Olympic Newsdesk -- Chicago Mayor Anger; Hopes for Caribbean Games

Mayor Angry Over Chicago Defeat

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley apparently still holds a grudge about the city’s loss of the 2016 Olympics.

Chicago news reports say Daley went on a tear this week at a private reception for Olympic bid volunteers, slamming the high-stakes campaign required to mount a successful bid for the Games.

A report in the Chicago Tribune quoted from someone attending the party who paraphrased what Daley said.

"He started by saying we spent $75 million, and the next city was going to have to spend $100 million, and we didn't even have a chance,” is how the paper quotes the party-goer.

"It was all politics and all money. All politics and all money. [The IOC] didn't care about the athletes, and they didn't care about the quality of the bid," said Daley, according to the source.

Caribbean Games Still a Dream

The president of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees tells Around the Rings CANOC still dreams of hosting regional games.

In an email following the CANOC General Assembly in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Steve Stoute writes “the Assembly agreed to make an all-out effort to seek out a site for the Caribbean Games in early 2011.”

The games were to take place in Port-of-Spain from July 12- 19 but concerns about H1N1 virus killed the games. The Trinidadian government reportedly lost $2.7 from the cancellation.

Stoute added that CANOC is at a crossroads, with the Caribbean Games just one part of the organization’s future.

“For our organization to be successful in its various plans, projects and initiatives, it is necessary that NOCs respond to our overtures and contact us where assistance is needed,” Stoute said. He said some of the larger NOCs would assist in developing the sports infrastructure of the smaller CANOC members.

Recognition from the continental NOC organization – the Pan American Sports Organization – would also be useful Stoute claims.

“It disturbs me that the PASO leadership is not prepared to recognize or even acknowledge our organization. It is interesting to note that Olympic Solidarity motivated the formation of CANOC by covering all costs to the first meeting held in Barbados and had pledged to cover the cost of the next meeting scheduled for this city.

In the interim, Olympic Solidarity for the Americas was transferred to PASO and immediately we saw a different perspective, a different philosophy. As you know, if any CANOC expenses are claimed under the PASO admin grant, these are rejected. Again, with our voting strength, we should be in a position to change these rigid rules.”

Briefs...

…Pot growing gold medalist Peter Farkas was sentenced to seven years in prison for growing the drug. The Hungarian wrestler won gold at the 1992 Olympics. Farkas, his brother and a third defendant were originally tried last year after he was arrested for growing marijuana in his mother’s home in Budapest. Farkas fled the country prior to the completion of that trial and is reportedly living in Thailand using falsified documents.

…Elections for president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee were postponed until next year, with no date set for voting. Elections were scheduled to take place on Thursday. According to media reports, a spokesman for the NOC says “the contentious issues were resolved” between the two candidates, incumbent president Habu Gumel and National Sports Commission chief Sani Ndanusa. In recent weeks the election grew heated with the NOC disqualifying Ndanusa from the race, then retracting its decision, and the NSC subsequently suspending Gumel as head of the national volleyball federation.

…NBC Universal will monitor “word of mouth” conversations about the 2010 Olympics. The Keller Fay group announced on Thursday NBC Universal hired the company to “monitor and analyze viewers' brand-related conversations that will take place during the 2010 Winter Olympics.” Keller Fay will monitor

8,000 consumers to assess the impact of advertising during the Games.

…The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) announced the start of a new training program backed by the IOC, to develop sail training program managers around the world. The Sport Specific Training Course will be funded by the IOC Olympic Solidarity Coaches Programme. The eight-week scholarship will train coaches to help ISAF develop youth sailing and participation worldwide.

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Written by Ed Hula III.