SportAccord President Marius Vizer urged the IOC "to end pressure on federations to withdraw their membership" of his organization after he criticized the Olympic body last month, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. Vizer "accused the IOC of being dated, blocking new events and lacking transparency among other things." Since Vizer's "scathing attack" at the SportAccord convention, which he said was probably "too shocking" for the IOC, more than a dozen Olympic federations, including athletics, boxing, archery, taekwondo, triathlon, hockey and wrestling, have left, saying that "his comments did not represent them." Vizer: "I had expected more solidarity from international federations, specifically from summer Olympics federations, because I spoke out in the favor of the sport. I did not attack (IOC President Thomas) Bach or the IOC." Vizer added that the "sudden exodus" of federations in recent weeks, however, "was not because of what he said but because of IOC pressure." Vizer: "That is my opinion and I am really convinced of that." Vizer "has written to the IOC chief, asking for a meeting to clear the air." Vizer: "I am open to meeting with President Bach to discuss (things) with him. Everything I want is for the benefit of sports. Just because the IOC is the most important sports organization does not mean it is perfect" (REUTERS, 5/20).
