (men and women) biathlon mixed-team relay; luge team relay and a figure skating team.
But asked if he was ready to make a recommendation on all of the events proposed, Rogge told a press conference Tuesday: "not yet, because we are still studying technical issues in terms of procurement and logistics in Sochi to be sure that events can take place at that time.
"There is still a team that is going to make some inspections in Sochi and for some it's going to be a final decision, for some pending the results of the technical study."
With additional events, Rogge said the influence on the numbers of athletes competing at the Winter Games would be "very minimal". He cited biathlon mixed team relay and luge team relay, which both would not involve NOCs sending any extra athletes to the Olympics.
Rogge spoke to reporters after the IOC's meetings Tuesday morning with the Association of Summer OlympicInternational Federations and AWOIF, which represents winter sports. ASOIF head Denis Oswald and AWOIF president Rene Fasel also faced questions from media.
Earlier today, Sochi 2014 president and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko told a media roundtable that Games organizers had already conducted feasibility studies on the 12 new disciplines and given their recommendations to the IOC.
Chernyshenko said the IOC would make his decision for the "mutual benefit" of the Olympic Movement.
"We are positive for those sports which will create additional opportunities for our national team," he told reporters, without singling out any particular events or disciplines.
Around the Rings understands that women's ski jumping is not favored by Sochi 2014 organizers.
"The Games won't be successful without our team on the podium," he added.
Talks on Transgender Issues
In the wake of the outcry over gender testing of South African runner Caster Semenya, the IOC is set to announce new guidelines for international federationsto handle disorders of sexual development.
Semenya's 800m win at the 2009 track-and-field world championships in Berlin sparked a global transgender debate. The IAAF ordered Semenya to undergo gender verification tests, forcing her to miss nearly a year of competition.
She was eventually cleared but it was a humiliating time for the up-and-coming 20-year-old middle distance runner. The IAAF was criticized for its handling of the case.
IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist will appear at a press conference to explain the rules later today. He is expected to announced that they will be in force for the London 2012 Olympics.
New Members
Three or four nominations to the IOC are expected to be approved at this meeting of the EB, a source tells Around the Rings.
One woman is said to be on the list, along with Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee.
Both of Japan’s current IOC members, Chiharu Igaya and Sunichiro Okano turn 80 this year and must retire.
Nominations will go to the IOC Session in Durban this July for a vote of approval.
Written and reported in London by Ed Hula and Mark Bisson.
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