The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, gave praise to cycling’s governing body, the UCI, and it’s boss Brian Cookson, during a meeting in Lausanne this week.
"The UCI informed me of all the measures they are taking to protect their sport from manipulation of any kind, in particular doping," Bach said in a press release from the UCI. "And these efforts are indeed impressive. It was great to see all the stakeholders equally committed to the fight for clean athletes.
In other business, the IOC took into consideration, Cookson’s suggestion that track cycling be moved to the Winter Olympics schedule. Bach responded with:
"We also discussed the UCI’s contributions to Olympic Agenda 2020, which will be looked at in even greater detail by Working Groups beginning next week. We are thankful for their input."
Additionally, Cookson’s recommendation to the IOC back in January regarding the inclusion of cyclocross as part of the Winter Games also came under discussion. Moreover, Cookson also emphasized his desire to see cycling grow beyond the sport, and become a major form of global transportation.
At the conclusion, Cookson thanked Bach and the IOC for what he described as being a very positive meeting.
"I would like to thank President Bach for an extremely positive discussion covering a range of issues around the UCIs strategy to grow cycling globally, " Cookson said.
"It was very useful to talk with him on the Olympic Agenda 2020 review and, in particular, discuss how cycling can play its role in those plans. Among other things we believe cycling can be a big part of the IOC’s sustainability and legacy work by helping bid cities transform themselves into places where cycling is a preferred way of getting around, making those cities better places to exercise, live and work."
PRESS RELEASE: UCI President and Director General meet International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach
12.06.2014
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) President Brian Cookson and Director General Martin Gibbs yesterday met with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Director General Christophe De Kepper at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland) ahead of a two-day UCI Management Committee meeting which is also being held at the IOC HQ this week.
Earlier in the morning, President Bach visited the Professional Cycling Council (PCC) which was also meeting at the IOC headquarters.
UCI President Brian Cookson said: “I would like to thank President Bach for an extremely positive discussion covering a range of issues around the UCIs strategy to grow cycling globally. It was very useful to talk with him on the Olympic Agenda 2020 review and, in particular, discuss how cycling can play its role in those plans. Among other things we believe cycling can be a big part of the IOC’s sustainability and legacy work by helping bid cities transform themselves into places where cycling is a preferred way of getting around, making those cities better places to exercise, live and work. ”
IOC President Thomas Bach stated: “The UCI informed me of all the measures they are taking to protect their sport from manipulation of any kind, in particular doping. And these efforts are indeed impressive. It was great to see all the stakeholders equally committed to the fight for clean athletes. We also discussed the UCI’s contributions to Olympic Agenda 2020, which will be looked at in even greater detail by Working Groups beginning next week. We are thankful for their input.”
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