Korean President Explains Victory; Olympic Anniversary; FIBA Meets NBA

PyeongChang Victory Insight

Korea’s president, Myung Bak Lee, offered more insight into PyeongChang’s victory to stage the 2018 Olympics.

Speaking at a July 19 gathering of Korean political titans, Lee said a "Senegalese IOC member" offered advice.

"A Senegalese IOC member advised last year that Korea could lose in the second vote if it failed to secure votes from Asian IOC members," Lee was quoted by The Korea Herald.

"Thanks to President [Hu Jintao’s] announcement that he supports PyeongChang, I heard that Asian IOC members agreed to vote for one (candidate) this time a day head of the vote."

Lamine Diack is the only IOC member from Senegal.

Lee also said the Games’ venues must be used to promote national development, according to other media reports.

With the PyeongChang victory, Lee said he sees a good future for Korea.

"Seeing us unite and harmonize (for the PyeongChang bid), I felt that our national fortunes will continue to thrive."

15th Olympic Anniversary

The 26th Olympics opened 15 years ago today in Atlanta.

More than 10,000 Olympians from 197 countries, then a record, attended the Games.

Some of the highlights of the Games included Canadian Donovan Bailey setting a world record in the 100m, Naim Suleymanoglu becoming the first weightlifter to win three gold medals, Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Cauldron and the bizarre looking mascot; "Izzy".

Professional cyclists made their Olympic at the 1996 Games, as did beach volleyball, lightweight rowing, mountain bike, softball, women’s football and the team rhythmic gymnastics event.

Tragedy struck on July 27 however, when a bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park. Two died as a result of the attack and 111 others were injured. Eric Rudolph was eventually found guilty of the bombing.

FIBA Meets with NBA

The NBA is meeting with FIBA, the international basketball federation, to reportedly discuss issues related to the NBA lockout.

ESPN reported Tuesday that Ivan Mainini and Patrick Bauman, FIBA president and secretary general respectively, are at NBA headquarters in Manhattan with David Stern, the league’s commissioner.

The sports network reports that the two organizations hope to keep an insurance deal in place for foreign players and settle legal matters with clearances granted to NBA players to play overseas.

According to ESPN, FIBA suspended the framework that allowed national federations to insure the contracts of star players when playing international basketball. However, on July 1, when the NBA began its lockout over negotiations with the league and players’ union, the insurance guarantee stopped. Now federations have to pay larger sums for insurance, due to the suspension.

Olympians Visit Australian High School

Six Olympians from the Australian state of Queensland celebrated the re-opening of a high school’s food shop that was destroyed by floods earlier this year.

Milton State School’s infrastructure was dramatically damaged by floods that surged through Brisbane in January.

"We lost the entire bottom floor of the school buildings ... It has been a massive year to rebuild and it is nice to have a tuckshop again for our students,"said school Principal Paul Zernike.

Olympic champions Kieren Perkins, Libby Trickett, Nikki Hudson and Chantelle Newbery joined four-time Olympian Tanya Harding and Beijing weightlifter Damon Kelly to celebrate the tuckshop’s opening.

"Following all the wonderful support we Olympians have received from the Australian people, I was pleased the Olympic family could return this support and make a financial contribution to Australians in need," Perkins said.

Brian Finn Joins Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd

Brian Finn is leaving the New Zealand Rugby Union to take a position in communications management for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

Finn will begin the new job on Aug. 1 and will stay in the position until end of the tournament. The World Cup will run from Sept. 9 to Oct. 23.

"I am very excited about the change having had the privilege of being involved in our game during a period when New Zealand rugby racked up some remarkable achievements, and tackled a wide range of challenges along the way," said Finn in an email.

ATR NewsmakerBreakfast: Changing Landscape of TV Broadcasting

Television programming from London 2012 will be a new world for broadcasters and the topic of the Around the Rings Newsmaker Breakfast July 25 in London.

The Breakfast is presented by The Concerto Group and Westfield Stratford City.

Roger Mosey, Director of Olympic Games coverage, BBC; Gary Fenton, Director of Olympic Games coverage, Australia's Nine Network, and Jackie Brock-Doyle, Head of Communications, London 2012, join ATR editor Ed Hula to discuss next year’s coverage and how it will differ from previous Games.

Topics of conversation will include how factors are involved in the decision to carry events live and which platforms are most suitable for specific events.

Two tickets to the Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International in Essex on July 31 will be awarded to a member of the audience. (Must be present to win).

For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Media Watch

Jacques Rogge says he is striving to be a perfect IOC President.

Reuters looks at anti-doping preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

Brazil used to export its top footballers to Europe en masse. The Financial Times reports that now, due to a stronger Brazilian Real, players are returning home.

The New York Times reports on the world of "luxury and favors" heaped upon FIFA’s Executive Committee.

Written by Ed Hula III.