During a discussion at an annual Sport Summit in New York City, IOC member Dick Pound said that “Athens is still problematic. They have a lot of challenges to meet. But we’re greatly encouraged that the Greek government has stepped in with much more weight and authority.
Pound added “these Games are too important to Greece and to us to be allowed not to be a success”.
Other issues mentioned by Pound included capping the Olympics at 10,000 to 11,000 athletes. “If it gets much bigger than it becomes less manageable” said Pound.
Pound said that television rights could be sold globally instead of region-by-region. “How we sell the rights after 2008 is up for grabs. We’ve always done it on a terriorial basis. As media empires get bigger and bigger, we may have to look at a worldwide basis”.
