Torch Relay Space Crew Returns; Obama Settles Olympic Bet

Torch Relay Crew Returns From Space

On Tuesday morning, the first astronauts to have carried the Olympic torch into open space landed inKazakhstan.

United States astronaut Michael Hopkins and cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky spent almost six months in orbit aboard the International Space Station.

Kotov and Ryazansky took the unlit Olympic torch on a spacewalk in November of 2013 ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The station is currently staffed by U.S. astronaut Richard Mastracchio and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin under the command of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata.

President Obama Makes Good on Bet

Following two losses to Canada's hockey teams during the Sochi Olympics,United States President Barack Obama has made good on a bet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

On Twitter Monday, the Canadian government confirmed it had received two cases of beer from President Obama.

The Canadian women's hockey team beat the U.S. team 3-2 in Sochi, while the Canadian men beat the U.S. in the hockey semifinals, 1-0.

2016 Asian Beach Games

A delegation from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) met with the organizing committee of the 2016 Asian Beach Games in Nha Trang, Vietnam to discuss preparations for the event.

The delegation included OCA honorary life vice president Wei Jizhong and OCA Asian Games department directorHaider Farman.

The Asian Beach Games was first held in 2008.Phuket, Thailand will host the fourth Asian Beach Games this November.

India, Pakistan Join Peace and Sport Project

India and Pakistan have announced events for Peace and Sport's first ever "International Day of Sport for Development and Peace," taking place on April 6.

Karachi, Pakistan will host a darts tournament open to both men and women.

Calcutta, India is planning to stage a rugby tournament open to young men and women from its "most deprived" neighborhoods.

The "International Day of Sport for Development and Peace"was launched by the United Nations at the initiative of the IOC.Peace and Sport is inviting thegeneral public, teachers, associations, sports clubs, federations and non-governmental organizations to take part by holding an event on April 6 that will celebrate "sport for peace."

To find tips for ways to take part, and register an event, visit www.april6.org.

Written byNicole Bennett

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