Economics should not drive 2016 Games choice: Rogge

By Karolos Grohmann
LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Economics or the prospect of increased revenues should not be the deciding factor in the International Olympic Committee's decision on which city hosts the 2016 summer Olympics, the IOC President said on Tuesday.
A day before candidates Madrid, Tokyo, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro pitch their bids to members for the penultimate time, IOC chief Jacques Rogge said care for athletes should be the top priority.
"I share the view...the economics should not drive our decision," Rogge told reporters. "In the past we did not necessarily go for the richest city and I believe we were right not to do that.
"First of all is the care for the athletes. The games are for the athlete... not for any other superior goal," Rogge said.
The four cities will present their concept to about 90 members on Wednesday in Lausanne before the IOC meets in Copenhagen in October to pick the host after another brief presentation by the candidates.
Rogge also ruled out selecting the winning bid based on geographical rotation or for other political reasons.
"I am not fond of geo-political considerations. It is not the economics but leaving a sustaining legacy," he said.
Rio has played up the fact that the Games have never gone to South America while Chicago supporters have said that in 2016 it would be 20 years since the United States last staged the Games.
HEADS OF STATE
Rogge also said the IOC would seek to contain activities of heads of state attending the vote in Copenhagen on October 2. for fear of upstaging the event itself.
Heads of state have in the past actively campaigned for bid cities with then Russian president Vladimir Putin helping Sochi win the 2014 Winter Games in 2007.
Tony Blair, at the time the British Prime Minister, made a great contribution to getting the Olympics for London two years earlier, meeting dozens of IOC members before the vote in Singapore.
U.S. President Barack Obama could attend the session in October to back Chicago, where he spent much of his political life.
"If heads of state want to be present that is their full right. We want to contain the activities to what has been agreed by the ethics commission," Rogge said.
Shortly after Rogge's news conference, two protesters, opposing Chicago's bid to host the Games, peacefully entered the IOC headquarters to hand in leaflets against the city's bid. Continued...
Source: Reuters