Olympic officials to vote on wide-ranging changes

Olympic officials have convened in Monaco for a five-day session that could significantly affect the future of the Games.

Members of the International Olympic Committee will vote on “Olympic Agenda 2020,” a wide-ranging package of reforms.

Among the agenda’s 40 proposals:

-- The IOC would seek to streamline its bidding process to reduce costs after several cities withdrew from consideration for the 2022 Winter Games.

-- New events could be added, potentially opening the door to the return of baseball and softball.

-- The Olympic Charter would revise its anti-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

-- The IOC would create a year-round television channel.

“Over the past year many people have asked me why there is a desire to make changes,” IOC President Thomas Bach said recently. “My answer is that we are now in the position to drive change ourselves rather than being driven ... we must seize the moment.”

The committee’s executive board was scheduled to meet on Friday and Saturday. Sunday marks the beginning of the 127th IOC Session, which will include all members.