Reaction to approval of IOC's reform package
MONACO (AP) Quotes after the International Olympic Committee approved a wide-ranging reform package Monday, including a more affordable bidding process, creation of an Olympic television channel and a more flexible sports program:
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''Even in my wildest dreams I would not have expected this. It showed the great determination of the members for these reforms. That it would go like this was a very, very positive surprise.'' - IOC President Thomas Bach, on the adoption of his ''Olympic Agenda 2020'' program. All the recommendations were approved unanimously in one day, rather than the scheduled 1 1/2 days.
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''Like President Obama, you are a strong proponent of change. I hope you have more success than he has.'' - Richard Peterkin, an IOC member from St. Lucia, in remarks to IOC President Thomas Bach.
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''It's obviously not ideal for the athletes, but as long as the essence is captured into the villages, it's something to consider. I feel strongly that athletes should be able to participate in opening and closing ceremonies.'' - Angela Ruggiero, an IOC member from the United States, on the possibility of having venues outside of the host city.
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''New rules are being created. Let's try to be the first to implement them. I have the feeling that the new agenda is in line with a possible Paris bid for 2024. We are speaking about reducing costs, using existing facilities and venues, offering other cities the possibility to take part in the bid. We should be optimistic.'' - Tony Estanguet, an IOC member from France, on new bidding rules.
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''I don't think it will be chaos. For me, that's the most revolutionary part of the whole process. The idea is to create some space for new sports.'' - Dick Pound, an IOC member from Canada, on flexible sports program.
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''The sports federations affiliated with the JOC (Japanese Olympic Committee) have realized that there is a possibility for adding an event or events under their jurisdiction and therefore they have come up with a request to the JOC. We will be reviewing these requests in a fair way and we will be judging according to the criteria presented by the IOC.'' Tsunekazu Takeda, an IOC member from Japan, on the possibility of including baseball and softball for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
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''The new more flexible approach to Olympic sport approved by the IOC session has provided a massive boost of optimism and hope that the changes could result in baseball and softball joining the Olympic Games sports program.'' - Riccardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, on the chances of being included in Tokyo.
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''The importance of the Olympic village remains paramount and there will be no compromise on the field of play. The games will be more universal if the costs are reduced.'' - John Coates, an IOC vice president from Australia, on cost-cutting meaures.
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''With offering the flexibility to make more use of existing infrastructure, more use of temporary infrastructure and also spreading the sports among many cities in the nation, that will absolutely help reducing the cost. ... I think that these measures effectively help reduce the cost for small nations so more countries will be interested in organizing the games.'' - Camiel Eurlings, an IOC member from the Netherlands, on new bidding rules.
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''I am worried that the unique character of the games could be diminished by the recommendation to allow some events to be dispersed over several locations within the same country, or even in a neighboring country. The Olympic village won't look the same and for isolated athletes (the games) will resemble more to a kind of world championship without living a true Olympic experience.'' - Denis Oswald, an IOC member from Switzerland.
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''Today is a great step forward for the Olympics, and particularly for the athletes, spectators, and residents of host countries who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Our hope is that potential host countries, like Kazakhstan and China, will understand that protecting the rights of sexual minorities is no longer something they can dodge.'' - Shawn Gaylord, of Human Rights First.
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''The true spirit of the Olympic movement is about inclusion, which I am sure the intent has always included sexual orientation and deserves to be inclusive without question of interpretation. Today's move will make it clear about open hearts and open minds in the spirit of the Olympic Games.'' - US diving great Greg Louganis, on the addition of sexual orientation to the Olympic Charter.
