IOC ready to implement Bach's reforms

PARIS - The International Olympic Committee announced Friday that the implementation of president Thomas Bach's reform package has been underway with a new biding process and an Olympic TV channel.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach attends the opening of the 127th IOC session in Monaco December 8, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

The 127th IOC session unanimously approved the 40 recommendations making up Olympic Agenda 2020 on Monday in Monaco before Bach chaired meetings in Laussanne on Thursday to apply some of the key changes.

"Following the success of the IOC Session in Monaco and the unanimous endorsement of my fellow IOC members for the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations, it is critical that we utilize the momentum and energy we have created throughout the Olympic Movement and start implementing straight away," said the boss.

The 2024 Olympic Games bidding process will fully apply the reform recommendations and opens on Jan. 15, 2015 with an invitation phase.

The 2022 Winter Games bid process, involving Beijing and Almaty, is already underway, but the IOC said elements of Olympic Agenda 2020 will be implemented where possible, "especially with regard to the IOC assisting bid cities in reducing costs and ensuring a sustainable legacy."

"I'm happy to have participated, and very much looking forward to seeing the IOC put its new initiatives into action," said Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, who took part in the Olympic Agenda 2020 Working Group on "Olympism in Action".

"It's an exciting time for technology and the Olympic Movement. I was pleased to see the IOC, a more than 100-year-old organization, take the initiative and open itself to fresh ideas as it looked ahead to the year 2020," he said.

Former NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol, as an unpaid special adviser, attended meetings on the digital TV channel, where Bach reiterated the importance of the Channel in providing a platform for the promotion of Olympic sports, athletes and the Olympic values beyond the period of the Games.

"The media landscape has changed enormously in recent years, in particular with the uptake of digital media. There is much more opportunity today to reach and connect with audiences everywhere on earth, in particular young people," said Ebersol.