Olympic Briefs - Commonwealth Games Chief: Games on Track, Not Moving

Fennell: Commonwealth Games Preps Going Well

Michael Fennell, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation tells Around the Rings the 2010 Commonwealth Games will stay in New Delhi and that all preparations are well under way.

“We are very satisfied at the attention being paid and that they are taking it very seriously,” Fennell said.

Reports came out earlier that the president of the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation, Perry Crosswhite, had suggested the Games would be cancelled due to security concerns.

Fennell, however, rejected that possibility.

“No, no that’s not on the agenda at the moment at all,” Fennell told ATR.

While security concerns existed, they were nothing extraordinary.

“Like any big event that’s taking place, security is a very major concern. Anybody who is organizing any major event anywhere in the world has to pay a lot of attention to security and so are we. And this has been highlighted by the situation which happened in Lahore [Pakistan] a couple weeks ago.”

An independent security advisor is monitoring security preparations for the Commonwealth Games Federation and Fennell said he is “very satisfied” with the progress being made.

In recent weeks, media reports had suggested Games’ construction was behind schedule, but Fennell said there is no need for alarm.

“I was there just a week ago and all the venues are well on track, and certainly the construction work is on pace. They are working extremely hard, there is an outstanding work ethic there and certainly what they are producing is going to be some fine facilities.”

FINA Affirms Swimsuit Regulations

FINA decided this weekend that swimwear must now adhere to "the Dubai Charter" approved by governing body at its meetings in the United Arab Emirates.

The charter, which features amendments to the FINA swimwear approval procedures, follows recommendations made in February after FINA representatives met with manufacturers. The crackdown arose from concern over the number of world records (108) set since the introduction of the revolutionary Speedo LZR Racer in February 2008 and similar suits from competing manufacturers.

The new requirements will be implemented in two phases.

Amendments valid until Dec. 31 include: a design in which swimsuits shall not cover the neck nor extend past the shoulders or ankles; material that follows the body shape and does not create air trapping effects; a maximum thickness of 1 mm; a buoyancy effect of no more than 1 Newton (100 gr); no external stimulation or influence of any form; no customization, except for size, and only one swimsuit to be worn at one time.

Swimsuits must be submitted for approval by March 31 even if they have been previously approved. FINA also has established an independent control/testing program.

The FINA Bureau also approved requirements that will become valid on Jan. 1, 2010, although applicable from Oct. 1, 2009. These include a permeability clause dictating the amount of permeable materials to non-permeable materials in a suit.

The first submission deadline under these rules is Nov. 1, followed by a submission on Aug. 1 every year. Submission for approval must be made 12 months in advance of the FINA World Championships or Olympic Games. Also, the approved model must be available on the market at least six months prior to the next FINA World Championships or Olympic Games.

FINA said in a statement that they will continue to evaluate new swimwear technology. "In doing so, FINA wishes to recall that the main and core principle is that swimming is a sport essentially based on the physical performance of the athlete."

To read the charter, click here.

http://www.fina.org/project/images/help/the%20dubai%20charter.pdf

Belarusian Gold Medal Weightlifter Cited for Drunk Driving

Beijing gold medal winner Andrey Aramnaw was given a two-year suspended disqualification and was stripped of a presidential allowance by the Belarusian Weightlifting Union after being charged with drunk driving.

The 20-year-old Aramnaw was stopped by police for drunk driving twice; the first time in December, 2008 and the second in late February.

“The offense of Aramnaw is incompatible with his titles of Olympic champion and presidential allowance recipient,” Belarusian sports and tourism minister Alyaksandr Hryharaw said. “An athlete must hold dear the title of Olympic champion.”

Aramnaw’s coach Mikhail Saladar also lost his allowance, while penalties were also imposed on the Belarusian national coach, the sports ministry’s chief officer for weightlifting and the head of the directorate of national teams.

Briefs…

… FINA has postponed the introduction of proposed new starting blocks due to availability reasons, so they will not be used at the 13th FINA World Championships in Rome. The starting blocks that will be used will be the same type used in Beijing. The high-tech block has an angled foothold at the back, similar to that used in athletics, and its manufacturers believe it will reduce race times by 0.1 seconds. The blocks can be adjusted before each race, so swimmers need time to get accustomed to them. However, the Rome World Championships will see the debut of an underwater video judging system that will be used to confirm and/or overrule stroke infraction calls made on the deck.

…FINA also established the dates of the 6th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Roberval, Canada July 15-23, 2010, and approved in principle the organization of a FINA World Water Polo Championships B, starting from 2012. Fédération Djiboutienne de Natation, Fédération Tchadienne de Natation and the Fédération Centrafricaine de Natation have joined FINA, bringing the total number of national federations to 201.

…South Korea won the men’s championship and China the women’s title this weekend at the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, the final event of the 2008-09 short track season. China and South Korea were among the eight countries that competed in the event, along with the U.S., Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands. A total of 80 athletes took part, with each country represented by five men and five women.

…Bode Miller will discuss his future prospects in the sport in an hour-long interview on HBO’s "Real Sports" with correspondent Jon Frankel on Tuesday. In the interview, Miller will discuss how he chose to ski without support from the U.S. Ski Team and his quest to remain among the top skiers in the world.

…Iran will send a female skier to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the first time the Islamic Republic will have a female representative in that event in the Games. Fatemeh Kiadarbandsari, Mitra Kalhor and Marjan Kalhor will compete for the one female spot on Iran’s 2010 Olympic ski team in competitions in December, according to Iranian Ski Federation President Isa Saveh-Shemshaki. The Iranian ski team in Vancouver will include three men along with the one woman.

Written by Ed Hula III, Karen Rosen, and Greg Oshust.