GAMES

October 13 - Mike Lee, the doyen of sports spin doctors, says far more major events will go the way of emerging nations in years to come, replacing traditionally "safe" venues because of highly persuasive legacy claims.

Lee has a near-perfect track record in advising bidding candidates, having successfully campaigned for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, the Winter Games of Pyeongchang in 2018 and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, arguably the biggest surprise in bidding history.

He believes the stronger economies, can-do attitude and more potent messages being delivered by the new breed of would-be hosts more than justify so many sports events ending up in these regions instead of in established cities and countries.

"We sit here in the UK and Europe and there is an arrogance at times to think we were the great traditional home and that we should always be so," said Lee, the former communications director of London 2012, who is now chairman of Vero Communications, the company he set-up.

"Indeed we were when sport was coming into a certain stage of its development and we were one of the strongest economies.

"The world is changing and sport is waking up to it.

"That's why so many decisions are made to go to Sochi, Rio, Pyeongchang, Russia, Qatar."

What a country like Qatar and the Middle East region in general can present to the world, said Lee, "are probably greater than you can achieve in a country like the UK and in a city like London."

He explained further: "Everyone around the world sees London as a very mature, fantastic historic city with so much of it having grown up over 200 years.

"The ability to have an impact in transformation terms is actually harder.

"In a country like Qatar, engaging in massive infrastructure, building and creating whole new communities and developing more of a sporting culture, the margins to make this happen are so much bigger...especially with an economy as strong as that and a vision for the future.

"There is a dramatic axis shift going on and if sport isn't in tune with that, it will miss a massive opportunity."

Switching to London 2012, Lee said there was a danger of too much focus on the troubles affecting the Olympic Stadium and not enough attention on other benefits.

Legacy, he said, was not just short-term and did not only involve the main venue.

"Getting legacy right is not easy," said Lee, speaking here at the International Sports Event Management (ISEM) conference.

"In a city like London it's even more complicated that in a country like Russia or Brazil or Qatar which have much more scope for investment and development, more of a blank canvas.

"The London debate is over-dominated by the stadium issue.

"It's a massive question for sure and hard to solve in the medium and longer term but there are other benefits that come with London 2012 that don't get the headlines.

"Legacy is complicated - you get it wrong if you just focus on the main centrepiece."

By Andrew Warshaw

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

October 2 - The decision two years ago today to award the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics to Rio de Janeiro marked a major turning point in the history of Brazil, it has been claimed.

Rio were chosen ahead of Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Copenhagen, sparking memorable scenes among the thousands of people watching the announcement on giant screens on Copacabana Beach.

"Two years ago, yet another historical date was added to Rio de Janeiro's and Brazil's official calendar: the day we won the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time," said Carlos Nuzman, the President of Rio 2016 in a statement released to coincide with the anniversary.

"It is precisely because I understand this milestone needs to be valued that I make a point of starting all my presentations on the subject with the video that recalls this unprecedented achievement.

"All the efforts of a decade to make the dream of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Brazil culminated on that date.

"Today we make steady progress on the road to memorable Games.

"And recalling October 2, 2009, means strengthening in each one of us the motivation to work towards the delivery of a successful event that brings about sustainable transformations.

"Today we celebrate that turning point in the history of Brazilian sport and of our country.

"It is in this frame of mind, as we complete two years of that victory, that I invite us all to recall our feelings on that day and to celebrate this achievement that belongs to everyone of us."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

September 21 - Issa Hayatou, the African football powerbroker who has twice denied corruption allegations in the past year, has been handed responsibility by FIFA for running the football tournament at next year's London Olympics despite being under investigation by the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Ethics Commission.

In what will be viewed as a highly contentious choice in some circles, Hayatou has been appointed head of FIFA's Organising Committee for Olympic football tournaments starting with London 2012.

The 65-year-old from Cameroon, a member of the IOC since 2001, has also been appointed to take over FIFA's GOAL project that supports development programmes in poorer nations.

Although Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was boss of the Organising Committee at last year's World Cup, he is still under investigation by the IOC following claims by a BBC television programme that he received a payment of 100,000 French francs in 1995 from the now defunct marketing company ISL.

Hayatou claimed his conscience was clear and that the money was given to the CAF to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

But IOC President Jacques Rogge referred the allegations to the IOC Ethics Commission which still have to report their findings but could expel the 65-year-old as an IOC member if they find him guilty.

Six months after the Panorama programme, Hayatou again became embroiled in controversy when a British parliamentary inquiry into England's failed 2018 World Cup was told that he  was allegedly  paid $1.5m each to vote for Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid.

Qatar beat the United States by a landslide in the final round of voting for the right to host the 2022 tournament, the biggest ever upset in bidding history.

Hayatou described the corruption claim as "pure invention" while Qatar's Football Association denounced the accusations as "serious and baseless" and said they would "remain unproven because they are false."

An inquiry into the allegations, which first came to light in newspaper reports and were disclosed under Parliamentary privilege, later found there was no evidence whatsoever  to support them while serious allegations made by a whistle-blower regarding Qatar's World Cup bid were subsequently withdrawn.

Yet eyebrows are bound to be raised at the decision to allow Hayatou to run the GOAL programme, set up by Sepp Blatter and regarded as one of his proudest achievements.

Next month Blatter, eager to make a positive statement at the start of his final four-year term as president, announces his eagerly awaited reforms to tackle bribery and corruption.

To add even more spice to the scenario, Hayatou takes over from Mohamed Bin Hammam, banned for life by FIFA for allegedly offering bribes to Caribbean football leaders at the time he was a Presidential candidate yet still persuing an appeals process.

Not only that.

The eight-manGOAL Committee entrusted to Hayatou is understood to include Richard Groden, general secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago football federation and one of those still under investigation by FIFA in the Bin Hammam bribery scandal.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Andrew Warshaw

September 18 - Athletes face an increased volume of blood-tests in the run-up to London 2012 following a new directive by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Meeting at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, the WADA Executive Committee accepted a recommendation that all anti-doping organisations ensure that not less than 10 per cent of samples collected are blood specimens.

Only four percent of all doping control samples collected in 2010 were for blood, mostly for passport programmes.

WADA said this had been a "key concern", since "an anti-doping organisation ought to collect blood as it cannot purport to have an effective programme in place if there is a loophole in its testing programme leaving for possible abuse of substances and methods that cannot be detected in urine analysis such as human growth hormone and blood transfusions".

It said the new 10 per cent directive would have a "significant deterrence benefit, regardless of the particular risks associated with the anti-doping organisations' sports".

Blood samples were collected from every accredited athlete at the recent World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in an exercise hailed as a "fantastic milestone" by Lamine Diack, the International Association of Athletics Federations President.

The samples are to be used to help build Athlete Biological Passports, allowing experts to register and chart physiological markers over time.

WADA also approved the list of prohibited substances and methods for the Summer Olympic year of 2012.

One of the most significant changes was said to be the removal of asthma drug formoterol from 'Section 3 Beta-2 Agonists' of the list when taken by inhalation at therapeutic doses.

Inhaled formoterol at therapeutic doses is no longer prohibited.

The list prohibits the administration of all beta-2 agonists except salbutamol (maximum 1600 micrograms over 24 hours), salmeterol when taken by inhalation, and now formoterol (maximum 36 micrograms taken over 24 hours).

The new list will be made official and published by October 1 and will take effect on January 1, 2012.

Source: www.inidethegames.biz

By David Owen

September 8 - International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven today formally invited the top disability athletes on the planet to the London 2012 Paralympic Games at a speech here at Trafalgar Square that rounded off International Paralympic Day just hours before tickets went on sale for the event.

London's iconic landmark has been celebrating the day from the early morning with a various demonstrations of Paralympic sport that attracted plenty of interest from members of the public.

There were also appearances from a number of high profile guests, including Prime Minister David Cameron, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and four-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius for South Africa.

Tickets for the London 2012 Paralympics will go on sale at 9am tomorrow and Sir Philip promised something special will happen as he called on athletes to compete in the capital next year.

"In 356 days' time the Paralympic Games will head back to its spiritual home," the IPC President told the crowd gathered in the shadow of Lord Nelson's statue following a day which had included Cameron taking on London Mayor Boris Johnson at tennis.

"Something that Dr Ludwig Guttmann started in 1948 on a patch of grass at the back of Stoke Mandeville Hospital will return as one of the world's biggest multi-sport events.

"The foundations for what could be the best Paralympic Games ever have been laid here in London.

"Most of the venues are ready, we're expecting more media and TV coverage than ever before, and the demand for tickets which go on-sale tomorrow is unprecedented.

"All we need now are the 4,200 athletes from 150 countries to take part.

"Our symbol, the Agitos, represents our role in bringing together athletes from all over the world through the Movement.

"That is why I would like to invite athletes and National Paralympic Committees to come here to London next year to make history."

In the UK and within the European Union, people can apply for tickets between 9am tomorrow and 6pm on September 26.

Approximately two million tickets will go on sale to the public between now and Games-time, with 1.5 million being available in the first phase.

"Something special is going to happen at the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

As with the controversial Olympic Games tickets, the system is not first come first served and there is no advantage to applying earlier in the process to try to see athletes like Pistorius and Ellie Simmonds in action.

Applicants also need to use a Visa card.

Tickets for oversubscribed sessions will be allocated via a ballot.

Payment is due to be taken on October 31 with notification of whether applications have been successful sent by November 18.

For applicants outside of the UK, a full list of Authorised Ticket Resellers is available on the London 2012 ticketing website.

There will be over 300 sessions across the 20 Paralympic sports at 20 venues, including those within the Olympic Park, plus ExCeL, Greenwich Park, The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, North Greenwich Arena, The Mall and, outside London, Brands Hatch, Eton Dorney and Weymouth and Portland.

"We're going to put on a show that will captivate billions, inspire millions and show the world that anything is possible," said Sir Philip.

"And I want you to be part of it.

"London 2012 will be 'Sport Like Never Before' showcasing the talents of some incredible athletes taking part in 20 amazing sports.

"The action will be intense, the competition close, but ultimately what you will witness will alter perceptions and lead to societal change.

"Athletes are the heart of the Paralympic Movement.

"They are critical to the success of the Games.

"Without you we cannot put on the Games, with you we can ensure that the London 2012 Paralympic Games are possibly the best ever."

Ticket prices were announced earlier this year with a wide range of prices and ticket initiatives on offer.

Prices start at £10 for adults and £5 for those who are 16 or under and 60 or over on 29 August 2012.·

Tickets for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will start at £20.12 with a top end price of £500 for the Opening Ceremony.

A Games Travelcard, for use on the day of the event on public transport in zones 1-9 in London and for travel between London and Eton Dorney and Brands Hatch, is included within the price of a ticket.

"The Paralympic Games are coming home in 2012 and I'm confident that the whole country will get behind them," said Coe.

"Alongside the Games come a whole range of opportunities.

"People will have the chance to see sport like never before, with world class athletes who challenge the notion of 'disability'; it's a huge opportunity for Paralympic sport to become part of the nation's consciousness and finally, it will be a moment of extraordinary pride.

"A fitting end to what promises to be an amazing summer."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Tom Degun at Trafalgar Square in London