IOC 125th Session Live Updates Summary

Edited by Ismail Uddin

 

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Live Updates –  (Time shown is local time in Buenos Aires – +4 hours for BST)

 

IOC Presidential candidate Sergey Bubka congratulates Lalovic on a job well done

Nenad Lalovic hugs fellow FILA member and actor William Baldwin

Wrestling delegation celebrate as Jacques Rogge announces their successful bid

1:25 Lalovic in News Conference: “Wrestling is not a new sport but the sport we are presenting now is a new wrestling.”

 

1:15 Baseball/Softball and Squash have both cancelled their press conferences. Unsurprising following the developments.

 

12:58 Marcos Leur, Founder of CEO of Total Sports Asia said on Twitter: “IOC voted wrestling back in after they kicked them out six months ago. Don’t get the logic. Should have gone with a truly new sport.”

 

12:45: FILA on Twitter: You Took A Stance, Voted, Retweeted and Followed to #SaveOlympicWrestling – THANK YOU!

 

12:40 USA Wrestling on Twitter: IOC VOTES TO KEEP WRESTLING IN THE OLYMPICS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/PWxn6lYN0A

 

12:37 Wrestling Back in the Olympic Games in 2020. Secured 49 votes while Baseball Softball got 24 and Squash got 22.

 

12:35 Rogge says: Wrestling Wins with 49 Votes Majority

 

12:32 Alan Abrahamson on Twitter: “The IOC ‘scrutineers’ now examining the vote totals, everyone. Moments ’til we know the results.”

 

12:30 Voting Closed. Who is going to win?

 

12:27 Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO of Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics tweets: “Time for voting! Good luck, @fila_official! #BA2013“

 

12:26 IOC members must press number 5 for baseball/softball, 6 for squash, 8 for wrestling

 

12:24 Voting to commence..

 

12:15 Wrestling getting far more Questions than squash and baseball-softball. Former indesrepancies mentioned, Wrestling replying now with Lalovic saying: “We are aware of our mistakes and it will not happen again”

12:03 Question asked about corruption at former federation and rules and charter of new federation.

 

11:55 Wrestling athletes giving their insight now and keep emphasising the ‘new’ wrestling.

 

11:45 Scherr says: “Wrestling is new in every way,” and the decision to cut Olympics originally was a ‘wake-up call’. They have made ‘extraordinary progress’ over the last six months.

 

11:40 Lalovic begins: “Remaining on Olympic program is crucial to the future of the sport.” Former USOC CEO Jim Scherr being asked to give insight to the ‘new’ wrestling.

 

 

11:39 Wrestling now on stage for their presentation. President Nenad Lalovic to begin presentation…

 

11:38 President Ramichandran making Squash’s case at the 125th IOC session below

 

 

11:37 Squash 2020 tweet: Watch the updated #Vote4Squash video as presented to the IOC just a few minutes ago … http://www.worldsquash.org/ws/news/12288

 

11:35 Questions about Pakistan not being in the bid are answered as player Jahangir Khan was in the videos. Also questions over cost have been displayed.

 

11:30 Ramichandran pushing the fact they have champions in five continents and the simplicity of their tournament. ‘Informal’ Youtube video to end presentation.

 

11:24 Players presentations emphsise their disapointment at not being able to compete at the olympics. Also 32 men and 32 women would compete at the games if elected. They also push forward their iconic venues as a major asset to their bid.

 

11:15 Olympics will be ‘career defining’ for Squash players Ramichandran says and shows a video of players Ramy Ashour and Nicole David endorsing the bid.

 

11:11 Ramichandran says: “squash represents the future not the past.” As they are looking for their first inclusion in the Olympics. Also talks about improved TV coverage. “Available in 185 countries.”

 

11:09 Squash being asked to come in by Rogge. Squash 2020 presentation about to start with World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramichandran up first.

 

 

10:58 Australian Olympic Committee on WBSC bid Presentations: “Aussie pro player @JustinHuber26 (pictured above) told #IOCSession the world’s best want to play @Tokyo2020jp Strong bid @PlayBall2020“

 

10:54 While there is a break, for more on Baseball/Softball’s bid check page 23 on our e-magazine iSportconnect e-mag on the 2020 elections

 

10:46 Questions asked on Baseball/Softball alignment. National federation have their own right to align or not according to WBSC. Presentation has now ended and there is a ten minute recess.

 

1039: Porter gives emotional speech about their sorrow of being dropped after Beijing 2008 to conclude the presentation.

 

10:36 Second Co-President Don Porter on stage and shows a quick video of MLB’s support and strong message from MLB Commissoner Bud Selig.

 

10:29 Playball 2020 on Twitter: “Low Beng Choo is telling the IOC about the proposal – for 2 exciting 6 day tournaments with 8 teams #baseball–#Softball #Olympics“.

 

10:26 WBSC’s promotional video includes clips of Tokyo scenery. A clever marketing ploy considering yesterday’s decision.

 

10:20 Co-President of Baseball/Softball Riccardo Fraccari begins the presentation. Cites huge female participation, youth participation and Muslim countries participation as major pulls for the sport.

 

10:18 Core Sports adopted. 77 for and 16 against. WBSC invited to give first presentation…

 

10:15: Voting is Closed on verifying the 25 Core sports. Votes are being counted.

 

10:10 Alam Abrahamson, Olympic expert and 3wires editor says on Twitter: “Earlier in Rogge’s presidency, he was much more inclined to engage in protracted democracy of this sort.”

 

10:09 Core Sports to be voted on now

 

10:07 Rogge says Wrestling was never dropped just demoted. To Pound, he cites cost and says this is too late to suggest moving this decision as there was plenty of time beforehand to say something.

 

10:03 A rare moment of laughter as Carraro asks Rogge to reply about these suggestions

 

9:58 Gerhard Heiberg rejects Pound’s claims and suggests IOC should make a decision today.

 

9:56 Dick Pound, former WADA president, brings about the point that they will be back to ‘square one’ if Wrestling is chosen. Asks for five month suspension of the decision.

 

9:52 After this discussion the IOC get to accept or reject the choice of the Executive Board of 25 core sports. Rogge asking for questions…

 

9:49 Carraro says 2020 report gives clear activity of each bidding sport. 25 Core sports now to be discussed

 

9:47: Frank Carraro, Chair of the IOC Olympic Programme Commission, invited on stage to discuss the sports.

 

9:43: Rogge now asking for votes to “delete” International Baseball Federation and International Softball Federation from the List. This is agreed.

 

9:39 Rogge finishes his rousing speech and talks about adding World Baseball Softball Confederation with full recognition. Vote by show of hands.

 

9:36 Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics has increased to 98 Events an increase of 20%

 

9:33 Rogge saying Rugby and Golf were added to 2016 Games and one will be added to the 25 core sports below for 2020 Games.

 

9:27 While Rogge continues his speech about the IOC here are the core 25 sports for the 2020 Olympics: athletics, rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian,fencing, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, hockey, judo, aquatics, modern pentathlon,taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing and volleyball.

 

9:18 Rogge now speaking about the financial strength of the IOC in his last report before he steps down.

 

9:16 Rogge speaking about the IOC and his time there and says he’s “extremely grateful” for his time there.

 

9:09 We had a quick moment of silence for 4 recently departed IOC members just then.

 

9:05 Mr Takeda thanks all the dignitaries for their support.

 

 

9:03 Jacques Rogge congratulates Tokyo 2020 Chairman Tsunekazu Takeda and invites him to give a few comments.

 

8:58 Andrew Shelley, World Squash Federation CEO, speaking to iSportconnect before the Session: “We are confident that we are ready if the IOC select us. As for the vote itself we can only await it knowing that we have made every effort to present ourselves well as the new sport option for 2020.”

 

8:55 For more on the three bids check out our iSportconnect e-mag on the 2020 elections.

 

8:50 A sport from either Baseball/Softball, Squash or Wrestling will be included in the 2020 programme today. Ten minutes before the presentations get under way!

 

8:43 Emphatic scenes yesterday with Tokyo’s win. Check out our minute by minute text coverage of yesterdays events on the next page.