The FIA recognized by the International Olympic Committee!
In a statement published on its website, the International Automobile Federation announced that it has been inducted as a member of the Olympic movement by the IOC.
« There are unforeseen conquests in manners, as in history ». This phrase, written by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in his Notes on Football, is perfectly suited to the announcement made last night by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Indeed, in a press release available on its website, the body announces that the International Olympic Committee, which « ensures the regular organization of the Olympic Games, supports all member organizations affiliated with the Olympic Movement and strongly encourages, through appropriate means, the promotion of Olympic values », has just recognized it as a full member of the Olympic movement.
A recognition that is surprising to say the least, as the Olympic Games are traditionally not open to motor sports. This alignment could eventually mean that one or more Olympic events could be contested behind the wheel of motorized vehicles; a true revolution in a world that has already largely embraced “new” disciplines like BMX, triathlon, or snowboarding.
Received on December 9, the letter sent by Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, gives two years to the FIA to set up an Athletes’ Commission – an advisory body meeting once or twice a year that ensures liaison between active athletes and the International Olympic Committee – after which the recognition of the Federation will be definitively confirmed.
« The FIA is committed to respecting the Olympic Charter, including: establishing and enforcing, in accordance with the Olympic spirit, the rules related to the practice of its sports and ensuring their application; ensuring the development of its sports worldwide and contributing to the achievement of the goals set forth in the Olympic Charter, notably through the dissemination of Olympism and Olympic education » stated the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile in its press release.
Finally, Jean Todt considers himself very happy that the FIA is now a full member of the Olympic family, confirming all the efforts made in the world of sport, particularly the values of Respect, Excellence, and Solidarity that we actively share with the Olympic movement. So, Yvan Muller, Sebastien Loeb, or Sebastian Vettel soon alongside Yelena Isinbayeva, Usain Bolt, or Michael Phelps? The future will tell.
This information, however, does echo a proposal made by Bernie Ecclestone at the dawn of the 2009 season, when the president of Formula One Management wanted to introduce a medal system (gold, silver, and bronze) to reward the driver with the most victories, and thus the most gold medals. In the event of a tie, drivers would have been separated by the number of silver medals, then bronze. This idea, of course, did not come to fruition.
