International Olympic Committee (IOC) members have supported president Thomas Bach’s plans to develop an Olympic television channel.
Bach presented the proposal for debate on Wednesday at the IOC’s general assembly. After no members asked to speak, Bach asked whether they all approved of the proposal, and the members applauded in support, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The channel would promote Olympic sports in the years between the Games, with the IOC’s International Federations, National Olympic Committees, broadcasters and sponsors all participating in the project.
The IOC would act as a “curator or moderator” to develop content for the channel, which could follow the model of the National Geographic Channel pay-television service, according to IOC vice-president John Coates.
The channel was one of the key proposals in Bach’s election manifesto before he was appointed as IOC president late last year, but the governing body will undertake a feasibility study before making a final decision.