OLYMPIC GAMES

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 to support them while serious allegations made by a whistle-blower regarding Qatar's World Cup bid were subsequently withdrawn.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

September 7 - Canada's preparations for London 2012 have been rocked by the shock resignation of Alex Baumann as the chief executive of Own the Podium, which oversess the country's high performance programme.

The 47-year-old double Olympic swimming champion is stepping down from October after taking the decision to relocate to New Zealand, where he has agreed to become the chief executive of High Performance Sport New Zealand

It follows a successful operation earlier this year for cancer.

It was Baumann's second fight against cancer having already undergone surgery for testicular cancer in 1999.

"There is a saying that, when a person gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer," said Baumann, who won the 200 and 400 metres medley at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"I watched over the months the impact this diagnosis had on my wife and children.

"The waiting, the worrying and the uncertainty probably put more stress on them than me.

"It is times such as these we realise the importance of family and time together."

Baumann claims that moving to New Zealand will put him closer to his extended family.

"What most people don't know is that I have no relatives in Canada at all and [wife] Tracy's family are all in Australia," said Baumann.

"It is in these moments of life's greatest challenges that we turn to our families for the love and support only they can provide.

"We missed having that support and the tyranny of distance began to take its toll, which sparked our thinking it was time to consider leaving Canada earlier than planned."

High Performance Sport New Zealand is a subsidary of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC).

"This is definitely an exciting opportunity for me," said Baumann.

"But there is a reason I have a maple leaf tattooed over my heart - I love Canada.

"I hope people can appreciate this was not an easy decision.

"But I have to do what I believe to be best for my family."

Baumann was born in Prague but raised in Canada after his family moved there in 1969 following the the Prague Spring.

He then moved to Australia in 1991 following the end of his career before returning to Canada in 2006 after Own the Podium was founded with the specific aim of helping them being successful at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The initiative was a stunning success as Canada finished top of the medals table in Vancouver, with the gold medallists including Jon Montgomery (pictured) in the bob skeleton.

Baumann succeeded Roger Jackson as chief executive in April 2010 and was helping Canada's summer athletes work towards the target of a top-12 place at London 2012.

"Our goal has always been to create a system that rivals any sport system in the world," Baumann said.

"We have made great strides in a short time to establish Canada as a world leader in high-performance sport.

"I am proud of our ability to build a talented and dedicated team of colleagues in both our Ottawa and Calgary offices, all of whom played a critical role in streamlining our operations for Canada's summer and winter sports with the same objective in mind - to own the podium."

John Furlong, the chief executive of Vancouver 2010, who is now the chairman of Own the Podium, paid tribute to the work that Baumann had done.

"Alex is an extraordinary leader who has done an exceptional job of ensuring Canada's high-performance sport culture remains focused on excellence," he said.

"Alex has played a pivotal role in Own the Podium's evolution and positioning Canadian athletes for a record performance in London next summer.

"His uncompromising attitude to succeed at the highest level is a huge reason why support for Canada's athletes, coaches and national sport organisations has never been stronger.

"The sport community owes him a big thank you."

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay