President, CEO Leave Helios; New NOC Chief for Korea; 2018 YOG Bid Updates

President, CEO Leave Helios

Helios Partners is operating without two of its founders, Around the Rings has learned.

President Terrence Burns and CEO Chris Welton both left the Atlanta-based bid consultancy "about a month ago" for reasons Helios has yet to make available.

No comment either from French sister company Amaury Sport Organization, which helped Helios launch a European business unit in October 2010.

Under the leadership of Burns and Welton, the consultancy advised successful Olympic bids from Beijing for 2008, Vancouver for 2010, Sochi for 2014 and PyeongChang for 2018.

Helios notably has no horse in the race for 2020. After the withdrawal of Rome on the eve of the IOC deadline for application files last February, the bid from Baku briefly engaged Helios before being cut from the field in May.

Helios is believed to be one of the creditors still owed money by Rome 2020.

Korea NOC to Get New President

As many as two or three candidates could seek the presidency of the Korean Olympic Committee as incumbent Y.S. Park decides to step down.

In a letter to colleagues, Park announced this week that he would not seek a second term, declaring he had accomplished his goals.

The deadline to file for the post is Feb. 7. The KOC election is Feb. 22.

Already three candidates are expected, including table tennis leader Elisa Lee and Jung Haeng Kim, former president of the Korean Judo Federation.

Lee would be the first woman to head the KOC, while Kim challenged Park in the 2009 election. He may be a favorite based on that experience. Lee may be the favorite of incoming president of Korea, Geung Hye Park, who takes office Feb 25 as the first female Korean head of state.

Y.S. Park took office at the KOC after a stint as president of the International Judo Federation and IOC member.

Yonhap News Agency says Park, 72, has been hospitalized in the past month, not mentioned in his announcement.

Canada, Germany Top Virtual Medal Table

Germany will win the most medals at the Sochi Olympics and Canada the most gold, predicts Infostrada Sports Group.

In its first Virtual Medal Table launched Wednesday in advance of the year-to-go mark until the Games, the Dutch statistics specialists say Canada will win 32 total medals – 17 gold, six silver and nine bronze – while Germany will tally seven gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze for a total of 39.

"After the huge success of our Summer Games Virtual Medal Table, we have improved our methodology for the winter version which we expect to be even more accurate," said Infostrada CEO Danny Menken.

For the complete interactive Virtual Medal Table, click here.

Buenos Aires "Better by Bike"

Mayor Mauricio Macri says 100km of new cycle lanes and paths prove Buenos Aires is committed to clean transport, healthy living and its bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

"The Mejor en Bici (‘Better by Bike’) initiative has been a huge success and it’s something that the whole of Buenos Aires can be proud of," he said Wednesday in a statement, citing a five-fold increase from 30,000 daily bike users to an estimated 150,000 in three years as well as 60,000 cyclists now registered to borrow bikes for free from 28 stations around the Argentine capital.

"Our bid for the Youth Olympic Games is central to our long term commitment to promoting healthy living and sporting, active lifestyles," he said.

Bid CEO Francisco Irarrazaval added: "We want to ensure that if Buenos Aires is granted the privilege of hosting the 2018 Youth Olympic Games we are ready to welcome athletes and spectators alike with open arms and share our wonderful culture and our philosophy of health and fitness with the rest of the world."

Guadalajara, Rotterdam, Glasgow and Medellin, Colombia are the other four candidates for the YOG.

Members of the IOC Executive Board will shortlist the contenders next week ahead of a July 4 vote in Lausanne.

Scottish Bid Embraces Celtic Connections

Glasgow 2018 cites Celtic Connections as an example of the impact its proposed Culture and Education Program could provide to the Youth Olympic Games.

More than 5,000 children enjoyed free schools performances in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of this year’s edition, one’s of the world’s largest winter music festivals featuring 2,000 artists playing traditional Scottish and world music over a span of 18 days.

"As a city Glasgow is committed to involving young people in its many sporting and cultural programs such as the outstanding Celtic Connections festival," said Bid Director Paul Bush.

"This approach engages young people at an early age and is an area we are keen to build on as part of our bid to bring the Youth Olympic Games to Glasgow."

John Somerville, who participated in this year’s Celtic Connections Education Program, added: "It's provided a path to come up from being a young musician to establishing yourself as an international professional. Without the festival I don't think a lot of musicians would have that opportunity."

Buenos Aires, Guadalajara, Rotterdam and Medellin, Colombia are the other four candidates facing a July 4 vote of the IOC.

Written by Ed Hula and Matthew Grayson.

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