The Hindu : Sport : IOC for a ‘core’ group in Olympics

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Sunday, Jul 08, 2007
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Sport - Sports : General

IOC for a ‘core’ group in Olympics

GUATEMALA CITY: The IOC agreed on Friday to keep a “core” group of more than two dozen sports in future Olympics and allow room for a few new sports to be included at each Games.

Under the new process, the International Olympic Committee will approve a bloc of 25-26 entrenched sports and can add two or three more to stay within a maximum of 28.

Softball and baseball, which have been dropped for the 2012 London Olympics, are lobbying to return for the 2016 Games.

A simple majority will be needed for adding or removing sports. Previously, it took a two-thirds majority to bring in a new sport. The IOC assembly will vote on a list proposed by its 15-member executive board.

The changes were approved unanimously by a show of hands on the third day of the IOC assembly in Guatemala.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said the new system was “much clearer and easier to understand” and would lead to a “consistent, coherent and well-balanced programme” combining a mix of individual sports, team sports and sports popular in certain regions.

Widespread criticism

The move followed widespread criticism of the arduous procedures at the IOC session in Singapore in 2005, where members voted individually on each of the 28 sports.

Baseball and softball were cut for 2012 and members failed to approve any replacements, leaving only 26 sports for London.

The new process will debut at the 2009 session in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the same 26 sports on the London programme put forward for the 2016 Games.

In 2013, the IOC will vote on a bloc of 25 sports for the 2020 Games. — AP

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