International Olympic Committee : News

NHL: Second-round playoff results

5/21/2013 2:43:34 AM

Results on Monday from the second round of the National Hockey League playoffs (all series best-of-seven):

Western Conference

at Detroit

Detroit 3 Chicago 1

(Detroit lead series 2-1)

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Badminton: Sudirman Cup results - 1st update

5/20/2013 3:54:25 PM

Results of the group games of the Sudirman Cup tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Monday:

Group A

Indonesia bt India 4-1

Men's singles

Kashyap Parupalli (IND) bt Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (INA) 21-18, 21-14

Women's singles

Lindaweni Fanetri (INA) bt P.V. Sindhu (IND) 21-15, 21-10

Men's doubles

Angga Pratama and Rian Agung Saputro (INA) bt Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Jerry Chopra (IND) 21-13, 21-10

Women's doubles

Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari (INA) bt Ashwini Ponnappa and Pradnya Gadre (IND) 21-19, 22-20

Mixed doubles

Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir (INA) bt Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan (IND) 21-13, 21-14

Group B

South Korea bt Hong Kong 4-1

Men's singles

Lee Dong-Keun (KOR) bt Wong Wing Ki (HKG) 21-16, 21-15

Women's singles

Sung Ji-Hyun (KOR) bt Yip Pui Yin (HKG) 21-17, 21-14

Men's doubles

Kim Ki-Jung and Kim Sa-Rang (KOR) bt Chan Yun Lung and Ng Ka Long (HKG) 21-14, 21-17

Women's doubles

Jung Kyung-Eun and Kim Ha-Na (KOR) bt Tse Ying Suet and Poon Lok Yan (HKG) 21-10, 21-15

Mixed doubles

Lee Chun Hei and Chau Hoi Wah (HKG) bt Ko Sung-Hyun and Kim Ha-Na (KOR) 21-18, 21-14

Group C

Taiwan bt Germany 5-0

Men's singles

Hsueh Hsuan Yi (TPE) bt Dieter Domke (GER) 22-20, 21-14

Women's singles

Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) bt Karin Schnaase (GER) 21-15, 23-21

Men's doubles

Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin (TPE) bt Ingo Kindervater and Johannes Schoettler (GER) 21-18, 21-7

Women's doubles

Cheng Wen Hsing and Hsieh Pei Chen (TPE) bt Birgit Michels and Johanna Golsizewski (GER) 13-21, 21-16, 21-19

Mixed doubles

Lu Ching Yao and Lai Chia Wen (TPE) bt Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels (GER) 13-21, 22-20, 23-21

Group D

Japan bt Singapore 5-0

Men's singles

Takuma Ueda (JPN) bt Derek Wong (SIN) 21-18, 13-21, 21-15

Women's singles

Minatsu Mitani (JPN) bt Juan Gu (SIN) 21-10, 21-19

Men's doubles

Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa (JPN) bt Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Terry Yeo (SIN) 21-7, 21-18

Women's doubles

Misaki Matsutomo and Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) bt Lei Yao and Shinta Mulia Sari (SIN) 21-9, 21-15

Mixed doubles

Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Miyuki Maeda (JPN) bt Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Vanessa Neo (SIN) 16-21, 21-12, 21-19

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RugbyL: Australian National Rugby League results

5/20/2013 11:05:59 AM

Result of an Australian National Rugby League match played on Monday:

Melbourne Storm 10 Manly Sea Eagles 10 (AET)

Sunday

Cronulla Sharks 30 Canberra Raiders 20

Newcastle Knights 44 Canterbury Bulldogs 8

Saturday

St George Illawarra Dragons 32 Parramatta Eels 12

Penrith Panthers 62 New Zealand Warriors 6

North Queensland Cowboys 8 Sydney Roosters 12

Friday

South Sydney Rabbitohs 54 Wests Tigers 10

Brisbane Broncos 32 Gold Coast Titans 6

Standings (played, won, drawn, lost, bye, points for, points against, points differential, points):

South Sydney 10 9 0 1 0 265 149 116 18

Sydney Roosters 10 8 0 2 0 236 94 142 16

Melbourne 10 7 1 2 0 227 150 77 15

Manly 10 6 1 3 0 189 118 71 13

Newcastle 10 6 0 4 0 236 164 72 12

Brisbane 10 5 0 5 0 188 151 37 10

Cronulla 10 5 0 5 0 177 161 16 10

Gold Coast 10 5 0 5 0 181 191 -10 10

Canberra 10 5 0 5 0 196 245 -49 10

Penrith 10 4 0 6 0 222 206 16 8

North Queensland 10 4 0 6 0 160 172 -12 8

St George Illawarra 10 4 0 6 0 164 207 -43 8

Bulldogs 10 4 0 6 0 164 209 -45 8

Parramatta 10 3 0 7 0 162 253 -91 6

NZ Warriors 10 2 0 8 0 151 284 -133 4

Wests Tigers 10 2 0 8 0 123 287 -164 4

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Yelena Isinbaeva announced as Youth Olympic Games Ambassador for Nanjing 2014

5/19/2013 10:00:00 AM

The Russian pole vaulter will reprise her role as a YOG Ambassador, following her support and attendance of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, which saw over 3,600 elite young athletes from 205 National Olympic Committees compete while also taking part in a unique Culture and Education Programme off the field of play. The Youth Olympic Games also encourage young people around the world to get involved in sport and embrace and live by the Olympic values.

Speaking at an event held in Nanjing, where Yelena Isinbaeva enjoyed a tour of the Athletics Stadium and gave a masterclass to young athletes, the YOG Ambassador said: “I am very happy and honoured to continue in my role as a YOG Ambassador for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The Youth Olympic Games are a great platform for young athletes, which I experienced first-hand at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games."

"As well as these Games preparing them for their future sports careers by exposing them to all that comes with a high-level international multi-sports event, such as living in a village and the media interest, I saw for myself how the athletes made the most of the opportunities to make friends with different athletes from different countries, to experience different cultures and to really live the YOG spirit.”

For the official announcement video, please visit: www.youtube.com/youtholympics and for images from today’s events visit: www.flickr.com/iocmedia

The second edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held from 16 to 28 August in Nanjing, China. The sports programme will feature 28 sports, including golf and rugby sevens, which will make their debut on an Olympic programme before their inclusion in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The YOG also feature unique disciplines such as 3-on-3 basketball and 5-a-side hockey, as well as mixed gender and mixed NOC events.

For more information on the Youth Olympic Games, visit: www.olympic.org/yog and follow us on Twitter, and Facebook.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 / email: pressoffice@olympic.org / or visit our website at www.olympic.org

Videos
YouTube: www.youtube.com/youtholympics

Photos
For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event please follow us on Flickr.
To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.

Social media
For up-to-the-minute information on the Youth Olympic Games and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Nanjing 2014
The second edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will be in Nanjing, China, from 16 to 28 August 2014. Find the latest news on Nanjing 2014 here, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

NBA: Conference championship results

5/19/2013 9:59:08 PM

Results on Sunday from the NBA conference championships (all series best-of-seven):

Western Conference

at San Antonio

San Antonio 105 Memphis 83

(San Antonio lead series 1-0)

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Cycling: Tour of California results

5/19/2013 7:27:27 PM

Results on Sunday after the eighth and final stage of the Tour of California, 130.6 kilometers from San Francisco to Santa Rosa:

Stage eight

1. Peter Sagan (SVK/Cannondale) 3hr 04min 07sec, 2. Daniel Schorn (AUT) same time, 3. Tyler Farrar (USA) s.t., 4. Gianni Meersman (BEL) s.t., 5. Ken Hanson (USA) s.t., 6. Thor Hushovd (NOR) s.t., 7. Michael Matthews (AUS) s.t., 8. Jake Keough (USA) s.t., 9. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) s.t., 10. Matt Brammeier (IRL) s.t.

Final Overall Standings after eight stages

1. Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC) 29hr 43min, 2. Michael Rogers (AUS) at 1:47, 3. Janier Acevedo (COL) 3:26, 4. Mathias Frank (SUI) 3:32, 5. Cameron Meyer (AUS) 3:33, 6. Matthew Busche (USA) 3:50, 7. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) 4:52, 8. Lawson Craddock (USA) 5:24, 9. Philip Deignan (IRL) 5:33, 10. Chad Haga (USA) 5:52

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RugbyU: Asian Five Nations result - Philippines 24 UAE 8

5/18/2013 1:09:39 PM

Result from a match between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates in the Asian Five Nations rugby tournament on Saturday:

Philippines 24 UAE 8

Ht: 12-8

Scorers:

Philippines - Tries: Chris Hitch, Gareth Holgate, Graeme Hagan, Matt Saunders; Conversions: Alexander Aronson (2)

UAE - Try: Reinier Els; Penalty: Andrew Russell

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Football: J-League table

5/18/2013 12:16:24 PM

J-League standings after Saturday's games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Omiya Ardija 12 9 2 1 22 9 29

Yokohama Marinos 12 7 3 2 24 13 24

Urawa Red Diamonds 11 7 2 2 22 11 23

Kashima Antlers 12 6 4 2 18 15 22

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 11 6 2 3 20 10 20

Cerezo Osaka 12 5 5 2 17 11 20

FC Tokyo 12 6 1 5 22 16 19

Vegalta Sendai 11 4 4 3 15 14 16

Kawasaki Frontale 12 4 4 4 23 23 16

Kashiwa Reysol 11 5 1 5 18 21 16

Shimizu S-Pulse 12 4 3 5 11 19 15

Albirex Niigata 12 4 2 6 14 17 14

Ventforet Kofu 12 3 5 4 12 16 14

Nagoya Grampus 12 3 3 6 14 18 12

Sagan Tosu 12 2 4 6 20 30 10

Shonan Bellmare 12 2 3 7 11 24 9

Jubilo Iwata 12 1 3 8 15 21 6

Oita Trinita 12 1 3 8 13 23 6

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Athletics: Diamond League results

5/18/2013 5:16:58 PM

Diamond League results on Saturday:

Men

Discus:

1. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 67.34 m

2. Gerd Kanter (EST) 63.14

3. Robert Urbanek (POL) 62.85

4. Erik Cadee (NED) 62.40

5. Yennifer Frank Casanas (ESP) 62.39

6. Vikas Gowda (IND) 61.97

7. Martin Maric (CRO) 60.73

8. Rutger Smith (NED) 60.12

9. Mario Pestano (ESP) 57.14

10. Xin Jia (CHN) 53.83

High jump:

1. Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) 2.33 m

2. Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) 2.33

3. Zhang Guowei (CHN) 2.27

4. Michael Mason (CAN) 2.24

5. Robbie Grabarz (GBR) 2.24

6. Aleksandr Shustov (RUS) 2.24

7. Trevor Barry (BAH) 2.24

8. Sergey Mudrov (RUS) 2.20

9. Jaroslav Baba (CZE) 2.20

10. Mickael Hanany (FRA) 2.20

11. Donald Thomas (BAH) 2.20

12. Sun Zhao (CHN) NM

1500 m:

1. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:32.39

2. Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH) 3:32.43

3. Collins Cheboi (KEN) 3:32.96

4. Abdelaati Iguider (MAR) 3:33.29

5. Bethwell Birgen (KEN) 3:33.67

6. Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 3:33.85

7. James Kiplagat Magut (KEN) 3:35.29

8. Teshome Dirirsa (ETH) 3:35.47

9. Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN) 3:37.64

10. Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) 3:38.28

11. Jakub Holusa (CZA) 3:38.71

12. Mohammed Ayoub Tiouali (MAR) 3:38.76

13. Nick Willis (NZL) 3:40.72

14. Zhang Haikun (CHN) 3:41.19

15. Zana Roberton (NZL) 3:42.08

16. Teng Haining (CHN) 3:46.56

17. Andrew Kiptoo Rotich (KEN) DNF

18. Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono (KEN) DNF

Long jump:

1. Li Jinzhe (CHN) 8.34 m

2. Aleksandr Menkov (RUS) 8.31

3. Greg Rutherford (GBR) 8.08

4. Su Xiongfeng (CHN) 8.00

5. Ngonidzashe Makusha (ZIM) 7.96

6. Ignisious Gaisah (GHA) 7.95

7. Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (RSA) 7.74

8. Irving Saladino (PAN) 7.72

9. Chris Tomlinson (GBR) 7.66

10. Dwight Phillips (USA) 7.62

11. Jj Jegede (GBR) 7.58

12. Mitchell Watt (AUS) 7.58

13. Will Claye (USA) 7.56

Javelin:

1. Tero Pitkamaki (FIN) 87.60 m

2. Vitezslav Vesely (CZE) 86.67

3. Dimitry Tarabin (RUS) 85.36

4. Ari Mannio (FIN) 83.43

5. Zhao Qinggang (CHN) 81.18

6. Keshorn Walcott (TRI) 79.02

7. Julius Yego (KEN) 73.23

8. Stuart Farquhar (NZL) 76.36

9. Chen Qi (CHN) 75.46

10. RObert Oosthuizen (RSA) 74.62

11. Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) NM

400 m:

1. Kirani James (GRN) 44.02

2. Lashawn Merritt (USA) 44.60

3. Luguelin Santos (DOM) 45.11

4. Jonathan Borlee (BEL) 45.57

5. Lalonde Gordon (TRI) 46.39

6. Zhang Huadong (CHN) 47.77

7. Guo Jian (CHN) DNF

8. Conrad Williams (GBR) DQ

9. Pavel Maslak (CZE) DQ

3,000 m Steeplechase:

1. Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) 8:01.16

2. Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN) 8:02.63

3. Hillary Kipsang Yego (KEN) 8:03.57

4. Abel Kiprop (KEN) 8:08.83

5. Gilbert Kirui (KEN) 8:09.90

6. Jairus Kipchoge Birech (KEN) 8:10.27

7. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (KEN) 8:14.97

8. Bernard Nganga (KEN) 8:20.69

9. Elijah Chelimo (KEN) 8:29.29

10. Benjamin Kiplagat (UGA) 8:30.42

11. Chris Winter (CAN) 8:31.35

12. Jacob Araptany (UGA) DNF

13. Alexandre Genest (CAN) DNF

14. Haron Lagat (KEN) DNF

15. Brahim Taleb (MAR) DNF

16. Lin Xiangqian (CHN) DNF

200 m:

1. Warren Weir (JAM) 20.18

2. Justin Gatlin (USA) 20.21

3. Jason Young (JAM) 20.22

4. Zhang Peiming (CHN) 20.47

5. Churandy Martina (NED) 20.59

6. Darvis Patton (USA) 20.61

7. Xie Zhenye (CHN) 20.63

8. Wallace Spearmon (USA) 20.88

110m hurdles

1. Jason Richardson (USA) 13.23

2. Ryan Wilson (USA) 13.25

3. Xie Wenjun (CHN) 13.28

4. David Oliver (USA) 13.35

5. Jeff Porter (USA) 13.45

6. Sergey Shubenkov (RUS) 13.52

7. Shi Dongpeng (CHN) 13.64

8. Lehann Fourie (RSA) 13.82

9. Aries Merritt (USA) DNF

Women

Triple jump:

1. Caterine Ibarguen (COL) 14.69 m

2. Olha Saladukha (UKR) 14.43

3. Irana Gumenyuk (RUS) 14.02

4. Xie Limei (CHN) 13.99

5. Kimberly Williams (JAM) 13.99

6. Niki Panetta (GRE) 13.81

7. Dana Veldakova (SVK) 13.76

8. Keila Da Silva Costa (BRA) 13.63

9. Li Yanmei (CHN) 13.55

10. Hanna Knyazheva (UKR) NM

Shot put:

1. Christina Schwanitz (GER) 20.20 m

2. Gong Lijiao (CHN) 19.73

3. Michelle Carter (USA) 18.83

4. Liu Xiangrong (CHN) 18.11

5. Anca Heltne (ROU) 18.02

6. Josephine Terlecki (GER) 17.97

7. Jeneva McCall (USA) 17.83

8. Anita Marton (HUN) 17.23

9. Aliona Dubitskaya (BLR) 17.06

10. Olesya Sviridova (RUS) 15.91

11. Cleopatra Borel (TRI) NM

Pole vault:

1. Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.70 m

2. Mary Saxer (USA) 4.60

3. Silke Spiegelburg (GER) 4.55

4. Li Ling (CHN) 4.50

5. Lacy Janson (USA) 4.40

6. Anastasiya Savchenko (RUS) 4.40

7. Angelica Bengtsson (SWE) 4.40

8. Becky Holliday (USA) 4.15

9. Nataliya Mazuryk (UKR) 4.15

10. Katy Viuf (USA) 4.15

11. Aleksandra Kiryashova (RUS) NM

400 m hurdles:

1. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 53.79

2. Angela Morasanu (ROU) 53.85

3. Yadisleidis Pedroso (CUB) 54.54

4. Dalilah Muhammad (USA) 54.74

5. Kaliese Spencer (JAM) 54.91

6. Lashinda Demus (USA) 55.12

7. Ajoke Odumosu (NGR) 55.94

8. Tiffany Williams (USA) 56.05

9. Satomi Kubokura (JPN) 56.42

100 m:

1. Shally-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 10.93

2. Blessing Okagbare (NGR) 11.00

3. Carmelita Jeter (USA) 11.08

4. Samantha Henry-Robinson (JAM) 11.23

5. Sheri-Ann Brooks (JAM) 11.27

6. Aleen Bailey (JAM) 11.30

7. Rubby Zang Milama (GAB) 11.36

8. Jeneba Tarmoh (USA) 11.42

9. Wei Yongli (CHN) 11.50

800 m:

1. Francine Nionsaba (BDI) 2:00.33

2. Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:01.28

3. Malika Akkaoui (MAR) 2:01.49

4. Winny Chebet (KEN) 2:01.54

5. Marina Arzamasova (BLR) 2:02.44

6. Wang Chunyu (CHN) 2:02.81

7. Tatyana Markelova (RUS) 2:02.92

8. Zhao Jing (CHN) 2:02.94

9. Tintu Luka (IND) 2:03.61

10. Cherono Koech (KEN) 0:04.31

11. Angelika Cichocka (POL) DNF

5,000 m:

1. Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 14:45.92

2. Meseret Defar (ETH) 14:47.76

3. Viola Jelagat Kibiwot (KEN) 14:48.29

4. Mercy Cherono (KEN) 14:49.84

5. Mary Mureithi Wangari (KEN) 14:49.92

6. Buze Diriba (ETH) 14:50.24

7. Irine Chebet Cheptai (KEN) 14:50.99

8. Gelete Burka (ETH) 14:59.05

9. Sylvia Jebiwot Kibet (KEN) 15:02.90

10. Azemra Gebru (ETH) 15:02.90

11. Janet Kisa (KEN) 15:05.89

12. Genet Yalew (ETH) 15:07.96

13. Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) 15:11.12

14. Ruti Aga (ETH) 15:13.48

15. Magdelene Masai (KEN) 15:17.51

16. Alemitu Haroye (ETH) 15:19.14

17. Xiao Huimin (CHN) 15:16.33

18. Janet Achola (UGA) DNF

19. Helen Clitheroe (GBR) DNF

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Highlights of the week

5/17/2013 4:34:00 PM

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

On 13 May at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, IOC President Jacques Rogge received an official visit from their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium. A delegation from the Belgian NOC, including President Pierre-Olivier Beckers, who is also an IOC member, and Secretary General Guido de Bondt, was also present. The programme included a presentation on the Olympic Movement and tours of the IOC headquarters and The Olympic Museum, currently being housed on a boat on Lake Geneva. Read the news here.

On 16 May, President Rogge gave a presentation at the IMD business school in Lausanne on his career as IOC President and on an assessment of the Olympic Games.

This week in Vidy, President Rogge has met:

- Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) President Francesco Ricci Bitti;

- Botswana NOC President Negroes Malealea Kgosietsilek;

- a delegation from the NOC of Papua New Guinea;

- International Olympic Truce Foundation Vice-President George Papandreou;

- a delegation from the Chinese city of Xiamen, led by IOC member Ching-Kuo Wu;

- Netherlands NOC President André Bolhuis;

- International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT) President Ivo Ferriani;

- IOC member Ung Chang;

- and Indian Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sport, Jitendra Singh.

This weekend, the IOC President will be in Stockholm (Sweden) for the World Ice Hockey Championships. He will also attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), whose President is IOC member René Fasel.

OTHER NEWS

The Founding Working Group on the fight against irregular and illegal betting concluded its fourth meeting, chaired by the IOC President, on 14 May in Lausanne, with the approval of a set of recommendations aimed at bolstering education on the issue, monitoring, exchange of information and intelligence, and legislation. It called for the establishment of an Olympic Movement monitoring system based on the one in place during the London 2012 Olympic Games that would be made available to the International Federations during major competitions to share information regarding suspicious betting activity. More info here.

On 15 May, the IOC held successive fruitful meetings with a delegation from the Indian Sports Ministry, headed by Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, and representatives from the National Federations of India who are also members of the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA). A representative of the Olympic Council of Asia was also in attendance. The main purpose of the meetings was to explore the possibility for the suspended IOA to hold free, fair, democratic and transparent elections on the basis of a revised IOA constitution and the Olympic Charter with no outside interference, which could pave the way for the IOC to consider lifting its suspension of the IOA. The entire process will be closely monitored and supervised by the IOC, which will issue a roadmap for the suspended IOA and all its members to follow. Press release here.

The IOC has awarded the broadcast rights for Australia to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi to Ten Network Holdings. The group has acquired the broadcast rights to all media platforms in Australia. More info here.

At the 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), NBC Sports won 11 awards, the most of any sports media company for the third straight year. The London Olympic Games received five Emmys, including Outstanding Live Event Turnaround.

As part of the agreement between the FC Barcelona Foundation and the IOC, the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona recently hosted the first Olympafrica FutbolNet Cup educators class. Delegates came from Senegal, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Côte d’Ivoire to participate in this course, which focused on the theory and implementation of the FutbolNet’s methodology. Info here.

TOP PARTNERS

As part of its fight against obesity, Worldwide Olympic Partner Coca-Cola has announced four global business commitments to further help people live healthier, happier and more active lifestyles. These commitments will apply in the more than 200 countries in which the company operates. Coca-Cola has also committed to publicly and actively measure the scale and reach of its latest efforts online, at www.comingtogether.com. Find out more at www.coca-colacompany.com.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

World Athletics Day 2013 was held over the weekend of 11 and 12 May. Some 122 Federations chose to take part in this year’s edition. This Day is aimed at youngsters worldwide and has one of the busiest competitions programmes in the athletics calendar. In addition, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced the opening of a new Fans Section on its web site, www.iaaf.org.

A quick note from the International Fencing Federation (FIE), which has reminded us it has two web sites: one devoted to administration (www.fie.ch) and another for the media and news (www.fie.org).

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Council met on 9 and 10 May in Liverpool (Great Britain). Its decisions included electing members of the Disciplinary Commission; awarding the 37th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in 2019 to Azerbaijan; and accepting the provisional admission of the national federations of Afghanistan and the Cayman Islands. Details on www.fig-gymnastics.com.

In a press release, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced that Swiss watchmaker Tissot will be, for the second consecutive time, Official Timekeeper of the World Table Tennis Championships, which will take place from 13 to 20 May in Paris (France). Info at www.ittf.com.

WINTER IFS

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced the members on its first Athlete Commission and its Competition and Rules Commission. 2002 Olympic champion and WCF Vice-President Bent Ramsfjell will chair the first Commission, while WCF President Kate Caithness and WCF Executive Board member Graham Prouse will chair the second. Press release on www.worldcurling.org.

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

At its annual General Assembly in early May, the Australian NOC, whose President is IOC member John Coates, elected three women to its Executive Board: Nicole Livingstone (swimming), Kitty Chiller (modern pentathlon) and Danielle Woodward (canoe/kayak). Helen Brownlee (canoe/kayak) was elected NOC Vice-President - the first woman to hold this post. IOC member Richard Kevan Gosper was also present at this Assembly. Info at www.olympics.com.au.

British double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson died on 9 May when his yacht capsized in San Francisco Bay (USA). The crew were training to compete in this summer’s America’s Cup. Aged 36, Andrew Simpson was Olympic champion in the Star event in 2008 in Beijing, then a silver medallist with teammate Ian Percy at the London Games last summer.

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Coordination Commission for the Baku 2015 European Games, whose Chairman is Spyros Capralos, met at the end of April in the Azeri city for a first round of meetings with the organisers. Technical and planning meetings were held with the Organising Committee, led by the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva. The EOC delegation was received by the President of the Republic, Ilham Aliev, who is also President of the NOC. The Games will be held from 12 to 28 June 2015, and the provisional programme comprises 16 sports. Almost 7,000 athletes are expected. Those present included EOC President Patrick Joseph Hickey. Read more here.

Irish Olympic medallists at the London 2012 Games recently received IOC lapel pins from Patrick Hickey, Irish NOC President and IOC member, in the presence of the former Chairman of the Organising Committee for these Games and current British NOC Chairman, Sebastian Coe. This ceremony was held at Dublin’s Mansion House on 7 May, and attendees included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise O’Muiri; the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring; and British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott. At the NOC headquarters, Sebastian Coe unveiled a sculpture commemorating the arrival of the Olympic flame in Dublin almost one year ago. A cooperation agreement was also signed between the Irish and British NOCs. Read more here.

On 8 May, Lithuanian NOC President Daina Gudzineviciute met Jonathan Mannie, Chairman of the Education Committee of Professional Golf Associations of Europe; and Rolandas Dovidaitis, President of the Lithuanian Golf Federation. Their discussions focused mainly on the development of golf in Lithuania and the best examples from around the world. Read the news on www.ltok.lt.

The President of the Mongolian NOC, Demchigjav Zagdsuren, recently received the “Sochi 2014” athlete Olympic scholarships holders. Four cross-country skiing athletes have been benefitting from this Olympic Solidarity programme since 1 January 2013. In addition, the NOC President and Director General of the Hasu Megawatt company, J.Tumen-Ayush, signed a partnership agreement at a ceremony held at Olympic House in Ulaanbaatar. IOC honorary member Shagdarjav Magvan, NOC Secretary General Jugder Otgontsagaano and others attended this signing.

The Peruvian Olympic Academy recently organised the 9th seminar on physical education and sport at secondary school level. Almost 100 managers, coaches, sports technicians and teachers of physical education took part at the Peruvian NOC headquarters. A seminar will be held from 27 to 30 May on sports nutrition. Find more info at www.coperu.org.

The Executive Committee of the NOC of São Tomé and Principe, whose President is João Manuel Da Costa Alegre, has decided to support national championships in various sports (athletics, handball, basketball, canoeing, tennis, cycling, volleyball, football) in order to boost the practice of sport in the archipelago.

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

LILLEHAMMER 2016

Twenty-four design students from the local Gjøvik University College have been invited to design the emblem and visual identity of the 2nd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 2016. Read the news here.

RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that Todd Nicholson has been elected Chairman of its Athletes’ Council for the next four years. Nicholson, a five-time Paralympian and member of Canada’s gold medal-winning ice sledge hockey team in 2006 (sledge hockey), succeeds USA’s Bob Balk. More details at www.paralympic.org.

The 3rd World Sports Games of the International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT) will be held from 2 to 9 June 2013 in Varna (Bulgaria). Some 2,300 participants from 32 nations will compete in 20 different sports. As the CSIT signed the World Anti-Doping Code in 2010, anti-doping measures will, for the first time, be taken at these Games. More info at www.csit.tv/en.