BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Newly elected IOC President Thomas Bach made it clear Wednesday that he wants to change the bidding process for future Olympics and to make sustainable development a key priority.
In what could be seen as a reference to discontent in Brazil at the spiraling cost of two major sporting competitions the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup Bach said he wants the populations of potential host cities to "be part of the candidature at a very early stage" to ensure "more participation and support."
Bach added that he believes the current bidding system asks for "too much, too early" and leads to predictability, rather than creativity.
"We approach potential candidate cities like you would do in business, with a tender for a franchise. All the bid books are written by the same people around the world you get the same answers," he said.
"I would like to try and change that mentality a little bit, to think about bidding more as an invitation. I want to invite potential candidates to study how Olympic Games would fit into their long-term city and regional and country development... (and) could contribute to sustainable development in their environment."