The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has reportedly asked President Bush to shut down the part of his campaign website that uses the word "Olympics".
The site shows a cartoon game, "John Kerry's Flip Flop Olympics"which asks players to guess Kerry's stances on issues.
It seems that the use of the word "Olympics" is barred under a federal law; only the USOC, according to the USOC that is, can use the word.
The USOC overzealously guards this word, nothing to do with the royalties that it generates of course!
Money and the Olympics go hand in hand, sport is but a side issue.
The Bush team, so I understand, have ignored the request.
Quite right!
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Friday, October 08, 2004
What a Whopper!
The Athens Olympics are but a faded memory. However, the bills are now being tallied up.
The Greek government is "trying" to add up the costs, and has stated that it will "announce it shortly...all these unanswered questions will be answered...".
The public deficit has breached 5.3% of GDP; which is not at all good news, as it breaches the EU 3% ceiling.
Estimates vary as to what the final bill will be. However, it is likely to be around $12BN (the budget was just under $6BN).
The Greek government is also trying to work out what to do with the $3BN of Olympic buildings, constructed for the Games. These will cost $100M per year to maintain.
As Premier Costas Caramanlis says:
"The country is facing an acute financial problem that can no longer be hidden..."
Quite!
The Greek government is "trying" to add up the costs, and has stated that it will "announce it shortly...all these unanswered questions will be answered...".
The public deficit has breached 5.3% of GDP; which is not at all good news, as it breaches the EU 3% ceiling.
Estimates vary as to what the final bill will be. However, it is likely to be around $12BN (the budget was just under $6BN).
The Greek government is also trying to work out what to do with the $3BN of Olympic buildings, constructed for the Games. These will cost $100M per year to maintain.
As Premier Costas Caramanlis says:
"The country is facing an acute financial problem that can no longer be hidden..."
Quite!
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Milking It
Those of you who are worried that Paul Hamm may lose his Olympic gold medal, if the arbitration court rules in favour of South Korea, need not fear too much for Hamm's livelihood.
He has reportedly been awarded an endorsement deal with Marigold Foods, a Minneapolis dairy company.
Hamm will be awarded his own ice cream flavour of "gold medal pecan swirl".
The ice cream has a butter pecan base, blended with thick caramel swirls and caramel-filled chocolate "gold medals."
Hamm had better not eat too many of those, otherwise he may not be fit enough to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
He has reportedly been awarded an endorsement deal with Marigold Foods, a Minneapolis dairy company.
Hamm will be awarded his own ice cream flavour of "gold medal pecan swirl".
The ice cream has a butter pecan base, blended with thick caramel swirls and caramel-filled chocolate "gold medals."
Hamm had better not eat too many of those, otherwise he may not be fit enough to compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Scraping The Bottom
The World Anti-Doping Agency Chairman, Dick Pound, has revealed how two disgraced Hungarian athletes provided false urine samples.
It seems that the boys, Robert Fazekas and Adrian Annus (an appropriate name), inserted balloons filled with someone elses urine into their anuses.
How nice!
They had their medals stripped from them, after they were found out to have provided false samples.
Seemingly, if you were not watching that closely, the "Heath Robinson" device of balloons and tubes made it look as they were actually unrinating.
As usual with scum bag cheats like this, Annus claimed that he was being "set up" by the IOC.
My message to Mr Annus is Blow it out your a**e!
It seems that the boys, Robert Fazekas and Adrian Annus (an appropriate name), inserted balloons filled with someone elses urine into their anuses.
How nice!
They had their medals stripped from them, after they were found out to have provided false samples.
Seemingly, if you were not watching that closely, the "Heath Robinson" device of balloons and tubes made it look as they were actually unrinating.
As usual with scum bag cheats like this, Annus claimed that he was being "set up" by the IOC.
My message to Mr Annus is Blow it out your a**e!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Shattered Illusion
It seems that the idea that the Athens Olympics would create jobs was but a fanciful illusion.
It is reported that 50,000 people, who were engaged for the construction and maintenance of Olympic facilities, are yet again unemployed now that the Games have ended.
Additionally, the majority of the 150,000 people who got Olympic jobs were, in fact, economic migrants; residing with their families in Athens.
It seems that the local Athens authorities are now faced with the task of moving these people to places of employment.
Precisely how to they intend to do that I wonder?
It is reported that 50,000 people, who were engaged for the construction and maintenance of Olympic facilities, are yet again unemployed now that the Games have ended.
Additionally, the majority of the 150,000 people who got Olympic jobs were, in fact, economic migrants; residing with their families in Athens.
It seems that the local Athens authorities are now faced with the task of moving these people to places of employment.
Precisely how to they intend to do that I wonder?
Monday, October 04, 2004
Divided Loyalties
David Beckham has hit the headlines again, how surprising!
This time, his "fifteen minutes of fame" is down to him withdrawing from the Madrid team photo to promote their bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Beckham, a very shrewd and intelligent individual, realised that a photo of him appearing in front of a banner backing Madrid's bid would look a trifle disloyal to his fellow Brits.
Having discussed it with his agent, he pulled out; needless to say his chums in Madrid were not best pleased.
It seems that Madrid 2012 signed a deal with Real Madrid, stating that all the Real Madrid players would promote the city's bid for the 2012 Games.
Beckham now has to deal with the problem of what he will be wearing on the pitch.
His new shirts will feature a logo supporting the Madrid bid.
Even Tony Blair might have trouble worming his way out of that.
This time, his "fifteen minutes of fame" is down to him withdrawing from the Madrid team photo to promote their bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Beckham, a very shrewd and intelligent individual, realised that a photo of him appearing in front of a banner backing Madrid's bid would look a trifle disloyal to his fellow Brits.
Having discussed it with his agent, he pulled out; needless to say his chums in Madrid were not best pleased.
It seems that Madrid 2012 signed a deal with Real Madrid, stating that all the Real Madrid players would promote the city's bid for the 2012 Games.
Beckham now has to deal with the problem of what he will be wearing on the pitch.
His new shirts will feature a logo supporting the Madrid bid.
Even Tony Blair might have trouble worming his way out of that.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Corruption
Slavkov, Bulgaria's top Olympic official, has reportedly pleaded innocent of corruption charges; in front of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC's) ethics panel.
Slavkov was filmed by the BBC, discussing how votes could be bought to support a city's bid to host the 2012 Summer Games.
Slavkov's membership of the IOC has been suspended, and his credentials for the Athens Olympics were revoked.
A final ruling on expulsion will not come until next July.
Who says that justice is swift?
Slavkov was filmed by the BBC, discussing how votes could be bought to support a city's bid to host the 2012 Summer Games.
Slavkov's membership of the IOC has been suspended, and his credentials for the Athens Olympics were revoked.
A final ruling on expulsion will not come until next July.
Who says that justice is swift?
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