Japanese Broadcast Deal; Rio Golf Course Reveal; Ringo Denies Olympic Reunion

Japanese Olympic Broadcast Consortium

The national broadcast consortium makes a deal for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics in Japan.

The deal –worth $472 million, ATRis told–is about a 10 percent increase from the previous one, which came in at $426 million for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.

NHK and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters of Japan are part of the consortium.

"We are delighted to continue our long-term relationship with the Japan Consortium," said IOC president Jacques Rogge in a statement.

"Japan is an important Olympic nation with a long Olympic history, and the Japan Consortium has been responsible for providing great coverage of the Olympic Games. The Japan Consortium has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Olympic Movement."

Olympic Golf Course Reveal Ahead

Rio 2016 will wait another few weeks to unveil the winning architect and design for its Olympic golf course.

Both will be announced next month when IOC inspectors stop by for their fifth project review meeting to date, according to the organizing committee.

What’s unclear is whether the vote has already been taken by the jury representing Rio 2016, city government, the International Golf Federation and the legacy entity that will oversee the management of the course post-Games.

"This is information we cannot disclose," a Rio 2016 spokesman tells Around the Rings.

A decision – and an announcement – had been expected Friday, but the statement says only that Rio 2016 "has completed the interview stage" and "was extremely pleased with the high quality of the eight proposals submitted" by some of the sport’s most storied names.

Among the eight finalists for the coveted task of designing the stage on which golf will make its return to the Games after a 112-year absence are teams that pair Jack Nicklaus with Annika Sorenstam and Greg Norman with Lorena Ochoa.

A mix of more golfing greats – Gary Player, Peter Thomson – and course architects – Robert Trent Jones Jr., Ross Perrett, Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Martin Hawtree – round out the competition.

More Kalmadi Complaints

Ousted chief organizer Suresh Kalmadi has another set of charges to worry about in the wake of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

According to a Hindustan Times Report, the Directorate General of Economic Enforcement is filing complaints against Kalmadi and five of his former aides over alleged financial irregularities with a 2009 ceremony in London to kick off the baton relay through countries of the former British Empire.

Central Bureau of Intelligence agents arrested the former Indian Olympic Association president last April on other graft charges but are investigating those that stem from the Queen’s Baton Relay as well.

The Enforcement Directorate, charged with fighting economic crime in India, alleges that Kalmadi and company awarded equipment, sanitation and transport contracts without following procedure.

Organizers also billed 150 cars for 14-16 hours a day and 100-plus miles a day.

"Metering 100 miles in London is very unlikely," an ED official was quoted by TheHindustan Times.

Kalmadi was released from jail on bond last month.

Innsbruck Awards Final "Gold"

Organizers of the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympic Games awarded their final gold, of a sort.

Class 2B from the secondary school for economics and business in Lienz in East Tyrol were named winners of the YOG World Mile in Congress competition on Friday. Worldwide Olympic sponsor Dow presented the World Mile event.

The class created a video about their assigned country, India, and beat out other classes in the competition, part of the YOG Culture and Education Program.

As part of its victory, the class received a travel voucher worth roughly $6,600.

"We are looking forward to going travelling together, and we may even go to India,"said teacher Silvia Ebner, who was responsible for coordinating the school’s work. "The coach of the only Indian athlete participating in the Innsbruck 2012 Games is also a travel agent in Manali and has already offered to help the girls with travel arrangements."

Click here to see the winning video.

Tokyo Cancels Gymnastics World Cup

A failed broadcast deal forces Japan to forego an artistic gymnastics World Cup scheduled for April 14 and 15.

"The decision comes in response to an inability to coordinate major dates for gymnasts on the sport calendar with availability of the host broadcaster for production," says a Friday statement from FIG, the International Gymnastics Federation.

"A lack of television coverage would have a negative impact on announcer participation and bring about weighty financial consequences."

The cancellation comes just months after Tokyo successfully staged October’s world championships, Japan’s biggest sporting event since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

"The FIG takes note of the decision and of the Japan Gymnastics Association's ongoing commitment to setting new dates for the 2013 World Cup," ends Friday’s statement.

Azeri Parliament Backs Baku

Azerbaijan’s parliament, the Milli Mejlis, unanimously voted to endorse the Baku 2020 bid.

Ogtay Asadov, chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, will send an official letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge informing him of the complete support of Azerbaijan’s political movement, the bid said in a statement.

"Not only does our Parliament stand fully behind the Bid to host the Olympics, but we are enthusiastically supported by every section of Azerbaijani society," said Konul Nurullayeva, Baku bid CEO.

"The public opinion poll we carried out recently as part of our Applicant File showed 95% support for the Bid from ordinary Azerbaijanis. 93% also said they believed that hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Baku would have a positive impact on sport throughout the country. Our National Olympic Committee, our sports federations, our business community and the citizens of Baku would all very much like to welcome the Olympic Movement in 2020."

Ringo Starr Nixes Olympic Reunion

"It’s All Too Much" for Ringo Starr to reunite with the other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, at the 2012 Olympics.

"I will not be at the Olympics," Starr tells CNN. "I have to be very definite about that because they will say, 'Oh, is he coming? Isn't he coming?' No, I am not going – but to all the athletes, 'Peace and Love!'"

Rumors had circulated that the band, considered to be the greatest of all time, would reunite for a performance at the ceremonies.

It would seem that if the Olympics cannot reunite the Beatles, fans will need a lot of "Help" if the survivors "can work it out" for the long-desired reunion.

Media Watch

Anger is growing over evictions related to work on the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the Associated Press reports.

Jeff Ruffolo, senior media adviser to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee is serving as the official journalist for the Fed Cup in Shenzhen, China.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.

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