Paris Olympics 2024: IOC President doubts dual silver medals: ‘It’s unlikely’ says Thomas Bach

Paris Olympics 2024: Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has expressed skepticism about the prospect of awarding two silver medals in a single category. In a recent statement, Bach emphasised that such a decision would be unusual and contrary to typical practice.

Bach explained, “If you generally ask about awarding two silver medals in one category, my response would be no.” He highlighted that the regulations governing these matters are established by the International Federation responsible for the sport, in this case, United World Wrestling. The decision to award medals falls under the jurisdiction of this federation, which must adhere to its established rules.

He further elaborated on the challenges of such decisions: “The question is where and when do you draw the line? Do you decide to award a silver medal if the difference is just 100 grams, but not if it is 102 grams? These are complex issues that federations must navigate.”

Currently, the matter is under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will make a final determination. Bach reiterated that the IOC will abide by CAS’s ruling. “Ultimately, the International Federation has the responsibility to apply and interpret its rules,” he noted, stressing that the responsibility for these decisions rests with the federation in question.

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