Rogge: Talks needed with FIFA to avoid 2022 clash

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP):

Jacques Rogge said the IOC and FIFA should hold "sensible discussions" to avoid any scheduling conflicts between the 2022 Winter Olympics and World Cup if the Qatar tournament is switched from the summer to winter.

The International Olympic Committee's president said yesterday that relations with Sepp Blatter are "excellent" after the FIFA president called him to apologise for making derogatory comments about the IOC last week.

Rogge also hailed progress in negotiations with the US Olympic Committee on a new revenue-sharing deal and said the IOC will begin talks soon with American broadcasters seeking to bid on the next set of lucrative broadcast rights. He voiced hope that London will keep the Olympic running track after the 2012 Games.

In separate actions on the final day of a two-day executive board meeting, the IOC suspended Ghana's national Olympic committee for political interference and cleared the way for athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles to compete as independent athletes at the London Games.

Rogge said the IOC has not had any discussions yet with FIFA about the potential schedule clash in 2022, calling it a "hypothetical discussion". Blatter said last week he expects the monthlong tournament will be moved to January to avoid the searing summer heat in Qatar, but no official decision has been made.

Rogge said the 16-day Winter Olympics will continue to be held between the last week of January and end of February.

"I think it would be sensible once a decision would be envisaged by FIFA to sit around the table to see that this is not harmful for either of the two partners," he said. "But as of today we think it's far too premature.

"I think FIFA will take quietly a decision on that, and of course at that time, taking into consideration the bracket that we have to respect, there might be very sensible discussions to avoid a clash," Rogge added.

Trying to hold both major events at around the same time would pose major challenges for organisers, broadcasters and sponsors.

Rogge also sought to put to rest the flap over Blatter's barbs against the IOC in a meeting with reporters last week in Qatar. Blatter claimed the IOC has "no transparency" in its financial accounts, said it handles its finances "like a housewife" and described the organisation as a "club". Blatter has been an IOC member since 1999.