Olympic Briefs - Fasel Informs IOC of Allegations; Bolt Returns to Racing

IIHF Rene Fasel has contacted the IOC Ethics Commission regarding a recent kickback allegation. (Getty Images) IIHF President Rene Fasel, who Swiss media alleges is involved in a kickback scheme, has contacted the IOC Ethics Commission regarding the reports.

"We are following the case closely," IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge said May 12. "He has made himself available to give any necessary explanations to the commission. However, the IOC is currently awaiting the outcome of the IIHF's internal procedure before taking any steps."

The IIHF announced May 10 that it would investigate. Fasel, IOC executive board member and Vancouver 2010 coordination commission chair, denied receiving any commissions or bonuses from IIHF broadcast and marketing agent Infront Sports and Media. On May 11, Infront denied making payments to Fasel, but it did say Proc AG was a consultant.

Proc AG is a company operated by a Fasel childhood friend.

Fasel did apologize May 10 in a prepared statement for "poor judgment" because he "helped a longtime friend to offer his services to Infront and I have privately supported him in the implementation of his mandate."

IIHF legal committee chairman Frederick Meredith was asked by e-mail who will conduct the investigation, what the terms of reference will be and when the deadline is for a report.

"It is our intention to advise the media as soon as the details have been agreed," Meredith said in his reply. "We have no reason to believe any of the allegations. It is standard practice for a board to investigate allegations of this nature. Doing so serves to address both the allegations and to fulfill our responsibilities as the governing body of the IIHF."

Bolt to Return to Racing

Olympic champion Usain Bolt will return to track in England Sunday after a car accident left him with minor injuries.

“I am feeling good because I was back to training on Thursday and over the past couple of days the injuries have healed,” Bolt said.Olympic champion Usain Bolt will return to track Sunday after suffering minor injuries in a car accident last month. (Getty Images)

The triple gold medalist stepped on thorns after the accident in April and had to have minor surgery on his left foot to remove them.

“I still will be going to Manchester, England and I am looking forward to it because I will be going there to compete,” Bolt said.

Bolt will compete in the 150-meter street race in England.

One Billion Watched Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was the most watched live television event in history, according to a report.

The Times of London is reporting that a new report on television says one billion people tuned into the ceremony on Aug. 8.

Conducted by global sports research consultancy Futures Sport + Entertainment, the report says 984 million watched part of the event, adding it is easy to believe an additional 16 million watched the spectacle.

“Our report takes data from 85 percent of the world’s TV households and includes only viewers who watched at home, not in public places,” says Kevin Alavy, head of analytics. “You can extrapolate from the 984 million that the Olympics opening ceremony was the first one billion people occasion ever. It appealed to the huge domestic Chinese audience but resonated globally too.”

According to the report, nearly 600 million watched all four hours of the ceremony.

The report was done to determine the most watched sporting events of 2008. The second most watched sporting event was the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, which had a total of 778 million viewers. The Olympic volleyball match between Cuba and China was third.

Ugandan NOC Planning for 2012

The Uganda Olympic Committee is hosting a retreat for stakeholders this weekend to plan for the 2012 Olympics.

According to local media, UOC chief Roger Ddungu said the idea was proposed by the UOC’s executive director. Sporting executives from around the country will convene to discuss their strategies for the Games.

"We want to first get the different problems affecting the federations and see how we can address them. In the same retreat, we will also advise the members on how to improve their administration and marketing capabilities," said Ddungu yesterday.

Uganda last won a medal, a bronze, at the 1996 Olympics.

"We decided to take it out of Kampala as a way of getting the concentration of all the delegates. We want to be able to criticize ourselves and also discuss how best we can move forward to win medals in upcoming international games."

Briefs...

… The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark re-elected Niels Nygaard as its president last week. Nygaard was unopposed and will serve until 2011. Preben Staun joinsEquestrian show jumping will be part of the 2010 Youth Games in Singapore. (Getty Images)Nygaard as vice president of the NOC. Karl Christian Koch was reappointed as secretary general.

…Valerie Jarrett, a senior White House advisor, says she was given a waiver to work on the government’s work to secure the 2016 Olympics in Chicago. President Obama’s rules for White House staff forbid employees to work on matters "substantially related" to previous work.

…The 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore will include equestrian show jumping. Riders born on or between Jan. 1, 1992 and Dec. 31, 1993 will be eligible to compete, and must have earned a Certificate of Capability.

Media Watch

Rod Gilmour of The Daily Telegraph explains his fear of what will happen if golf gets in the Olympics.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/rod_gilmour/blog/2009/05/12/tiger_woods_olympic_truths_show_golf_way_off_2016_pace

Politico profiles the White House’s push to get the 2016 Olympics in Chicago.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22394.html

Canada hopes to sweep the medals in at least one Olympic event in 2010; doing so may be difficult.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/breakingnews/Can-Canada-sweep-a-podium-at-2010-Olympics_-44734187.html

While hosting the Olympics can be a major issue during a host nation’s elections, the Canadian Press reports that this year, the economy has superseded the Olympics as the hot-button issue.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gLdv8MyMhUtDcSj50EHXpE0r2XPA

Written by Ed Hula III, and and Bob Mackin in Vancouver.