Pistorius Allowed to Travel
A South African judge eased Oscar Pistorius’ bail restrictions on Thursday.
His defense team appealed in a Pretoria High Court for all of his bail restrictions to be lifted or lessened and was successful.
Lawyers for the double-amputee Olympian said at an appeal that Pistorius was not a flight risk.
"He has no desire to compete now but it might change and it will change," Barry Roux argued, saying Pistorius needs to earn an income by competing.
"He is not going to run away and hide. He is going nowhere. Why stop him from traveling under controlled circumstances?"
Judge Bert Bam agreed and allowed Pistorius to travel, provided he surrenders his passport while in South Africa and provides an itinerary and other travel documents at least a week in advance of traveling.
Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder in the Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
Bam also lifted the ban on Pistorius consuming alcohol; said he no longer has to regularly check in with a probation officer; said that a ruling if he is accused of committing another crime against another woman is unconstitutional; and allowed him to visit his home where the shooting took place.
PMs: Poland, Slovakia to Bid for 2022 Winter Olympics
Poland and Slovakia are to submit a joint bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday.
Tusk made no mention of Ukraine, whose President Viktor Yanukovych voiced interest in a three-way bid last month.
"We will never live to see a time when Poland or Slovakia will win the fight for the right to hold the Olympic Games," Tusk said.
"Together we have a great chance. This is not a dream but a concrete plan," he added at a joint news conference with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico.
In a statement to Around the Rings,the Polish Olympic Committee said it is "very satisfied" with the announcement. The statement added that the Olympic Committee "will be ready to help" government authorities formalize their bid plan.
The plan envisages the Games being held in the Polish resort of Zakopane near Krakow, and Poprad in Slovakia, with the Tatra Mountains spanning both locales.
According the Polish Olympic Committee statement, the Games "should be environmentally friendly and economical."
Once the governments offer guarantees for the Games, the Olympic Committees will then chose whether to endorse the bid.
The picturesque Polish city of Krakow would play host to other events, although the hockey tournament would take place in Slovakia.
Other potential bids for the 2022 Games include ones from Oslo, Ukraine and several other cities.
Published by exclusive arrangement with RIA Novosti, host news agency of Sochi 2014.
Ahmad Concludes Iraq Visit
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah concluded his visit to Iraq on Wednesday, meeting the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
A statement on the PM’s official website said al-Maliki and his government is "serious about building sports organizations" in Iraq, hoping to create "a national treasure."
Sheikh Ahmad met other Iraqi sport officials as part of his official visit to the country.
Hjalmar Andersen, Norwegian Sport Legend, 90
Hjalmar Andersen, a Norwegian speedskater who won three medals at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics, died on Wednesday. He was 90 and died after a serious fall.
Andersen won the 10,000m, 5,000m and 1,500m events at the Oslo Games, the only triple gold medalist of the Games. He also competed at the 1948 Winter Olympics in the 10,000m but did not finish.
He became an icon following his success at the Games and went on to set four world records. Several statues were erected in his honor throughout Norway.
"Both for Norwegian sports and for me personally this is a very sad day," said Norwegian Olympic Committee president Børre Rognlien.
"Generations born long after his heyday have understood his greatness," he added.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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