Dave Brailsford, British performance director, is angry that there are only three women’s track events compared to seven for men, and has been lobbying for parity with International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules that new disciplines can be added up to three years before the London 2012 Summer Games.
Brailsford has spoken to Tessa Jowell, Olympics minister, and Sir Craig Reedie, former chairman of the British Olympic Association who sits on the IOC program commission that is meeting in Lausanne next week.
Reedie said Tuesday that he could “understand the argument”, adding “the problem the IOC has is fitting more athletes into a crowded program”.
He said, “I think (cycling’s) chances are likely to be better if competitors in new events are already there, or if a women’s event can replace a men’s event. But I think the chances of increasing cycling’s quota (of athletes) are slim”.
Meanwhile Jowell’s office said the Minister has asked the Department (for Culture, Media and Sport) to research the issue.
Reedie said “the principal protagonist (in lobbying for new events) has to be the international federation”, in this case the International Cycling Union.
