European Games Plan Moves Forward; Re-elected Squash Chief Talks 2020 Bid

European Games Plan Moves Forward

The European Olympic Committees is pushing ahead with its European Games plan following approval of the concept and structure at its executive committee meeting in Andorra.

"Under the leadership of President Patrick Hickey, the EC received a comprehensive report on the European Games project," said an EOC press release following Saturday’s meeting.

"The Executive Committee unanimously voted to approve the proposed concept and connected structure and will recommend acceptance following a full presentation to be made at the EOC General Assembly to be held in Eilat on December 7-8."

Crucially, the EOC has yet to win the support of key European sports federations including athletics and swimming. But president Pat Hickey is confident of gaining their backing to launch the first edition in a few years' time.

Without elaborating, the EOC added in its statement that between now and the December meeting it "will continue with its constructive discussions with stakeholders in the international sports community".

Several sessions of talks with the European Athletics Association have taken place over the past year. But the EAA has been slow to embrace the concept, despite the absence of any major multisport event for the continent other than the European Youth Olympic Festival.

The EAA has told Around the Rings in the past that it is concerned about what value a European Games would add to an already crowded sporting calendar, the impact on its own events and the implications for athlete preparations for the event in the year they are held.

Undoubtedly, the European Games could be lucrative for federations but other hurdles stand in the way of its launch.Agreeing on how the Games would be funded as well as how marketing and sponsorship revenues can be divided are issues to solve.

EOC chiefs are keen on launching the first European Games in 2015 with no more than 15 sports on its program. It would be modeled on other such continental multisports events like the Asian Games and Pan American Games.

Squash Reelects President

World Squash Federation president N Ramachandran was reelected by acclimation for another four-year term at the federation’s AGM in Stockholm.

"I have dedicated myself to leading the squash quest to achieve our dream of a place on the program of the Olympic Games, and will continue to do so," said Ramachandran, first elected in 2008.

"Our sport has a great deal to offer and the chance for me to continue pressing our case is a task I will throw myself into fully."

Finnish Olympic Committee Elections

Incumbent Finnish Olympic Committee president Roger Talermo says he’ll seek another four-year term at the Nov. 21 FOC election, and Risto Nieminen says he is going for the position too.

Talermo has held the post since 2008, Nieminen is the retiring CEO of the Veikkaus, Finland’s gambling agency. Other rumored candidates are the presidents of the figure skating and wrestling federations.

Talermo said he hopes as many candidates as possible join the race to allow for "a decent conversation."

"Inside Sochi" with Bruce Talley

With less than 500 days to go until Sochi 2014,Around the Rings is taking the opportunity to introduce our partner, Bruce Talley, a Sochi resident who publishes the newsletter "Inside Sochi" featuring the latest news from the Black Sea resort.

Here are some of the highlights from his most recent newsletter, which can be found here:

New Sochi 2014 slogan: Hot.Cool.Yours Coca Cola will sponsor the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay, which will take place in all 83 regions of Russia Sochi's seaport is being expanded dramatically

Written by Mark Bisson and Ed Hula III.

20 Years at #1: