Olympic Briefs -- Phelps Reconsidering 2012; Pound Named to Organization's Board

Public Scrutiny may Spell Phelps' Retirement

Michael Phelps, in his first interview since a photo of him hitting a bong surfaced in a British tabloid, told a Baltimore Sun reporter that the intense scrutiny from the event has him rethinking competing in the London Olympics.

Phelps, who acknowledges that he "clearly made a mistake," but added that being followed by the paparazzi has been difficult.

Coach Bob Bowman thinks Phelps will still be a competitor for 2012. However, he does see how living up to the public's expectations has taken its toll on Phelps.

A decision on his future won't come overnight for the swimming superstar. For now, he is back to training at the Meadowbrook Athletic Club in Baltimore. He will return to twice daily practices next week.

"It makes me happy," Phelps said. "It's a part of me I've always had, and I've always been happy doing it. I like getting up in the morning and having something to do."

Phelps has repeatedly stated that he realizes he made a mistake, a particularly foolish one considering he was charged with a DUI after the last Olympics. And while facing public opinion has been hard, the 23 year old says that the hardest person to face was his mother.

"Seeing my mom reminded me of how it was the day after I got my DUI, and I swore to myself I'd never do that again," he said. "This is just a stupid thing of mine that I did, and I have to live with it.

"It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mom wanted."

Phelps has denied any previous drug use.

Pound toLead Play the Game Board

Richard Pound, IOC member and former president of WADA, has been chosen to head Play the Game's new advisory boad. Pound, along with the as yet unnamed board members, will help the organization with future development.

In his acceptance speech, Pound stated that it was importantfor Play the Game to remain as an arena for dialogue on the future of sport.

“Sport is confronted with a number of serious challenges, ranging from corruption and doping to the changes in people’s lifestyle around the world,” said Pound. “More than ever we need to face these challenges with full transparency and readiness to involve the public in finding solutions, and Play the Game plays an important part in this process.”

Play the Game chair Jens Brinch commended Pound on his efforts to create transparency in the world of sport.

“At high political risk, he has devoted all his efforts to eradicating corruption and doping in sport. This has earned him many enemies in world sport, but also a lot of friends and admirers. Moreover, as the first WADA president, he has from the beginning set new standards for openness and transparency in a global institution’s communication with the world public,” said Brinch.

“We are honored to count on the cooperation of Richard Pound, who like no other international sports leader in the last decade has embodied the values of Play the Game: democracy, transparency and freedom of expression.”

Red Tape Delays Rwandan Elections

Months after the original election date for the Rwandan NOC, member sports federations are working to delay the elections, claiming they still need the necessary paperwork to become legitimate members of the RNOC.

According to a report in the Rwandan New Times newspaper, the only member federations in good standing and able to vote in the elections are chess and karate.

The sports minister for Rwanda mandated that all federations be certified by Jan. 1, in preparation for the elections which were originally scheduled for March. However, that seems to be disappearing as an option, due to the paucity of member federations able to vote.

Incumbent RNOC boss Ignace Beraho is not running for re-election.

The report in the New Times indicates that elections may be held sometime in the middle of the year.

Rudd Roles with 17-Deep Entourage

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Olympic entourage was 17 deep.

Rudd’s Olympic junket, which had stops in Korea and Singapore, included his wife, 12 staffers and five public servants.

The details, which were released after the Opposition’s questioning in Australian Parliament, showed that the PM’s group was larger than the contingent of 117 countries competing in Beijing.

An opposition spokesman says the trip was a waste of taxpayers' money.

"People might have differing ideas about whether Mr. Rudd should go to see the Olympics. But everyone should question why he felt the need to take half his office with him."

Liu Xiang Recovering Well Coach Claims

Liu Xiang, the Chinese athletics icon who never had a chance to race at the Beijing Olympics due to an injury, is recovering well, according to his coach.

According to the Chinese Xinhua News Agency, Sun Haiping said Liu could be back in Shanghai as early as next month, and is healing much faster than expected. Liu began jogging on a treadmill last week and may be able to return to the track next month.

Sun vacillated when asked whether or not Liu, the 2004 gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles and former world record holder, would be healthy enough to race at the world championships in August.

Written by Ed Hula III.