New Zealand Bid Downplayed
Suggestions of a New Zealand bid for the 2022 Olympics were shot down by kiwi IOC member Barry Meister.
Meister was quoted saying the country just isn’t ready for an Olympics.
"I took a look at the infrastructure [at Salt Lake City 2002] and thought, 'this is way beyond us'," he said.
"I admire people with passion and vision, and people who want to make things happen, but my initial take is that a Winter Olympic Games for New Zealand is ambitious in the extreme.
"It's on a different scale to anything we do here, and we're a little country."
A Facebook campaign sprouted up, touting the long-shot candidacy from Christchurch. At the time of writing, it had 233 people following the bid.
IOC Awards 2012 Broadcast Rights In Cuba
Cuba has a broadcast carrier for London 2012.
The IOC announced Monday the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión will have broadcasting rights to the upcoming Summer Games.
"Cuba has a strong Olympic tradition, and over the years Cuban athletes have achieved incredible feats at the Olympic Games," IOC president Jacques Rogge said in a statement.
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the ICRT to make the London 2012 Olympic Games available on free television and radio to sports fans in Cuba."
Spain Awards Runner Implicated In Doping Ring
An Olympic miler implicated in a doping investigation is Spain’s female athlete of the year.
The Spanish Athletics Federation honored Nuria Fernandez over the weekend despite her connections to Operation Galgo, the Spanish Civil Guard’s ongoing assault on an alleged doping ring.
Athletes votedfor the award Nov. 30, just days before an anti-doping raid targeted 14 people suspected of distributing performance enhancing drugs, among them Fernandez’s coach Manuel Pascua.
Fernandez competed in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Games and won the 1500m at last summer’s European Championships.
She did not attend Saturday’s awards ceremony.
NZOC Secretary General
Kereyn Smith began her job as secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee on Sunday. Smith replaces Barry Meister, who will remain on the NZOC’s board due to his status asan IOC member.
She was announced as the secretary general in October.
The NZOC said on its website "Smith was chosen for her strong leadership ability, strategic expertise and commercial and financial acumen."
"With just 18 months until the London Olympic Games and a changing high performance environment, Kereyn will maximize the value the New Zealand Olympic Committee adds to sport, athletes, commercial partners and all New Zealanders," NZOC president Mike Stanley said.
Smith is the first woman to lead the NZOC, and one of the few female national Olympic committee chiefs.
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