A torch used to carry the Olympic Flame, for the 1998 Winter Games in Japan, has been stolen from the Nagano Olympic Museum.
The museum allowed visitors to handle the torch, which was retained by a wire to prevent it from being stolen. However, the wire was cut; and the torch stolen.
This is one of a 1000 Olympic torches, made for the 1998 Winter Games held in Nagano. The museum has one other torch left.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Another Olympics, Another Budget Balls Up!
Seemingly, and why should we be surprised when there are politicians involved, yet another Olympics budget has fallen apart.
This time the honour for lousy financial planning, falls on the forthcoming Turin Winter Olympics 2006. They are expecting a a $242M shortfall, small potatoes compared with the $8BN overspend by the Greeks!
However, to add spice to this little pot boiler, I understand that the police are investigating the possibility that construction contracts were fixed.
Corruption, in the Olympics; surely not?
As usual, when an Olympic's event looks like it will disintegrate into chaos, a politician raises his head; and tells the world that everything will be alright. The politician in question this time is Valentino Castellani, a former Turin mayor who is leading the "organising" committee TOROC.
He said that the games would be ready for the opening ceremony on Feb. 10, 2006. Needless to say, the good people of Italy will be the ones saddled with the bill for the shortfall.
Castellani played the "blame game", noting that state-owned companies, including public broadcaster RAI, have not played their part in sponsoring and promoting the games. National airline Alitalia, which is mired in major financial difficulties, has also not sponsored the games.
So there you go ladies and gentlemen, it's everyone else's fault; but most certainly not the fault of TOROC.
In typical myopic form, Castellani said:
"I don't see any scandal, any particular insoluble solution. I can't believe for a country like Italy that (US$260 million) will be a problem."
How very kind of him!
This time the honour for lousy financial planning, falls on the forthcoming Turin Winter Olympics 2006. They are expecting a a $242M shortfall, small potatoes compared with the $8BN overspend by the Greeks!
However, to add spice to this little pot boiler, I understand that the police are investigating the possibility that construction contracts were fixed.
Corruption, in the Olympics; surely not?
As usual, when an Olympic's event looks like it will disintegrate into chaos, a politician raises his head; and tells the world that everything will be alright. The politician in question this time is Valentino Castellani, a former Turin mayor who is leading the "organising" committee TOROC.
He said that the games would be ready for the opening ceremony on Feb. 10, 2006. Needless to say, the good people of Italy will be the ones saddled with the bill for the shortfall.
Castellani played the "blame game", noting that state-owned companies, including public broadcaster RAI, have not played their part in sponsoring and promoting the games. National airline Alitalia, which is mired in major financial difficulties, has also not sponsored the games.
So there you go ladies and gentlemen, it's everyone else's fault; but most certainly not the fault of TOROC.
In typical myopic form, Castellani said:
"I don't see any scandal, any particular insoluble solution. I can't believe for a country like Italy that (US$260 million) will be a problem."
How very kind of him!
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Madrid's Bid Dead?
It seems that the racist abuse, by Spanish fans of English footballers on Wednesday, may well have killed Madrid's chances of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.
The IOC may be many things, but it is not stupid enough to knowingly associate its brand with racism.
Lord Coe, the head of the British bid team, was quick to recognise this. In his speech yesterday, outlining London's bid proposal, he put the athletic boot into Madrid.
He said that British Olympics would showcase Britain's "ethnic diversity and tolerance".
Referring to the scenes from Madrid, on Wednesday, he added:
"It was a disfiguring episode for anyone anywhere in sport."
The IOC may be many things, but it is not stupid enough to knowingly associate its brand with racism.
Lord Coe, the head of the British bid team, was quick to recognise this. In his speech yesterday, outlining London's bid proposal, he put the athletic boot into Madrid.
He said that British Olympics would showcase Britain's "ethnic diversity and tolerance".
Referring to the scenes from Madrid, on Wednesday, he added:
"It was a disfiguring episode for anyone anywhere in sport."
Friday, November 19, 2004
Athens Busts Budget Again
It seems that the Athens Olympic budget has been busted again.
Previous reports that the cost of the Games would hit $12BN, seem to be a little on the "light side".
The total cost of the Athens Olympics may in fact exceed $14.6BN, according to Greece's 2005 budget submitted to parliament Thursday.
The extra costs have come from infrastructure projects, eg the metro extension to the airport, and other indirect public sector expenditures not included in the original Olympic budget.
Speaking as an accountant, I trust that the financial "experts" who forecast that the cost would not exceed $6BN get their backsides well and truly kicked.
Previous reports that the cost of the Games would hit $12BN, seem to be a little on the "light side".
The total cost of the Athens Olympics may in fact exceed $14.6BN, according to Greece's 2005 budget submitted to parliament Thursday.
The extra costs have come from infrastructure projects, eg the metro extension to the airport, and other indirect public sector expenditures not included in the original Olympic budget.
Speaking as an accountant, I trust that the financial "experts" who forecast that the cost would not exceed $6BN get their backsides well and truly kicked.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
New York Does It Large!
New York unveiled its detailed plans for its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics yesterday.
It is promising to beam the Olympic Rings into the night sky over Manhattan, to illuminate the Empire State Building with the national colors of competing countries and to cover every available surface with Olympics advertising.
The latter point will definitely please the judges, given the fact that the Olympics are now entirely the plaything of the marketing men from the corporate world.
The triathlon event would use Central Park, whilst baseball and basketball would be played at Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden respectively.
New York would construct new sites including; an aquatics center in a 35-acre waterfront park in Brooklyn and a park for equestrian events on the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island.
The Olympic village would be built in Queens, and would accommodate the 4,400 athletes.
Ticket prices will be extortionate; between $550 and $1,500 for the opening ceremony, whilst ordinary tickets would cost around $50.
The IOC will visit New York in February 2005, and announce the winner in July.
It is promising to beam the Olympic Rings into the night sky over Manhattan, to illuminate the Empire State Building with the national colors of competing countries and to cover every available surface with Olympics advertising.
The latter point will definitely please the judges, given the fact that the Olympics are now entirely the plaything of the marketing men from the corporate world.
The triathlon event would use Central Park, whilst baseball and basketball would be played at Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden respectively.
New York would construct new sites including; an aquatics center in a 35-acre waterfront park in Brooklyn and a park for equestrian events on the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island.
The Olympic village would be built in Queens, and would accommodate the 4,400 athletes.
Ticket prices will be extortionate; between $550 and $1,500 for the opening ceremony, whilst ordinary tickets would cost around $50.
The IOC will visit New York in February 2005, and announce the winner in July.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Security Matters
An Australian company has signed an agreement with the Chinese Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), to develop security technology for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
QR Sciences Limited (QRS), a company that specialises in the development of Quadrupole Resonance based explosive detection systems, formalised a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year.
QRS will develop, and test, a multi-technology screening system; this will be capable of detecting radioactive and explosive materials, along with a range of weapons and narcotics.
The success of this will have positive repercussions for avionics, and other means of travel, worldwide.
QR Sciences Limited (QRS), a company that specialises in the development of Quadrupole Resonance based explosive detection systems, formalised a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year.
QRS will develop, and test, a multi-technology screening system; this will be capable of detecting radioactive and explosive materials, along with a range of weapons and narcotics.
The success of this will have positive repercussions for avionics, and other means of travel, worldwide.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Designer Apartments
It seems that the Olympics never quite fails to surprise me.
Tennis star Venus Williams will, if New York wins the bid for the 2012 Games, be expecting the athletes at the Games to be staying in her apartments.
No, she hasn't got an extremely large apartment in New York; she in fact has just set up a design company, that handles the interior design of apartments and houses.
Quote:
"...(Designing the apartments) was actually a really fun project... If we get the Olympics in New York in 2012 the athletes will be staying in something very much like (my design)...".
It seems that Williams's design skills were honed at the Athens Games; she helped design the orange newsboy caps, which were required headgear for McDonald's employees in Athens.
Hmmm!
Tennis star Venus Williams will, if New York wins the bid for the 2012 Games, be expecting the athletes at the Games to be staying in her apartments.
No, she hasn't got an extremely large apartment in New York; she in fact has just set up a design company, that handles the interior design of apartments and houses.
Quote:
"...(Designing the apartments) was actually a really fun project... If we get the Olympics in New York in 2012 the athletes will be staying in something very much like (my design)...".
It seems that Williams's design skills were honed at the Athens Games; she helped design the orange newsboy caps, which were required headgear for McDonald's employees in Athens.
Hmmm!
Monday, November 15, 2004
London Olympics Bid
London hands over its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games today.
Lord Coe, Olympic medal winner and chairman of the bid, expressed his confidence in the chances that London might host the Games for the first time since 1948.
The 600 page bid book will be handed over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Amber Charles, a 14-year-old basketball player from east London.
The final decision will be made by the IOC in July 2005.
The IOC will visit each city, to judge for themselves the state of readiness of each bidder.
London's success would mean the transformation of 1,500 acres of East London's Lower Lea Valley, which is one of the UK's poorest areas.
Other events would be held at; Wimbledon, the new Wembley, Lord's and heritage sites like Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Greenwich Park and Horse Guards.
Lord Coe, Olympic medal winner and chairman of the bid, expressed his confidence in the chances that London might host the Games for the first time since 1948.
The 600 page bid book will be handed over to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by Amber Charles, a 14-year-old basketball player from east London.
The final decision will be made by the IOC in July 2005.
The IOC will visit each city, to judge for themselves the state of readiness of each bidder.
London's success would mean the transformation of 1,500 acres of East London's Lower Lea Valley, which is one of the UK's poorest areas.
Other events would be held at; Wimbledon, the new Wembley, Lord's and heritage sites like Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Greenwich Park and Horse Guards.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
New York Bid
New York will submit its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games to the IOC tomorrow.
Mayor Bloomberg believes that the Games will attract $12BN of economic activity, and create 135,000 jobs.
Quote:
"We're going to turn it up a notch and, for the next eight months, we're going to work harder than ever to get the Summer Games for 2012 right here where they belong...".
The five boroughs of New York would all play a part in the Games; mountain biking at the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, swimming and diving in Willliamsburg, Brooklyn, baseball in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, sailing off the Rockaways and the opening and closing ceremonies in a proposed new stadium on the Hudson River.
However, the plan for a West Side Stadium which would be home to the NFL's Jets, faces opposition from neighborhood groups. This uncertainty surrounding the stadium plan may complicate the bid.
Mayor Bloomberg believes that the Games will attract $12BN of economic activity, and create 135,000 jobs.
Quote:
"We're going to turn it up a notch and, for the next eight months, we're going to work harder than ever to get the Summer Games for 2012 right here where they belong...".
The five boroughs of New York would all play a part in the Games; mountain biking at the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, swimming and diving in Willliamsburg, Brooklyn, baseball in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, sailing off the Rockaways and the opening and closing ceremonies in a proposed new stadium on the Hudson River.
However, the plan for a West Side Stadium which would be home to the NFL's Jets, faces opposition from neighborhood groups. This uncertainty surrounding the stadium plan may complicate the bid.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Dead Reckoning
As predicted, on this site before the Athens Olympics even started, the cost of hosting the Athens Olympics has topped $12BN.
The Greek Finance Minister, Giorgos Alogoskoufis, revealed the staggering cost of history's most expensive Games yesterday.
The original budget was around $3BN.
The $12BN cost does not include the cost of infrastructure, these costs have not been published.
The Greek Finance Minister, Giorgos Alogoskoufis, revealed the staggering cost of history's most expensive Games yesterday.
The original budget was around $3BN.
The $12BN cost does not include the cost of infrastructure, these costs have not been published.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Olympic Histrionics
The histrionic threat by Valentino Castellani, organiser of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, to resign yesterday (as reported on this site) has been withdrawn; how surprising!
Following a meeting with the IOC president, Jacques Rogge, and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi; Castellani's ego was duly mollified.
The division of powers between himself and Mario Pescante, the government appointed games supervisor, had been clarified to his satisfaction.
Castellani, a former mayor of Turin, said:
"..a page had been turned.." and he would remain head of organising committee through the games in February 2006.
What a relief!
Following a meeting with the IOC president, Jacques Rogge, and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi; Castellani's ego was duly mollified.
The division of powers between himself and Mario Pescante, the government appointed games supervisor, had been clarified to his satisfaction.
Castellani, a former mayor of Turin, said:
"..a page had been turned.." and he would remain head of organising committee through the games in February 2006.
What a relief!
Thursday, November 11, 2004
What are The Odds?
The London Olympic bid book, for the 2012 Olympics, will be delivered to the IOC next week.
However, the smart money on which city will win the bidding is on Paris at 4/7; according to William Hill the UK bookmakers.
Whilst London comes second at 2/1, the level of betting from British punters is low. This does not augur well for London's chances.
The other odds are 13/2 Madrid, 12/1 New York, 33/1 Moscow.
However, the smart money on which city will win the bidding is on Paris at 4/7; according to William Hill the UK bookmakers.
Whilst London comes second at 2/1, the level of betting from British punters is low. This does not augur well for London's chances.
The other odds are 13/2 Madrid, 12/1 New York, 33/1 Moscow.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Music For Olympians
Sandeep Chowta, the renowned Indian musician, is part of the international team that will put together the theme music for the summer Olympics being held in Beijing 2008.
Chowta is currently scouting for talent:
"We are looking for youngsters, between four and seven, to record for the theme song.."
Chowta, part of the AO band (which has worked with Sheryl Crowe, The Eagles and Celine Dion), will compose the theme song and track for the Beijing Olympics.
He wants to to create a combination of sounds from around the world, language is no barrier.
Chowta is currently scouting for talent:
"We are looking for youngsters, between four and seven, to record for the theme song.."
Chowta, part of the AO band (which has worked with Sheryl Crowe, The Eagles and Celine Dion), will compose the theme song and track for the Beijing Olympics.
He wants to to create a combination of sounds from around the world, language is no barrier.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Memorial
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, has asked the organisers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to commemorate the Israeli athletes murdered during the 1972 Munich Games.
Eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered in Munich in 1972 by terrorists.
Shalom made the request, to the Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Jingmin, on the basis of the $250M worth of construction work being done by Israeli companies for the 2008 Games.
Shalom has asked that the murders be mentioned and commemorated at the 2008 Games, for the first time.
Eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered in Munich in 1972 by terrorists.
Shalom made the request, to the Beijing Vice Mayor Liu Jingmin, on the basis of the $250M worth of construction work being done by Israeli companies for the 2008 Games.
Shalom has asked that the murders be mentioned and commemorated at the 2008 Games, for the first time.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Who Pays? You Do of Course!
It seems that the arrogance of Tessa Jowell, the British Minister in charge of Britain's bid to host the 2012 Olympics, knows no bounds.
When asked about the possibility of budget overruns, in the highly unlikely event that Britain gets to host the Games, she said that there would not be any.
Needless to say the idea of an Olympic budget, being managed by politicians, not being breached is of course pure fantasy.
When pressed on this rather obvious point, she tartly admitted that if it did go over budget then the overrun would be made up by increasing taxes.
I wonder when she will have the courtesy to ask the voters if they are happy with this arrangement?
When asked about the possibility of budget overruns, in the highly unlikely event that Britain gets to host the Games, she said that there would not be any.
Needless to say the idea of an Olympic budget, being managed by politicians, not being breached is of course pure fantasy.
When pressed on this rather obvious point, she tartly admitted that if it did go over budget then the overrun would be made up by increasing taxes.
I wonder when she will have the courtesy to ask the voters if they are happy with this arrangement?
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