SWITZERLAND: OLYMPICS - IOC President Jacques Rogge says economics should not be deciding factor in selection of host of 2016 summer Olympics

Record ID: 784024

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: OLYMPICS - IOC President Jacques Rogge says economics should not be deciding factor in selection of host of 2016 summer Olympics
  • Date: 17th June 2009
  • Summary: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 16, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) HEADQUARTERS IOC SIGNPOST IOC PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE ARRIVING AT THE PRESS BRIEFING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE SAYING: "The Economics should not drive our decision. We've shown frequently in the past that we do not necessarily go for the richest city and I believe that we were right to do that. I think that every IOC member has its own sets of criteria by which he or she will cast a vote. I can speak about mine and I think that some of my criteria are shared by the vast majority of the members. I say first of all, it's the care for the athletes. The Games are for the athletes, the Games are not for any other superior goal." JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0MZIYOIG5NCIK6P21101VGE8
  • Story Text: Economics or the prospect of increased revenues should not be the deciding factor in the International Olympic Committee's decision for the host of the 2016 summer Olympics, the IOC President said on Tuesday (June 16).
    A day before the candidate cities -- Madrid, Tokyo, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro, pitch their bid to the IOC members for the penultimate time, IOC chief Jacques Rogge said the care for athletes should be the top priority.
    "The Economics should not drive our decision. We've shown frequently in the past that we do not necessarily go for the richest city and I believe that we were right to do that. I think that every IOC member has its own sets of criteria by which he or she will cast a vote. I can speak about mine and I think that some of my criteria are shared by the vast majority of the members. I say first of all, it's the care for the athletes. The Games are for the athletes, the Games are not for any other superior goal," Rogge told a news conference at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
    The four cities will present their concept to about 90 IOC members on Wednesday (June 17) in Lausanne before the IOC meets in Copenhagen in October to pick the host after another brief presentation by the candidates there.
    Rogge also ruled out selecting the winning bid based on geographical rotation or for other political reasons.
    Rio has played up the fact that the Games have never gone to South America while Chicago supporters have said in 2016 it would be 20 years since the United States last staged the Games.
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