Guided by a group of high profile businessmen, politicians and athletes, the International Olympic Committee took the first tentative steps towards reform yesterday.

After years of going their own way, the IOC has spent two days taking direction from those outside the Olympic movement.

The 80-member 2000 commission completed its first meetings by applauding IOC efforts to put its house in order. Leading the praise was former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, one of several high-profile members. "There are enough outsiders for a certain perspective. I think significant progress will be made," he said.

But while the initial meetings demonstrated a collective will for change, they produced no specific recommendations from any of the three working groups.