Olympic Briefs -- No Seals for Canada's Clothing; Czechs Don't Want Games

The Canadian House of Commons unanimously agreed May 6 that “the government should take advantage of the opportunity provided by the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games to promote seal products, particularly by studying the possibility of using these products in the making of the Canadian Olympic clothing.”

The non-binding motion was proposed by the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

“We will not be wearing seal on our uniforms,” said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge. “We are not a social organization, we are a sport organization.”

The European Parliament voted 550-49 on May 5 to ban the sale of seal products in Europe. The 350-year-old Canadian sealing industry is the world’s largest. The federal government approved Atlantic coast hunters to take 338,000 seals last winter. Vancouver is on Canada's Pacific coast, more than 3,500 miles away.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals launched a global campaign against the seal hunt in January. VANOC CEO John Furlong said in February that he had received thousands of e-mails from PETA supporters.

The support for the sealing industry coincided with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s annual summit with European Union leaders in Prague. Canada’s international trade minister Stockwell Day vowed to appeal the EU decision to the World Trade Organization.

Czechs Opposed to Potential Olympic Bid

An opinion poll of Czechs that was released to local media on Wednesday found almost three fifths of the country in opposition to an Olympic bid.

The poll of 1,043 Czechs found only a third of the country in favor of hosting the Games. Prague has considered bidding for the 2020 Olympics.

Sixty-six percent of those polled said they want a national referendum on hosting the Games, with fears that hosting them could divert focus and attention from needed municipal services.

Greek Parliament Votes Down Olympic Bribery Inquiry

A vote to investigate possible corruption in a transaction with the Athens Olympics failed by three votes in the Greek parliament. Concerns were raised over impropriety with a deal between the Greek government and Siemens, which provided security systems for the 2004 Games.

151 lawmakers voted against the motion for an inquiry that would have investigated politicians’ involvement in a deal that some have considered fraudulent.

Conservative government leaders said no sitting or former politicians were implicated in the deal, and no investigation was needed.

Siemens is being investigated for corruption in many countries worldwide.

South Africa Bidding for Rugby World Cup

South Africa delivered South Africa, host in 1995, also won the Rugby World Cup that year. Nelson Mandela famously handed the team the William Webb Ellis Trophy. (Getty Images)its bid to host either the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup to the International Rugby Board.

The bid plans to use the infrastructure and stadia being built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and would be underwritten by the government. South Africa hosted the 1995 edition of the RWC.

A vote from the IRB on the next host of the RWC will take place July 28. New Zealand is hosting the next RWC in 2011. All unions interested in bidding must submit a bid by Friday.

More Tickets on Sale for 2010

The U.S. ticket agency for the 2010 Winter Games announced that 40,000 more tickets will be available next week.

CoSport will offer tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis to customers who have an account on its Web site before 9 a.m. EDT Thursday, May 14. The tickets will go on sale that day at 2 p.m. EDT.

The additional tickets came from a transfer of tickets from Jet Set and VANOC.

Meanwhile, tickets for the 2010 Winter Paralympics went on sale May 6 with sledge hockey as the hottest event.

VANOC ticketing vice president Caley Denton said the March 20 sledge hockey final at Thunderbird Arena was nearing sell out, but he would not disclose the inventory of tickets available.

“We’re well over a minimum of 30 percent of the venue,” Denton said.

Singapore Coach Speaks About Award

An ex-Singapore table tennis coach has spoken out about the Singapore National Olympic Committee’s decision to Liu Guodong, pictured with Singapore’s table tennis team in Beijing, does not agree with the SNOC’s decision to not give the Coach of the Year award.not give the Coach of the Year award.

Liu Guodong said he hasn’t “done anything to let Singapore down.”

The SNOC stated earlier this week that it did not give the Coach of the Year award because of politics and internal strife.

“Was my character that bad? Who would understand me?” Liu said.

Liu coached the women table tennis team to win silver medals in Beijing and said he did his “job well.”

“I’ve been defamed,” Liu said.

He plans to contact a lawyer on the issue. “If anyone utters nonsense and says I’ve tarnished Singapore’s reputation, then I have the right sue.

Cohen to Return in Vancouver

U.S. athlete Sasha Cohen confirmed she is returning to competitive figure skating ahead of the 2010 Games.

“I’ve been excited,” Cohen said. “Every day it’s closer and real, so it’s very exciting to me.”

Cohen won silver in 2006 and won bronze at the 2006 world championships where she last competed.

She will join a U.S women’s team that hasn’t won a medal at world championships in three years.

Briefs…

…Three-time Olympic gymnastics champion Yang Wei of China will retire after a 13-year career due to an injury. Yang won two gold medals in Beijing, and one in Sydney. He also won two silver medals during his career. "I just can not handle it now although my mind is still there to compete on," said Yang.

…Three-time Olympian Holly McPeak announced she is retiring immediately Wednesday. The Pro beach volleyball player participated in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won bronze in 2004.

…The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and U.S. Paralympics have donated 100 sport wheelchairs to Chicago Paralympic sports programs. The donation is part of the support for Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Games.

Written by Ed Hula III, Bob Mackin, and Isia Reaves.