(BEIJING, March 10) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) may try to renegotiate its deal with FIFA over Olympic football events to get the world's top players competing at future Games, president Jacques Rogge remarked in an interview published on Sunday.
"My dream is for all the stars of football to be at the Olympics, because in all other sports the best are there," Rogge was quoted as saying by the German Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "We must see if we can sort that out with FIFA."
Men's football at the Olympics is an under-23 tournament, with qualifying nations allowed to field three over-age players. Accordingly, few of the game's top players take part.
The IOC has an agreement with FIFA dating back 15 years, made in order to protect the World Cup. "I respect the agreement but it doesn't have to be forever," Rogge said.
It is not clear whether the suggestion would not be opposed by FIFA and European clubs, simply because FIFA would like to maintain its utmost position on the World Cup, and that the Summer Olympics overlap preparations for the new season of European clubs, analysts say.
