Olympic Briefs -- USOC Cracks Down on Pole Olympics; New Uganda NOC Boss

While pole vaulting and ice dancing are Olympic events, pole dancing is decidedly not.

That's why the U.S. Olympic Committee recently brought the full force of the law down on an adult entertainment club that used the term "Pole Olympics" in a newspaper ad.

PT's Showclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., home of the USOC headquarters, ran the ad in the Colorado Springs Gazette on Jan. 9. It pictured a scantily-clad dancer and the slogan, "Watch the girls ride the pole, as they go for the gold!"

Six days later, on the day of the show, the ad had been changed. The "C" and "S" in "Pole Olympics" were crossed out with the explanation, "At the request of the U.S. Olympic Committee: we changed our event name."

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel told Around the Rings that the ad was a violation of the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, which says the USOC is the sole entity in the U.S. authorized to use Olympic marks and terminology.

Not only does the USOC have the right to use the marks and terminology, Seibel said, but the Act stipulates that it also has a responsibility to prohibit unauthorized use.

"Someone in our legal division noticed the ad," Seibel said, "and, of course, the ad contains the use of a protected term and does so in an unauthorized way."

He said the legal division notified the club, probably by phone call and/or fax or e-mail.

At PT's Showclub, a manager declined to give his name, but told ATR, "I think it's ridiculous." Another manager was overheard saying, "A woman on the phone wants to talk about the Olympic Committee giving us (expletive)." Michael L. Ocello, president and CEO of the club's parent company, VCG

Holding Corporation, did not return calls for comment.

The USOC has had to crack down on unauthorized use in the past, although Seibel said this was the first time he had heard of it involving exotic dancers. He mentioned the "Math Olympics" or a store calling itself "Olympic Dry Cleaning" as examples.

"Our legal division will contact that individual or business and let them know that they are, whether intentionally or not, using a mark or a term that is legally protected and need to cease and desist," Seibel said. "Almost every one of these situations is unintentional and usually remedied

with a single phone call."

Seibel said the USOC can assign the right to use certain terms and marks through its corporate sponsorship programs.

The Special Olympics (competition among athletes with intellectual disabilities) has been grandfathered in. Terms associated with the Olympic Peninsula, Olympic Mountains and Olympic Park in Washington state also do not violate the Act.

Travis Parkhurst, who handles the PT's Showclub account for the Gazette, said he was unaware that the word "Olympics" was protected. Parkhurst said the ad was built by an agency and e-mailed to the newspaper.

He also did not know the ad had been changed to reflect the USOC's legal stance.

"They were going for more publicity," he told ATR, "and they probably ended up getting it."

Ddungu Defeats Nyangweso

Roger Ddungu toppled the 28-year incumbent president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Francis Nyangweso, at the UOC’s elections on Saturday, sending shockwaves throughout the committee.

“I cannot believe it,” said an un-named candidate who also lost, in a story published in local media. “How did Nyangweso fail to see this coming?”

Despite losing the election, Nyangweso will remain an ex-officio member of the committee by virtue of being an IOC member.

Reports said Nyangweso was supposed to have “an easy victory” over Ddungu and Moses Twesigomwe, but Ddungu campaigned on a platform of change and transparency, saying he would call for inquiries into alleged financial malfeasance at the UOC.

Ddungu said the UOC was holding less than $60,000 in its coffers and said an investigation “chaired by a person of high standing in society” would resolve the matter.

“It’s the auditor’s report that will form a basis on who should explain any shortages,” he said.

The new executives of the UOC are: President Roger Ddungu; Vice Presidents Abbey Mubiru and Willaim Tumwine; General Secretary Peninah Kabenge; Assistant Secretary Oneg P’Minga; Treasurer Omara Geno; Committee members Sharifa Sanyu, Francis Nyangweso (ex-officio), Ambrose Tashobya, Godfrey Nuwagaba and Tom Omongole.

Beijing’s Bird Nest to Become Shopping and Entertainment Complex

The Bird’s Nest Stadium, the host for the opening ceremonies and the track and field events for the Beijing Games, will be converted into a shopping and entertainment center, China’s Xinhua News Service reported on Friday.

Plans have been drawn up for the $450 million stadium to anchor a complex of shops and entertainment facilities in three to five years. Citic Group, the operator of the Bird’s Nest, will continue to use the stadium as a tourism site and will try to attract sports and entertainment events there.

Citic Group says the 2,690-square foot facility costs $8.82 million a year to operate, which makes it difficult to earn a profit in its present set up.

Azerbaijan to Bid for 2020 Olympics

Azerbaijan will apply for hosting XXXII SummerOlympic Games in 2020, said the Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov, APA reports.

The minister said preparations had not started yet. “We will certainly apply for that, but it is early to do real works toward this. The host country for 2016 Olympic Games will be announced in September, 2009 in Copenhagen. We will start our preparations after that."

Rahimov said Baku City officials’ decision was necessary for applying for the Olympic Games.

Azerbaijan applied for hosting the 2016 Olympics, but failed in the first qualifying tour and lost the chance to host the XXXI Olympic Games.

Aussie NOC Study Finds Imperative Need for NOC Funds

The Australian Olympic Committee conducted a study of the country’s sport system and found a need for more funds, in order to avoid a multi-year decline in medals and overall performance.

Former AOC secretary-general Craig McLatchey conducted the analysis which compared the Australian pecuniary situation to countries who obtained similar results in Beijing; Australia finished sixth in the medal tally, down from fourth.

The study found as much as $60 million more was needed to ensure the slide stopped in Beijing, and didn’t continue until London and beyond. Australia received nearly $300 million in government funding for the Beijing Games.

FIS World Alpine Skiing Championships Begin

The last major international alpine skiing event before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the 40th FIS World Alpine Skiing Championships, gets under way on Tuesday in Val d’Isere, France.

Skiers from 73 nations will compete through Feb. 15 in the downhill, Super G, slalom, giant slalom and super combined on the Rhone-Alpes course on Solaise Mountain and the La Face slopes on Bellevarde Mountain.

Hermann Maier of Austria, Americans Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn and Anja Paerson of Sweden will compete.

Ingemar Johansson, 1933 - 2009

Ingemar Johansson, the Swedish boxer who won the heavyweight silver medal at the 1952 Olympics died on Friday. He was 76.

Johannson had suffered from Alzheimer’s for years, but died from complications from pneumonia.

In the gold medal bout between Johannson and American Ed Sanders, Johansson was accused of running away from his opponent and was disqualified. He maintained he was merely trying to wear down Sanders. Johannson subsequently had his medal withheld for poor performance. It was given to him in 1982.

He went on to become a professional fighter claiming the heavyweight title, and being named the AP Sportsman of the Year in 1959.

Glenn Davis, 1935 - 2009

Glenn Davis, who won three gold medals, died on Wednesday. He was 74.

Davis won gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and in the 400 hurdles and 4x400-meter relay at the 1960 Rome Games.

A spokesman for the Ohio State University, where he went to school, said he died of a long-suffering illness.

…Briefs

…Ricardo Blas was re-elected as president of the Guam NOC on Jan. 29. Vice President Gordon Chu and Secretary General/Treasurer Bob Steffy were also re-elected. Executives serving until 2012 are: President Ricardo Blas, Secretary General/Treasurer Bob Steffy, Vice President Gordon Chu and board members Sandra Low, Neal Kranz, Eric Tydingco and Simon Ysrael.

…Save the Children Australia-Solomon Islands Agency have joined together with the Solomon Islands NOC to promote sports in the archipelago country. SCA Youth Program Manager Jefter Tuhangenga told the Solomon Star this will be a novel way to reach the country’s youth. “Who knows, there might be some potential players in the rural areas where NOCSI’s system cannot reach. The civil societies can help because we are working closely with youths in the rural areas. Through our work, we can help NOCSI to market these potential players as it is within their roles of marketing."

…Oman tourism development and investment organization Omran has completed the first phase of construction of its site for the 2nd Asian Beach Games, which will be held in the middle eastern country’s capital of Muscat in Dec. 2010. The first phase of development includes the construction of platforms for the athlete village, games court, hotel, apartments, car parks and the main entrance area.

…The Austrian Archery Federation re-elected President Trudy Medwed for another two-year term during the OBSV General Assembly on Saturday. Medwed was selected for another term as president with 100 percent of the vote.

…Archery Australia has chosen Olympic archer Simon Fairweather as national head coach. Fairweather won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and represented Australia at five Olympics and six world championships during his 20-year international career.

…Australian race walker Jane Saville, who is best known for being disqualified from the 20K walk while leading in the final stretch of the race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, has retired from competition. After her disappointment at the 2000 Olympics, the 34-year-old went on to win the bronze medal in the 20K walk at the 2004 Games in Athens.

Written by Ed Hula III and Greg Oshust.