Russian, Canadian NOC Chiefs Visit USOC; UN Experts Attend Sochi Summit

Russian, Canadians, Visit USOC

The heads of the Russian and Canadian Olympic Committees are visiting the United States Olympic Committee.

COC president Marcel Aubut and secretary general Jean R. Dupré, will visit Colorado Springs, Colo. Wednesday through Friday, while ROC chief Alexander Zhukov visits Thursday and Friday. From Colorado, the group will head to Salt Lake City.

"The Russian and Canadian officials visiting Colorado Springs this week are worldwide leaders in the Olympic Movement," said USOC President Larry Probst.

"Visits like the ones scheduled for this week allow us to get to know the individuals on a personal level and learn from their breadth of experience. At the same time, given the history of the Olympic Movement in the U.S., hopefully we have some insights to offer our friends as well."

The USOC said it hopes to bolster its relations with the two countries with this visit.

Presentations from the USOC to their guests include speeches from – Scott Blackmun, CEO, Lisa Baird Chief Marketing Officer, and Patrick Sandusky Chief Communications Officer. In Salt Lake City, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association will make a presentation.

UN Experts Examine Sochi 2014 Environmental Concerns

Sochi 2014 stakeholders open discussions on environmental issues linked to Olympic preparations at a four-day meeting with UN Environment Program inspectors.

Olympic officials and UNEP experts are being joined by representatives from environmental groups and members of the public.

Key topics will include assessment and offsetting the impact on the environment by construction of Olympic venues and infrastructure.

But there is no word on whether officials from Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (EWNC), one of the most vociferous environmental protestors about Games preparations, are welcome at the Jan. 19-23 summit in the Black Sea resort.

The EWNC has clashed with Sochi 2014 organizers on several occasions.

Its latest concerns seem set to be discussed at the Sochi environmental forum. Last weekend, EWNC officials highlighted what they billed "a large-scale environmental crisis" caused by Russian Railways, an issue UNEP were alerted to last November.

In a press release, the group claimed the mountain river Dzykhra had been used as a massive dumping ground for waste from Russian Railways' construction of its Adler-Krasnaya Polyana Olympic project. EWNC claimed pollution has destroyed fish in the river and the local water reservoir.

Sochi 2014 continues to defend its fast-track preparations for the Games against charges of environmental vandalism and Olympic leaders have made strong commitments to engaging in active dialogue with ecological organizations to address concerns.

Officials says preparations for the Sochi 2014 Games are being undertaken "in accordance with the strict requirements of Russian environmental legislation and IOC standards and regulations, taking into account the suggestions and recommendations of social and environmental organizations".

As part of the visit by UNEP experts, discussions are also being held regarding plans to fulfill four targets for the Sochi 2014 Environmental Program between 2011 and 2014 – "Games in Harmony with Nature", "Climate Neutral Games", "Zero Waste Games" and "Games".

Table Tennis Opens Singapore Office

Singapore is growing its sporting profile in the wake of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

The International Table Tennis Federation announced Tuesday the opening of an office in the tiny island country.

"Our aim is clear: to deliver a broader identity to the ITTF presence within the Asian Pacific region," ITTF president Adham Sharara said in a statement.

"The geographic position, buoyant economy and government drive to attract sport makesSingapore an ideal location for the ITTF."

Marketing director Steve Dainton will head the ITTF’s Singapore staff. The federation is headquartered in Lausanne.

Munich Bags Railway Partner

Germany’s national railway is backing Bavaria’s bid to host the 2018 Olympics.

Munich 2018 announced Wednesday the sponsorship deal with Deutsche Bahn.

"To win the full backing of the national railway company is a great signal to the Olympic family that Munich and Bavaria have much of the operational capacity in place to host the Games today," bid chair Katarina Witt said in a statement.

"Should we be chosen to host the Winter Games, Munich aims to shift transport from streets to rails and pioneer new environmentally friendly standards for the Games."

The arrangement calls for Deutsche Bahn to offer discounts to spectators who purchase rail passes alongside their Games tickets.

The Berlin-based transport company advised bid leadership during the initial feasibility study for the Games and would improve the railway connecting Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the run-up to a Bavarian Winter Olympics.

Written by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson.