The IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne last weekend ended with a number of far-reaching decisions for the future of the Olympic Games.

First of all the approval of the event programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will make the Games more youthful and more urban (with the inclusion of BMX freestyle and basket-ball 3×3), and will include more women (48,8% of participants). The new event programme will indeed see the highest-ever representation of female athletes in Olympic history, while also introducing sports events with youth and urban appeal.

In another decision regarding the Olympic programme, the Executive Board approved the overall composition of the sports programme for the Olympic Games 2024 to include all 28 sports on the programme of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 confirming golf and rugby)

The Executive Board also decided to put forward a proposal to the IOC Session to award the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028 at the same time. For this purpose the Executive Board called for an Extraordinary Session to take place on 11 and 12 July in Lausanne. In its decision, the Executive Board highlighted that having two great candidatures from the Candidate Cities of Los Angeles and Paris is a unique opportunity.

The Executive Board also agreed on the principles that should guide the further evolution of the candidature process.

For the 2026 candidature process, the IOC will take a more proactive role in assisting and supporting cities considering a candidature. The IOC will customize its approach to the needs of the cities in order for them to develop the best value proposition. These measures will lead to a simplified process for the cities, with reduced costs.

Also this new approach will be discussed at the IOC Session in July.