IOC Planning Israel, Palestine Summit; Sochi Security; Coke for Rugby World Cup

IOC Planning Israeli/Palestinian Conference

The IOC is attempting to set a date for a meeting with Israeli and Palestinian Olympic officials.

Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC said he would invite the heads of the two countries' Olympic Committees to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

An IOC spokesperson told Around the RingsRogge does "not have a date yet" for the meeting.

Rogge made the invitation during a visit to the region on Thursday.

"The message will be peace, make it more easy," Rogge told Reuters.

"Please make the life of the Palestinian athletes easier... that is definitely the main message that I will convey later this afternoon and tomorrow."

However, Rogge stressed that the IOC is "not a political committee".

Palestenian athletes have faced difficulties travelling to international events.

Rogge is joined by IOC Vice President Mario Pescante and IOC members Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees; Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia; Nawal El Moutawakel and Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco; and Alex Gilady of Israel.

On Thursday, Rogge also paid tribute to the Israeli athletes who died in the Munich Olympic terrorist attack.

"The IOC will always remember our comrades that passed away in Munich," he said.

Russian Officials Promise Secure Winter Games

Sochi 2014 will be a safe Olympics, Russian officials pledged this week at an international security forum held in the host city.

Games safety was a hot topic at the two-day gathering of UN officials and representatives of foreign security councils.

Among the speakers was Russian security secretary Nikolai Patrushev.

Patrushev said Sochiwill call upon the country’s special services, which will in turn rely upon foreign experience to protect the Games.

Officials from 44 countries discussed security for these Winter Games, including some representatives of past Olympic hosts.

Patrushev said these countries have shared their experiences with Sochi 2014 organizers, experiences that will better inform future plans.

State Duma Security Committee member Alexander Gurov told The Voice of Russia anything can happen at an event of such magnitude but that risks will be minimized.

"Security services are working on this, buying special equipment and gatheringinformation both at home and abroad," he said.

"Their foreign counterparts will also be involved, providing information about international terrorists."

Coke Joins Rugby World Cup

Coca-Cola will serve as a supplier of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The 20 teams participating in the event will drink water and Powerade supplied by the beverage maker and spectators will drink soft drinks from the Coca-Cola company.

"We look forward to working closely with Coca-Cola to promote Rugby around the world as the global sporting community counts down to the start of Rugby World Cup 2011 in just under a year’s time and a Tournament that looks set to position Rugby in new markets around the world, reaching out to new communities and audiences," International Rugby Board and Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset said in a press release.

Coca-Cola first partnered with the Rugby World Cup in 1995 in South Africa.

Written by Ed Hula III, Matthew Grayson and Isia Reaves Wilcox.