IOC's Thomas Bach Says Seven-Year Olympic Rule 'More Or Less Obsolete'

IOC President Thomas Bach said an IOC rule that forces a sport to wait seven years before it can potentially become part of the Games program is "more or less obsolete," according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. Bach "is eager to revamp the organization, change the bidding process for candidate cities and refresh the sports program." Bach said that the fact that the seven-year rule was included in the Olympic Charter "should not pose" a problem. Bach: "I know that the Olympic Charter is not set in stone, we have to evolve, adapt to modern times." He added, "I personally would be very much in favor (of changing the rule). The seven-year rule is more or less obsolete. If the IOC, organizing committees and international federations agree then the seven-year rule must not be applied" (REUTERS, 2/3).