Outgoing IOC President Jacques Rogge holds news conference

Описание: (5 Sep 2013) Outgoing International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge avoided answering specific questions on Wednesday about the political and economic situations involving the three cities bidding for the 2020 Olympic games.
Rogge spoke to reporters in Buenos Aires where the IOC kicked off on Wednesday its week-long meetings.
Tokyo, Istanbul and Madrid all present difficulties for IOC members who will be voting on Saturday in a secret ballot and may have to back the venue with the fewest question marks hanging over it.
Madrid is saddled with Spain's 27 percent unemployment and budget worries.
Istanbul is trying to explain away massive anti-government demonstrations in June, a string of doping cases and the bitter ongoing civil war in neighbouring Syria.
The leak of radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has also raised concerns about Tokyo's candidacy.
"I'm not sad about the fact that these questions are raised because the games are organised in something that is not a vacuum," Rogge said.
"The games will be organised seven years after the decision of the IOC membership. And it is absolutely legitimate that the members look forward, not just at what is the situation today, but what could be the situation in seven years at this time. And then other aspects, be they financial or social or whatever, have to be taken into account," Rogge said.
Tokyo is expected to be the current favourite by a whisker, but the race is considered too close to call.
In addition, next Tuesday, IOC members will elect a new president from among six candidates to replace Rogge.
The 71-year-old Belgian, Rogge, an orthopaedic surgeon who competed in three Olympics in sailing, led the IOC through a period of relative stability that spanned three Summer Olympics and three Winter Games.
"Have I enjoyed it? Not always. Was it exciting? Definitely. Was it a privilege to be able to do that? Of course it was. But you have good moments and bad moments," Rogge said.
As IOC president, he earned a reputation for bringing a calm and steady hand to the often turbulent world of Olympic politics.
He took a hard line against doping and ethical violations, created the Youth Olympics, oversaw a growth in IOC finances during a time of global economic crisis and made peace with the US Olympic Committee after years of bitter squabbling over revenues.
"I believe I could say with certainty that it is far more difficult to get dope today than let's say, 10 years ago. But also not to be naive and Utopian. Doping will never completely disappear out of the sport because doping is to sport what criminality is to society," he said.
Rogge also fielded questions about Russia's new anti-gay law and its potential impact during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The announcement of a Russian law on "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" makes it illegal to expose minors to information that portrays such relationships as normal or attractive.
The law imposes hefty fines, while also subjecting foreign citizens to up to 15 days in prison.
"We have received as you know very strong oral and written reassurances about the fact that the Russian Federation will respect the Olympic charter and that no negative effect will occur for people attending the games or participating in the games," Rogge told reporters.
But he pointed out that IOC can only do so much.
"One should not forget that we are staging games in a sovereign state and that the International Olympic Committee cannot be expected to have an influence on sovereign affairs of a country," Rogge said.

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