Press Release 26/2000

15.12.2000

IDSF Press Release 26/00

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS,
OLYMPIC GAMES COORDINATION AND RELATIONS
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS

To: All IOC Recognised Federations
cc: ARISF                                 

Lausanne, 15 December 2000

Re: Programme of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, Athens 2004

Dear Sir/Madam,

As you may have been aware, the Olympic Programme Working Group met on 12 December 2000 to review the requests of Olympic and Recognised Federations for amendments to the programme of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and prepare recommendations in this regard to the IOC Executive Board.

The consideration of the large numbers of requests for additional sports on the Olympic programme received from Recognised Federations (14 in total) was balanced by the very clear challenges we are currently faced with, in particular the following:

i. reducing the number of athletes from the 10.960 entered and accredited in Sydney 2000 to the total of 10.000 as defined in the Olympic Charter; ii. reducing the numbers of events from the 300 currently in the Olympic Programme; iii. concerns regarding the cost and operational impact of new sports upon the organising committee of the Olympic Games (additional venues, logistical complications, athlete support services, technical official numbers, media services etc); iv. the existing construction and infrastructure challenges of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

With these challenges in mind, the IOC Executive Board decided on 13 December 2000 that no new sports would be admitted to the programme of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

As always, the IOC commits itself to the continual development of the Olympic programme, and therefore this decision does not relate to Olympic Games beyond 2004. In this regard, we welcome the requested additions from Recognised Federations as a clear indication of the desire to continue to develop the standard, raise the profile and encourage participation in your respective sports. We would encourage you to continue such efforts as fundamental objectives of your federation.

We thank you for your attention to this information and extend to you our best regards.

Yours sincerely,
Gilbert Felli
Sports Director