London Update -- Government Speaks Out on 2012 Soccer; Stadium's Diamond Chance

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter says Scotland could lose separate soccer status if they do not collaborate with British Olympic team. Soccer chiefs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have come under a twin attack this week from the U.K. government and football’s world governing body over their opposition to fielding united Great Britain teams at the 2012 London Olympics.

Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA and an IOC member, threatened the Scots, Welsh and Irish Football Associations with the loss of their separate status at future World Cups if they do not cooperate with the Olympic teams.

At Olympic Questions in the House of Commons Monday, culture minister Andy Burnham threatened legal action against any sports body that tries to prevent players from competing at the London Games.

When asked whether fielding Great Britain teams at the Olympics would threaten the separate status of the home nations, Burnham said: “I profoundly disagree - indeed FIFA's executive late last year passed a resolution specifically saying the independence of the four home nations’ FAs would not be affected.

“FIFA have resolutely confirmed their position. No sanctions should be applied against any young person who gets a call-up to represent their country on their home soil Olympics. To deny young people that opportunity would be an absolute crying shame.”

Blatter was at meetings in Belfast at the weekend for the rule-making International Football Association Board, where he warned Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that, rather than preserving their separate status by not unifying for the Olympics, they would lose their independence if they did not cooperate for the 2012 Games.

“They have made a lot of noise but the more noise they make, the more people in FIFA become alarmed and say, ‘They are not even able to put a team together, so why the hell should they have the privilege of having individual associations?’,” Blatter said.

Britain has not entered a united football team for the Olympics since 1972. Both men’s and women’s teams qualified to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic soccer tournament but failed to take up their places because of the disagreement over status.

The first competitive action of the 2012 Olympics is due to be staged at Hampden Park in Glasgow, home of the Scottish FA.

Scotland this week abandoned plans to lodge a joint bid with Wales to stage the UEFA 2016 European soccer championships. Having supported moves to expand the tournament from 16 to 24 national teams, Scotland has decided it lacks the facilities to host the expanded tournament.

Diamond League Looks to Launch Olympic Stadium

Monday’s announcement by world track body IAAF of a global Diamond League series from 2010 could provide the first major athletics event at London’s Olympic Stadium in 2012.

The annual London Grand Prix meet will be at Crystal Palace’s 50-year-old stadium next summer. But once the $1 billion 2012 Olympic Stadium is complete, the prestigious event is certain to move there, providing a trial event for the Games and a firm foundation for the venue’s legacy future.

Post-Olympic 25,000 capacity crowds would be expected to turn out to see centrally contracted world stars including Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva.

Royal Mint Unveils Olympic Coins

The Royal Mint has unveiled its largest commemorative coin program in honor of the London Olympics. During the next four years, the Mint will release a range of coins, helping to foster excitement and anticipation for the event. The first of the “Countdown Series” coins will be released next month in gold, silver, silver piedfort and brilliant uncirculated finish.

The Royal Mint will also issue the first in an 18-coin silver series entitled “A Celebration of Britain” in June. The coins will feature Stonehenge, Big Ben and the Angel of the North.

LOCOG to Export Expertise

London 2012 will export its organizational expertise to other major sports events throughout the next decade, according to LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton.

“It's like in any business, if you've done the last big thing you're then the expert,” Deighton said in an interview with The Times.

“We've got Glasgow 2014 and hopefully the 2018 World Cup to keep people going locally, let alone opportunities around the world in places like the Middle East that are building facilities and will need expertise. I expect this will be the first place they look.”

Deighton re-stated his aim of not doing the London Games “on the cheap," despite the economic downturn. “I'm much more focused on delivering a brilliant Games than on saving Australia's swimming team will train at the Manchester Aquatics Center prior to three major competitions. (Getty Images)money to create a surplus,” he said. “I want to make sure we invest properly in the Games.

“For this to be on track financially in an unprecedented economic decline is quite something. The corollary is that during this period we can create jobs, skills and economic investment.”

Briefs…

… Richard Scruton was appointed table tennis manager for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Scruton, the referee at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and at the 2007 Commonwealth championships, will be the principal contact between the International Table Tennis Federation and LOCOG.

… Australia’s swimming team will train at the Manchester Aquatics Center in the run-up to the Olympics. Swimming Australia has signed a long-term deal with Manchester City Council to use the facility for training ahead of at least three major competitions up until 2014. The partnership will start this year when the team makes their final preparations in the northern English city ahead of the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Australia has competed in the Manchester pool at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and last year’s world short-course championships.

Written by Steven Downes

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