Monaco: The International Olympic Committee on Monday voted sweeping reforms to allow Olympic Games to be staged in two countries, to add new sports and create a new television channel. The measures are part of a push by IOC president Thomas Bach to make the Summer and Winter Olympics cheaper to stage and more attractive to the public as it battles increased competition for audiences.

Bach has proposed 40 reforms, his Agenda 2020, to be voted on at a special session of the 104 member IOC in Monaco. The most important measures were passed on the first day and Bach called them "a major step forward in the organisation of the Olympic Games." The IOC allowed for future Games to be hosted by two cities, or two countries, for "sustainability" and "geography" reasons.