IOC nod for changes in sporting events

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Olympic leaders approved major changes on Thursday in track cycling - including elimination of the sport's signature endurance race - and the addition of mixed doubles in tennis for the 2012 London Games.

The International Olympic Committee executive board agreed to a program of five men's and five women's track cycling events as part of a gender-parity plan proposed by cycling world governing body UCI.

As a result, the Olympics will lose track cycling's iconic event - the 4,000m individual pursuit for men and 3,000m pursuit for women.