ATLANTA, GEORGIA (January 2, 2009) The chairman of London 2012 and the U.S. president-elect are expected to have the greatest impact on the Olympic Movement in 2009 according to the 13th edition of Around the Rings' Golden 25.
Sebastian Coe, number one on the list, will have increased visibility as he guides preparations for the next Summer Olympics through a financial storm. Meanwhile, there is speculation over what impact President-elect and native Chicagoan Barack Obama will have on the race for 2016.
"Coe has carefully led LOCOG since 2005," remarked Editor Ed Hula. "Daily progress can be seen at venues in the Olympic Park. Then there's the behind the scenes work organizing the sports spectacular, which seems to be advancing. If we can say the same in one year, without asides about cutbacks, overruns, political disputes or engineering snafus, Coe and his team at Canary Wharf will deserve some hefty kudos from the Olympic Movement, even though the journey to 2012 would still be far from over -- and perhaps facing further perils."
Then there is Barack Obama. The Golden 25 has included heads of state before, but never a U.S. president. Some IOC members say they don't think Obama will spell the difference for the Chicago bid, but that logic contradicts the vote for London in 2005 and Sochi in 2007. In 2005, Tony Blair's personal lobbying for London is credited with giving the bid the boost it needed, while Vladimir Putin is said to have made certain Sochi's win for 2014 last year.
"Obama rises to the presidency as a worldwide celebrity, coming at a time when heads of state are now almost expected to campaign in person at the IOC Session," Hula stated. "For some IOC members, Obama's politics may be regarded much more kindly than those of predecessor George W. Bush. That could make them much more open to being swayed by the new U.S. president.
"However, Obama still has to decide the level of support he'll deliver for the bid, how he will speak out. The U.S. Olympic Committee must work out a marketing agreement with the IOC that is perceived as fair by the rest of the world. Domestic and international issues must work in favor of the U.S. for the next 10 months. But if these pieces fall into place, Obama's influence could shape the Olympics for the next seven years."
Coe and Obama are joined on the Golden 25 by 14 IOC members as well as other government leaders, including London Mayor Boris Johnson and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. While there are regulars on the list, some are just rising to prominence in the Olympic Movement.
The Around the Rings' Golden 25 is among the year's most closely-watched annual rankings. Unlike other end of the year reviews, the Golden 25 looks ahead, forecasting those individuals who will have the most influence in the $5 billion business of the Olympic Movement. The entire list is available at http://AroundTheRings.com/Golden25.aspx. The Golden 25 -- as well as Spheres of Influence, a look at other movers and shakers in world sport -- also will be featured in an online magazine, which can be downloaded at http://www.AroundTheRings.com/SpecialEditions/Golden25_2009.pdf.
LONDON, ENGLAND (October 2, 2008) The British government may have to step in and guarantee bank loans for developers if enough funding is to be raised for the construction of major Olympic projects in 2012, such as the Olympic Village and the broadcast and media centres. The original plan was for such projects to be funded in the main by developers, but the banking collapse has made things immensely difficult.
Back in July, just before the Beijing Olympics and despite the gathering economic clouds, I was confidently told that the funding for the Village would be in place by August. Now it is clear that such plans are not ready and the developers will only be granted bank loans if they are underwritten by the government, making it the lender of last resort. It is worth knowing that the government has already pledged extra funding of its own, committing an additional £250m for the building of the Village.
The impact of the credit crunch on 2012 will figure much when the Olympic Board holds its first meeting since the Beijing Games in London on Thursday. The Board brings together all the stakeholders in the Olympic project - the government, the 2012 organising committee, the Olympic Delivery Authority, who are responsible for constructing the venues, the London Mayor and the British Olympic Association. However, with some key people missing for various reasons, no hard decisions are likely to be taken.
The agenda is said to be light but the meeting will provide a forum for discussion on cost cutting, perhaps by moving venues, as well as the Games' much advertised legacy. Consultants KPMG have been looking at three venues - shooting, equestrianism and basketball - to see if they could they be moved in order to cut costs. Could, for instance, the shooting competition move back to Bisley?
The original London bid did say shooting would be staged there. But, after coming a poor third to Paris and Madrid when the shortlist for 2012, London was advised by the International Olympic Committee that it stood a better chance if its bid was more compact, with more venues in and around the Olympic Park. While Bisley has its advocates, money would still need to be spent getting it ready. And the view is that such an initiative is unlikely to prove cost effective. The same goes for plans to relocate the equestrianism or basketball venues. In any case, such moves would have to be agreed by the IOC and the relevant international federations.
The question of legacy is, in many ways, the trickiest issue and greatly concerns London Mayor Boris Johnson. Legacy came up for discussion, albeit rather curiously, when Johnson, who has announced a 10-member legacy team that includes Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson, met his Beijing counterpart during the Paralympics. I am told the Chinese started by asking Johnson what sort of contracts they might be able to bid for in London. Johnson told them many of the 2012 contracts had already gone but there might be scope in other projects, such as Crossrail or his proposed new airport plans. Talk then turned to the use of the broadcast and media centres after the Games, with the Chinese suggesting they might quite like to set up a university there. Further talks are expected when the Chinese visit London in November.
Use of venues after the Games is only one part of the London legacy. Just as important, if not more so, is the message London will send out, not only to this country but to the world, when it becomes the first city to host the Games for the third time. In 1908 and 1948, it could be said that Britain came to the rescue of the Olympic movement, as nobody else was then in a position to stage the Games. But in 2012, Britain has, as Lord Seb Coe put it, promised to teach the youth of the world what sport can do.
While the Paris video presentation to the IOC featured actress Catherine Deneuve, London opted for a narrative. It showed youths in bleak African townships forsaking their destructive behaviour in order to take up sport, inspired by watching the London Games on television. The message was clear: London 2012 would be global and have a 21st-century sporting message. London needs to articulate that message and articulate it quickly.
LONDON, ENGLAND (August 11, 2008) The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today confirmed that subject to final contract negotiations, the venue for the Mountain Biking events will be at Hadleigh Farm, Essex.
The alternative site was chosen following the decision in January 2008 to move the competition away from The Weald Country Park in Essex after a change in requirements for the sport that resulted in the need to identify a more technical and challenging course.
This venue change for the Games has been approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI), British Cycling (BC), the International Olympic Committee, and the British Olympic Association.
The new venue covers a 550 acre site situated close to the village of Hadleigh, near Benfleet in Essex. The site encompasses the outstandingly beautiful grassland and woodland of Hadleigh Farm, land owned by the Salvation Army, and the surrounding countryside of Hadleigh Castle Country Park.
There are two major hill areas, separated by a valley which will create the technical climbs for the course to challenge the competitors from around the world in less than four years time. The course will be set against the stunning backdrop of the 700-year-old ruins of Hadleigh Castle.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG today said: 'It is testament to the hard work of everyone in involved that we have been able to confirm an alternative venue for the Mountain Biking competition only seven months after the venue change was announced.
'In Hadleigh Farm we have a world class venue for Games time with the potential for an excellent facility for elite and community use post Games.'
Pat McQuaid, President of UCI said: 'The UCI is delighted with Hadleigh Farm and believe it will be a spectacular Mountain Biking venue for London 2012. It has a wonderful terrain and offers a unique opportunity for spectators to view the majority of the course.
'Our technical experts believe it meets all the requirements of an Olympic Mountain Biking course with a range of elevations that will provide a challenging course for competitors.'
Peter King, CEO of British Cycling said: 'We are delighted that such a stunning alternative venue has been found to host Mountain Biking for the London 2012 Games. With an approximate journey time of 45 minutes to Hadleigh Farm from the Olympic Park, the proximity to the Olympic Village will be of immense value to the Mountain Biking competitors.
'The potential for retaining a Mountain Biking course at Hadleigh Farm is very exciting as the sport is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and we want to build participation through the undoubted surge in interest in the run up to and after the London 2012 Games.'
Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and the 2012 Games said: 'I am absolutely delighted Hadleigh Farm is the chosen venue for the Mountain Biking event of the London 2012 Games. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase Hadleigh and South Essex to the world, to provide a real legacy both for local people and the international mountain bike community and show everyone all Essex can offer for sport, business, tourism and sustainable regeneration.'
Major David Hinton, Secretary for Business Administration of The Salvation Army UK and the Republic of Ireland said: 'The Salvation Army is delighted to be working with Essex County Council to create the 2012 Games Mountain Biking venue at Hadleigh Farm.
'Beyond meeting the technical requirements for the event, we are committed to working in partnership with Essex County Council, the London 2012 Organising Committee and the local community to ensure not only a great event in 2012 but also long lasting benefits for the community and the county as a whole after the Games. We look forward to being part of this exciting initiative.'
Next steps for the London 2012 Organising Committee and Essex County Council include a four month period of detailed planning on the course layout and the temporary facilities required to host the event; securing contractual agreements between all parties; working with the local community on an engagement programme and the announcement in the autumn of the Cycling Competition Manager.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (July 6, 2008) Below is a video clip of the announcement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarding the Games of the 30th Olympiad to London. London will be the first city to host three Summer Olympic Games (1908, 1948, 2012)
At the Raffles City Convention Center in Singapore, the IOC held its 117th Session to determine the host of the 2012 Games.
Below the clip is the rest of the story, outlining the results of the votes.
Five cities (London, Paris, Madrid, New York City, and Moscow) were in contention.
In the first round, Moscow was eliminated. The votes, submitted by secret ballot, were as follows: London-22 Paris-21 Madrid-20 New York City-19 Moscow-15
In the next round, New York City was eliminated: The results of the vote were: Madrid-32 London-27 Paris-25 New York City-16
During the thirds round, Madrid was eliminated. The votes were: London-39 Paris-33 Madrid-31
In the fourth and final round, London garnered 54 votes to Paris' 50 and were awarded the Games for 2012.
At the present times, Madrid is in the running to host the 2016 Olympic Games. The other three cities have abandon bids at this time.
By Robert H. Kelly Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications
PASADENA, TEXAS (August 3, 2008) With the 2008 Summer Olympic Games set to begin in four days, all attention will be focused on Beijing, China. However in four years, on July 27, 2012 the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies will occur.
In 1454 days, all eyes will be on London and the 30th edition of the Olympic dream that Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin first presented to an an international congress on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.
I have attended three Olympic Games (1984, 1992, 1996). I was hoping to travel to Beijing to cover the Games, however job and family responsibilities put the kibosh on that quest a while back.
This forum will keep everyone updated on news, videos, and my general and specific views of the Games in London.
I am planning, along with my loyal and faithful photographer Darla Tamulitis, to attend the Games in Beijing. The date of the Games, July 27-August 12, 2012, should not conflict with any of our other commitments.
By living in the Houston, Texas area, which it turning into a hotbed of Olympic training for athletes of many countries, may provide the basis of a story or two in the lead up to London 2012.
I will be writing and posting regular stories during the next few months with more frequent submissions as the 2012 Olympics approach.
My next post will be the video of the announcement of London receiving the Games.
Check back often for further stories and interesting information of the Games of the 30th Olympiad.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA (January 2, 2009) The chairman of London 2012 and the U.S. president-elect are expected to have the greatest impact on the Olympic Movement in 2009 according to the 13th edition of Around the Rings' Golden 25.
