Sochi Biathlon Delay; Asian Games Media Deal; Cuban on Olympic Hoops

Sochi Closes Biathlon Test Event

Construction delays are forcing Sochi 2014 to close an upcoming biathlon test event to the public.

"The facility isn't finished, the facility is still being built, although the important things have been done," Russian Biathlon Union vice president Vadim Melikhov was quoted Wednesday by RIA Novosti when discussing the Feb. 6-10 Cup of Russia event in Sochi.

"Part of the main building is in use, where all the biathlon services will be located," he added about Laura cross-country ski and biathlon center, one of the 70-plus projects reportedly behind schedule in Sochi.

Cuban to NBA: Get Our Players Out of Olympics

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban calls NBA players participating in the Olympics – or rather, the league letting them do so – "just the epitome of stupidity."

Cuban and his NBA champion Mavs are a fourth of the way through their title defense with superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki and third-year guard Rodrigue Beaubois both still nursing injuries from international play.

"It's just the epitome of stupidity that we would allow ourselves to be used so other corporations can make tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars," the famously outspoken Cuban told ESPN on Tuesday.

"There's some guys sitting at the Olympic headquarters going, 'Those dumb-*****, we're taking all their best guys for nothing.' "

Beaubois missed all of last season after breaking a bone in his left foot while training for France ahead of the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Novitzki followed up his NBA Finals MVP effort with a failed Eurobasket bid to qualify Germany for a second straight Olympics.

"Playing in the Euros, looking back now was obviously not the right decision, but, it was a decision I made for my country," Nowitzki said Saturday when announcing he would sit out the next four games.

"But it definitely didn't help me get ready for the season."

OCA Signs Media Distribution Agency

MP & Silva will distribute the worldwide media rights for the Olympic Council of Asia’s events.

The deal starts with the 2012 Haiyang Asian Beach Games and includes the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

"MP & Silva has developed very strong links with Asian and Middle Eastern broadcasters and sports governing bodiesover the years, and having the chance to be part of the Asian Games’ media strategy and distribution is incredibly rewarding to us," said Andrea Radrizzani, Group CEO, MP & Silva.

"In our capacity as Partner we will also act as media advisor in order to guarantee the highest level of production guidelines and innovation – including digital strategy and on social media portals. Our objective is to contribute to the success of the Olympic Asian sports movement and improve its reach to other regions of the world."

Karen Webb Opens Consulting Practice

Veteran Olympic PR expert Karen Webb is now in business as an independentconsultant based in the U.K. Webb is currently working with Westfield on its Olympicprojects that include the Altius hospitality club on the edge of the London Olympic Park and Westfield’s role as a London 2012 sponsor.

Webb’s seven-Games sojourn began with the Sydney Olympics, moving on to the IOC and London Olympics projects. For the past two years she was executive director for marketing and communications of the Olympic Park Legacy Company.

Webb can be found at karen@karenwebbconsulting.com.

Media Watch

The Independent profiles Colm O’Connell, an Irish Catholic Brother who became a coach to many of Africa’s greatest runners. Interestingly, he has never seen his athletes compete in an Olympics or World Championship.

An editorial in The Toronto Star says female boxers should not be forced to wear skirts at the Olympics. "It’s four rounds in the ring, not a fashion show," the editorial reads. "Let the debut of women’s boxing in the Olympics be about their skill, not their outfits."

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1120788--female-boxers-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-wear-skirts-at-the-olympics

Written by Ed Hula III.

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