Day 2 of IOC Executive Board meeting in St. Petersburg

In the morning, the board members received reports on preparations for Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018 as well as for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing next year. Preparations in each city are on track.

The EB approved the design for the medals  that will be presented at the Games in Sochi next February and the public had the opportunity to get its first glance at them at the convention venue.

The EB also heard updates on certain National Olympic Committees (NOCs) currently experiencing difficulties, in particular government interference.

A decision on the case of IOC member Pál Schmitt was reached after careful consideration of the facts and recommendations from the IOC Ethics Commission. Considering Mr Schmitt’s self-suspension for a year, his previous extraordinary service to sport and the Olympic Movement, his resignation as Head of State of Hungary, and his voluntary and permanent suspension from membership on any IOC Commission, the Executive Board decided to issue a warning to Mr Schmitt.

In another decision, the EB approved the reallocation of medals and diplomas in three cases where athletes were found guilty of doping following the further analysis of their samples collected during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The bronze medal from Iryna Yatchenko, Belarus, Athletics (Women’s Discus Throw Final) will be reallocated to Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova of the Czech Republic.

The gold medal from Yuriy Bilonog, Ukraine, Athletics (Men’s Shot Put) will be reallocated to Adam Nelson of the United States. Joachim Olsen of Denmark will receive the silver medal and Manuel Martinez from Spain will receive the bronze medal. The bronze medal from Oleg Perepetchenov, Russia, Weightlifting (Men’s 77kg) will be reallocated to Reyhan Arabacioglu from Turkey.   

Finally, the IOC EB chose Durban, South Africa as host of the 16th World Conference for Sport for All in 2015.