European Games; Sailing Elections; Furlong Allegations

European Games Inch Forward

Plans to stage a European Games could move ahead this weekend when the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees meets in Andorra.

EOC President Patrick Hickey says the EB could vote in favor of a proposal that would put the question before the 49-nation EOC assembly in December.

"Negotiations are at a delicate stage," Hickey tells Around the Rings, declining to elaborate on what will be presented to the EOC panel.

Modeled after other continental multi-sports events like the Asian Games and Pan American Games, the European Games have been a pet project of Hickey. An already crowded European sports calendar is one of the major challenges for the event, which would be held every four years.

ATR understands that the proposal for the Games would include around 15 sports to make it easier to fit the Games to the calendar. Hickey has said in the past that the European Games would grow in size in future editions.

Furlong Denies Abuse Allegations

John Furlong, former CEO of VANOC, denies allegations he physically abused aboriginal children long before his leadership of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

"I want you to know I categorically deny absolutely any wrongdoing, and I believe that the [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] in looking into this matter will discredit the complaint entirely because it just did not happen," he said Thursday in a news conference, responding to a report published in Vancouver urban weekly Georgia Straight.

"As a result of inaccurate reporting, I feel that my character has been recklessly challenged and I have no choice now but to proceed with legal action," added Furlong, now executive chair of the Major League Soccer franchise Vancouver Whitecaps F.C.

A statement from RCMP says officers "are aware of the allegations involving John Furlong and are investigating" but does not elaborate.

Georgia Straight argues eight sworn affidavits in the paper’s possession indicate Furlong abused students while working as a physical education teacher in northern British Columbia in 1969, but Furlong’s book "Patriot Hearts" says he didn't emigrate from Ireland to Canada until 1974.

Sochi Welcomes U.S. Delegation

USA’s national governing bodies for the winter sports will head to Sochi this weekend to plan for 2014.

The delegation will include high performance staff from the winter NGBs as well as operational and sport leadership staff from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

"We are all very excited for the 2014 Games and are hoping to continue to work closely with the Sochi Organizing Committee to make this a fantastic event for the athletes," USOC chief of sport performance Alan Ashley tells Around the Rings.

Tuesday marked 500 days to go until the Games.

Sailing Elections

It’s a crowded field for upcoming elections of the International Sailing Federation.

ISAF announced Friday three candidates will stand for president and 14 for vice president at the General Assembly on Nov. 10 in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland.

Carlo Croce of Italy, David Kellett of Australia and Eric Tulla of Puerto Rico are the nominees to succeed IOC member Goran Petersson of Sweden, president of ISAF since 2004.

For biographies as well as a complete list of the VP candidates, click here.

President of Argentina Gives YOG Guarantees

Buenos Aires is getting all the necessary guarantees from Argentina’s federal government to bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner handed over her signed guarantees to IOC member and NOC president Gerado Werthein this week.

"This is a major milestone for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games bid," said Werthein.

"The fact that President Kirchner has signed the required Head of State guarantees ahead of the submission of our Candidate File to the International Olympic Committee next month demonstrates the significant political support and commitment that exists for the Buenos Aires bid."

The government guarantees are due to IOC headquarters in Lausanne by Oct. 15 as part of the formal candidature files required from each of the six bids. The other five bids for the 2018 YOG come from Guadalajara, Mexico; Glasgow, Scotland; Medellin, Colombia; Rotterdam, Netherlands and Poznan, Poland.

Written by Ed Hula, Matthew Grayson and Aaron Bauer.