200 Days Until Guadalajara Pan Ams; Rio Seeks Ceremony Producer

199Days Until Guadalajara Pan Ams

Guadalajara 2011 says venue construction is on track with 200 days now left to gountil this year’s Pan American Games.

"It became political," chief organizer Carlos Andrade was quoted by the media reports in reference to the oft-delayed Pan Am Village and athletics stadium, long the chief cause of concern for this Mexican mega-event.

"We are calm because the infrastructure will be delivered in a timely manner."

Andrade was speaking at a Monday press conference in Guadalajara to mark 200 days to go.

The 2011 Pan Ams will take place Oct. 14 to 30 with some 6,000 athletes from 42 countries competing across 36 sports in what will be the biggest multi-discipline event of the year as well as a qualifier for 15 of the 26 sports on the London Olympic program.

With just over six months until the opening ceremony, Andrade said the "real" work for his organizing committee begins now.

"We are engaged in services for athletes," he said. "Where to sleep and eat."

Also Monday, Guadalajara sports director Ivar Sisniega confirmed the continent will be exempt from visas during the Games, and marketing director Horacio de la Vega revealed the pictograms for each of the 46 disciplines on the program.

Check back April 12 for a six-months-to-go progress report from Sisniega in that week’s edition of Tuesday Talk.

Rio Seeking Ceremony Producer

Rio 2016 is seeking a production company for its opening and closing ceremonies as well as major events in the lead-up to the Games.

On Monday the organizing committee opened the process to select a company or consortium that wants to put on the events.

The firm will only handle the production and executive management aspects of the ceremonies, as a Brazilian firm will be selected at a later date to handle the creative direction.

"The events and ceremonies will be critical components of the spectator experience, and an essential tool to awaken the interest of the largest number of people possible for the Rio 2016 Games. Projects such as the Olympic and Paralympic Flag Tour and the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relay will result in greater public engagement and participation throughout Brazil," said Leonardo Gryner, CEO of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.

Interested firms have until April 27 to register on Rio’s website for the bid. A selection will be announced at the end of August.

First up for the winning firm would be the eight-minute flag hand-over production at London’s closing ceremony.

New Malawi Olympic Committee President

Oscar Kanjala is the new president of the Malawi Olympic Committee.

According to local media reports, he was unopposed in his election Saturday.

Kanjala replaces interim president Jappie Mangho. In last year’s elections, Kanjala lost to Floriano Massah, who died.

As MOC president, Kanjala pledged perfection in the country’s sporting efforts.

"I’m sure that is what sports in Malawi require," he was quoted as saying.

Four athletes represented Malawi at the Beijing Olympics. None medaled.

Kanjala served as president of the Basketball Association of Malawi.

Maiden Testimony for Thanou

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou is at last telling a criminal court her side of the doping scandal that tainted the opening of Athens 2004.

"I have been waiting for seven years for this day in court, to explain how things were, as I experienced them and as they really happened," she told news media assembled Monday outside an Athens courthouse.

Earlier this month was the first time Thanou appeared before magistrates since the long-delayed trial kicked off in January, and Monday marked her maiden testimony.

She and co-accused Kostas Kenteris are on trial for allegedly faking a motorcycle crash that caused the pair to miss a drug test on the eve of the Athens Olympics.

Thanou stuck by her account of events Monday, one backed earlier this month by the testimony of former coach Christos Tzekos. He is facing charges of supplying banned substances to his former pupils.

Kenteris, meanwhile, is in the U.S. tending to his sick wife and has yet to make an appearance in court. Instead, his lawyer is testifying on his behalf.

"The time for them to appear before health officials to undergo a doping test expired at 7:15 p.m.," Michalis Dimitrakopoulos told The Associated Press.

"The accident occurred four hours later. So what motive did they have to fake an accident, when the disciplinary offense had already been registered four hours before?"

Thanou was a silver medalist in the 100m in Sydney, and her then-training-partner Kenteris was the men’s 200m champion.They were Greece’s main medal hopes for the Athens Summer Games until the IOC revoked their credentials, thereby preventing them from competing.

Munich Strengthens International Image

A veteran of Olympic bid communications will bolster Munich’s presence in the 2018 race’s final 100 days.

Weber Shandwick announced Monday its services will support the Bavarian bid, particularly on the international front.

"Our goal is to provide a winning global communications program for Munich 2018 and support them throughout their journey across the world," Weber Shandwick’s UK & European CEO Colin Byrne said in a statement.

"Our Global Olympics practice, which helped lead the past three Weber Shandwick bidding campaigns including Sochi 2014, will bring to bear the best bidding and campaigning experts we have in our roster to support this effort."

Weber Shandwick also conducted communications campaigns for Turin 2006 and Beijing 2008.

Media Watch

A special report for Reuters finds Brazil’s plans for infrastructure upgrades ahead of the Olympics are "coming unraveled—fast". According to the report, "Unless Rousseff and other officials act quickly to overcome the obstacles, investors may need to rethink some of their rosier long-term economic forecasts for Brazil."

John Goodbody echoes that sentiment in his latest column.

Some of the world’s best male curlers are predicting a great world championships in Canada.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.