British Tourism Promotion; Praise for Sochi Ski Venue; Key Qatari World Cup Contract

Britain Launches Largest Promotion Campaign Ahead of Olympics

The U.K. culture ministry and VisitBritain unveiled the largest tourism promotion in British history.

Cities all over the world will have "GREAT" Britain advertising.

"We have long recognised that 2012 will present us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a solid tourism legacy," VisitBritain CEO Sandie Dawe said. "The more overseas visitors we can entice to visit Britain as a result of this campaign the more jobs the industry can sustain right across the country."

The campaign will target nine countries worldwide, with adverts appearing in 14 key cities around the world: Beijing, Berlin, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto.

British officials said they expect 90 million people to see the ads, and attract 4.6 million extra visitors.

Bode Backs Sochi

Olympic champion skier Bode Miller says he likes the Sochi 2014 skiing venue, Rosa Khutor.

"The venue, the mountain, is world class. It's as nice as any of the places we ever go," Miller was quoted by Ria Novosti after practice runs on Thursday ahead of the Sochi test event.

"I think it's going to be amazing to host the Olympics here. I hope that they really do as good a job as they can because the Olympics is the perfect opportunity to showcase a venue, an area, a culture and country, and I think Russia right now is very due for that."

He added: "a lot of people still have a lot of misconceptions about the area, and they don't think of ski areas when they think of Russia. So this will be a really amazing chance to show the world what your country is."

UK Athletics Chief Leading London 2017

UK Athletics Chairman Ed Warner will serve as the Chairman of the London 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships Organizing Committee. UKA made the announcement in a statement on Thursday. Warner chaired the bid committee as well.

"Our next step is to appoint a vice-chairman and the remainder of the board" Warner said. "In the short term UKA will be undertaking the work of the LOC until we need to increase the size of the operation to deliver the Championships."

Key Appointment for Qatari World Cup

Qatar 2022 has awarded the program management contract to deliver FIFA World Cup stadia to a U.S. design and construction firm that also served as a delivery partner for the London 2012 Olympics.

CH2M Hill, which boasts experience of working on five other Olympics and one Commonwealth Games, beat off competition from five other bids including Arup, Turner International and Mace.

The Gulf state is spending around $4 billion on building 12 stadia for the 2022 FIFA showpiece. Nine are being built from scratch with three existing venues to be renovated and expanded.

Billions of dollars are also being invested in major transport infrastructure works such as the new Doha International Airport and the proposed nationwide metro network.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi said the tender process for the contract began soon after the desert nation's successful World Cup bid victory in December 2010.

"While the proposals we received from those companies that made the shortlist were impressive, it was important to us that the appointed company met the set criteria we had in mind, in addition to complimenting and understanding the vision of our committee. We believe that CH2M Hill is the ideal partner," he said.

"The road ahead will be challenging. Today's appointment is a key initial milestone on our journey."

CH2M Hill's first task is to set a delivery timetable for the raft of venueand infrastructure projects needed for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

With Qatar's summer temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius, the development and integration of cooling technologies to air-condition training facilities and host stadia to the satisfaction of FIFA are among the biggest challenges for the program management team and tournament organizers.

For more on the appointment of CH2M Hill, visit ATR sister site World Football INSIDER.

Klinsmann: U.S. Medal "Asking Too Much"

U.S. men’s national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann says he’ll do his part to help U23 counterpart Caleb Porter build his roster for London 2012.

"I will feed [Porter] as many of my guys as I can, absolutely," Klinsmann was quoted Wednesday by GOAL.com.

It’s expected winger Brek Shea and striker Jozy Altidore, both under 23, will headline the Olympic squad, but Porter can field as many as three overage players, likely including midfielder Clint Dempsey, 28.

Klinsmann says he isn’t expecting too much from whatever group of guys gets sent to London – assuming they qualify.

"Am I saying I want to see them bring a medal home?" he questioned. "I think that would be asking too much if you look at all the teams."

Whether the U.S. even books a spot in the Olympic tournament will be determined at the end of next month with CONCACAF group matches against Cuba, Canada as well as El Salvador in Nashville and then potential elimination rounds in Kansas City with the top two finishers going to the Games.

Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago are the countries in the other group with Mexico expected to grab one of the Olympic berths and potentially a medal in London on down the road.

Indonesia Targets Badminton Glory

Indonesia’s parliament says it will throw its weight behind the badminton team at the London Olympics. The country has won a gold at every Olympics in badminton since the sport was introduced to the program in 1992.

"Badminton should get special attention during the preparations, compared to other sports," Zulfadli, a Golkar Party legislator, told The Jakarta Globe.

"If necessary, we can disburse lots of money because what is important to us is to regain Indonesia's glory in badminton."

20th Albertville Anniversary

February 8 marked the 20th anniversary of the Albertville Olympics.

The 1992 Winter Olympics were the last to be held in the same year as the Summer Games.

Also noteworthy about the Games—Germany competed as a single team for the first time since 1968, and the Unified Team represented former Soviet Republics, making two of the 64 teams that sent more than 1800 athletes to the Games.

Short track speedskating, moguls and women’s biathlon made their Olympic debut in Albertville, and for the last time, speedskating was contested on an outdoor oval.

On Feb. 23, the Olympic Flame was extinguished in Albertville.

France has not hosted an Olympics since 1992.

Pin Points

Mike Gorrell reports in The Salt Lake Tribune that Olympic pin trading will return as part of the ongoing 10th anniversary celebration of the 2002 Winter Games. Park City’s Main Street celebration will feature pin-trading booths, which also will be set up for festivities Feb. 17 at the Kearns oval and Feb. 18 at the Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City. A special limited edition anniversary pin also was struck for the occasion.

The commemoration will continue for two weeks. Additional information about anniversary activities is available at www.saltlake2002.com.

Media Watch

The Associated Press reports on the rise of Russian skiers ahead of the 2014 Olympics.

A 2012 sponsor row could be brewing, this time between Adidas and rival athletic wear companies.

Written by Ed Hula III.

20 Years at #1: