The sport world looks on with interest as a very soggy Buenos Aires hosts the 125th IOC Session, where there is palatable gravitas to this session while three potentially game-changing decisions are made -- the vote on the rights to host the 2020 Games, the vote on changes to the Olympic summer sport program, and the election of a new IOC President. Do any of these decisions intersect or impact the rowing community? Let's have a closer look...

2020 Vote - Candidates: Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo
Winner: Tokyo

After fielding countless questions and allaying concerns about Fukushima fallout, the Tokyo delegation was able to convince 60 of 96 IOC members that their city had the best of the three bids (2nd place Istanbul received 36 votes in the final round of voting). It's rare that the most technically sound bid wins, but Tokyo had it as well as a $4.9B Olympic fund already set aside to assure IOC members the financial component of the bid was sound.

Come 2020, rowers from around the world will compete for the right to call themselves Olympic Champions at the Sea Forest Waterway. The Sea Forest will provide a venue for Rowing and Canoe-Kayak (sprint) competition with views of downtown Tokyo as well as Tokyo Disneyland. Linked to the rest of Tokyo by the new Tokyo Gate Bridge, Tokyo 2020 assures the rowing community that it is a "sea forest" by name only and that the rudders of boats will be unencumbered.

The great news for rowers is that the venue is not tucked away outside the city, as has often been the case with Olympic rowing venues, but is rather only approximately 7km from the Olympic and Paralympic Village. Rowers will be able to stay in the Village, which is great for athletes, though probably less than optimal for sport administrators. The direct flights from most major US cities (only 10 hours and 45 minutes from SFO and LAX) are an additional benefit to US athletes. Interestingly, the rowing venue is sandwiched between the Equestrian Cross-Country course and the Mountain Bike Course.

Sport Inclusion Vote - Baseball/Softball, Squash and Wrestling
Winner: Wrestling

In February the IOC Executive Board stunned the Olympic sport community by removing wrestling from the core sport list, thus forcing the sport to reapply for their position on the Olympic program. The decision sent shock-waves through the sport community. If a sport like wrestling could be eliminated one must ask the question of whether really any sport is guaranteed a slot on the Olympic program.

Although wrestling had made massive changes addressing many of the concerns of the IOC and was the odds-on favorite going in, the sport still had formidable competitors in baseball/softball and squash. However, at the end of the day - and to the surprise of no one - wrestling was reinstated for 2020 and 2024 by a wide margin (49 votes to 24 and 22 for baseball/softball and squash respectively).

The more ecumenical issue for rowers is to ask the question "what if rowing found itself in the same position as wrestling? AND what drastic measures would rowing have to take to ensure its Olympic participation?" Questions we hope we never have to answer. Related and also of note, there was discussion during the session of undertaking a study to review existing sports with an eye towards reducing events and or disciplines to make room for new sports. I have to imagine that rowing, the third largest delegation at the Games (behind athletics and swimming), will be heavily scrutinized in this process. All rowers should keep a close eye on this proposal.

IOC President Election: Candidates: Thomas Bach, Sergey Bubka, Richard Carrion, Ng Miang Ser, Denis Oswald and C.K. Wu
Winner: TBD (9-Sept-2013)

Wouldn't it be fantastic for the worldwide rowing community if a former rower was the President of the IOC? Our own Denis Oswald has tossed his name in the hat for consideration. Oswald, a three-time Olympian ('64, '68 & '72), and former President of FISA may be outmatched in this contest, as word on the street is that the smart money is on Thomas Bach with Ng Miang Ser and Richard Carrion fighting it out for second place.

Mr. Bach, a 1972 Olympian in fencing, is thought to have a steady hand and the depth of experience in the areas of most importance to IOC Members. Whispers from inside the media tent in BA is that Bach has been informally supported by outgoing President Jacques Rogge. In the past such support has been a prescient harbinger (for those that remember -- Rogge had Samarach's endorsement). Regardless of the odds, Oswald, like every rower, will keep pulling until he hears the horn.

As a aside -- It's always nice to see a few familiar rowing faces in the crowd -- newly minted IOC Member and friend Mr. James Tomkins will represent all athletes on the Athletes Commission with distinction and of course the venerable and always pleasant Mrs. Anita DeFrantz.

That's the news as it relates to the rowing world from the 125th IOC Session in BA.