Members of the International Olympic Committee including its president Jacques Rogge, and officials from the Association of National Olympic Committees are meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week to discuss the future of the Olympic Games.
Sieh Kok Chi, secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, told the Agence France-Presse that issues discussed at the meeting include what sports to include or drop from future Games, qualifying standards and doping.
He said, “one of the big issues for the IOC board meeting is the question of future programs – which sports to add or drop”.
Fair umpiring, the threat of terrorism and television rights will also be discussed.
The IOC wants to trim the size of the Olympics by capping the total number of participants at 10,000 athletes and 5,000 officials.
But it still wants to help all member countries to get at least six athletes to the Games.
“The problem that needs to be resolved is how to get at least six athletes to participate in the Olympics if they fail to meet the qualifying standards”.
Also being discussed is the sale of Olympic television rights. Sieh said, “should the IOC earn higher income by selling the rights to pay television operators or continue its present practice, which allows everyone to enjoy the Games”?
Also at the meeting Olympic officials from Greece and China will update members over the progress of their preparations for the Turin 2006 Winter Games and the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.
