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Possible merger Olympic and Paralympic leaders closer to one committee
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee leaders on Friday signed an agreement that paves the way for a unified governing body for both events. At a joint press conference at Stadium Australia on day three of the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and IPC chief Dr. Robert Steadward announced the new link. The memorandum of understanding ratifies Steadward's status as an IOC member, which was accepted by the IOC executive board earlier this year. It also outlines that IPC representatives will become eligible for positions on IOC advisory committees, including evaluations of future host cities and technology issues. A second and more powerful agreement, expected to be signed later this year, would force future bidding cities to sign one contract to host both the Olympics and Paralympics. That would result in closer links in broadcasting, marketing and sponsorship between the events. As part of the memorandum of understanding, the IOC agreed to contribute US$300,000 annually between 2001-2004 toward the administration of the IPC. The IOC will also provide an annual subsidy of US$100,000 for development projects. Developing nations will benefit, with the IOC allocating US$80,000 for developing nations to attend the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Paralympics and US$ 250,000 for the 2004 Athens Paralympics. The Paralympic Summer Games have been held in the same city as the Olympics since 1988, although those cities were not obliged to host the Paralympics. Recent uncertainty about the commitment of Athens organizers to staging the Paralympics after the 2004 Olympics had hastened negotiations between the IOC and the IPC regarding the single contract issue. Athens organizers are yet to commit to hosting the Paralympics, although Steadward said he been given assurances from Greek officials and he was confident a deal would be signed in November. Despite the moves toward greater cooperation, a single governing body is a long way off. Steadward said the IPC, which is still in its infancy and hosting only its 11th Summer Games, needed to mature considerably as an organization before assuming equal status with the IOC. Asked if the Olympics and Paralympics would ever come under the control of a singular sanctioning body, Steadward said: "Probably not in my life time." Samaranch, who is retiring next year after 20 years as IOC chief, said he would not be involved for much longer and, therefore, couldn't comment on a timeframe for possible unification.
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