It has been a long and testing journey to get to this point, it is no exaggeration to say that the Brazilians have been living through extraordinary times.

Thomas Bach

Categorized in : Sports

At a time when we still on speaking terms with AIBA, we had more or less agreed that we will have gender equality in the Olympic competition in Tokyo, you can be assured that whoever organizes the Olympic competition, we will insist on this principle of gender equality for boxing.

Rio de Janeiro would not be where it is today, without International Olympic as a catalyst, history will talk about a Rio de Janeiro before the International Olympic and a much better Rio de Janeiro after International Olympic.

The last couple of days before the Olympics Games there is always one issue or other to be solved. The Brazilians will solve it, you can already feel the Olympic energy here ... so we are looking forward to a great Games and, as you know, we always had confidence in Brazil, in the Brazilians, that it will be a fantastic Olympic Games.

Darya Klishina has been declared eligible by Darya Klishina international federation, now it is up to Darya Klishina National Olympic Committee to decide about Darya Klishina entry to the Rio Games and then Darya Klishina would be a member of the Russian team.

We have to respect the individual decisions, even if they are going contrary to the World Health Organization recommendations, on the other hand, we are aware of discussion in the golf community that there are obviously very different reasons for not going to Rio, not related to Zika.

The IOC has been showing solidarity with our Brazilian partners though the financial, social, economic and political crisis in the country, we have made contributions financially, and some federations have taken over some costs normally borne by the organizing committee.

More disciplinary commission hearings are taking place over the next few weeks with priority being given to athletes who may qualify for Rio.

If you look at the new port, if you look at the new hotels and shops which have been created and will be created by this enhancement of the tourism industry, i think you can really say there will be a much better Rio de Janeiro after the Olympic Games.

These refugee athletes will show the world that despite the unimaginable tragedies that they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit.

Rio de Janeiro... will provide a spectacular to showcase the best of the human spirit. In just a few weeks the Brazilian people will enthusiastically welcome the world and amaze us with their joy of life and their passion for sport.

But if you consider the circumstances that our Brazilian friends are working under -- with their country in a situation of crisis -- ...you can look forward to the opening of the stadium and to be overwhelmed by the passion of our Brazilian hosts, you will experience Games with a great joy for life and passion for sport.

It is, as you know, six months before the Olympic Games and it is the most difficult time to prepare for Games, there is one or the other minor thing to do, and of course it is the same for other countries, and it is the same for the Brazilians.

Yes, these times are difficult for sport. But yes, it is also an opportunity to renew the trust in this power of sport to change the world for the better, protecting clean athletes goes hand in hand with ensuring that the environment in which athletes operate is safe from corrupting influences.

Zero tolerance means all nations and all sports have to be compliant with WADA's rules. On this front, sport requires the support of governments, governments need to make sure that their national anti-authorities are WADA-compliant.

Having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic anthem.

The athletes...will have to accept the Olympic standards during the next year prior to the Games and of course during the Games the first five will be tested on top of the random-testing and the targeted-testing during the Olympic period, i can only encourage the PGA Tour to follow and finally accept the WADA code and to be compliant with this so you have a harmonized anti-doping regime there for all the golf players and you have a ... level playing field for all golfers.

There will be project reviews in both organizing cities (Tokyo and Pyeongchang) in January and February to follow up on this and see what the Olympic Agenda 2020 means for their organization of the Games, there of course can also be venue changes being discussed if such venue changes lead to more sustainability and to less expenses. This...can include venue changes, this can lead to lesser capacities with regard to different venues.

We have been discussing also the (Pyeongchang) budget of course, we have a new chairman of the organizing committee and chairman Cho has the full confidence of the IOC Executive Board.

We are in discussions with both organizing committees about the follow-up on the potential opportunities which the Olympic Agenda 2020 would offer to them, if the changes (Agenda 2020) would be approved and more flexibility would be possible then we will start the implementation for this right after the approval.