IOC boss: NZ could host Olympics

IOC president Thomas Bach, right, is greeted with a hongi at opening of the New Zealand Olympic House in Parnell. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The most powerful person in the Olympic movement today opened the door to New Zealand putting in a bid to host the Games.

German Thomas Bach, 61, who has overseen a movement for change in a range of aspects across the International Olympic Committee, said there is no reason why New Zealand could not put its hand up for the quadrennial extravaganza.

''You cannot restrict the right to host the Olympics to just 20 countries," Bach, an Olympic gold medal winner in fencing in 1976, said today.

'The Olympic Games are universal and we should open doors and windows."

In the past bidding cities were presented with a list of non-negotiatable requirements.
Bach, who assumed the presidency in 2013, has overseen the launch of Agenda 20, which had 40 recommendations for the future of the Games and which received unanimous backing from national Olympic committees in December.

Part of that programme offers more flexibility to countries, and cities who are interested in hosting a Games.

However New Zealand Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley pointed out there are significant issues which the country would face in even considering hosting a Games.

Not only the number of athletes, entourages, media and spectators would present challenges, but it would be about how to make it a success in social and economic terms.

Bach played down speculation that women's shot put is in danger of being rubbed out of the Games programme.

There are changes coming, with some events expected to be trimmed from individual sports schedule. Women's shot put has been mentioned as one which is vulnerable on the athletic card.

With Valerie Adams the dominant thrower in the sport and a double Olympic champion, it is a sport particularly near and dear to New Zealand hearts.

''I got the message," Bach quipped.

Sports will undergo an evaluation programme after the Rio Olympics next year. The IOC has declared a limit of 10,600 athletes at the summer Games, which has 28 sports.