Istanbul 2020 Logo Competition Begins
Istanbul 2020 put its potential logos to popular vote Wednesday. The five possibilities were posted on the bid committee website.
It's now left to Turkish citizens to vote for a winning logo.
"I am sure that whichever logo is selected, it will help us to promote our national dream to host a Games that, for the first time ever, spans two continents and provides a bridge to unite and inspire the next generation all over the world," said bid leader Hasan Arat.
"The Istanbul 2020 Candidate City logo will be famous throughout our nation."
Votes will be accepted until June 20, after which the most popular design will be sent to the IOC for approval before its unveiling.
An Istanbul 2020 representative tells Around the Ringsthe IOC is expected to "quickly" approve the logo.
Once a logo is selected, Istanbul says it will finalize its "overall look of the bid."
Aussie Lifter Under Investigation
Australian weightlifter Daniel Koum is under investigation by the Australian Olympic Committee after allegedly demanding $5,000 to compete at a qualifying event.
If any of the athletes had failed to compete in the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Samoa, Australia would not have qualified to send a male weightlifter to the London Games.
"You think that everyone who's representing Australia does so with pride and with commitment and, unfortunately, we heard that that wasn't the case with Daniel Koum," Australian Weightlifting Federation chief Michael Keelan told the ABC Asia Pacific News Centre.
Keelan says he made a personal offer of $1,000 to ensure Koum’s participation in the event.
About 40 minutes before the tournament, however, Keelan says Koum demanded an additional $4,000 to compete.
"And then it was pretty frantic ... we had to find that money," Keelan told the ABC.
Koum’s representatives dismissed the claims as unfounded, and the weightlifter himself is denying all accusations.
The AWF is expected to deliberate over the incident and report to AOC director of Sport Fiona de Jong by Friday.
Sharapova Only a Possible Flag-Bearer
Russia minister of sport Vitaly Mutko says Maria Sharapova may not carry the Russian flag at the Olympics, despite claims made Tuesday by Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev that the tennis star was already chosen for the honor.
"Maria is an outstanding athlete, a worthy candidate, but she is only one of several candidates for that role," Mutko said.
The final decision will be made by the Russian Olympic Committee Executive Board next month.
Descendants of Family Who Saved Japanese Marathoner Rewarded
Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda presented a memorial silver plate to the descendants of the Petré family at a ceremonial reunion in Sweden on Saturday.
The family’s ancestors may have saved the life of Japanese marathon runner Shiso Kanaguri when he went missing during the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. Members of the Petré family found the athlete suffering from severe heat exhaustion and nursed him back to health.
"Mr. Kanaguri’s story has been passed down from generation to generation in our family," descendant Tatjana Petré said. "It is truly wonderful for people from both counties to meet like this a century later."
Half a century after he went missing, Kanaguri was invited back to Sweden to finish his marathon. To date, he holds the record for slowest marathon: 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 20.3 seconds.
Tokyo Touts "Peaceful" Japan
Japan is the world’s fifth most peaceful country, according to the Global Peace Index 2012.
The ranking, announced Tuesday, is being touted by Tokyo 2020 bid leadership as representative of the "values the country shares with the Olympic Movement".
"We are delighted that this report underscores Japan’s marvelous safety and security," Tokyo 2020 CEO Masato Mizuno said. "A secure and peaceful atmosphere would ensure a rich 2020 Games experience for Olympic and Paralympic family members, athletes and visitors."
Iceland claimed the ranking of the most peaceful country in the world, followed by Denmark and New Zealand.
New Generations For Peace Program
Global non-profit Generations For Peace partnered with the Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC) to start a training program in Amman for 35 leaders of youth.
The five-day program was developed to provide volunteers with new skills and techniques for working with youths.
Generations For Peace encourages the use of sport-based games and peace-building activities to reduce conflict and violence within and between communities.
Extended BRT Hours
Rio de Janeiro's newly-opened BRT line begins extended hours ofoperationWednesday.
A Facebook post from EOM, the City's Olympic office, says the bus line is now running from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The new schedule adds two extra hours of service. The BRT began traveling through Rio last Wednesday.
Eventually, the rapid-transit bus system will travel 76 miles through the city, serving as a crucial element of Rio's Olympic transportation infrastructure.
Written by Hannah Reid.20 Years at #1:
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