New NOC Possible
With the formation of South Sudan as the world’s newest country, a National Olympic Committee is sure to follow.
Athletes from South Sudan will be able to compete at the London Olympics, if they qualify and their NOC is not formed in time.
Sources in Africa tell Around the Rings it is unclear who would lead a South Sudan NOC.
Southern Sudan became independent at midnight on July 9.
It is one of the poorest countries in the world but has access to vast oil reserves.
Olympic Council of Asia Meets
The Olympic Council of Asia will hold its general assembly this week in Tokyo.
Scheduled for July 14, the meeting of all Asian National Olympic Committees caps off a week of activity for the OCA.
The week promises to be big for the host Japanese Olympic Committee. On Saturday, the JOC celebrates its 100th anniversary, and an announcement if Tokyo will bid for the 2020 Olympics is expected.
Public Will Help Choose Youth Games Slogan
The public can now vote on the six possible slogans for Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in 2014.
The public is invited to choose three slogans from July 11-18. Along with experts’ opinions, the vote will be submitted to the IOC and NYOG for the final decision.
The possible slogans are: "Brilliant Youth, Wonderful World"; "Cheer for Youth"; "Share Games, Share Dreams"; "Grow Up Each and Every Day"; "Make the World Younger" and "Younger World, Better Future".
The public can vote by mail, text message or online at http://www.nanjing2014.org/cn/.
The Games will be held August 16-28, 2014.
Yao Ming Retires
Three-time Olympian Yao Ming ended his professional basketball career.
Ming informed the Houston Rockets and the NBA on July 8 that he would be retiring from
professional basketball.
Ming first played for China in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He was the flag bearer for the Chinese Olympic team at the Games in 2004 and 2008.
Philippines Endorsement
It appears the Philippines wants to compete in the Winter Olympics.
The president of the Philippines Olympic Committee endorsed chess to join the Olympic Program—so the south Asian country could return to the Winter Olympics.
According to local media, Jose Cojuangco, POC president, signed a letter to the IOC urging it to add chess to the Winter Olympic program.
"Chess is a legitimate sport played internationally"Cojuangco was quoted." Its inclusion (in the Olympics) is long overdue. It will also give us the opportunity to compete in the Winter Games again."
Cojuangco made the announcement after the president of FIDE, the international chess federation paid a visit to the country.
The Philippines (wintertime average low of 71 degrees Fahrenheit) last entered the Winter Olympics in 1994.
Media Watch
The PyeongChang Olympic bid turned Yu Na Kim into a fashion icon.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/07/08/2011070800953.html
The Los Angeles Times reviews a biography of Olympic legend Babe Didrikson.
http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-ca-van-natta-20110710,0,1334839.story?track=rss
Gangwon Province, where PyeongChang is located, is also hoping to capitalize on the 2018 Olympics.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/07/11/2011071100300.html
Al-Jazeera offers a different take on Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid victory, saying they sold, not bought the victory.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/07/11/qatar-didnt-buy-world-cup-they-sold-it
Written by Ann Cantrell.