13:05 The Session is then declared closed by Thomas Bach. The members will gather for the traditional group photo before lunch.

#IOC Session closes & major nations #India, #Austria, #SaudiArabia without IOC members due to resignations/ retirements.Scramble to replace.
- Interesting point raised here by Olympic consultant Michael Payne. 

13:01 "It was important to make change before we were forced," he says. "I am sure our decisions will further enhance the Olympic Movement. The implementation stage is now very important but I am confident it will be successful."

He praises the IOC administration and plans for the new headquarters. "We have no doubt we elected the right leader one year ago in Buenos Aires. These reforms have already changes the IOC and you can be confident in the support of the members, as has been expressed here in Monaco."

The longest round of applause of the Session then begins.

12:57 And now it is left to the "doyen" of the IOC, senior member Vitali Smirnov, to make some closing remarks. He wishes Prince Albert and Princess Charlene all the best with the coming birth. Then he moves on to Agenda 2020...

Congrats #Kosovo, one of our national member associations, on officially being accepted as an NOC#Olympic @insidethegames
- A good tweet here congratulating Kosovo from World Archery, whose Turkish President, Uğur Erdener, has been a staunch ally, including on the IOC Executive Board in recent months.

12:48 There is one final question, essentially just praising the Agenda 2020 process, from Samih Moudallal of Syria, and then we are onto the customary congratulations for the Organising Committee and all the others involved in the 127th IOC Session. 

But that Dick Pound contribution was very interesting. One of the only breaks from the script we have seen over the two days. And he's got a point, although to restart the process now would be very difficult, not to mention unfair on Almaty and Beijing.



12:40 Onto the miscellaneous section now. Syed Shahid Ali asks the first questions (doesn't he always) about having a detailed and updated list of IOC staff. But then a very interesting one from Canada's Dick Pound, calling for the 2022 Olympic race to be restarted in order to ensure a "level playing field" following the Agenda 2020 proposals.

Bach's response: "We have come to the conclusion the IOC is delivering on the commitments and the contacts. We have delivered applications some time ago, and cities have applied and followed the rules. We have chosen the candidates and will continue this procedure based on the rules in force, and will 100 per cent stick to all commitments and contractual obligations. Therefore there will be no change to the procedure and this is the decision of the IOC Executive Board."

12:33 And Cherni Mizouni of Tunisia, the first woman to represent her country at the Olympics, wins the IOC World Women in Sport award. She calls it an "emblem of pride and happiness".

12:30 Women in Sport Awards have so far been handed to Kuwait's Sheikha Al Sabah, Russian synchronised swimmer Anastasia Davidova, United States swimmer Nancy Hogshead, Australian cyclist Sian Mulholland and Egyptian modern pentathlete Aya Medani. There was one nomination for each continent.

"World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset has been a bit slow off the mark in responding to the adoption of Agenda 2020, but has finally given his opinion. 'This is a significant moment for the Olympic Movement and World Rugby is delighted to have contributed to the Olympic Agenda 2020 process. We fully support the recommendations and look forward to working with the IOC to bring them to life.
As a modern, thriving sport, rugby is acutely aware of the importance of youth, sustainability and credibility in an increasingly congested entertainment and sporting landscape and World Rugby is committed to living the recommendations and sharing relevant expertise as we build towards our Olympic Games return at Rio 2016.'"

Time to honor amazing women in sport and thank them for all the great work they do in their communities.
Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry speaks excitedly about the Women and Sport Awards.

12:22 Back to the action and we are onto the Women in Sport Awards. 

12:16 Peterkin has also joined Michael Payne is expressing an opinion on the insidethegames.biz tie. Now even IOC members are making fun of it. Surely there is someone who likes the green and pink? He is responding to our naming of him as the "IOC member-of-the-match" for his questions yesterday.



4 new Honorary members elected. There are now 34 Honorary Members. No limit on numbers. Rule for 10 years as member could be reduced to 8
- St Lucia's Richard Peterkin highlights the new IOC honorary members

12:10 Princess Haya gives a short speech, where she apologises to the members for all the "late night" phone calls about the sport. 



12:04 Three Olympic Order's have now been given, with Randhir Singh, Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz and Melitón Sanchez Riva also giving a short address of gratitude after.

It is turning into a good few minutes for royals, as Princess Haya of United Arab Emirates is about to receive an Award as well. Her illustrious CV, which has included sport "since she was born", is being read out now. Princess Haya Al Hussein is stepping down as International Equestrian Federation President this year, with her successor to be appointed later this month.

"You are a great role-model for women around the world," concludes Bach.

11:55 Before this happens, there is time to read an exclusive story just published on insidethegames by David Owen: Sports bodies concerned Tokyo 2020 changes could affect up to 14 sports. So another fascinating implication of the Agenda 2020 shift regard Olympic venues, with repercussions for a huge number of sports on the programme. 

Kaspar first beneficiary of IOC age limit extension

11:52 Bach is now proposing IOC honorary members: Jean Claude Killy of France, Randhir Singh of India, Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and Leo Wallner of Austria.

A fifth will soon follow, with Melitón Sanchez Rivas of Panama due to become one when he passes his 80th birthday at the end of the year, and consequently ceases to be an IOC member. All will be awarded an Olympic Order, except for Killy who already has one. Due to illness, Wallner is also not here to receive his Order today, but the other three will receive them now.



11:47 Before the vote on Kaspar, Bach is explaining a safety measure introduced on the roof of the Grimaldi Forum due to the strong winds today. But the votes are now in, and the extension of Kaspar's membership is accepted, with 72 votes out of the 77 cast. There were also three abstentions. 

11:40 We will come back to Kosovo, but in the Session they are straight on to the question of IOC membership so we will focus on that for the time being.

And they are proposing to extend the IOC membership of International Skiing Federation Gian Franco Kaspar for the duration of his FIS Presidency, so until June 30, 2018. Kaspar will be 71 on January 24, which, funnily enough, is the same birthday as me. A prestigious date.

He will therefore become the first beneficiary of the new rule introduced yesterday regarding age limits, and the exceptions to the current limit of 70. 

Kosovo accepted as IOC member

11:36 They are now preparing for Rio and fully support Olympic Agenda 2020, Hasani concludes, before presenting a special plaque to Bach. 

11:33 Kosovo is accepted as a full member of the IOC! "An example of the autonomy and independence of sport," says Kosovo Olympic Committee President Besim Hasani afterwards. He specifically thanks the NOC of Serbia for their cooperation, interestingly, before heralding "a new era for the Olympic Movement in Kosovo".

11:32 They have rolled out some heavy hitters to support this one, but this is such a controversial issue politically, could there be some opposition?



11:29 Very interestingly, ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah is now speaking. He praises countries, including Serbia, for their cooperation. European Olympic Committees head Patrick Hickey then speaks. He confirms Kosovo would become the 50th EOC member and compete at the inaugural European Games next year in Baku.

11:20 Coffee has been drunk and the Session is about to recommence. And next up is the biggest item of the day, the recognition of Kosovo as a member of the IOC.