In the wake of the recent London bombings, security looms high on the Olympic agenda.
To this end, Italy has promised that it will fight terrorism "with every tool that we have" to ensure the safety of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Government officials and Turin organisers unveiled plans for a symbolic "Olympic Truce" for the games next February.
It seems that there have been threats on the internet mentioning Italy as a possible target for future attacks.
Mario Pescante, a government minister and supervisor of the Turin Games, said:
"We're doing everything in our power to ensure that the Turin Games represent a white flag...The other day I took part in a four-hour meeting on security. We will confront terrorism with every tool that we have."
Pescante refused to divulge details of the security plans for Turin.
Valentino Castellani, head of the Turin organising committee, said:
"The safest places in Italy in 2006 will be the Olympic sites...They will be protected and checked before by police, (access) will only be by accreditation, and X-ray security checks will be carried out."
Pescante, who is also an International Olympic Committee member and head of the European Olympic Committees, said that the truce appeal was not "explicitly related" to the London attacks.
Inspired by the cease-fire between warring city-states during the ancient games in Greece, the Olympic truce was reintroduced on a more symbolic level for the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
No French Bid For 2016 Olympics
Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris, is still upset about losing out to London in the race to host the 2012 Olympics.
He has decided not to bid for the 2016 Olympics, saying:
"Paris will not be a candidate . . . and if I can support a South American or an African bid, I will do it gladly,"
The Olympics have never been held in Africa or South America. With the 2012 Games in London, it's unlikely the 2016 Games will be held in Europe.
He has decided not to bid for the 2016 Olympics, saying:
"Paris will not be a candidate . . . and if I can support a South American or an African bid, I will do it gladly,"
The Olympics have never been held in Africa or South America. With the 2012 Games in London, it's unlikely the 2016 Games will be held in Europe.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
French Still Fuming Over Olympics
In the true spirit of the entente cordiale, Betrand Delanoe the mayor of Paris is still crying fowl over the decision to award the 2012 Olympics to London.
Delanoe, president of the Paris bid, said that London had not respected the rule of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that meetings between bid officials and IOC members should be only informal.
Quote:
"The IOC knows that (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair had written to IOC members to offer to meet them,".
Delanoe said that Blair had then met IOC members in his hotel suite in Singapore, before Wednesday's vote.
Delanoe shrilly squawked:
"Everybody was aware of it and could see it..that's against the rules. I saw people coming out of Blair's suite."
My message to Delanoe is simple:
Shut up, you have lost, get on with your life!
Delanoe, president of the Paris bid, said that London had not respected the rule of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that meetings between bid officials and IOC members should be only informal.
Quote:
"The IOC knows that (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair had written to IOC members to offer to meet them,".
Delanoe said that Blair had then met IOC members in his hotel suite in Singapore, before Wednesday's vote.
Delanoe shrilly squawked:
"Everybody was aware of it and could see it..that's against the rules. I saw people coming out of Blair's suite."
My message to Delanoe is simple:
Shut up, you have lost, get on with your life!
Monday, July 11, 2005
No Wembley Fiasco
Lord Coe, leader of London's successful Olympics bid, promised that there was no danger of the 2012 Olympics in London being plagued by the same problems, which affected the new Wembley national stadium.
The Wembley project almost collapsed, after being besieged by political rows and financial problems in its early years.
Lord Coe said measures would be taken concerning the building of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, and other Olympic sporting facilities to ensure that no similar problems occurred.
Quote:
"This is a wholly different project and structures will be in place to make sure that government, the British Olympic Association and all the other agents of delivery will work, and will work extremely well."
London mayor, Ken Livingstone, said that the appointment of key personnel to the London organising committee will keep the project on track.
Quote:
"The key thing now is we attract someone with a track record of delivering things to budget. I want to see someone who has done this sort of thing successfully somewhere else in the world...There's no need for someone to be learning it on the way up. We want to bring to London people who have built great stadia without last-minute hitches and cost over-runs..We want the best and brightest people who want to come to help us put these Games together."
Coe added:
"Anybody that is involved in organising and delivering a Games has to be of the highest quality and that was very clear in, for instance, Sydney. We had a number of the Sydney team on board during the bidding process so I know the calibre of the people we are looking for...You don't want to hurry those decisions because you want the right person but we don't sit around for the next year deciding how that is done. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone with Olympic experience, management is a skill that crosses all sorts of environments."
Whatever they promise, it is a sad reality that politicians and long term projects are a recipe for disaster.
Expect to see the costs of the Olympic project explode, and the deadlines fail.
The Wembley project almost collapsed, after being besieged by political rows and financial problems in its early years.
Lord Coe said measures would be taken concerning the building of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, and other Olympic sporting facilities to ensure that no similar problems occurred.
Quote:
"This is a wholly different project and structures will be in place to make sure that government, the British Olympic Association and all the other agents of delivery will work, and will work extremely well."
London mayor, Ken Livingstone, said that the appointment of key personnel to the London organising committee will keep the project on track.
Quote:
"The key thing now is we attract someone with a track record of delivering things to budget. I want to see someone who has done this sort of thing successfully somewhere else in the world...There's no need for someone to be learning it on the way up. We want to bring to London people who have built great stadia without last-minute hitches and cost over-runs..We want the best and brightest people who want to come to help us put these Games together."
Coe added:
"Anybody that is involved in organising and delivering a Games has to be of the highest quality and that was very clear in, for instance, Sydney. We had a number of the Sydney team on board during the bidding process so I know the calibre of the people we are looking for...You don't want to hurry those decisions because you want the right person but we don't sit around for the next year deciding how that is done. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone with Olympic experience, management is a skill that crosses all sorts of environments."
Whatever they promise, it is a sad reality that politicians and long term projects are a recipe for disaster.
Expect to see the costs of the Olympic project explode, and the deadlines fail.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Baseball and Softball Excluded
Baseball and softball have been voted off the 2012 London Olympics.
The two sports failed to win a majority of votes in a ballot of members, at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Singapore, and became the first sports to be axed from the Games since polo in 1936.
Their ejection allows two other sports eg golf, squash, karate, rugby sevens and roller sports to be added.
Softball federation chief Don Porter said:
"This is payback for Mexico City..They wanted us out in 2002. It has taken them three years but they have got us...We didn't expect this at all. The discussions we have had all week led us to believe we were safe to assume the program would remain unchanged for 2012...I don't want to say it's an anti-U.S. thing, but they are two native American sports."
Baseball federation president Aldo Notari said:
"The problem with baseball is that the best players are not going to the Olympics Games...But baseball is still in Beijing. It is still necessary to work for the future in 2016...Needless to say, these sports will be disappointed..But this does not disqualify them for ever...Olympic sports they are in Beijing, and Olympic sports they will remain. As such they will remain eligible for the Olympic program after 2012."
The two sports failed to win a majority of votes in a ballot of members, at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Singapore, and became the first sports to be axed from the Games since polo in 1936.
Their ejection allows two other sports eg golf, squash, karate, rugby sevens and roller sports to be added.
Softball federation chief Don Porter said:
"This is payback for Mexico City..They wanted us out in 2002. It has taken them three years but they have got us...We didn't expect this at all. The discussions we have had all week led us to believe we were safe to assume the program would remain unchanged for 2012...I don't want to say it's an anti-U.S. thing, but they are two native American sports."
Baseball federation president Aldo Notari said:
"The problem with baseball is that the best players are not going to the Olympics Games...But baseball is still in Beijing. It is still necessary to work for the future in 2016...Needless to say, these sports will be disappointed..But this does not disqualify them for ever...Olympic sports they are in Beijing, and Olympic sports they will remain. As such they will remain eligible for the Olympic program after 2012."
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Blair's Victory Dance
Tony Blair led the celebrations in Britain yesterday, after London beat Paris and three other cities to win the right to host the 2012 Olympics.
Over 10,000 Londoners partied, cheering and waving the Union Jack in Trafalgar Square.
As with all successful bids, the bid team promised that the Games would be the best ever; they promised that they would transform the rundown eastern part of London into a modern sporting ground.
Blair, who is in Gleneagles for the G8 summit, said:
"It's not often in this job that you punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person next to you...It's a fantastic thing and I'm thrilled,".
When he arrived in Scotland for the G8 summit, French President Jacques Chirac said:
"Like all French people I am, of course, disappointed. Nevertheless, I wish to congratulate London and the London authorities with all my heart...And I'm going to have an opportunity shortly to pass on my warm and personal congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair,".
He then went on to the banquet hosted by the Queen where he, following on from his rude comments about British trustworthiness and cuisine, dined on humble pie and sour grapes.
The celebration in Trafalgar Square was rather apt, given the fact that the centre piece is a statue of Admiral Lord Nelson who defeated the French at the Battle of Trafalgar 200 years ago.
Now that the party is over, it is up to the bid team and the politicians to make good their promises.
I shall be watching with interest.
Over 10,000 Londoners partied, cheering and waving the Union Jack in Trafalgar Square.
As with all successful bids, the bid team promised that the Games would be the best ever; they promised that they would transform the rundown eastern part of London into a modern sporting ground.
Blair, who is in Gleneagles for the G8 summit, said:
"It's not often in this job that you punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person next to you...It's a fantastic thing and I'm thrilled,".
When he arrived in Scotland for the G8 summit, French President Jacques Chirac said:
"Like all French people I am, of course, disappointed. Nevertheless, I wish to congratulate London and the London authorities with all my heart...And I'm going to have an opportunity shortly to pass on my warm and personal congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair,".
He then went on to the banquet hosted by the Queen where he, following on from his rude comments about British trustworthiness and cuisine, dined on humble pie and sour grapes.
The celebration in Trafalgar Square was rather apt, given the fact that the centre piece is a statue of Admiral Lord Nelson who defeated the French at the Battle of Trafalgar 200 years ago.
Now that the party is over, it is up to the bid team and the politicians to make good their promises.
I shall be watching with interest.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
London Wins Vote
In a nail biting climax to the vote in Singapore, as to who would host the 2012 Olympic Games, London stormed in with 54 votes against runners up Paris.
One in the eye for a rather cocky Chirac, who had belittled English cuisine and London's chances earlier this week.
London, bidding for the first time to stage sport's biggest event, started as outsiders but they won through in the end.
London has staged the Games in 1908 and 1948. It becomes the first city to hold the Summer Olympics three times.
Lord Coe said:
"It's just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport. This was the most splendid team performance..We are taking home the biggest prize in sport."
People hugged each other in Trafalgar Square, as they watched the announcement in Singapore on a huge screen.
Champagne was sprayed around under Nelson's Column and at Waterloo station, and thousands danced in the streets after the announcement was made.
A great waste of money, in my view. However, there is something innately satisfying about beating Chirac.
Let us hope the East End of London really does benefit form these Games.
One in the eye for a rather cocky Chirac, who had belittled English cuisine and London's chances earlier this week.
London, bidding for the first time to stage sport's biggest event, started as outsiders but they won through in the end.
London has staged the Games in 1908 and 1948. It becomes the first city to hold the Summer Olympics three times.
Lord Coe said:
"It's just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport. This was the most splendid team performance..We are taking home the biggest prize in sport."
People hugged each other in Trafalgar Square, as they watched the announcement in Singapore on a huge screen.
Champagne was sprayed around under Nelson's Column and at Waterloo station, and thousands danced in the streets after the announcement was made.
A great waste of money, in my view. However, there is something innately satisfying about beating Chirac.
Let us hope the East End of London really does benefit form these Games.
Voting Underway
Voting is currently underway in Singapore, as to which of the five hopeful cities will be awarded the dubious honour of hosting the 2102 Olympic Games.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The Value of Cherie Blair
Precisley what value does the presence of Cherie Blair, in Singapore this week, add to the British bid to host the 2012 Olympics?
A cynic might argue that she is merely there on a "jolly".
A cynic might argue that she is merely there on a "jolly".
Monday, July 04, 2005
France and Britain Go Head To Head
The run up to the 2012 Olympics vote this Wednesday has become more frenetic.
The French have been upset by criticisms of their Stade de France stadium, during a London press conference. However, they have decided not to make a formal complaint.
Tony Blair, who arrived at Singapore on Sunday, is expected to meet members of the International Olympic Committee to promote the UK bid.
England football captain David Beckham is also expected to lobby for London.
The IOC executive board will meet on Monday to discuss a number of Olympic issues, such as the contract for the Games.
Paris is still the favourite to win the bid. The recent spat between Chirac and Blair, over the EU, has added zest to the competition between the two countries.
Should France lose, it is widely expected to herald the death knell for Chirac as President of France; he has already been humiliated over the EU constitution debacle.
The French have been upset by criticisms of their Stade de France stadium, during a London press conference. However, they have decided not to make a formal complaint.
Tony Blair, who arrived at Singapore on Sunday, is expected to meet members of the International Olympic Committee to promote the UK bid.
England football captain David Beckham is also expected to lobby for London.
The IOC executive board will meet on Monday to discuss a number of Olympic issues, such as the contract for the Games.
Paris is still the favourite to win the bid. The recent spat between Chirac and Blair, over the EU, has added zest to the competition between the two countries.
Should France lose, it is widely expected to herald the death knell for Chirac as President of France; he has already been humiliated over the EU constitution debacle.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Rogge's Guts
IOC President Jacques Rogge has said that he has a "gut feeling" that the July 6 vote, for the 2012 Olympics, will come down to one or two votes.
Quote:
"This is a gut feeling because I cannot read the hearts and minds of my colleagues," said Rogge.
Rogge, as he is president, will not vote in the 2012 election.
Quote:
"This is a gut feeling because I cannot read the hearts and minds of my colleagues," said Rogge.
Rogge, as he is president, will not vote in the 2012 election.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Blair Erection
Tony Blair has reiterated his support yesterday, for the London bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
He has stated that London's bid stands apart, from its four rivals, because of the long-term benefits the games would offer Britain and the capital city.
Quote:
"We're bidding not just for the 17 days or three weeks that the games are on - we're bidding for the time before and after...If there is a unique selling point for London it is the legacy."
The bid will allegedly regenerate a run-down area of east London, where a 500-acre plot of land would be developed into a main Olympic precinct and one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
Blair went on to say:
"Legacy for the Olympic movement is the biggest thing we can offer..We will have new stadiums, we will be regenerating an entire area of London, and we're building an entire strategy for sport around our Olympic bid."
Blair will travel to Singapore to lobby for London, before next Wednesday's vote by the International Olympic Committee.
As with all politicians nearing their end of office, he is keen to have a monument to him erected.
He has stated that London's bid stands apart, from its four rivals, because of the long-term benefits the games would offer Britain and the capital city.
Quote:
"We're bidding not just for the 17 days or three weeks that the games are on - we're bidding for the time before and after...If there is a unique selling point for London it is the legacy."
The bid will allegedly regenerate a run-down area of east London, where a 500-acre plot of land would be developed into a main Olympic precinct and one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
Blair went on to say:
"Legacy for the Olympic movement is the biggest thing we can offer..We will have new stadiums, we will be regenerating an entire area of London, and we're building an entire strategy for sport around our Olympic bid."
Blair will travel to Singapore to lobby for London, before next Wednesday's vote by the International Olympic Committee.
As with all politicians nearing their end of office, he is keen to have a monument to him erected.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Sports To Be Eliminated
Taekwondo, baseball, softball and modern pentathlon are facing elimination from the Olympics in 2012; when the International Olympic Committee has a meeting in July in Singapore.
The IOC will hold a ballot to determine which among its 28 sports it may eliminate; to cut down on the size of the Summer Olympics, while increasing global interest for the games.
Any sport with less than 50% support.
In the event that a sport is dropped, there are others waiting to be admitted; golf, karate, roller sports, seven-a-side rugby and squash.
Doesn't that rather defeat the idea of cutting the Olympics down to size?
The IOC will hold a ballot to determine which among its 28 sports it may eliminate; to cut down on the size of the Summer Olympics, while increasing global interest for the games.
Any sport with less than 50% support.
In the event that a sport is dropped, there are others waiting to be admitted; golf, karate, roller sports, seven-a-side rugby and squash.
Doesn't that rather defeat the idea of cutting the Olympics down to size?
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Sven Backs British Bid
Sven-Goran Eriksson has flown to Singapore to show his support for Britain's bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Sven will not be the only big British name at the gathering, others include; David Beckham and Tony Blair.
The London 2012 chairman Lord Coe is still optimistic.
Quote:
"It will be tough but we can win it..The prize is massive and this is a fantastic opportunity for us."
Sven will not be the only big British name at the gathering, others include; David Beckham and Tony Blair.
The London 2012 chairman Lord Coe is still optimistic.
Quote:
"It will be tough but we can win it..The prize is massive and this is a fantastic opportunity for us."
Monday, June 27, 2005
One World, One Dream
The slogan for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be "One World, One Dream."
Liu Qi, president of Beijing's Olympic organising committee, said that the slogan:
"embodies the common aspiration of the 1.3 billion Chinese people in establishing a world of peace and better future,".
The slogan was picked out of 210,000 proposals in Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages.
The slogan was announced on Sunday, at a gala in the city's Workers Stadium featuring; breakdancers, basketball players performing with a military band, and television celebrities.
The ceremony was televised live.
Liu Qi, president of Beijing's Olympic organising committee, said that the slogan:
"embodies the common aspiration of the 1.3 billion Chinese people in establishing a world of peace and better future,".
The slogan was picked out of 210,000 proposals in Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages.
The slogan was announced on Sunday, at a gala in the city's Workers Stadium featuring; breakdancers, basketball players performing with a military band, and television celebrities.
The ceremony was televised live.
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