Olympic Briefs - India Viable Option for Asian Games Host; D'Arcy Returns

OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said India has a strong shot at winning the bid for the 2018 Asian Games. (Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images)The President of the Olympic Council of Asia said India’s bid for the 2018 Asian Games has a strong shot at winning.

According to the AFP, Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah made the comments in New Delhi, saying the success of hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010 was key to winning the bid.

"India are the founders of the Asian Games movement and have vast experience in holding the Games twice in 1951 and 1982," he said.

"Eighty percent of the infrastructure created for the Commonwealth Games can be used for the Asiad. It has good facilities like communication and transportation.

"And over the decades, professionalism has grown and marketing has become better. India has a very good chance to host the Games again in 2018."

Hosting the Asian Games would be another step in India’s journey to host the Olympics.

"Our aim is to host the Olympics in 2020 and getting the Asiad two years earlier will be very helpful," said Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Randihir Singh, who is also a member of the IOC.

Sheikh Ahmad said India would be a safe host for the Games, despite the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, Pakistan.

A host will be selected at next year’s Games in Guangzhou, China.

D’Arcy to Return in August

Nick D’Arcy is set to return to competitive swimming in August. (Getty Images)Nick D’Arcy, an Australian swimmer who was expelled from the team before the Beijing Olympics, will return to the national team in August. He lost his contract with Swimming Australia after a bar fight.

“I’m pleased I can now focus on my swimming training without further uncertainty,” D’Arcy said.

“I am looking forward to making my return to competitive swimming at the Australian short course championships in August.”

D’Arcy received a 14-month suspended jail sentence for assaulting his former teammate Simon Cowley.

…Briefs

…Lorraine DelliCarpini, one of the leading members of the Edelman Public Relations team at the Beijing Olympics, is now working for MLB Network and MLB Productions. The two firms are the TV arms of Major League Baseball.

Alain Bernard is the first swimmer to beat the 47-second mark in the 100 freestyle. (Getty Images)…Alain Bernard set a new world record in the 100 freestyle at the French championships on Thursday. He finished his semifinal with a time of 46.94, the first swimmer to beat the 47-second mark. Australian swimmer Eamon Sullivan previously held the record, set at the Beijing Games.

Media Watch

Mike Krzyzewski, coach of the U.S. Basketball team that won gold in Beijing wrote a book about his Olympic experience called "The Gold Standard, Building a World-Class Team."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/04/22/coachk.book.ap/?eref=sircrc

In a column for USA Today, Christine Brennan says women’s sports aren’t getting fair treatment under Jacques Rogge’s tenure as IOC president.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/brennan/2009-04-22-olympics_N.htm#uslPageReturn

The Colorado Springs Gazette provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the USOC’s operations.

http://www.gazette.com/sports/bullock_52294___article.html/athletes_miner.html

The AP has a video about preparations for London’s Olympic venues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZzWAJvt6Hw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnews%3Fq%

3DLondon%2520Olympics%26oe%3Dutf-8%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26client%3Dfirefox-a&feature=player_embedded

A Bloomberg columnist says he is opposed to the Olympics, claiming Tokyo doesn’t “need” the Games.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aG8KLzlNW_Hs&refer=home

Rod Gilmour outlines his support for Rugby Sevens’ inclusion in the Olympics.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/rod_gilmour/blog/2009/04/22/rugby_sevens_and_squash_for_2016_olympics_in_my_book

The women’s ski jumping row has caused VANOC’s image to take a hit.

http://www.canada.com/sports/2010wintergames/VANOC+takes/1522128/story.html

Written by Ed Hula III and Isia Reaves.