International Olympic Committee : News

Chat with Champions

3/4/2013 11:01:00 AM

What is it?

“Chat With Champions” is a series of live events, where Youth Olympic Games participants will get the chance to take part in interviews with their role models.

Have fun!

Each “Chat With Champions” will be held in a fun, lively atmosphere, just like a live chat show. Youth Olympic Games participants will be able to hear the role models talk about their life experiences, both in and outside sport.

Get inspired!

The athletes to be interviewed have competed at the Olympic Games and/or World Championships. By revealing what inspired them, what challenges they overcame and what their lives were like when they were young athletes, they will provide massive inspiration to the Youth Olympic Games participants.

Thousands flock to volunteer at Sochi 2014

3/4/2013 9:37:00 AM

An estimated 25,000 volunteers will be involved during next year’s Winter Games, working across a variety of different Games-time operations, ranging from welcoming delegations at the airport to helping to organise the Closing Ceremony.

Approximately 3,000 volunteers will also be deployed around Sochi during the Games to provide a warm welcome to visitors and help them find their way between the Olympic venues. In total, volunteers will account for more than 30% of Games-time staff.

Many of the Sochi 2014 volunteers have already been recruited, with approximately 5,000 gaining experience at the recent World Cup events that have been held at Sochi’s Olympic venues.

The recruitment process is taking place at 26 Volunteer Centres within Russia, while the programme has also helped re-establish the concept of volunteering across the country.

“With the support of the Olympic Movement, a volunteer movement is being revived in Russia, with the Sochi 2014 Games bringing together 25,000 volunteers,” said Sochi 2014 CEO and President Dmitry Chernyshenko.

“When Sochi began the bidding process in 2005, the concept of volunteering simply did not exist in Russia. Now, the volunteer movement is thriving, with a quarter of a million Russians regularly participating in volunteer activity.

“Most importantly, tens of thousands of generous people will have the opportunity to become a part of the Sochi 2014 Games as volunteers. This will be an invaluable experience for them, and one that they will be able to pass on to the future generation of volunteers in Russia.”

The volunteer application process was open to anyone who will be aged between 18 and 80 on 6 January 2014. The Sochi 2014 Winter Games begin on 7 February next year.

Football: Mourinho eyes residency on Old Trafford return

3/4/2013 1:09:06 AM

Jose Mourinho will arrive at Old Trafford as an away coach for the sixth time on Tuesday, but on future visits, he will hope to take a seat in the home dug-out.

It is thought that the position the Real Madrid manager covets above all others is the one currently occupied by his Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson, and Ferguson appears to support his candidacy.

Mourinho's first trip to Old Trafford as a manager, in March 2004, saw him embark on a provocative dash down the touchline after a last-minute goal by Costinha enabled Porto to knock United out of the Champions League.

Three months later, after guiding Porto to victory in the competition, he arrived at Chelsea and his arrogant posturing quickly raised Ferguson's hackles.

"I remember his first press conference and I thought: 'Christ, he's a cocky bastard, him,'" the Scot recalled in a British television documentary last year.

"He was telling the players: 'Look, I'm the special one, we don't lose games.'"

Mourinho's stunning success at Chelsea gave Ferguson even more reason to rue the Portuguese's arrival in English football, but the initial emnity gave way to deep mutual respect.

Asked if Mourinho could one day replace him at Old Trafford, Ferguson replied: "He can manage anywhere, absolutely.

"I'm not going to put any forecasts on what is going to happen at this club. I won't last forever but Jose can manage anywhere, there is no question about that."

Mourinho, 50, has made his desire to succeed the 71-year-old Scot common knowledge, but he toed a diplomatic line last month when asked if he was the man to replace Ferguson.

"I don't believe so," he said. "I think we have to end our career at the same time. Him at 90 and me at 70."

Mourinho remains one of only three men to have won the European Cup with two different clubs -- Porto and Inter Milan -- but his stock has fallen this season.

Madrid took last season's Spanish league title in imperious fashion but the wheels have fallen off their juggernaut in the current campaign, with Barcelona 13 points clear of their arch rivals in La Liga.

Sporting failure has been played out against a backdrop of changing-room tension, amid reports that Madrid's senior players have grown tired of their manager's limelight-hogging antics.

Mourinho is widely expected to leave the Bernabeu at the end of the season, although his stock has risen in recent weeks after back-to-back wins over Barca in the Copa del Rey and the league.

Hopes of delivering the 10th Champions League crown that Madrid crave, however, were compromised by the 1-1 draw at home to United in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Mourinho's campaign for the United job has not been helped by the emergence of dissenting voices from within the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Club legend Bobby Charlton broke ranks to criticise the Madrid manager last year, apparently contradicting Ferguson's assertion that Mourinho would be a strong candidate for the role.

Asked about the 2011 incident that saw Mourinho poke Barcelona's then assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye, Charlton told The Guardian: "A United manager wouldn't do that.

"Mourinho is a really good coach, but that's as far as I would go really."

Peter Schmeichel, widely considered United's greatest ever goalkeeper, has echoed Charlton's concerns.

"He will not be the successor (to Ferguson)," the Dane told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.

"He's a great candidate for his qualities as a manager but the club doesn't want all the things that come with him."

Mourinho has another opportunity to remind United of his managerial gifts on Tuesday, but his path to the Old Trafford hot-seat no longer looks quite as straightforward as it once did.

thw/dj

Football: Resurgent Real Madrid travel to Man United in hope

3/4/2013 1:08:08 AM

Real Madrid's back-to-back victories over Barcelona have given them fresh momentum ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Manchester United on Tuesday.

Prior to the 1-1 draw between the teams three weeks ago, the season had appeared to be ebbing away from the Spanish champions, with Barca having assembled a seemingly unassailable 16-point lead in La Liga.

Madrid's chances of catching their sworn enemies remain slim, but the two victories over Barca in the Copa del Rey and the league have injected belief that Jose Mourinho's side can go to Old Trafford and win.

"It's clear that these victories are great for the confidence of the group, because now we face a difficult match in the Champions League," said centre-back Sergio Ramos.

"After the two Clasicos we are going to Manchester convinced that we can win, although with a lot of respect for the opponent, who are a great team."

Madrid's wins over Barcelona owed much to the break-neck counter-attacking football that saw them romp to last season's Spanish title but which appeared to have deserted them in the current campaign.

Mourinho could even afford the luxury of resting several of his most important players in Saturday's 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Cristiano Ronaldo coming off the bench to turn the game in the hosts' favour.

Furthermore, aside from goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has a broken hand, Mourinho has a full complement of players to choose from.

United's squad has also been largely spared by injury, although there are doubts over the fitness of Phil Jones.

The England international worked hard to stifle Ronaldo in the first leg but was then struck down by an ankle injury and missed Saturday's routine 4-0 win at home to Norwich City.

That one-sided victory took United 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, allowing manager Alex Ferguson to turn his thoughts to Tuesday's encounter.

"It will be a fantastic night," he said.

"You are talking about two of the greatest clubs in the world. Emotions will be high and I am sure it will be a tremendous match.

"If we can get a blank against us on Tuesday, we would go through. But I think both teams will score. I just hope we get more than them."

Ferguson, who saw United fall to Barcelona in the Champions League final in both 2009 and 2011, feels victory against Madrid would convince his side they have the ability to bring home the club's fourth European Cup.

"To beat Real Madrid on our own ground would be a great step forward for this particular team," he said.

"It would give us a chance of going all the way in this tournament."

United's fans already seem certain to witness one milestone, with Ryan Giggs poised to make his 1,000th appearance in senior football after being rested at the weekend.

Tuesday's game will also mark the first time that Ronaldo has returned to Old Trafford since he left United to join Madrid in a world-record £80 million ($120 million, 92 million euros) transfer in 2009.

"This is his house, so there will be a lot of emotion. I hope he doesn't play well because of that," United left-back Patrice Evra told MUTV.

"But Ronaldo is a winner. He is a big competitor. If he can win against Manchester United, he will do it."

In their previous meetings in the competition's knockout phase, United have prevailed only once over two legs, en route to their maiden title in 1968 when they drew 3-3 in Spain after a 1-0 win at home.

Madrid's two most recent away games against United have both been memorable affairs.

The nine-time European champions won 3-2 in 2000 to secure a place in the semi-finals and went through 6-5 on aggregate despite a 4-3 second-leg loss in Manchester at the same stage of the 2002-03 tournament.

thw/dj

Football: CAF Champions League results

3/3/2013 8:40:13 PM

CAF Champions League preliminary round, second leg results this weekend:

At N'Djamena

Gazelle (CHA) 0 Zamalek (EGY) 0

Zamalek win 7-0 on aggregate

At Lome

Dynamic (TOG) 1 (Towodjo 56) V Club (COD) 2 (Mpeko 63, Etekiama 79)

V Club win 5-1

At Addis Ababa

St George (ETH) 5 Jamhuri (ZAN) 0

St George win 8-0

At Rabat

Al Ittihad (LBA) 0 CA Bizertin (TUN) 1 (Troudi 24)

Bizertin win 2-1

Note: Match moved to Morocco because of Libyan security situation

At Maseru

Correctional Services (LES) 1 Dynamos (ZIM) 0

Dynamos win 3-1

At Nairobi

Tusker (KEN) 3 (Opiyo 64, Sekayombya 72, Shikokoti 80) St Michel Utd (SEY) 0

Tusker in 7-1

At Lobomba

Mbabane Swallows (SWZ) 0 Zanaco (ZAM) 0

Zanaco win 3-2

At Mitsamiouli

Djabal (COM) 0 Orlando Pirates (RSA) 4 (Mbuyane 3, Mabena 8, Chinyama 53, Onyekachi 65-pen)

Pirates win 9-0

At Gaborone

Mochudi Centre Chiefs (BOT) 1 (Motlhabankwe 81) Maxaquene (MOZ) 0

Chiefs win 2-0

At Bujumbura

Vital'O (BDI) 0 APR (RWA) 1 (Mubumbyi 75)

Vital'O win on away goals after 2-2 tie

At Libolo

Recreativo Libolo (ANG) 4 (Vado 9, 87, Rasca 79, Ruben 81) Simba (TAN) 0

Libolo win 5-0

At Niamey

Olympic (NIG) 0 JSM Bejaia (ALG) 0

Bejaia win 3-0

At Malabo

Sony Ela Nguema (GEQ) 0 Asante Kotoko (GHA) 1 (Yusif 62)

Kotoko win 8-0

At Antananarivo

Adema (MAD) 1 (Randriamanjaka 87) Primeiro Agosto (ANG) 0

Primeiro win 4-3

At Banjul

Real Banjul (GAM) 2 (Savage 60, 81) FUS Rabat (MAR) 1 (Ndame 65)

FUS win on away goals after 2-2 tie

At Monrovia

LISCR (LBR) v Union Douala (CMR) -- late kick-off

Union lead 2-1 on aggregate

At Abidjan

Sewe San Pedro (CIV) 3 (Agoke 21, Garba 56, Kako 76) Horoya (GUI) 0

Sewe win 3-0

At Freetown

Diamond Stars (SLE) 1 AFAD Djekanou (CIV) 1

AFAD win 6-2

At Kampala

Revenue Authority (UGA) 0 Coton Sport (CMR) 0

Coton win 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 tie

At Ziguinchor

Casa Sport (SEN) 1 (Badji 90) Moghreb Tetouan (MAR) 0

Casa win 3-1 on penalties after 1-1 tie

At Bangui

Olympic Real Bangui (CAR) 0 Kano Pillars (NGR) 0

Kano win 5-1

At Mounana

CF Mounana (GAB) 1 (Sokambi 50-pen) AC Leopards (CGO) 0

Leopards win 2-1

At Ouagadougou

ASFA Yennenga (BUR) 1 (Ouattara 25) ASPAC (BEN) 1 (Johnson 83)

Yennenga win 5-4 on penalties after 2-2 tie

Note: Enugu Rangers (NGR) received a walkover when SC Principe (STP) failed to appear for first leg

dl/dj

Tennis: Brasil Tennis Cup results

3/3/2013 9:38:24 AM

Results from the final day of the WTA Brasil Tennis Cup on Saturday (x denotes seed):

Singles final

Monica Niculescu (ROM) bat Olga Puchkova (RUS) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

afp

Football: Belgian league results

3/3/2013 7:45:00 PM

Belgian league results on Sunday:

Club Brugge 2 Anderlecht 2

Standard Liege 0 RC Genk 0

Charleroi 0 Zulte-Waregem 1

Saturday

Ghent 2 Cercle Brugge 0

Germ. Beerschot 1 Lierse 3

Waasland-Beveren 0 Lokeren 0

Courtrai 0 Mons 1

KV Mechelen 1 Louvain 2

afp

Football: CAF Confederation Cup results

3/3/2013 8:43:36 PM

CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round, second leg results this weekend:

At Victoria

Anse Reunion (SEY) 0 Gor Mahia (KEN) 5 (Kiongera 1, 17, Wekesa 20, Lavatsa 59, Omondi 80)

Gor win 5-0 on aggregate

At Atteridgeville

SuperSport Utd (RSA) 3 (Nyondo 70, Erasmus 73, Nxumelo 83) CS Don Bosco (COD) 3 (Semakweri 33, Ushindi 61, Kamba 89)

SuperSport win 4-3

At Maputo

Liga Muculmana (MOZ) 1 (Reginaldo 2) Gaborone Utd (BOT) 0

Muculmana win 3-2

At Niamey

Sahel (NIG) 0 RC Kadiogo (BUR) 1 (Traore 78)

Kadiogo win 2-1

At Kigali

Police (RWA) 1 (Nshimiyimana 65) Lydia Academic (BDI) 1 (Kayumba 25)

Lydia win 2-1

At N'Djamena

Elect Sport (CHA) 1 (Dingamnodji 35) Panthere Nde (CMR) 1 (Anang 28)

Panthere win 3-1

At Bitam

US Bitam (GAB) 12 Desportivo Guadalupe (STP) 1

Bitam win 17-1

At Addis Ababa

Dedebit (ETH) 1 (Hintsa 23) Anges Fatima (CAR) 2 (Hintsa 15-og, Mamadou 90)

Dedebit win 5-2

At Lobomba

Mbabane Highlanders (SWZ) 1 (Ndzimandze 40) TCO Boeny (MAD) 2 (Hajanirina 23, 47)

Boeny win 5-3 on penalties after 3-3 tie

At Dakar

HLM (SEN) 1 Gamtel (GAM) 3

Gamtel win 5-2

At Brazzaville

Diables Noirs (CGO) 1 New Edubiase Utd (GHA) 0

Diables win 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 tie

At Conakry

Sequence (GUI) v Panter (GEQ) -- late kick-off

Panter lead 1-0 on aggregate

At Huambo

Recreativo Caala (ANG) 2 (Gueye 9, Ze Augusto 68) Power Dynamos (ZAM) 0

Caala win 2-1

At Bamako

US Bougouni (MLI) 2 (Doucoure 30, Camara 42) Haut Nkam (CMR) 0

Bougouni win 3-0

At Bamako

Onze Createurs (MLI) 3 (Koffi 14, Sinayoko 30, Cisse 82) Stella (CIV) 0

Createurs win 4-1

At Freetown

Johansens (SLE) v Barrack Young Controllers II (LBR) -- late kick-off

Barrack lead 1-0 on aggregate

At Juba

Al Nasir (SSD) 0 Azam (TAN) 5 (Bocco 25, 49, Khamis 31, 70, Tchetche 60)

Azam win 8-1

At Khartoum

El Watani Khartoum (SUD) 0 Al Nasr (LBA) 1 (Saad 34)

Nasr win 1-0

Note: AS Douanes (TOG) received a walkover after Mogas 90 (BEN) withdrew

afp

Football: English Premier League table

3/3/2013 5:58:09 PM

English Premier League table after Sunday's match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Manchester United 28 23 2 3 68 31 71

Manchester City 27 16 8 3 50 24 56

Tottenham 28 16 6 6 49 33 54

Chelsea 28 15 7 6 56 30 52

Arsenal 28 13 8 7 53 32 47

Everton 28 11 12 5 44 35 45

Liverpool 28 11 9 8 53 34 42

Swansea City 28 10 10 8 39 34 40

West Bromwich 28 12 4 12 38 37 40

Fulham 28 8 9 11 39 44 33

Stoke City 28 7 12 9 26 33 33

West Ham 28 9 6 13 32 41 33

Norwich City 28 7 11 10 27 45 32

Sunderland 28 7 9 12 31 38 30

Newcastle 28 8 6 14 38 49 30

Southampton 28 6 9 13 39 51 27

Wigan Athletic 28 6 6 16 33 55 24

Aston Villa 27 5 9 13 26 52 24

Reading 28 5 8 15 34 54 23

Queens Park Rangers 28 3 11 14 21 44 20

afp

Nordic Ski: World Championship results

3/3/2013 2:26:27 PM

Results on Sunday in the Nordic Ski World Championships:-

Men's 50 km classic style

1. Johan Olsson (SWE) 2hrs 10mins 41.4secs, 2. Dario Cologna (SUI) at 12.9secs, 3. Alexey Poltaranin (KAZ) at 16.8, 4. Alexander Legkov (RUS) 19.5, 5. Eldar Roenning (NOR) 20.2, 6. Tord Asle Gjerdalen (NOR) 32.3, 7. Hannes Dotzler (GER) 32.7, 8. Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS) 34.6, 9. Jens Filbrich (GER) 38.5, 10. Daniel Richardsson (SWE) 41.3.

afp