LOCOG Rejects Pitch Complaints; USOC in Israel; 3-D Rugby World Cup

LOCOG: Hockey Pitch is New Technology, Not Old

Olympic organizers tell Around the Rings the blue and pink pitch set to debut at London 2012 is the right choice for field hockey’s highest level.

"The quality of the pitch in London will ensure high levels of speed and uniformity of ball bounce as well as a reduction of up to 40% on pitch irrigation requirements," LOCOG told ATR on Wednesday.

"The blue hockey pitch enhances the contrast of the ball for athletes and supports a better experience for spectators and TV audiences alike."

LOCOG’s defense of the pitch follows criticisms made Tuesday by synthetic turf consultant Bryn Lee in a Eurosport report.

Lee claimed the Olympic Delivery Authority wrongly awarded the contract to Australian firm Sports Technology International, whose Poligras Olympia product he called "an old-fashioned surface".

STI also built pitches for the Sydney and Beijing Olympics as well as last year’s Commonwealth Games and Men’s World Cup, both in Delhi. Though the color combo of London’s pitch will be new, the technology on display will be the same as that used at the 2008 Summer Games.

"This is not ‘old technology’ at all," LOCOG told ATR.

"Poligras Olympia is a relatively new product which was first used at the Beijing Games."

The organizing committee likewise defended the process by which STI was chosen to deliver the 2012 pitch.

"The Olympic Delivery Authority conducted an extensive and fair tender process which was published in the EU Journal," said LOCOG.

"Suppliers were required to demonstrate experience of installing pitches for world level events."

LOCOG also reiterated Wednesday that STI, its Poligras Olympia technology and the blue and pink color scheme bound for London Olympic Park all have the backing of the International Hockey Federation and that such support should mark the final world on the matter.

USOC Visits Israel

U.S. Olympic Committee president Larry Probst paid an official visit to the Olympic Committee of Israel last weekend.

While there, Probst visited the OCI headquarters, training camps, and took tours of Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, Jaffa and the Sea of Galilee.

Probst came at the invitation of Israel NOC President Zvi Varshaviak.

"Great" is how Alex Gilady, IOC member from Israel , describes the Probst visit.

The two Olympic Committees also signed a cooperation agreement.

USOC international relations staffer Carolina Bayon joined Probst in Israel.

3-D in Store for Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is adding a third dimension for this year’s tournament in New Zealand.

Organizers announced Thursday that the semi-finals, bronze final and final will be broadcast in 3-D, a first for rugby’s premiere event.

"We are proud that Rugby World Cup can serve as a platform for advancing technology and the viewing experience," International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset said in a statement, "and we are delighted to be partnering with a company that has a wealth of experience in 3-D production and technology."

Rugby’spartner of choice is 3DLive, who will produce both a theatrical feed for big-screen venues in New Zealand and Australia as wellas a broadcast feed available to all rights holders.

The host country will witness its first-ever 3-D broadcasts when Sky NZ makes use of that feed during the final rounds of Cup.

Play kicks off Sept. 9 and wraps up Oct. 23.

Metal Miner Backs Aussie Olympians

Rio Tinto wants Australian athletes to be the ones winning its medals at the London Olympics.

A day after being unveiled Wednesday as the Official Mining and Metals Provider of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the multinational medal-maker announced Thursday a partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee.

"Rio Tinto’s sponsorship makes it possible for our Australian athletes to achieve their lifelong goals and hopefully Olympic Games success in 2012," AOC president John Coates said in a statement.

"We hope that through the support shown by Rio Tinto, we can inspire and encourage more young Australians to participate in sport and be our Olympians of tomorrow."

Based in London and Melbourne, the company supplied the metal for the 2002 medalsand will provide the gold, silver and copper to produce 4,700 medals for the 2012 Summer Games.

Banks Eye Rio Olympic Bonds

Interest appears high in the $2 billion worth of Olympic bonds Rio de Janeiro plans to issue ahead of the 2016 Summer Games.

Reuters reported Wednesday as many as 10 banks want the job of managing the massive sell-off.

"The city's financial position is pretty good at the moment, and we feel there's great demand for an eventual bond sale," Rio finance secretary Eduarda La Rocque told the news agency.

The state securities will mature over 10 years and will be sold in four waves of $500 million each.

Rio is coupling the loans with tax revenue to pay for the raft of public works required to stage an Olympics.

Media Watch

The University of California, Berkley may cut its men’s gymnastics program. Should the school do so, it may have adverse effects on the U.S. Olympic team.

Legacy debates about the 2010 Youth Olympic Games continue in Singapore’s Today Online with a letter to the editor asking for people to "candidly admit mistakes" of the Games.

ESPN’s Bonnie Ford calls on FINA, the international aquatics federation, to take a stronger role in the investigation of swimmer Fran Crippen’s death.

On London 2012’s Facebook page, the organizing committee asked its fans which matchup they are most interested in at the 2012 Games. At the time of writing, a swimming showdown between Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe is number one with 307 votes. Usain Bolt vs. Tyson Gay is second with 247 votes, and a Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal matchup in tennis is third, securing 122 votes. Click here to vote.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.