Olympic Newsdesk - Three Cities Make YOG Cut, IAAF Puts Thanou First

YOG 2014 Bid Cities Confirmed

Three cities are confirmed for an IOC vote just two months away deciding a host for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

The IOC Executive Board last week confirmed Guadalajara, Mexico, Nanjing, China and Poznan, Poland for the Feb. 10 vote.

Each took part in a video teleconference at the start of the month with IOC experts to review the candidature files.

The IOC will select a host city on Feb. 10 at the IOC Session in Vancouver.

Singapore will host the inaugural YOG in 2010 from Aug. 14-26. Innsbruck, Austria will host the first Winter YOG in 2012.

IAAF Record Book Differs from IOC

There is a winner listed for the women's 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the records of the IAAF, even if the IOC has left that slot open.

The IAAF lists disgraced Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou as the winner of the race.

In reallocating the Sydney medals won by Marion Jones, the IOC ruled last week that Thanou would remain silver medalist. While she tested clean in Sydney, since then Thanou’s reputation has taken a blow, largely over missed drug tests on the eve of the Athens Games. She withdrew from Athens, avoiding near certain expulsion by the IOC, which also excluded her from the Beijing Olympics.

There is an asterisk by Thanou's name in the IAAF book. An explanation says: "Following a decision of the IOC, Thanou will not be awarded the gold medal but will retain her silver medal."

The IAAF lists Jones as disqualified.

Sochi Unveils Paralympic Logo

Sochi 2014 unveiled its Paralympic logo on Saturday. The logo launch was part of Russia’s first Paralympic Day, complete with a ceremony at Moscow’s Red Square.

International Paralympic Committee President Phillip Craven joined Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov and Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko for the event.

The new emblem for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games follows the same typography as the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games emblem, and incorporates the Paralympic Symbol.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of Sochi 2014, said: "The new Sochi 2014 Paralympic brand and emblem will act as a gateway to the future of the Paralympic Movement in Russia. As well as by participating in major events such as Paralympic Winter Day, by leveraging the massive rise in social networking…Sochi 2014 can be the catalyst for greater awareness, networking and sharing of information about values of the Paralympic Movement. In particular, we believe this will bring enhanced opportunities for integration with IPC content on platforms like YouTube and ParalympicSport.TV."

CANOC Offers Potential Support for Commonwealth Games Bid

The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees told Trinidad and Tobago the organization may endorse the country’s 2018 Commonwealth Games bid. First though, Trinidad must stage a successful Caribbean Games says the head of CANOC.

CANOC president Steve Stoute was quoted by Trinidad media as saying “it is the general view that the Caribbean would want to see Trinidad and Tobago host a Caribbean Games before it receives the support of the Caribbean Commonwealth countries.” He made the comments during the CANOC General Assembly on Dec. 5.

The “carrot” CANOC is presenting would bring to a reality the dreams of a regional games. Trinidad was scheduled to stage the inaugural Caribbean Games but fears for the H1N1 virus forced the cancellation.

“The cancellation also hurt CANOC’s credibility from the perspective that many Caribbean countries felt that the reason for CANOC’s being was the organization of a Caribbean Games,” said Stoute.

Briefs...

...Three-time Olympic gold medalist Libby Trickett is retiring. The 24-year old from Australia won her first gold at the 2004 Olympics as part of the 400m freestyle relay team. At the 2008 Beijing Games, she won gold in the 100m butterfly and in the 400m medley relay…

…Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova is the new newest Sochi 2014 ambassador. Vodianova has appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, L'Oreal and Chanel. She also appeared on the cover of Vogue earlier this year in the U.K. and the U.S. …

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Written by Ed Hula III and Sam Steinberg.