Intro:

IOC president Thomas Bach discusses allowing Kosovo athletes to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English), IOC president Thomas Bach:

"Even if according to the international rules, the NOC of Serbia could not vote on the process of recognition because this is the vote of the IOC members alone. We have been consulting with Serbian NOC before taking this decision."

SOUNDBITE (English), IOC president Thomas Bach:

"These consultations were not easy, because we understand very well the concerns which have been expressed by president Divac and his colleagues and his opposition to potential recognition of the NOC of Kosovo were very clear. The discussions sometimes were also pretty emotional because we understood these concerns."