117th IOC Session: The Road to London 2012 and Program Shifts
In July 2005, Singapore became the center of the sporting world as it hosted the 117th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This historic gathering was not only about administrative updates but served as the stage for one of the most anticipated host city announcements in Olympic history and a controversial review of the Summer Olympic sports program.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]
Key Facts
- Host City: London was awarded the 30th Olympiad for the year 2012.
- Sporting Changes: Baseball and softball were removed from the Summer Olympics program.
- Diplomatic Scale: The event was noted as the most prolific IOC event in history regarding the attendance of foreign leaders.
- Special Commemoration: A hybrid orchid, the Vanda IOC, was bred specifically for the session.
- Venue: Key events took place at Raffles City and the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore.
The 2012 Host City Election
The climax of the session occurred on July 6, 2005, during the election for the 2012 Summer Olympics host city. Five cities competed for the honor: London, Paris, Madrid, New York City, and Moscow. Each city was granted 45 minutes for a final presentation before the voting rounds commenced.
After four rounds of voting, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced that the games were awarded to London. The process was facilitated by chief scrutineer Thomas Bach and local sailor Griselda Khng.
| City | NOC | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Great Britain | 22 | 27 | 39 | 54 |
| Paris | France | 21 | 25 | 33 | 50 |
| Madrid | Spain | 20 | 32 | 31 | — |
| New York City | United States | 19 | 16 | — | — |
| Moscow | Russia | 15 | — | — | — |
Review of the Olympic Sports Program
On July 8, the IOC undertook a rigorous review of the 28 sports currently in the Summer Olympics program. The goal, supported by President Jacques Rogge, was to ensure the program remained dynamic. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) expressed concern that changing the mix of team and individual sports could risk the Games' success.
The Removal of Baseball and Softball
Following a secret ballot where only "yay" or "nay" votes were recorded to avoid a popularity ranking, the IOC voted to remove baseball and softball. Several factors influenced this decision:
- Professional Conflicts: Major League Baseball's restriction on players participating during the season.
- Integrity Issues: Concerns regarding the use of prohibited drugs in professional leagues.
- Gender Balance: Softball was originally included as a women-only counterpart to the men-only baseball; once baseball was removed, the reasoning for softball's inclusion diminished.
- Athlete Quotas: Removing these large-team sports created space for a higher number of individual athletes.
Failed Admissions
While the IOC looked to add new sports—including golf, rugby, karate, squash, and roller sports—the process hit a legal wall. Although squash and karate received over 51% of the votes, they failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority needed to amend the Olympic Charter (the codification of the fundamental principles of Olympism). Consequently, no new sports were added, reducing the 2012 program to 26 sports.
Administrative Milestones and Diplomacy
The session was marked by high-level international diplomacy. The opening ceremony, attended by over 2,000 guests, featured leaders such as France President Jacques Chirac, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and US Former First Lady Hillary Clinton. The event concluded with the official closing of the 2004 Athens Games and the election of Lambis Nikolaou and Chiharu Igaya as Vice Presidents, with Singapore's Ng Ser Miang joining the IOC Executive Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city won the 2012 Olympic bid?
London, Great Britain, was awarded the 30th Olympiad after four rounds of voting during the 117th IOC Session.
Why were baseball and softball removed from the Olympics?
They were removed due to a combination of professional league scheduling conflicts (specifically MLB), drug use concerns in professional baseball, and the fact that softball's role as a gender-equalizer was lost once baseball was gone.
Why weren't karate and squash added to the program?
Although they received a simple majority of votes, they did not reach the two-thirds majority required to amend the Olympic Charter.
What was the Vanda IOC?
The Vanda IOC was a special hybrid orchid bred specifically to commemorate the 117th IOC Session held in Singapore.
Who presided over the 117th IOC Session?
The session was led by IOC President Jacques Rogge and officially opened by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong.