Olympics-IOC sets up committee to assist on human rights

BOXING AT TOKYO 2020

The first day of the meeting was dominated by the IOC's decision to freeze all planning for boxing events at the 2020 Olympics amid an ongoing investigation into the sport's governing body AIBA for issues related to governance and finance .

Bach said his number one priority was to ensure the athletes who want to compete at the Olympics were not punished.

"We want to have one (boxing at Tokyo 2020) and this is why we will work hard for the athletes," said Bach, who refused to be drawn on what the alternative was for the IOC if the AIBA loses its Olympic backing.

"Because here, again, it is always the same; we do not want athletes to suffer due to misbehaviour of officials or people to which they are not related and with the misbehaviour of whom they have nothing to do."

The two remaining candidate cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics -- Stockholm and Milan-Cortina -- made presentations to Bach and other delegates at the Association of National Olympic Committee general assembly in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Both bids have made a commitment to sustainability with the IOC's 'The New Norm' program central to their proposals . Bach said he welcomed their approach.

"With reducing the investments of these venues, whilst on the other hand increasing the sustainability, you can see both candidates... plan to use 80 percent of existing or temporary facilities, which again is an increase of 33 percent compared to the projects in 2018 and 2022," said Bach.

The IOC's 'The New Norm' program is intended to make it cheaper and easier to host an Olympic Games.