The following are main reforms concerning the structure of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved during the organization's extraordinary 110th session of the IOC in Lausanne on December 11- 12:

-- The addition of 15 active Olympic athletes elected by their peers as full IOC members. Ten were elected today;

-- The lowering of the age limit for new members to 70 years;

-- The application of eight-year, renewable terms of office by reelection;

-- The setting of the eventual composition of the IOC membership to a maximum of 115, 15 of which will be chosen from active Olympic athletes, 15 from National Olympic Committee (NOC) presidents, 15 from International Sports Federation (IF) presidents, and 70 as individuals;

-- The creation of a nominations committee for the election to the IOC. The Commission will be comprised of three members chosen by the IOC, three by the IOC Ethics Commission, and one by the IOC Athletes Commission. The IOC chose James Easton, Francisco Elizalde, and the Prince of Orange to be its initial members;

-- The enlarging of the IOC Executive Board to allow for a better representation of the new composition of the IOC membership;

-- The application of term limits to the IOC presidency. The next IOC president will be eligible to serve on eight-year term and a following four-year term if reelected. (Xinhua)

The following are major policy changes approved during the IOC' s extraordinary 110th session of the IOC in Lausanne on December 11-12: candidates most qualified to host the Games.

-- Publish additional financial reports that clearly illustrate the flow of the sources and uses of IOC revenues in order to enhance its financial transparency;

-- Require that every entity that receives funds from the IOC provide the IOC an accounting of the use of those funds, again, to enhance financial transparency;

-- Require all NOCs to participate in the Summer Olympic Games;

-- Limit both the number of events and athletes at the Summer Games in order to control the growing size of the Games and the resulting managerial challenges;

-- Work with the World Anti-Doping Agency to distribute passports" containing all necessary information to carry out efficient doping controls and to monitor the athletes;

-- Refuse participation to sports that do not apply the Olympic Movement's Anti-Doping Code or perform out-of-competition testing. (Xinhua)