Bigger not better

IOC seeks to combat 'gigantism' among 2012 contenders

LONDON (AP) -- The IOC must develop a "template" of what's required -- and not required -- for hosting the Olympics to make sure organizing cities keep the size and cost of the games under control, a key panel has recommended.

The IOC's Olympic Games Study Commission made about 100 recommendations to contain spending and combat "gigantism," including cutbacks in venues, accreditations, technology and other services.

The commission, headed by senior Canadian IOC member Dick Pound, said venue and spending restrictions must be spelled out from the start to Olympic bid cities.

"The IOC must make it clear that it does not subscribe to a view that `bigger is better,' " the panel said. "Any such attitude will likely be a handicap, rather than an advantage to any bid."

The commission's 31-page report was submitted to the International Olympic Committee executive board in Madrid last month. It was not released publicly. A copy has been obtained by The Associated Press.

The report will be presented for consideration by the full IOC general assembly at its session in Prague, Czech Republic, in early July.

The recommendations will apply directly to the cities bidding for the 2012 Summer Games. Declared candidates so far include New York; London; Paris; Moscow; Madrid, Spain; Leipzig, Germany, and Havana, Cuba. The host city will be selected in 2005.

A comprehensive IOC inventory should be presented to prospective host cities at the start of the bid process so they know "exactly what is required, and, perhaps more importantly, what is not required," the report said.

The IOC and local organizers must "never lose sight of the objective of delivering the best possible games for the least amount of money," it added.

The report was commissioned by IOC president Jacques Rogge, who won election in 2001 on a platform of downsizing the games.

The document reiterated the warning -- made in a preliminary report in November -- that the Olympics have reached a "critical size" and the future of the Olympics could be at risk unless the growth is checked.

The panel offered no radical proposals but the recommended measures, taken as a whole, would streamline the Olympics.

The report does not specify how much money could be saved, but Pound said in an interview the figure could be "anywhere from US$400 million to US$1 billion."

"A lot of the difference would be what you build and what scale you build it," he said. "You don't have to spend US$10 million if you can do it for US$1 million. You don't have to build a monument if you can use a temporary venue."

The panel said the IOC evaluation commission, which visits bid cities and compiles a report assessing their technical merits, should be given more power to judge the candidates. With IOC members prohibited from visiting bid cities, the evaluation report carries added weight.

"It will no longer be appropriate to couch the reports in bland generalizations or to refer only vaguely to certain `challenges' that will be faced by particular cities if they are chosen," the panel said. "Both the strong and weak points of each candidate must be clearly identified. The candidate cities are in a competition and they must be prepared to be judged accordingly."

The report said host cities should use combined venues for different sports, opt for more temporary facilities and locate groups of venues in clusters.

"Permanent facilities should be built only when a clear post-games legacy can be demonstrated," it said.

The report said sports and disciplines on the Olympic program should not be changed less than seven years prior to the games, a rule which has often been ignored.

Among other recommendations:

-- limit the Olympic torch relay to the host country and a maximum duration of 100 days from the lighting of the flame in Greece.

-- cut the number of press and photo accreditations.

-- reassess the need for French-language Olympic information system and official Web site.

-- reduce the number of reserved seating at venues.

-- reduce the period of lease and operations of venues, including the opening dates of the athletes' village and broadcast and press centers.

-- cut back on Olympic family lounges.

-- reconsider the obligation to provide a sponsors' village.

-- streamline IOC meetings held prior to the games, and transportation services for Olympic officials.

 

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