Olympic Briefs - FINA Decides on Swimsuits; Russia to Increase Olympic Bonuses

FINA has released a list of swimsuits that it has approved for competition in an effort to deal with the controversy surrounding the use of high-tech suits.

Speedo's LZR Racer, worn by swimmers such as Michael Phelps in his Beijing record haul, has made the cut as an approved swimsuit, but the arena X-Glide has not. Alain Bernard of France and Yulia Efimova of Russia set world records wearing the X-Glide.

The Jaked 01, used by another French swimmer, Frederic Bousquet, in setting a world record last month, and the Blue Seventy wetsuits did not make the approved list either.

FINA announced results Tuesday from 348 swimsuits submitted by 21 manufacturers. A commission composed of coaches, athletes, technical representatives and members of the FINA executive approved 202 swimsuits, rejected 10 for not passing the tests of buoyancy or thickness, and sent 136 back to be modified in accordance with the "Dubai Charter" that dictates swimsuit requirements. The manufacturers have a maximum of 30 days (until June 19, 2009) to make corrections and resubmit the same swimsuit for FINA approval.

It is not known if the X-Glide, Jaked 01 or Blue Seventy models are among the rejected suits or suits eligible for modification.

FINA and a group of swimming coaches from 18 countries, including Mark Schubert of the United States and Alan Thompson of Australia, met Tuesday at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland where Prof Jan-Anders Manson, director of the Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Technology, presented the procedures of the testing process defined on the FINA swimwear approval regulations.

For the full list of approved suits, click here.

Russia to Double Cash Bonuses for 2010 Games

Russia will increase the amount of money it pays in cash bonuses in order to boost its medal count at the 2008 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The country will more than double its bonuses to its Olympic athletes to help achieve its goal of winning 40 medals, including nine golds, at the Vancouver Games next year.

Russian Deputy Sports Minister Gennady Alyoshin told members of the country’s parliament on Tuesday that gold medalists will receive a $136,300 bonus. Silver medal winners will get $81,800 and bronze medalists $54,538.

“This is by far the biggest bonus we have ever paid to our athletes for winning Olympic medals. I don’t think you would find similar financial rewards anywhere else in the world,” Russian Olympic Committee Vice President Vladimir Vasin is quoted as saying.

Mayor Wants to Use Olympics to Make London Greener

London’s Mayor Boris Johnson said he wants to use the Olympics to make London greener and make the city “the cleanest, greenest city” by 2012.

In a press conference Sunday, Johnson said the city is committed to reduce carbon emissions 60 percent by 2025.

The mayor said to become a greener city, the city would have to tackle domestic and commercial buildings which account for 70 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in London.

Other cities are putting effort into becoming greener, including Vancouver which will host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

IAAF Launches “The World Keeps Running” Initiative

The IAAF has introduced “The World Keeps Running," an online initiative that is part of an overall plan by the athletics federation to increase participation in the sport.

The new program is part of the IAAF’s Athletics’ World Plan, which is designed to boost the popularity of athletics in schools.

IAAF President Lamine Diack was among the dignitaries who attended the launch of the initiative in Manchester, England on Sunday, along with federation Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka and men’s marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie.

“The IAAF Athletics’ World Plan was created in 2003 and aims to drive forward reform in all areas of our sport as we approach the IAAF Centenary in 2012,” said Diack in a statement. “This plan has been a discussion forum and motivator and will help us achieve our goal of making the sport more universal. I am proud of this latest initiative, which I am sure will help us get closer to our goal of seeing athletics return as the number one sport in school.”

Briefs…

…A promotional video for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic bid that is suspected of violating the IOC’s rules of conduct for applicant cities has been removed from YouTube. The video was labeled www.pyongchang2018.org and appeared to be official, but it had not been determined to be the work of the bid and had not received the approval of the Korean Olympic Committee.

…Australian equestrian Heath Ryan suffered a stroke while competing at an event outside of Sydney last weekend. The 50-year-old Ryan is recuperating in a hospital and is listed in stable condition. Ryan was part of the Australian team dressage unit that finished eighth at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was also an assistant coach for the Australian equestrian team in 1996, 2000 and '04.

…U.S. Olympic volleyball player Kim Willoughby has pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge in Honolulu and will be sentenced to five years probation. Willoughby, who played for the U.S. team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, was charged with assault after being involved in an altercation at a Honolulu nightclub in December 2006.

Written by Greg Oshust, Karen Rosen and Isia Reaves .