The IOC will launch independent audits of its member sports federations, national Olympic committees and local Games organizing committees, President Thomas Bach said on Thursday. The audits will begin for the year '16, and will cover the handling of money distributed by the IOC and general governance practices. The IOC Exec Board approved the audits as part of a "declaration on good governance" issued at meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland, this week, that also included an analysis of its own governance practices. "What we want to prevent is clear," Bach said. "What we want to achieve? Let me put it this way: that this money that is coming from sport is going to sport, and to assure those that are benefiting at the end from this contribution that these decisions are being made by respecting the rules of good governance." Bach did not say who would be conducting the audits, other than to say the audits would be independent. The IOC is searching for a new worldwide sponsor in the professional services category, and a proposal suggested that a new Olympic partner would be expected to handle auditing duties. The IOC's announcement comes amid the backdrop of scandals on multiple fronts in int'l sports. The IAAF and the World Anti-Doping Agency continue to handle allegations of widespread Russian doping. On Thursday, the French government launched an investigation into the IAAF's decision to award the 2021 World Championship to Eugene, Oregon, without a bidding process. And investigations continue to look into corruption at the highest levels of FIFA.
