500 Days To Inaugural Youth Winter Olympics
Austria’s sporting elite gathered Monday to honor achievements past and to celebrate the 500-days-to-go mark until Innsbruck 2012.
The western state of Tyrol held a welcome reception for its four Youth Olympians from Singapore.
"What Luis (Knabl), Kira (Grünberg), Martina (Kuenz), Stefan (Leitgeb) and the other 12 Austrian athletes have achieved in Singapore is most impressive," Innsbruck 2012 CEO Peter Bayer said in a statement.
"As Organizing Committee of the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games we are listening very carefully to all kind of input, such as what the young athletes liked in Singapore, and those things they would change. Evenings like this, when we can talk together are extremely valuable."
Austria won a gold and three bronze in Singapore.
More than a thousand athletes from about 60 national Olympic committees will come to winter sports havens Innsbruck and Seefeld from Jan. 13 – 22 of 2012. They will compete in 63 medal events spread across seven sports and 15 disciplines.
Mountain Biking Champs Return To Canadian Resort
The world’s best mountain bikers are back in Canada’s Mont-Sainte-Anne this week for their world championships.
More than 600 athletes from 37 countries will race in three disciplines at the scenic mountain resort.
Five days of competition will follow Tuesday night’s opening ceremony in downtown Quebec.
Cross-country star Julien Absalon of France looks to match the junior world title he won in Mont-Sainte-Anne back in 1998.
Canada’s own Catharine Pendrel hopes to ride the momentum of her World Cup victory last weekend to another cross-country title.
In downhill action, British brother-and-sister duo Gee and Rachel Atherton are the favorites.
Australia’s Jared Graves and Netherlands’ Anneke Beerten head a wide-open 4-cross field.
Mont-Sainte-Anne last hosted the championships in 1998 and has seen International Cycling Union action every year since 1991.
Mexican NOC To Align With Olympic Charter
The Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) meets Tuesday to adopt changes to comply with the Olympic charter.
COM president Felipe Munoz Kapama will preside over the general assembly as its members seek to bring COM by-laws in line with IOC rules regarding the World Anti-Doping Agency’s policies.
The organizing committee of next year’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara will convene later to discuss logistics for the Nov. 19 – 27 competition and to receive a progress update on the Pan American Village.
Ricardo Probert Maldonado, the country’s Youth Olympics head, will also report on Mexican participation at the inaugural Games.
Mexico won a silver and five bronze in Singapore.
USA Triathlon, Exec Part Ways
USA Triathlon is looking for a new executive director after Tuesday’s departure of Skip Gilbert.
There was no explanation given for the change by Gilbert or USA Triathlon. Gilbert stepped into the spotlight last year with his criticism of the way leadership changes were made at the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Gilbert serves as chairman of the National Governing Bodies Council that advises the USOC on issues involving the sports bodies. There is no immediate word on whether Gilbert has relinquished that post.
"We thank Skip Gilbert for his years of service to triathlon during which the sport grew to unprecedented popularity in the United States and around the world," USA Triathlon president Brian Harrington said in statement.
Tim Yount, senior VP for sport development, will fill the role during the search.
Tour Winner, 50
Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon died Tuesday of cancer, AFP reported.
The biker-turned-cycling analyst won in 1983 and 1984, one of only two French champions in the past 30 years.
Fignon was diagnosed last year but continued to broadcast for TV station France 2, covering last month’s race.
Sports Consultancy Staffs for London 2012
TSE Consulting has a new UK director ahead of London 2012.
Industry vet Jasper Perry will help UK cities to secure pre-game training camps for the upcoming Summer Games.
"We are delighted to bring Jasper on board," Lars Haue-Pedersen, managing director of the Lausanne-based sports consultancy, said in a statement.
"We have worked with him during his time at Northern Ireland Events and Yorkshire Forward and have no doubt that he will be a great asset to us as we further develop our activities in the UK.
Perry’s duties commence Wednesday.
Event Planner Restructures Management Team
Sporting events specialist Rushmans is shaking up its front office.
Tim Mitchell will take over as chief executive, and Glen Kirton will become COO.
"[Mitchell] brings a wealth of experience and connectivity to the role which will be vital to the effective development and roll-out of new services to our global client-base and new clients," founder and chairman Nigel Rushman said in a statement.
"His appointment will enable Glen Kirton, one of the best respected people in sports management, to focus on service planning, delivery and quality at a time of rapid growth."
The UK-based company has helped plan the Rugby World Cup, Asian Games and FIFA World Club Championships.
Written by Matthew Grayson.
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