IOC Executive Board Holds Last Meeting Before Olympics
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today concluded in Athens its last meeting before the start of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad to be held from 13 to 29 August.
The meetings were marked yesterday by the IOC's decisions on ethical issues starting with the one linked to the BBC News Panorama programme. The EB unanimously decided, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Rule 25.2.1.1. of the Olympic Charter, to provisionally deprive Mr Ivan Slavkov of all of the rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his membership of the IOC throughout the inquiry of the Ethics Commission. Consequently, his accreditation for the 2004 Athens Games has been withdrawn with immediate effect.
On the same issue, the EB also decided to declare the following four persons, Messrs Goran Takatch, Gabor Komyathy, Mahmood El Farnawani and Muttaleb Ahmad, personae non grata within the Olympic Movement and to recommend to all the Olympic Family neither to grant them accreditations nor to have any dealings with them. Consequently, their accreditations for the 2004 Athens Games have been withdrawn with immediate effect.
Other ethical matters included the case of FIVB/Dr Rubén Acosta Hernandez and the one of Mr Mohamad Hasan. The EB restated that the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter should be respected, particularly with regard to the use made of Olympic resources. The EB accepted the recommendation that the funds which the IOC allocates to all the organisations within the Olympic Movement are used only for sport. The EB also unanimously decided to ask the 116th IOC Session to vote on the exclusion of Mr Mohamad Hasan on 10 August.
During the morning proceedings, the EB rejected the appeal filed by the Romanian Athletic Federation to allow the registration of three athletes Mihaela Melinte, Claudia Iovan and Ana Mirele Termure for competing in the 2004 Games. The IOC EB ruled in favour of the Romanian NOC stating also that the NOC's policy of not selecting the athletes who have tested positive in their careers, deserves support, as it is in line with the fight against doping.
On the medical front and more specifically on the Jerome Young case, the IOC confirmed that it had to await for the IAAF decision to be final and enforceable before it can take its own decision with regards to the medals of the Sydney 4x100m race.
Finally, the EB decided to accept the list of criteria which will be used to assess Olympic programme after the Athens Games. The list, which has been completed in full consultation with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Federations (IFs), will now go to the Session for final decision.
At the media briefing closing yesterday's session, the IOC announced that it is expected Athens 2004 will break all records in terms number of countries and territories broadcasting the Games, number of hours, significant rise in potential audience, and dramatic increases in live and prime-time coverage.
The EB heard a presentation by the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Athens 2004 (ATHOC) represented by President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Chief Operating Officer Marton Simitsek. The report outlined the completion of preparations for the Games, describing the finishing touches being applied across the city and the move to full operational status, with the activation of Olympic transport plans already proving to be one of many successes. IOC President Jacques Rogge, Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald and the members of the EB congratulated Mrs. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and her team on the tremendous work they have completed and will continue to do to ensure the successful celebration of the Games.
The President of the Organising Committee for the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games (TOROC) Valentino Castellani and his team presented the work being done to prepare the next Winter Olympic Games. Construction continues to maintain the pace necessary for holding the test events that will ensure Olympic Games operations run smoothly. Plans to bring improved results in areas such as communications and marketing were also presented. The EB noted that the world's attention and the IOC's support will soon be fully focused on Turin 2006, with the time remaining to the Winter Olympic Games passing quickly.
Presenting the impressive progress towards the Games of Beijing 2008, the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) was lead by its Executive Vice-President, Liu Gingmin. Construction of venues and infrastructure continues at a more than satisfactory pace. Some plans will be reviewed following the recommendations of the Olympic Games Study Commission. Marketing agreements have been signed in many of the categories that will support the Games. Planning for operations is being supported by the presence of many Beijing 2008 secondees in Athens learning the valuable organisational lessons that will serve the organising committee well during the coming years. The Executive Board congratulated Beijing 2008's team on the volume and quality of its work.
A report on Vancouver 2010 was given by IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli. The Organising Committee has hired key staff, and started its planning and is participating fully in a transfer of knowledge process that will see it learn the lessons of Games past and present.
For more details contact:
Karen Webb
Manager, Marketing Communications
IOC
Tel: +41 21 621 6415
Fax: +41 21 621 6216
karen.webb@olympic.org
The meetings were marked yesterday by the IOC's decisions on ethical issues starting with the one linked to the BBC News Panorama programme. The EB unanimously decided, pursuant to paragraph 4 of Rule 25.2.1.1. of the Olympic Charter, to provisionally deprive Mr Ivan Slavkov of all of the rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his membership of the IOC throughout the inquiry of the Ethics Commission. Consequently, his accreditation for the 2004 Athens Games has been withdrawn with immediate effect.
On the same issue, the EB also decided to declare the following four persons, Messrs Goran Takatch, Gabor Komyathy, Mahmood El Farnawani and Muttaleb Ahmad, personae non grata within the Olympic Movement and to recommend to all the Olympic Family neither to grant them accreditations nor to have any dealings with them. Consequently, their accreditations for the 2004 Athens Games have been withdrawn with immediate effect.
Other ethical matters included the case of FIVB/Dr Rubén Acosta Hernandez and the one of Mr Mohamad Hasan. The EB restated that the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter should be respected, particularly with regard to the use made of Olympic resources. The EB accepted the recommendation that the funds which the IOC allocates to all the organisations within the Olympic Movement are used only for sport. The EB also unanimously decided to ask the 116th IOC Session to vote on the exclusion of Mr Mohamad Hasan on 10 August.
During the morning proceedings, the EB rejected the appeal filed by the Romanian Athletic Federation to allow the registration of three athletes Mihaela Melinte, Claudia Iovan and Ana Mirele Termure for competing in the 2004 Games. The IOC EB ruled in favour of the Romanian NOC stating also that the NOC's policy of not selecting the athletes who have tested positive in their careers, deserves support, as it is in line with the fight against doping.
On the medical front and more specifically on the Jerome Young case, the IOC confirmed that it had to await for the IAAF decision to be final and enforceable before it can take its own decision with regards to the medals of the Sydney 4x100m race.
Finally, the EB decided to accept the list of criteria which will be used to assess Olympic programme after the Athens Games. The list, which has been completed in full consultation with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the International Federations (IFs), will now go to the Session for final decision.
At the media briefing closing yesterday's session, the IOC announced that it is expected Athens 2004 will break all records in terms number of countries and territories broadcasting the Games, number of hours, significant rise in potential audience, and dramatic increases in live and prime-time coverage.
The EB heard a presentation by the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Athens 2004 (ATHOC) represented by President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Chief Operating Officer Marton Simitsek. The report outlined the completion of preparations for the Games, describing the finishing touches being applied across the city and the move to full operational status, with the activation of Olympic transport plans already proving to be one of many successes. IOC President Jacques Rogge, Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald and the members of the EB congratulated Mrs. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and her team on the tremendous work they have completed and will continue to do to ensure the successful celebration of the Games.
The President of the Organising Committee for the Turin 2006 Olympic Winter Games (TOROC) Valentino Castellani and his team presented the work being done to prepare the next Winter Olympic Games. Construction continues to maintain the pace necessary for holding the test events that will ensure Olympic Games operations run smoothly. Plans to bring improved results in areas such as communications and marketing were also presented. The EB noted that the world's attention and the IOC's support will soon be fully focused on Turin 2006, with the time remaining to the Winter Olympic Games passing quickly.
Presenting the impressive progress towards the Games of Beijing 2008, the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) was lead by its Executive Vice-President, Liu Gingmin. Construction of venues and infrastructure continues at a more than satisfactory pace. Some plans will be reviewed following the recommendations of the Olympic Games Study Commission. Marketing agreements have been signed in many of the categories that will support the Games. Planning for operations is being supported by the presence of many Beijing 2008 secondees in Athens learning the valuable organisational lessons that will serve the organising committee well during the coming years. The Executive Board congratulated Beijing 2008's team on the volume and quality of its work.
A report on Vancouver 2010 was given by IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli. The Organising Committee has hired key staff, and started its planning and is participating fully in a transfer of knowledge process that will see it learn the lessons of Games past and present.
For more details contact:
Karen Webb
Manager, Marketing Communications
IOC
Tel: +41 21 621 6415
Fax: +41 21 621 6216
karen.webb@olympic.org