Around the Rings Golden 25: Countdown of Olympics' Most Influential for 2013 Begins Dec. 17

(ATLANTA) – The 17th annual Around the Rings Golden 25 countdown begins Monday, December 17.

The countdown is one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated rankings. Instead of looking back at who or what wielded power, The Golden 25 looks ahead to see who will be most influential in the coming year.

"This will be an intriguing year for the Olympic Movement," says ATR editor Ed Hula.

"Leadership changes – notably the election of a new IOC President in September – is certainly a factor in the Golden 25 for 2013.

"As well, members of Sportaccord -- the umbrella group for 100+ international federations -- must choose a new leader. Movers and shakers linked to these changes are likely candidates for the 2013 rankings, which underscores The Golden 25 as the ultimate look at the year to come."

Along with leadership changes, the IOC will choose hosts for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and 2020 Summer Olympics. Hula says these decisions also will drive The Golden 25 for 2013.

Last year’s #1 position went to London’s Jubilee Line, the main Underground line running to the Olympic Park. The Jubilee Line was emblematic of the importance of public transit for the success of the London Olympics.

"This time last year, the biggest worry facing organizers was how well London’s over-crowded transit system would hold up under the strain created by several million more passengers.

"We were pleased the Jubilee Line – and the rest of the system – made its country proud," Hula said.

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch topped the first list in 1997 list, when he was at the peak of his 20-year reign over the Olympics.

Since then, Olympic figures such as current IOC president Jacques Rogge, NBC Sports & Olympics chairman Dick Ebersol and London 2012’s Sebastian Coe, have topped the list.

In 2010, FIFA President Sepp Blatter earned the number-one spot because of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the implications it might have for a successful bid for the Olympics from Africa.

Now more than 20 years old, Around the Rings continues to hold its place as the world’s leading source of news about the Olympic Movement and elite international sport. The Guardian (UK) says Around the Rings "has long been the most influential internet presence on the Olympics."

The countdown for the 2013 Golden 25 begins Dec. 17 with the release of the 24th and 25th rankings. The #1 position will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.

To view last year’s Golden 25, click here.

For the latest news in the Olympic Movement, follow Around the Rings on Twitter – twitter.com/AroundTheRings

To schedule an interview with Ed Hula, contact Sheila Scott Hula at Sheila@aroundtherings.com or call +1 404-874-1603, ext. 102.

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About Around the Rings

For more than 20 years, AroundTheRings.com has been the only publication devoted to providing original, on-the-scene reporting about the $5 billion dollar business of the Olympic Movement. Based in Atlanta, Ga., with a worldwide team of correspondents, Around the Rings provides thorough international sport business news coverage with daily email blasts, a weekly newsletter and special edition magazines.

In 2009, ATR’s sister site, World Football INSIDER was launched. INSIDER was the first internet publication to focus on the business of football.

For more information contact: Kyle Riplinger

+1 404 874 1603

kyle@aroundtherings.com

Kyle Riplinger

+1 404 874 1603

kyle@aroundtherings.com

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatimtexts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-relatedorganizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

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