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≡ 146th IOC SESSION ≡
How did the IOC come up with the $10,000 amount for its new grant program?
IOC chief Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) was asked at Wednesday’s news conference about that, and she referenced her experience as an Olympic Scholarship holder, receiving a $5,000 allocation for a qualifying event for entry, travel and preparation expenses. Noting that the qualifying period prior to a Games often includes two world championships, that would be $10,000.
For those who retire – “life after sport” – she noted the IOC’s work with Bangladeshi economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Athlete365 Business Accelerator, and that Yunuis’ experience has been that $10,000 was enough almost everywhere to get someone started on a project, or as seed money to interest others.
The discussion then was how it was to be financed, distributed and so on.
Fraud was a concern and Coventry explained that the existing Olympic Solidarity network program will be used. Athletes apply through the IOC’s Athlete365 portal, and are approved, the money is sent to the National Olympic Committee. The NOC sends confirmation of transmission to the athlete and the athlete confirms receipt via Athlete365.
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Coventry was asked about the intense, negative reaction to her 22 May interview with SportNationNZ, where she told reporter Alex Chapman that she was not in favor of paying athletes, later clarified to not paying prize money. Explained Coventry:
“I’ve always said we need to find ways to directly support athletes. … It was a little frustrating, obviously, the backlash from New Zealand, because also, internally, I already knew about this and it was like, ooohhhh, the timing is horrible. …
“Is this the right thing to do? It is the right thing to do. We found a way to directly support all Olympians and that is a priority.”
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The IOC Session approved new guidelines for the Olympic program, with the emphasis now on “disciplines” – generally, a group of events which use a common venue – rather than on sports.
Now, the sports and disciplines will be confirmed seven years prior to an Olympic or Winter Games, essentially when the host city-region is selected, with the specific events to be specified after the immediately prior Games is concluded.
The simplified criteria for disciplines, once qualified on governance and integrity, will focus on (1) global appeal; (2) cost and operational complexity; and (3) athlete representation.
Organizing committees will be allowed to ask for up to four added disciplines for an Olympic Games and two for a Winter Games, to be decided five years prior to a Games.
In the news conference following the Session, it was noted this approach will be applied first to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, and will be concluded near the end of 2026, or in early 2027 at the latest.
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A question was asked about the status of Russian athletes and the Russian National Olympic Committee, which continues to be suspended by the IOC. Coventry noted that the question of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its presence in areas which – for sport – were under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, has not been resolved and is being reviewed by the IOC’s Legal Affairs Commission.
The Session added new language for the Olympic Charter, reading “The IOC’s role is: to apply neutrality at all times, free from governmental, cultural, societal or economic pressure.”
How this is to be applied concerning Russian athletes is to be considered by the Legal Affairs Commission. So for now, status quo.
As the IOC’s new $10,000 grant requires adherence to the IOC’s rules on anti-doping, “neutrality” and other rules, Coventry noted that it will be up to the IOC and its Athletes Commission to educate athletes on what “neutrality” means and what is expected of them at the Games and elsewhere, in order to comply.
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