Olympic Briefs -- NOCs Monitor Swine Flu; Teams Advance at Hockey Worlds

Jamaican Olympic Association President Michael Fennel says his NOC was still monitoring the swine flu outbreak. (Getty Images) NOCs throughout the Americas tell Around the Rings they are monitoring the H1N1 swine flu virus. None have given any specific instructions to their athletes to stay home.

The most pressing concern is in Jamaica. Speaking to ATR, Jamaican Olympic Association President Michael Fennell said they were still looking at the situation, especially considering the country is hosting an international athletics meet this week.

He said they would be monitoring closely where each athlete came from to help control potential outbreaks.

“Fortunately we have not been affected as country… therefore we are very cautious.” Fennell added that he met with one of Jamaica’s leading public health officials for “general advice” earlier this morning and was waiting for more information.

Fennell said that all Jamaican athletes were safe at the moment, including superstars like Usain Bolt.

“Thank god there have been no threats but this is just like security; where in the world can you go?”

Fennell added that plans for the JOA to attend an Olympic meeting in Mexico City were scrapped. The association was reviewing all upcoming meets and meetings to determine if the locations were safe for travel.

Spokespeople for the USOC and Canadian Olympic Committee were similarly cautious.

Isabelle Hodge, COC spokeswoman, said they were “aware of the problem” but only monitoring the flu’s developments. “No decisions” have been made and no restrictions have been placed on travel. She added this is in line with the official stance of the Canadian government which is yet to place restrictions on its citizens’ travel.

A USOC spokesman said they were taking similar steps.

Flu Forces Mitcham to Leave Mexico

Australian officials have ordered Olympic diving gold medalist Matthew Mitcham to leave Mexico due to the Olympic gold medal diver Matthew Mitcham has been ordered by Australian officials to return home from Mexico over concerns about the swine flu outbreak in that country. (Getty Images) country’s swine flu outbreak.

Mitcham has been in Mexico for the last two weeks, competing in a FINA Diving World Series event in Mexico City last weekend and then moving on to a training camp in Veracruz.

The Australian diver won the gold medal in the 10-meter platform at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Around 6,000 people in Mexico are reported to be showing symptoms of swine flu, with more than 150 deaths attributed to the virus.

Teams Advance at Hockey Worlds

Defending champion Russia and runner-up Canada have advanced to the qualifying round as preliminary round action wraps up at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Switzerland.

Host Switzerland and the U.S. are also among the 12 teams moving on to the next round, along with Finland, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Latvia, Sweden, Slovakia, France and Norway.

The four top teams in each group in the qualifying Host Switzerland is among the teams advancing to the qualifying round of the IIHF World Hockey Championships. (Getty Images) round, which begins on Thursday and runs through Monday, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Hungary have fallen to the regulation round, with the bottom two teams to be delegated to Division I in 2010.

Briefs…

…Olympic swimmer Yulia Yefimova of Russia set a new world record twice in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke at the Russian national championships in Moscow on Tuesday. Yefimova recorded a time of 30.23 in a semifinal heat, breaking the record set by Australia’s Jade Edmistone in 2006. She broke her own mark with a time of 30.05 in the finals.

…Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller is expecting a baby that will be due in November. Miller, who won seven medals at the 1992 and ’96 Summer Games, is married to Florida businessman John Falconetti.

…The USA Swimming Foundation has received a $5 million donation from philanthropist and Los Angeles swimming fan Carolyn Dirks. The NGB’s headquarters building at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named in her honor. A part of the donation will benefit the national swimming team coaches' incentive and reward program that pays coaches for top-three international finishes by their swimmers.

…The Florida House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Olympic gold medal swimmer and University of Florida graduate Ryan Lochte for his performances at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Lochte won a gold medal in the men’s 200-meter backstroke and another one in the 4x200 freestyle in Beijing last year.

…The United States Olympic Committee has renewed its agreement with Getty Images to serve as the organization’s Official Photographic Partner through the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Written by Ed Hula III and Greg Oshust.