MORE WOMEN ON THE BEIJING PROGRAMME
The IOC has introduced new quotas for women's participation at the Olympic Games, bringing them closer to reaching the goal of gender equity. The IOC accepted the request for additional female athletes in fencing, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, triathlon and cycling. There will be 128 more female athletes in Beijing than in Athens, where just over 40 per cent of total participants were women. 'We are getting closer to the 50-50 ratio in Beijing,' IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said.
2008 GAMES STILL ON TRACK, says ROGGE
IOC president Jacques Rogge said in Turin he believed Beijing would host an efficient and well-organised games. 'We have full confidence in Bocog that they will be well organised,' Rogge said after IOC members were updated on the city's progress. 'They are very efficient,' he said, adding that he believed Beijing could avoid the problems that plagued Athens in the run-up to the 2004 games.
Rejected pair STRIKE OUT
Baseball and women's softball have struck out and will not be on the Olympic programme in London in 2012. Both sports will be on the Beijing roster, and will be eligible to reapply for readmission to the 2016 Games, but they will not feature in London.