London 2012 Olympics: IOC President Jacques Rogge hits out at mercenary athletes "It is absolutely legitimate reason to want to change if it concerns marriage, a new job, professions, studies, those are legitimate reasons," Rogge said at a press conference after hearing a report from the London organising committee. And then there are a number of athletes from a developing country that don't have the financial support, and these athletes might want to change nationality and it is not what I love, but it is understandable to want to develop skills, especially if they have family responsibilities. Then there are cases where there is support but they go because there is a bigger gain in another country. Legally we can't stop it but it doesn't mean we love it. I have reservations that athletes who don't lack support who still change nationalities, I cannot oppose that because it is a sovereign matter but let me tell you I don't love that. Rogge said the mandatory three-year waiting period imposed by the IOC for change of nationality can be shortened with the approval of the two national Olympic committees concerned and the international federation. But if any of the three bodies opposed the change, the IOC are unable to shorten the length of the waiting period. The IOC president also said that the flexible operations of the Olympic lanes at the London Olympics would be beneficial and provide an effective way of helping the transport issues in the capital. Transport for London has introduced a scheme to open up the Olympic lanes to regular traffic if there is capacity on the quarantined lane for extra non-Games traffic. "If we don't need the Olympic lane we don't make it an Olympic lane," said Rogge. Rogge said his message to Locog in the final months leading up to the Games was: "Keep focussed, there should be no complacency, your job will be over at the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games and not before. But I think they will deliver, I have no problem about that.