This morning, the Executive Board (EB) analysed requests from a number of International Federations for changes and/or additions to events/quotas within their respective sports for the programme of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The EB based its discussion on the recommendations of the Olympic Programme Commission and made a series of decisions (see below).

　For reference, the EB is the body responsible for deciding on events and disciplines; the Session remains responsible for the composition of the Olympic programme as far as sports are concerned.

　Increase in number of female athletes

　The Programme Commission aimed to provide the Executive Board with recommendations based on a fair and wide analysis of the situation with an emphasis on the relevance of events and disciplines for future generations as well as the participation of women. On that front, the changes agreed by the EB will lead to an increase in the number of female athletes by approximately 80. This number will be included within the total number of 10,500 athletes through a final decision on quota per sport which will be made at the next EB meeting.

　Discipline discussed for Vancouver 2010

　The EB also reviewed one request from an International Federation for changes in a discipline for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This request was not accepted (see below).

　Strategy for reviewing the Olympic winter sports programme

　The process which will be used to review the sports on the Olympic Winter Games programme was also discussed by the EB. This review, based on the same procedure as the one carried out earlier this year on the Olympic summer sports, will include a report by the Olympic Programme Commission in collaboration with the International Federations.

　Requests by International Federations accepted by the EB for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

　FIFA – Football

　Request: increase number of female teams from 10 to 12.

　FIH - Hockey

　Request: increase number of female teams from 10 to 12.

　IHF – Handball

　Request: increase number of female teams from 10 to 12.

　FINA – Aquatics

　Request: inclusion of open water swimming 10km event for men and women.

　IAAF - Athletics

　Request: inclusion of one event, women’s 3000m steeplechase.

　ITTF - Table Tennis

　Request: replace doubles events with team events.

　Requests by International Federations to increase their quotas for the 2008 Olympic Games – still under discussion

　ITU – Triathlon

　UCI - Cycling

　UIPM - Modern Pentathlon

　FIE – Fencing

　Requests by International Federations NOT accepted by the EB for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

　AIBA – Boxing

　Request: introduction of women’s boxing, four additional weight categories and 32 athletes.

　FIBA – Basketball

　Request: increase number of male teams from 12 to 16, with a reduction in team numbers from 12 athletes to 10 athletes across all men’s and women’s teams.

　FIG – Gymnastics

　Request: increase number of groups in rhythmic gymnastics from 10 to 12, leading to an increase of 12 gymnasts. Alternatively, increase number of individual rhythmic gymnasts by 12

　FILA - Wrestling

　Request: inclusion of three additional weight categories of women’s wrestling, leading to a total of seven categories. The Federation was encouraged to find a solution within its existing quota.

　FINA – Aquatics

　Request: inclusion of six events: 50m backstroke men & women; 50m breaststroke men & women; and 50m butterfly men & women.

　ISF – Softball

　Request: increase the number of female teams from 8 to 10, leading to an increase of 30 athletes.

　ITF – Tennis

　Request: inclusion of one event, mixed doubles.

　IWF – Weightlifting

　Request: increase number of athletes by 15 to 20 for women’s events. The Federation was encouraged to find a solution within its existing quota.

　WTF – Taekwondo

　Request: inclusion of two events for men and women: increase weight categories from four to six, leading to an increase of 20 athletes.

　Requests by International Federations NOT accepted by the EB for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver

　FIL – Luge

　Request: inclusion of one discipline: natural track luge.

　All decisions regarding events for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be taken by the EB at the end of 2006.