ANOCA Increases Investment; Skater Switches Nationalities; Japan Honors World Cup Champs

The ATR Olympic Newsdesk

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ANOCA Increases Investment

Lassana Palenfo, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, announced the organization intends to increase its investment in sporting infrastructure.

He was quoted by Nigerian media saying the bulk of ANOCA’s investment currently goes to the Olympic Youth Development Center in Lusaka, Zambia, but Palenfo plans to build new facilities throughout the continent.

"It will take some time for these facilities to be put in place because it is an investment that requires a lot of money," he said.

"Originally, $150,000 was earmarked for the Lusaka project, but at the end we spent over a million dollars."

One of the new training centers will reportedly be built in Nigeria.

Training facilities for judo, swimming and wrestling for African athletes are already under construction.

Korean Skater Switches Countries

South Korean gold medalist in speedskating Ahn Hyun Soo will compete for Russia at the Sochi Olympics –if all goes according to plan.

The three-time Olympic champion made the announcement on his website.

"I decided to become a naturalized Russian because this provided me a better environment to focus on my training," he was quoted by Korean media. "I will definitely compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi."

"There may be some people who view my decision in a negative light, but I will do my best so I don't have any regrets about my decision."

He blamed "endless factional disputes" within the Korean Skating Union for his departure.

Ahn failed to qualify for the 2010 Korean Olympic team.

Japan Honors Women’s Soccer Team

The Japanese women’s soccer team again continued their streak of firsts.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan bestowed them with the People’s Honour Award,the first time he has given the award and the first time a group earned the award.

Kan gave them the award for their recent victory in the Women’s World Cup against the United States, their first World Cup victory.

"You have shown the world how great Japanese women are and provided people in quake-hit areas, and all Japanese people, with courage and inspiration to cope with difficulties," Kan was quoted by The Mainichi Daily News.

Speaking to reporters, the team's captain Homare Sawa set a new goal for the team.

"We will try our best to win a gold medal at next year's London Olympics," she said.

The People’s Honour Award is given for providing"bright hope".

Pierre Quinon, 49, Gold Medalist in Pole Vault

Olympic pole-vault champion Pierre Quinon of France has died. He was 49.

The French Athletics Federation (FFA) said he committed suicide on Thursday.

"The news was confirmed to me by family members," FFA president Bernard Amsalem was quoted by AFP.

In 1984, Quinon won gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, becoming the first French gold-medalist in pole-vault. He won a silver medal at the European Indoor Championships in the same year. Following the Games, he failed to achieve significant success and retired in 1992.

AFP reports that police are looking into the death.

Visa Gift for Olympic Memories

Visa is offering the chance to win a $100 gift card for photos or videos of Olympic events.

Whether it’s a picture of the Olympics or an Olympic-themed activity in a family’s backyard, Visa is encouraging people to upload their pictures to Facebook.

Visa will give away five $100 gift cards everyday through the end of August to people who upload pictures.

Written by Ann Cantrell.