Olympic Newsdesk - Euro 2020 Bidding; Beijing 2008 Health Impact; 2012 Qualifiers

Celtic Nations, Georgia Eye Euro 2020

Scotland, Wales and Ireland declare interest in bidding for the Euro 2020 football championships, and so too does Georgia.

The suddenly crowded field will come as relief to UEFA chief Michel Platini, who was faced with gifting the tournament to Turkey after the country announced its candidacy in mid-April and remained the only bidder until just before the midnight Tuesday deadline for expressions of interest.

"We can confirm that we have had initial discussions on the principle of a joint bid with both Wales and the Republic of Ireland and have declared our interest to UEFA in order that we can fully explore the opportunity in more detail," the Scottish FA said in a statement.

"At this stage no bids are expected by UEFA in relation to Euro 2020. These will not be required for at least 18 months."

Whether the solo bid from Georgia, who scrapped plans to co-host with Azerbaijan because of Baku’s interest in the 2020 Olympics, or the joint bid from the Celtic nations materializes remains to be seen.

Platini’s past comments in support of Turkey, which lost out by one vote to France for Euro 2016, deterred other UEFA members from considering Euro 2020.

However, Turkey's football ambitions are complicated by a campaign from Istanbul for the 2020 Olympics. IOC president Jacques Rogge and Platini are both in agreement that the country cannot stage the two mega-events in the same summer.

The IOC's decision on 2020, in which Istanbul faces competition from Baku, Doha, Madrid and Tokyo, comes in September 2013 – several months before UEFA decides the Euro 2020 hosts.

For commentary on the race for Euro 2020, follow World Football INSIDER.

Indian NOC Appeals to PM

The Indian Olympic Association has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for his intervention in the rescheduling – and possible move – of the South Asian Games.

Last week, the Indian sports ministry announced the SAG in Delhi would be moved to 2014, its second schedule change.The South Asian Olympic Council also said it would move the Games to Kathmandu, Nepal if they were moved to 2014.

"So we don't have this leeway to shift or defer the Games and then hold it when Sports Ministry gives its clearance," acting IOA president V.K. Malhotra was quoted as writing. "Once these are moved out of the country it will be difficult for India to conduct them in near future, given the rotational basis on which Games are allotted.

"It will be a big embarrassment for India and its sporting fraternity if the Games are moved to another country. India is a leading member of [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] and it has certain obligation towards this regional organization. Not holding the Games early next year will weaken our position in SAARC."

Neither the IOA nor Prime Minister Singh’s office responded to request for comment.

Beijing Olympics Health Impact

A new study finds the Beijing Olympics may have helped the city’s residents avoid heart attacks.

The report, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, studied blood samples from 125 medical student volunteers. Samples were drawn before, during and after the Olympics and the researchers claim they have "biological proof" that lower pollution levels lead to a decrease in factors that could cause heart attacks.

"This study shows that among healthy young people with no confounding factors such as being sick, [there are] changes that pollution can make day to day," wrote Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, lead researcher for the project.

"Among healthy people, these markers should be pretty stable; blood pressure should not increase daily. But we see these changes, and we know that during the Olympics, air pollution was reduced. So this really affects young people. If we detect these changes in the young, imagine how harmful pollution is to the ones who have compromised hearts, or the elderly who might be more sensitive to pollutants."

Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the government took drastic measures to reduce pollution for the Olympics.

Sailors Book Olympic Berths

Olympic sailing berths are up for grabs at the ongoing 470 world championships off the coast of Barcelona.

Chile, Canada, Ireland, Korea, Russia, Turkey and South Africa are already through to the men’s regatta at London 2012 after securing nation qualification this week.

On the women’s side, Austria, China, Croatia, Denmark, Poland and Russia will battle for only five spots at the Games as gold fleet races get underway Wednesday.

The world champs run through Saturday.

Team Table Tennis Qualification

Fields for the team table tennis events at London 2012 are all but set.

Following the conclusion of the Final World Olympic Qualification Tournament over the weekend in Doha, the 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams poised for participation at the Games must only be confirmed by their National Olympic Committees before May 28.

Egypt, China, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Korea, Japan, Austria, Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, Portugal, DPR Korea, Russia and Great Britain are expected to send men’s squads.

On the women’s side, Egypt, China, Germany, Brazil, USA, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, DPR Korea, Austria, Spain, Netherlands, Poland and Great Britain will round out the competition.

Media Watch

Vogue magazine in the United States devotes its June issue to the London Olympics. Serena Williams, Ryan Lochte and Hope Solo are featured on the cover.

The BBC’s David Gold reports on the legacy of Beijing’s Olympic venues.

"[F]or the vast majority of Chinese people, staging the Olympics was a moment of immense national pride," he writes.

"That is perhaps why there is little concern about the way the organizers planned for their legacy use once the Olympic flame had been passed to London."

Written by Mark Bisson and Ed Hula III.

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