Rogge takes his scalpel to bloated Olympics

Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
Thursday February 20, 2003
The Guardian

Jacques Rogge, the surgeon turned president of the International
Olympic Committee, is to make another attempt at taking his scalpel
to the games today.


Among the disciplines the IOC programme commission has recommended
dropping is race walking and at least part of the wrestling,
equestrian, rowing, synchronised swimming and badminton events - and
the future of these and others will be considered here today by the
15-member ruling executive board.

There has been intensive lobbying from all the affected sports since
the proposals were unveiled last September. The board has already
accepted a plan from the International Equestrian Federation to
reduce the cross-country programme in the three-day event at the 2004
Athens Olympics, a move that seems to have preserved its status.

The International Association of Athletics Federations also appears
to have secured enough support to guarantee the future of walking,
which has been part of the Olympics since 1908.

This is despite the fact that many IOC members had felt the games
were brought into disrepute in Sydney when Mexico's Bernardo Segura
completed a winner's lap of honour before being disquali fied and
Australia's Jane Saville was pulled out when leading as she was about
to enter the stadium.

Rogge is realistic enough, however, to understand that something has
to go as the games are too large. In Sydney there were 300 events,
more than 10,000 competitors and 16,000 media representatives -
10,000 of whom were involved with television.

"We're very well aware that many sports depend for their future on
the appearance at the Olympic Games," said Rogge. "This is an
important factor.

"However, this should not also be a paralysing factor because the
programme also has to remain attractive, particularly to television
audiences."

A key pledge of Rogge's successful election manifesto two years ago
was to cut the numbers of Olympic competitors and officials. He
believes the games are in danger of becoming a logistical nightmare
for host cities.

Rogge was defeated in his first attempt last November, when the IOC
decided not to back his plans to expel three sports - modern
pentathlon, softball and baseball - from the Olympics. They deferred
a decision for two years.