Reduction of quotas for OI-2024, gender equality and sanctions against the NOC of Belarus: what decisions were made at the meeting of the IOC

OI-2024 software update

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made a number of important decisions regarding the upcoming competitions.

The organization approved the program of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games, which will be held in 2024 in Paris.

Compared to previous tournaments, several changes have been made to the program at once.

Thus, the total number of medal sets played will be reduced from 339 to 329, and the number of athletes - to 10,500 people.

This will primarily affect weightlifting.

In total, the quota for this sport will be reduced by 70 people.

A similar decision was made regarding boxing, which will lose 34 quotas.

In both cases, the changes are related to corruption scandals around the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation (FTAR) Maxim Agapitov called the decision of the International Olympic Committee expected.

“We can only hope that the proper reforms in our sport will change the management system of the IWF.

Double standards, support for a culture of doping, fraud and nepotism will be eliminated.

This will restore confidence in the federation and give an impetus to the new development of world weightlifting - a fundamental, interesting, spectacular sport, ”TASS quotes Agapitov.

Despite the fact that a total of 41 proposals were received by the IOC to expand the number of disciplines, all of them were rejected, so that the only new sport, as expected, would be break dance.

The program will also reintroduce skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, which are just preparing to debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

These innovations are expected to attract more youth to the competition.

Gender equality has become another priority of the organization.

So, for the first time, an equal number of men and women will take part in the Olympics.

This indicator was achieved by increasing the number of sports in which both sexes are equally represented - 28 out of 32 disciplines.

According to IOC President Thomas Bach, the measures taken correspond to the modern realities in which world sports have found themselves in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

“With the help of this program, we are making the 2024 Olympics in Paris corresponding to the post-coronavirus world.

We continue to reduce costs and simplify the organization of the Games.

We have already ensured gender equality at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, and now for the first time in history, absolutely equal numbers of men and women will take part in the competition.

In addition, special attention is paid to youth, ”the IOC official website quotes Bach as saying.

Despite significant cuts and the almost complete absence of new sports, the IOC hopes that in the future, the Olympic programs, including 2028 in Los Angeles, will add new disciplines.

“We had a very detailed discussion with the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) regarding cross-country.

We know that the inclusion of this discipline is one of the key points of their strategy.

The already existing Olympic facilities should have been suitable for him, taking into account the necessary adaptation (for cross. -

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).

From this point of view, redeveloping, for example, trails for equestrian sports or mountain biking would be too difficult and costly, "- quotes the IOC sports director Keith McConnell Inside the Games.

Sanctions against the Olympic Committee of Belarus

At the last meeting of the IOC, the issue of imposing sanctions against the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus was also considered.

Violations of the Olympic Charter were found in the actions of its leadership, which "threaten the reputation of the entire movement."

In particular, we are talking about the fact that the leadership of the organization does not protect their athletes from political discrimination.

As a result, it was decided to temporarily suspend the leadership of the Belarusian Olympic Committee, including its head, President Alexander Lukashenko, from participating in all events and competitions held under the auspices of the IOC.

In addition, the NOC will be deprived of funding, with the exception of funds intended to prepare the national team for the next summer and winter Games.

Olympic scholarships will go directly to the athletes themselves, bypassing the organization.

Lukashenko himself noted that he is ready to appeal the IOC's decision in court.

“We need to go to court.

Let Bach and the gang tell you what is my fault, that I defend my country ?!

I have not taken part in these events for 25 years.

But have you gathered all the countries and made a decision?

And okay I, why are you touching the children?

There is no justice in the world.

If you build a fair policy, you will be an enemy, ”BELTA quotes Lukashenka.

Let us remind you that the investigation into the NOC was launched at the end of November after numerous complaints from athletes and sports organizations about the actions of the Belarusian authorities.

At the moment, the most worrisome is the 2021 World Ice Hockey Championship, which Belarus is supposed to hold together with Latvia.

Representatives of several states spoke out for the postponement of the tournament, and the collection of signatures was announced in the European Parliament.

Initially, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) stated that they did not intend to change the hosts of the tournament.

However, now the situation has become more complicated due to the fact that the temporary suspension of the IOC will affect the head of the Ice Hockey Federation of Belarus and a member of the NOC executive committee Dmitry Baskov.

According to Bach, the final word remains with the hockey authorities, and the decision will be made in the near future.

“We were informed by the IIHF that they initiated a procedure against the president of the national federation, who at the same time is a member of the executive committee of the NOC of Belarus.

And now it depends on the IIHF what decisions will be made.

We were told that they are following this situation very closely and are discussing the issue of holding the Ice Hockey World Championship, ”TASS quotes Bach.