The US city of Salt Lake City to host the 2034 Winter Olympicswhich was approved this Wednesday in Paris by the assembly of International Olympic Committee (IOC)although he demanded in return “the supreme authority of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)“.
83 IOC members voted in favor of the headquarters, 6 against and 6 abstained.
Suspicions of doping among members of the Chinese swimming team and the investigation opened by the United States Department of Justice entered the debate on the election of the Olympic site, as the members of the IOC considered the said investigation to constitute interference. to the freedom of the AMA.
The Agency determined that the Chinese positives, registered in 2021, were due to accidental, accidental contamination, and disallowed swimmers.
As a solution, the President of the IOC, the German Thomas Bachthe IOC changed the text of the contract with the organizing city to cancel it in case the United States authorities did not accept WADA’s supreme authority.
The Belgian Ingmar de Vos, president-elect of the association of summer federations, asserted that “cases of environmental contamination occur frequently, also in the United States” and highlighted that “the AMA has been accused of the worst, of hiding cases”, despite of the fact that “independent investigations denied that this happened.
“Some initiatives carried out in the United States are very disturbing. This is another example of the politicization of sport,” said the president of the International Equestrian Federation.
“We have to decide now on the excellent candidacy of Salt Lake City. We know you have heard our concerns, but I think before we vote we need a clear statement,” he insisted.
Australian John Coates, legal officer and vice president of the IOC, explained how the “text of the contract” was strengthened with the city “to guarantee the independence of WADA and allow the IOC to terminate it if the supreme authority of WADA is not respected .” “.
“The state of Utah and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee fully supported this change,” he added.
He Committee Chairman, Gene Sykesconfirmed it: “We are committed to WADA’s authority, essential to guaranteeing clean sport. We take their concerns seriously. We accept the responsibilities stated in the revised contract.”
Fraser Bullock, president of the Salt Lake City bid, was blunt: “It’s not about us, it’s about our country,” he said. “But we can be a catalyst to work together on this problem.”
If the contract goes through under its new terms, it will be the second time the Utah state capital will host the so-called ‘White Games’, after the 2002 edition.
A few minutes before the IOC awarded the 2030 Games to the region of the French Alps, so the Olympic calendar, both summer and winter, is closed until 2034.
The project in Salt Lake City was already validated in June by the IOC Executive, but ratification by the assembly is required, as stipulated in the Olympic Charter.
Other options the IOC considered a few months ago for 2034 were those of Switzerland and Sweden, but he discarded them for various reasons. Japanese people Sapporowhich was also interested, withdrew, affected by corruption scandals related to the Tokyo 2020 bid.
Post-Paris 2024 Olympic calendar
2026, Milan/Cortina Winter Games (Italy)
2028, Los Angeles Olympic Games (USA)
2030, French Alps Winter Games (France)
2032Brisbane Olympic Games (Australia)
2034Salt Lake City Winter Games (USA).
The United States will also host the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The new concession to the city of Great Salt Lake favors the reuse of the 2002 Games venues and guarantees a snow-free Games. The climate crisis has greatly reduced the list of countries likely to organize the Games.
“These are Games that fit perfectly into our future,” said the city’s mayor, Erin Mendenhall which promised a city with 100% renewable energy by 2030.
80% of Utahns support the project, he said. During the performance, live images of the streets of Salt Lake were shown, where citizens followed the performance in the early hours of the morning.
The candidacy promised an aid program to athletes’ families to provide them with cheap accommodation so they can travel to support their loved ones.
Fraser Bullock became emotional as he recalled the 2002 Games, for which he was financially responsible.
“I don’t want it to end,” he said. “We can reorganize extraordinary Games. We want more athletes from more countries to enjoy them and maybe inspire a child in a distant country or a town in Utah to think that what he wants to do,” he said.
The Winter Games have been organized in the United States four times: Lake Placid 1932, Squaw Valley 1960, Lake Placid 1980 and Salt Lake City 2002.
Source: La Verdad
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