FIFA Prioritizes India
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says a successful bid by India to host the U-17 World Cup in 2017 would provide a massive boost for the country’s football ambitions.
FIFA and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) signed an agreement on Wednesday in New Delhi, officializing the cooperation between the two bodies regarding the development of football on the sub-continent.
The agreement covers management strategy, technical development and the strengthening of clubs and the championship.
Valcke also inaugurated a FIFA Developmental Office in New Delhi, saying this would help India's U-17 World Cup bid as well as the nation's qualification campaign for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
India has a long way to go to qualify for the World Cup; they were 169th in FIFA’s latest world rankings released this week.
"India is a priority for us," Valcke was quoted on FIFA.com.
"Our hope is for as many FIFA tournaments as possible to be held by countries which have needs in terms of development, and this would make the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 a perfect milestone for India."
For more on FIFA's visit to India, follow World Football INSIDER.
Shot Put Medals Reallocated
The IOC tells Around the Rings that Valerie Adams of New Zealand is the new gold medalist in shot put from the 2012 Olympics.
The result follows first-place finisher Nadzeya Ostapchuk’s failure to appeal her positive drug test in London. Monday was the deadline for the Belarusian to take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"The IAAF has already adjusted the rankings accordingly, with Valerie Adams declared the winner," an IOC spokesman tells ATR.
"We expect to redistribute the medals in the next few weeks to the relevant National Olympic Committees, which are responsible for presenting them to the athletes."
London 2012’s website already shows Adams atop the podium with Evgeniia Kolodko of Russia in silver position and Lijiao Gong of China in bronze.
End of the Road for Curacao
The IOC tells Around the Rings there is no further avenue for appeal by Curaçao in its efforts to be recognized as an NOC.
"The IOC stands by the Executive Board’s decision of 8 July 2011 and has taken note of the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s recent decision with respect to Curaçao. The IOC considers the matter closed," the IOC said in a statement.
Earlier this week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport published a statement saying that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal filed by the Curaçao Sport and Olympic Federation against the IOC.
Last summer, the IOC withdrew its recognition of the Netherlands Antilles following its break-up in October 2010, which meant that Curaçao became an independent country. Post-London 2012, its athletes must now compete for either the Dutch NOC or the NOC of Aruba.
Written by Matthew Grayson and Mark Bisson
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