Olympic Agenda 2020+5 reforms approved by IOC

PARIS - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on Friday unanimously approved Olympic Agenda 2020+5, a set of reforms, as the new strategic roadmap of the IOC and the Olympic movement through 2025.

The new roadmap, consisting of 15 recommendations, is based on five key trends that have been identified through robust research as likely to be decisive in the post-coronavirus world, including solidarity, digitalization, sustainability, credibility, economic and financial resilience.

"The coronavirus crisis has changed our world in fundamental ways. The world will never again be like it was before. Even once we have finally overcome the health crisis, we will face the far-reaching social, financial, economic, and political consequences," IOC president Thomas Bach said at the IOC Session, which was held virtually from March 10 to 12.

The former set of reforms Olympic Agenda 2020 was introduced in 2014, one year after Bach was elected as the IOC chief, and was targeted on sustainability, credibility, and youth.

The 15 recommendations announced on Friday including reinforcing athletes' rights and responsibilities, encouraging the development of virtual sports and further engage with video gaming communities, and growing digital engagement with people.

"As leaders of the Olympic Movement, we must prepare ourselves for this new world. In order to shape our future, we need a vision of how this new world will look like," Bach added.