Olympic Newsdesk -- Greek Torchbearer Bans; New WADA Website

Greek Torchbearer Bans

The Hellenic Olympic Committee banned athletes who were punished for doping from holding the Olympic torch.

HOC President Spyros Capralos proposed a lifetime ban after Greek hurdler Fani Halkia—who is facing a two-year suspension for doping— was a torchbearer in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch relay last week. The HOC accepted the motion by unanimous vote on Wednesday.

In addition, the HOC will approve a list of torchbearers to ensure more control over the relay.

The IOC criticized Halkia's involvement in the relay and HOC officials apologized for the error. President of the Olympic Torch Relay Commission Spyros Zannias submitted his resignation to the HOC, which was not accepted.

HOC also decided to open Panathenian Stadium to the public. The ancient stadium was the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896. At the 2004 Olympics, the stadium hosted archery and the conclusion of the marathon.

New WADA Web Site

The World Anti Doping Agency unveiled a new Web site Tuesday. The change coincided with the agency’s 10th anniversary.

The new Web site features improved navigation and reorganized content to better fulfill its users’ needs.

A new section called “Anti-Doping Community” allows WADA’s different stakeholders to find information specific to their interests and needs.

WADA is soliciting feedback and questions about the new site at info@wada-ama.org.

The Web address remains the same, www.wada-ama.org.

London Steps Up Procurement for Olympics

LOCOG is set to tender for about $1.1 billion worth of goods and services in eight sectors between now and 2012, Games organizers said Wednesday.

The contracts available are: facilities management and catering; production services for ceremonies; security; services; sports; technology; transport and logistics; venues and venue logistics

LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe underlined scale of staging the Olympics at the London 2012 Business Summit today. “The focus so far has been on the ODA [Olympic Delivery Authority] and construction, but the organizing committee is now at a stage where we move from planning to delivery,” Coe said.

“With less than three years to go, we’re starting the procurement process for everything we need to stage a memorable Games.”

London to Host Sportaccord 2011

London is confirmed as the host of Sportaccord in 2011. The news announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson Wednesday is expected to provide a multi-million boost for the capital's economy.

More than 1,500 delegates from the Olympic Movement will attend the international sports convention the year before the 2012 Games.

Events for London, the mayor’s agency which spearheaded the bid to bring Sportaccord to the city, claims the conference will contribute millions to the economy through contracts for new business and in attracting more major events to the capital and the UK beyond 2012.

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said Sportaccord was “an excellent opportunity for UK businesses to showcase their expertise gained from working on London 2012.”

The six-day gathering in 2011 takes place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge from April 3-8. London will join Dubai, Denver, Lausanne and Olympic cities Beijing, Seoul and Athens in hosting Sportaccord.

The Sportaccord announcement came as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an agreement in London to share business expertise in hosting the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. About $50 billion worth of work on preparations for Brazil’s staging of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Olympics is up for grabs.

Briefs…

…Five-time Olympic gold medalist Claudia Pechstein of Germany must wait for a final decision from her appeal of a two-year ban for blood doping. The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced on Wednesday that a decision along with written consequences would probably take two more weeks. CAS heard her appeal against the International Skating Union on Oct. 22 and 23.

…Nigeria Sports Minister Sani Ndanus will compete to for the presidency of the Nigeria Olympic Committee against incumbent and newly elected IOC member Habu Gumel. NOC elections will take place on Dec. 9. Ndanus submitted his election paperwork on Monday. The last day to submit election paperwork is Friday.

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Written by Ed Hula III Sam Steinberg, and Mark Bisson.