The IOC Session’s working sessions started on Wednesday 13 with already first decisions to be taken.

The main key item on the Agenda – awarding the Olympic Games organisation – was bound to loose  some surprise after the special session held in Lausanne last July. But the official and abive all unanimous vote entrusting Paris with the 2014 Olympics and Los Angeles with the following 2028 summer  event was welcomed with enthusiasm by the two bid teams.

Previously the main decision by the IOC Executive Board were to amalgamate the oaths taken by athletes, followed by officials and then coaches, into one oath, with athletes taking the lead. As of the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang next February, these three oaths will be merged into one, considerably shortening this segment of the Ceremony, and athletes will recite the oath on behalf of the three groups.

The IOC EB also agreed to the change of nationalities and request for exemption from the three-year waiting period for three athletes who, subject to qualification, are now eligible to compete at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 under the flag of their applicant National Olympic Committee. In particular Mr Danut Moldovan (bobsleigh), from Romania to Austria and Ms Nichole Bathe (cross country skiing), from the USA to Great Britain.