NOC Suspended by Government
The Sierra Leone Olympic Committee was suspended by the country’s sports minister.
According to local media reports, Paul Kamara suspended the SLOC for insubordination to the state.
He ordered the newly elected board to resign immediately following their May 11 election, which they refused to do. Kamara had demanded that the election not take place, wanting financial documents to be provided.
"The action of flouting the authority of the state by the National Olympic Committee is unacceptable," he was quoted writing in a letter to the organization.
It's unclear what impact this will have on the SLOC’s standing in the Olympic Movement. The Olympic Charter requires all NOCs to be free from government influence. Under the most extreme scenario, the SLOC could be suspended from the Olympic Movement.
The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Police Raid Sochi Contractor Office
Russian police raided the offices of Mostovik Construction Company, the contractor responsible for developing Sochi’s bobsleigh track.
According to a report in the ITAR-TASS news agency, authorities were investigating cost over-runs at the facility.
The report specified that authorities were investigating potentially improper purchases of the track’s cooling system for several months.
Curling Tour Gets Financial Jolt
The Foundation for Global Sports will provide $50,000 for the World Curling Federation’s Olympic Celebration Tour.
During the tour, curlers host instructional sessions for curling fans.
"We cannot thank the Foundation for GlobalSportsDevelopment enough – their support will ensure that this program benefits hundreds of people around the world who are either already involved in curling or looking to get involved in our sport," said WCF President Kate Caithness.
"The Olympic Celebration Tour is an integral part of the WCF’s development plans over the coming months as the world’s focus turns to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and we hope that this program gives people the opportunity to try our sport, and for those already curling, the inspiration to develop further."
The Tours will take place in locations around the world throughout the 2013-2104 and 2014-2015 seasons.
Broad Overhaul of America’s Cup Safety Rules
Following the May 16 death of Andrew "Bart" Simpson during training for the America’s Cup, a broad measure of safety changes were introduced on Wednesday.
A committee for the regatta studying the incident announced 37 measures aimed at improving sailor safety. The key change is 10-knot lower wind limit. Sailors will also have a range of life-saving equipment during competition.
"Producing and implementing the safety plan is within the scope of the America's Cup, as the sponsoring organization for this summer’s racing," said Stephen Barclay, CEO of the America’s Cup. "This America’s Cup safety plan is a necessary component of the permit application submitted to the Coast Guard for their consideration."
ANOC Publication
Around the Rings will produce another special edition magazine for the ANOC Extraordinary General Assembly in Lausanne on June 15. Don't miss this opportunity to reach the world's 200+ National Olympic Committees. Contact ATR Partnership Development Director Brian Baker for details. brian@aroundtherings.com
Written by Ed Hula III and Nicole Bennett.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
