According to The Olympic Games Study Commission headed by Canada’s Dick Pound, cutbacks in venues, accreditations, technology and other services are necessary to keep the Olympics from reaching the breaking point.
The 29-page report presented to the IOC meeting being held in Mexico City this week said, “the Games have reached a critical size which may put their future success at risk if the size continues to increase. If unchecked, the current growth of the Games could discourage many cities from bidding to host the Games”.
The single biggest factor in higher costs is the addition of new sports, disciplines or events.
Meanwhile, the IOC said legal experts have cleared the way for a vote to go ahead this week on whether to cut baseball, softball and modern pentathlon from the 2008 Beijing Games.
Also at the IOC meeting a new structure has been created to help streamline the IOC.
Francois Carrard said that changes due to come into force in January would enable the IOC to face “the challenge of the modern Games”.
The IOC will create a new post of Olympic Games executive director to help coordinate links between the IOC and the national organizing committees that run the Games.
The plan also includes the creation of a new department to manage data about the Games and the Olympic movement in general, said Carrard.
Although he didn’t provide any details, Carrard said the changes would mean savings for the IOC.
