IOC approves major reform package

Associated Press

MONACO

Thomas Bach never thought it would be this easy.

In rapid fashion and without a single vote against or even an abstention, the International Olympic Committee on Monday overwhelmingly approved its president’s 40-point reform package — the biggest shake-up of the organization in decades.

“Even in my wildest dreams I would not have expected this,” Bach said after the delegates unanimously backed his plans for a more affordable bidding system, creation of an Olympic television channel and a more flexible sports program. “That it would go this way was a very, very positive surprise.”

Among other measures approved was the rewording of the IOC’s non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation — a move that followed the controversy over Russia’s law against gay “propaganda” ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The IOC abolished the cap of 28 sports for the Summer Games to move to an “events-based” system that would allow new competitions to come in, while keeping to about 10,500 athletes and 310 medal events.