Olympic Newsdesk -- GE Vancouver Plaza Open; Nuzman Award; Olympic Yoga

GE Plaza Open for Skaters in Vancouver

The GE Plaza ice rink is now open for skaters in downtown Vancouver.

Joining Olympic mascots Quachi, Sumi and Miga at the opening were gold medal speedskater Catriona Le May-Doan and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell.

“This revitalized plaza will be a fun and free place for people of all ages to gather and share in the Olympic spirit and celebrate during the 2010 Games,” said Campbell.

“The GE Plaza will also play an important role as we showcase British Columbia to the world through events at Robson Square during the Games.”

Robson Square was shut down as part of a multi-million dollar renovation of the downtown square for the Olympics. TOP Sponsor GE paid for nearly one third of the costs.

Free events are planned throughout the Olympics and Paralympics at Robson Square.

The rink is open for skaters 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily, free of charge.

Click here to see a Vancouver Sun photo gallery of the opening.

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/news/2256571/story.html?tab=PHOT

Nuzman Gets Award

Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman received the U.S. Sports Academy’s Eagle Award on Tuesday.

According to the Academy, Nuzman was given the award for his work as BOC chief, which included securing the first Olympics in South America, hosting the 2007 Pan American Games, and dedication “to the development of sports in Brazil.”

“I am honored to receive this award granted by the United States Sports Academy, one of the most prestigious academic sports institutions all over the world,” said Nuzman. “This award recognizes the many years of work in favor of the Olympic Movement. The right to organize the first Olympic Games in South America was secured thanks to a lot of dedication and effort.”

Pele is the only other Brazilian to win the award.

Other Olympic leaders to win the award include Juan Antonio Samaranch, Mario Vazquez-Rana, president of the Pan American Sports Organization; Prince Albert, of Monaco, a member of the IOC and an Olympian.

The Eagle Award is granted annually to international sports leaders who have admittedly contributed to promote international harmony, cooperation and peace through sports.

High Jump Record Restored for Nazi-Banned Athlete

A German woman who was kicked off the 1936 German Olympic team because she was Jewish had her national high jump record restored.

The German athletics federation restored the 5 foot 3 inch record set by Margaret Lambert, nee Gretel Bergmann, in 1936.

The Associated Press quoted the federation as saying the restoration is an "act of justice and a symbolic gesture."

"I'm very happy they finally did what they did — I was a damned good high jumper," said Lambert, who now lives in New York City after fleeing Nazi Germany.

Yoga in the Olympics?

A leader of the yoga movement says she wants competitive yoga to have a position in the Olympics.

Rajashree Choudhury, husband of Bikram Choudhury, who founded the popular “Bikram” style of yoga is attempting to build competitive yoga said her ultimate goal is to have young sport in the Olympics.

“It’s far away,” she told The New York Times. “A lot of work needs to be done before we really get into it, but this is our dream.”

Yoga has a long way to go before it could be considered to join the Olympic program. There is currently no yoga federation recognized by the IOC. Only Recognized Federations can become Olympic sports.

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Written by Ed Hula III.