Rogge "Happy" with Olympics, But Ticketing Needs Revamp

(ATR) IOC president Jacques Rogge says London has delivered on its promise to "inspire a generation" but insists certain aspects of Games organization including the controversial ticketing distribution can be improved for Rio 2016.

Describing himself as "happy" about the organization of the Olympics and "grateful" to LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and his team, Rogge admitted he had few gripes with the delivery of the two-week sporting extravaganza that has been seven years in the making.

"Yes, here and there things can be improved. I mean, no one will pretend that there is perfection in this world," he told his final press conference at an Olympics under his watch as IOC chief.

"I think the Games were absolutely fabulous. But here and there… there are issues that we can tell the Brazilians be careful for this, be careful for that. Nothing fundamental of course."

Rogge said London’s ticketing system was one of the items on the agenda of London’s week-long debriefing with Rio 2016 organizers in the Brazilian city in November.

The difficulties experienced by British customers in buying tickets due to the official ticketing website crashing under the weight of high demand on several occasions through the phased sales process triggered anger and disappointment. U.S. customers also experienced troubles in getting their tickets shipped out to them.

The IOC Ethics Commission is also investigating allegations into a Sunday Times newspaper report that a handful of NOCs and authorized ticket resellers sold 2012 tickets on the black market.

Rogge was asked if the IOC would consider reforming the ticketing and centralizing the process rather than "parceling it out to NOCs".

"We are definitely going to review the ticketing policies of the Games," he said, adding that a working group was being set up with LOCOG to do that.

"The sale of ticketsais a very complicated issue because you need a good balance between the home public, which deserves a big chunk, and the rest of the world," Rogge said.

"But there is also the fact that the distribution of tickets runs through NOCs or authorized ticket resellers… we are going to see whether this system will continue to work and how we can improve it."

Rogge on London Legacy

Commenting on London living up to its "Inspire a generation" slogan, Rogge said London was achieving its objectives.

"Definitely, the legacy of the Games will be an important one," he said, adding that it's not just the tangible but intangible ones – the people. He said youngsters would be motivated by new sporting role models. LOCOG’s "International Inspiration" program has already touched the lives of nearly 20 million children and young people.

The IOC chief claimed London "has absolutely refreshed the Games in many aspects," particularly with its focus on mixing permanent and temporary venues and sustainability as part of the legacy plan. He suggested this would be a template for future hosts.

London 2012 had offered a "better care for sustainability and legacy than many other cities in the past," noting that Barcelona was still considered as the benchmark.

"London had the intelligence to start very early in the preparation cycle by creating a legacy company. This is something that definitely we are going to recommend to future cities," he said.

Rogge admitted that London 2012 had reawakened interest in Olympic sports that tend to get marginalized in a nation obsessed by football.

"That is the challenge that Great Britain faces. This will require investment in these sports. But a great foundation is being laid in all of the sports," he said.

Asked what Rogge’s successor should focus on heading into Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016, he said: "I believe on the fundamentals that are there for every Games". Close collaboration among the IOC, organizing committees and governments was necessary, he said.

"I don’t see a change in policy in the future for the IOC," said Rogge, who stands down in September 2013.

Rogge was keen to restate the importance of women in sport at London 2012 where Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Brunei sent female athletes for the first time.

He vowed that the IOC would continue discussions with NOCs, governments and sports ministries to find strategies and solutions to improve gender equality in sport. "It will take time. The ideal situation will not be found tomorrow. This is the work for probably a decade at least to see major improvements."

Highlights of the Games

Asked for his highlights of the Games, Rogge said the tears of British track cycling star Chris Hoy, who won his sixth Olympic gold of his career, was his defining moment.

He listed the feats of Usain Bolt’s "double treble" – 100m , 200m and 4x100m in London and Beijing – Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian as well as those of other athletes including Britain’s greatest sailor Ben Ainslie and Andy Murray, who won gold in the tennis.

After upsetting Bolt, the global star of London 2012, by saying he was not yet a "living legend" until he had accomplished more at more Games, Rogge re-evaluated his appraisal.

"Let me finalize this issue to say that Usain Bolt is an athletic performance legend, is an icon and the best sprinter of all time," he said.

"It was a dream for a sports lover like me," he said, adding that another of his favorite moments was David Rudisha winning the 800m in a world record "with his magic stride, this was beauty in action".

Coe said the support and passion of the British people was his best memory.

"It’s been an extraordinary fortnight… just amazing, amazing scenes." He thanked Rogge and IOC as well as international federations for their support and guidance through the years of preparations that were undertaken against the backdrop of the world’s economic crisis.

"Britain is at the top of its game in terms of event management, capitalizing on everything that we have witnessed in the last fortnight and the last seven years is going to be important," he said.

British prime minister David Cameron has asked Coe to be an ambassador for London’s Olympic legacy. "I am very happy to do that. The instant response was, of course, yes. It is very important that we leverage every ounce… whether it be economic, social and whether it’s sporting as well."

The double Olympic champion said the athletes of London 2012, including the British team who won 28 golds and exceeded expectations, had inspired a generation –"that I have absolutely no doubt about".

Further praise came for the volunteers "who have made these Games" and the thousands of employees at LOCOG who have worked tirelessly to deliver them: "I have never worked with a more focused and passionate people and I probably never will again."

Rogge was asked what he made of Coe’s future; he is hotly tipped to become an IAAF president and to rise up the ranks of the IOC to perhaps become its president one day.

"Sebastian is a man with his heart in the right place, it’s a place for sport. He’s a very skillful man. I go very well along with him – the chemistry is working extremely well. Definitely, he is someone who should have a great future not only in sport but also in society.

"I’m very glad about the proposal of the Prime Minister. I think it is a very good thing," he added.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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