Press release from IOC.

We'll allow them the caveat as the new system has already been
shown to work in the Edmonton World Championships.

Tim





PRESS RELEASE
Official International Olympic Committee press release







OLYMPIC PROGRAMME - DECISIONS BY THE IOC ON
DISCIPLINES AND EVENTS, OBJECTIVES AND TIMETABLE


20 February 2003




Following the resolutions adopted at the 114th Session of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Mexico City in
November 2002, and to enable the Olympic Programme
Commission to continue its work, the IOC Executive Board (EB),
meeting today in Lausanne, has taken a series of decisions on
the disciplines and events on the programme of the Olympic
Games in 2008, and approved the Programme Commission's
objectives and working timetable.

These decisions were taken after consultation with the
International Federations (IF) for which the Programme
Commission had recommended either excluding disciplines or
changing certain events.

Programme of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008

Sports for which the Programme Commission had
recommended excluding disciplines:

- Canoe-Kayak (ICF) - Slalom

The EB has decided to maintain this discipline for the Games of
the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing on condition that a positive evolution
takes place in this discipline, particularly in terms of global
participation.

- Equestrian (FEI) - Three-day event

The EB has decided to maintain the three-day event for the
Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, on condition that it is
organised under the new format proposed by the FEI. The EB
accepted this new format for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in
Athens at its last meeting.

- Wrestling (FILA) - Exclusion of a discipline

The EB has decided to maintain the two disciplines (freestyle
and greco-roman), but, given the large number of medals
awarded in this sport, the EB asks the federation to reduce the
number.

- Athletics (IAAF) - Race walking events

The EB has decided to maintain these events for the Games of
the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, on condition that the new
measures proposed by the federation achieve the expected
results on the occasion of the World Championships in Paris, in
August 2003, and at the Games in Athens in 2004.

Sports for which the Programme Commission recommended
changes to events:

-Sailing (ISAF) - reduction in athlete quota and number of events

The EB has accepted the ISAF's proposal to reduce the number
of events from 11 to 10 and the athlete quota from 400 to 380
starting from 2012, as the sailing events in 2008 will not be
taking place in the Olympic host city.

- Swimming (FINA) - Team synchronised swimming event

After studying the information submitted by FINA and the
proposal to change the qualification system in order to make this
event more universal, the EB has decided to maintain this event
in the programme of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing.

- Shooting (ISSF) - Reduction in athlete quota and number of
events

The EB has accepted the ISSF's proposal to limit the amount of
construction needed to hold the shooting events at the Olympic
Games (reducing costs by approximately one third) and to
eliminate two events from the programme. These events will be
chosen at a later date.

- Badminton (IBF) - Mixed doubles event

The IOC maintains its position of not including new mixed
doubles events in the Olympic programme. However, in view of
the arguments put forward by the IBF, the EB has decided to
maintain this event on the programme of the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad in Beijing, in 2008.

Approval of objectives and working timetable of the Olympic
Programme Commission:

February 2003 (after the EB meeting)

- Communication of EB decisions to ANOC, ASOIF, AIOWF and
ARISF, who will be involved in the discussion, establishment
and implementation of new criteria to allow the IOC to evaluate
the sports on the future Olympic programme. They will also be
asked to choose representatives to sit on the Programme
Commission.

- Communication of EB decisions and the following timetable to
the Olympic and Recognised IFs

Spring 2004 - IOC Executive Board meeting

Proposed list of criteria by the Programme Commission for
approval

August 2004 - 116th IOC Session in Athens

Proposed list of criteria for approval

Autumn 2004

Analysis by the Programme Commission of all sports, based on
the list of criteria approved by the IOC Session

February 2005 - IOC Executive Board meeting

Report by the Programme Commission and proposed new
programme

July 2005 - 117th IOC Session in Singapore

Vote on the Olympic programme

Programme of the Olympic Winter Games, Turin 2006

Following the recommendations by the Programme
Commission, the EB has also decided to include snowboard
cross as an event on the programme of the 2006 Olympic Winter
Games in Turin.








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