Olympic Newsdesk -- China World Games Protest, IOC in the Black, Iranian Judo Team in Crash

The Chinese team was a no-show for the opening ceremony of the World Games. (Getty Images) World Games Open with Protest

China was a notable no-show as the 8th World Games got underway in Kaohsiung, Taiwan with its opening ceremony on Thursday.

The 99-member Chinese delegation boycotted the opening ceremony to protest Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou opening the Games. China considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province and doesn’t recognize its government.

A Chinese Olympic Committee official told Taiwan's Central News Agency that China will compete in the World Games and said the delegation was scheduled to arrive later on Thursday.

The International World Games Association agreed to let Ma open the Games, though the competition is usually opened by the IWGA president. The organization also allowed Taiwanese spectators to hold the Taiwan flags, which is normally banned at Olympic-related sporting events in favor of a flag approved by the IOC, which official refers to Taiwan as Chinese Taipei.

A total of 3,236 athletes from 92 nations are competing in 31 sports at the 10-day event, which features non-Olympic sports and is held every four years the year after the Summer Olympics.

IOC Nets Substantial Profit from Beijing

According to tax documents filed with the IRS, the IOC netted $383.3 million in profit from the Beijing Olympics, nearly 70 percent more than the 2004 Games in Athens.

Sports Business Daily first reported the IOC filing.

The IOC reports a 70 percent increase in profit from the Beijing Olympics compared to Athens. (ATR) The documents, filed June 30, show the IOC pulled in $2.4 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, compared to $228.6 million in profit and $1.8 billion in revenue for the 2004 fiscal year.

The increase in revenue boosted the IOC’s net assets to $1.15 billion.

In total the IOC had just over $2 billion in expenses for 2008.

$417.1 million was given to national Olympic committees (except for the USOC which received $137.8 million), $1.14 billion to national federations from broadcast rights, and $69 million to organizations like the World Anti Doping Agency and Court of Arbitration for Sport.

IOC staff wages went up 21 percent to $55.9 million for 307 employees but no salary amounts were listed for top executives.

Iran Judo Team Dies in Plane Crash

Eleven members of Iran’s junior judo team were killed when an Iranian airliner crashed in the northwestern province of Qazvin on Wednesday

The delegation, which was en route to a training camp in Armenia to prepare for international competitions in Hungary, included eight athletes, two coaches and an official.

“These young athletes will not have the chance to grow into adulthood and fully understand and appreciate the global bond that we all share as judoka. On behalf of USA Judo, we hope that their family, friends and teammates in their hometowns accept our sincere condolences on their tragic loss.” USA Judo president Lance Nading said in a statement.

All 168 passengers on the Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154 plane were killed in the crash, which is considered to be the worst air disaster in Iran in years.

New Exec Director for Sport Accord

Nolvenn Dufay de Lavallaz is named as new director of SportAccord, the Lausanne-based organization once known as GAISF, the General Association of International Sport Federations.

Dufay de Lavallaz, 34, is French, her background from sport coaching and sports administration. She came to SportAccord earlier this year from the IOC sports department.

“The appointment of Nolvenn is key at this point of the history of our organization. We are restructuring deeply SportAccord in order to better support our Members and offer them new services. Nolvenn’s experience in developing programs, as well as her understanding of the sports environment, makes her contribution a real asset,” says SportAccord President Hein Verbruggen in a statement.

Lance Armstrong’s return has provided a boost to Versus’ Tour de France ratings. (Getty Images) …Briefs

…The Organization of American States passed a resolution on Wednesday, urging the IOC to reinstate softball and baseball into the Olympic Program. The United States, where both sports were founded, introduced the resolution.

…The return of Lance Armstrong has made a big difference in Tour de France ratings this year on Versus. Average viewership has increased by 83 percent to more than 481,000 viewers after the first nine days of the race, compared to 263,000 at the same point a year ago.

Written by Ed Hula III and Greg Oshust.