The ban on IOC members visiting bid cities could be lifted. The IOC will soon start reviewing post-scandal reforms, including the ban on bid city visits. Rogge said he was personally opposed to visits, but he will leave the issue to an IOC review commission and a vote of IOC members.
A working group met for the first time last week to decide how to review the reforms. A review commission should be named later this month.
Although the commission won’t begin its work until after the Salt Lake Games and IOC members won’t vote on whether to change any of the reforms until Nov. 2002, the debate over reinstating visits is simmering.
Meanwhile, Olympic officials hope Afghanistan can be reinstated and field a team, including women, in time for the Athens 2004 Summer Games. But it has ruled out any Afghan participation at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake in February.
IOC Director General Francois Carrard said, “the process is very complicated and complex. I don’t think as of now the priorities in Afghanistan are yet focusing on sport or participating in the Olympic Games.
“I think we have to wait some more to see the next developments. As soon as there is some opportunity, we will be renewing dialogue. Right now, I doubt if we sent anybody to Kabul we would have very constructive dialogue yet”.
Members of the IOC Radio and Television Commission expressed their satisfaction over the progress made in Olympic preparations since Sept. 2001, following presentations made by Athens 2004 Executive Director Spyros Capralos and Athens Olympic Broadcasting President Manolo Romero in Lausanne. Romero presented the Athens Radio and Television services with a progress report.
Un yong Kim, President of the commission and the members of the commission were especially interested in the hospitality and transportation in the Media villages and the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) and Main Press Centre (MPC). IOC President Jacques Rogge was also at the meeting.
And finally, although the International Olympic Committee president has appointed the chairs of all of the organization’s various commissions, athletes won the right Monday to choose the head of their commission in the IOC.
The panel voted by a narrow margin to nominate its own leader and the decision was accepted by IOC President Jacques Rogge. Starting in August 2002, the athletes will select their chair and submit the name to Rogge for final approval.
Panel member Bob Ctvrtlik, a former U.S. volleyball star said, “this is a very big move, giving the athletes the voice to be a major player in the Olympic movement. It’s another step up for the athletes of the world”.
The athletes’ panel is the only commission whose members are elected. The athlete members are elected by their peers during the Olympics. They also are full members of the IOC.
