Olympic Newsdesk -- Thumbs-Up for PyeongChang Curling; Daegu Turns Blue

PyeongChang Curling Venue Approved

The World Curling Federation gave its stamp of approval to PyeongChang’s proposed venue for the 2018 Olympics.

WCF president Kate Caithness approved Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink during an inspection visit to South Korea this week.

Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of PyeongChang 2018, said: "I am delighted to hear that the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink has been approved by the WCF. PyeongChang 2018 can now guarantee it has the necessary facilities to host a successful Curling competition should the IOC choose PyeongChang to host the 2018 Winter Games.

"The Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink is just one of our world-class winter sports venues that have already been developed as part of PyeongChang’s Winter Games Plan, and these outstanding venues will provide a lasting legacy for winter sport in Asia."

Gangneung hosted the 2009 women’s curling world championships and will be a permanent curling venue following the Games.

Caithness also toured the proposed snow and sliding venues at the Alpensia Resort and met with members of the Korean curling team.

Daegu 2011 Reveals Blue Track, Gold Medals

A track unveiled Friday in South Korea will help Olympic hopefuls prepare for London 2012.

Organizers of the 2011 athletics world championships in Daegu welcomed IAAF brass for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which medalists from last month’s Guangzhou Asian Games broke in the brightly colored lanes.

"One of the most prominent features is that it is the first blue-colored track in the whole of Korea," Daegu mayor Bum-Il Kim said afterwards at a press briefing.

"We have laid the groundwork for athletes to achieve their lifelong dreams in Daegu."

The South Korean stadium actually sported a top-notch track prior to the renovation, but organizers wanted a state-of-the-art Mondo model to match that of the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

A representative from the official supplier was on-hand to confirm that the track for Daegu 2011 is now identical to the one London 2012 will employ in less than two years’ time.

Also Friday, organizers unveiled the event’s medal design following a go-ahead given at last month’s IAAF Council in Monaco.

The front resembles a yin-yang, and the back depicts Daegu 2011’s stadium and includes its slogan, "Sprint Together for Tomorrow".

Spanish Olympic Chief Wants Toughest Punishment for Doping

The head of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco Bravo, says Alberto Contador needs the toughest penalty possible if he’s found guilty in the latest investigation into Spanish doping.

Contador failed a drug test at the last Tour de France, which he won, and is implicated in the ongoing Operation Galgo investigation.

"In the case of Contador and any other athletes - maximum sanction when we know" if they are guilty, Blanco told The Associated Press.

"When it's proven an athlete has doped, there is no debate - authorities need to act."

Contador was linked to the 2006 Operation Puerto investigation but was cleared of any wrongdoing. He says his failed drug test from this year’s Tour was due to tainted meat.

According to Blanco, Contador will not get special treatment from anyone in his doping cases, despite being one of Spain’s highest-profile athletes.

"Until it is proven that an athletehad doped, you can't criticize the athlete. There is not a single doubt over the ability of our disciplinary committeesin any Spanish federation. They respect the rules in that sense, so people can rest assured."

Operation Galgo has targeted more than a dozen individuals suspected of being part of a doping ring in Spain, including steeplechase world champion Marta Dominguez.

Blanco says the latest doping investigation is not an indictment against Spanish efforts to fight doping.

"Nobody fights against doping more than Spain does," he said.

Sochi Honors Top Teachers

A few Russian teachers will bear Olympic-sized responsibility in the run-up to Sochi 2014.

Organizers unveiled Friday the results of a months-long contest that will place 34 nominees and four winners into the Sochi 2014 Olympic Education System, a Games initiative charged with leading global research, educational and training programs.

Math teacher Lyudmila Strutinskaya-Fedorova, physical education instructor Natalya Afanasjeva and English teachers Elena Barkova and Arina Barkova were awarded "Sochi 2014 Olympic Teacher" certificatesand prizes donated by sponsors MegaFon and Rosneft.

"Thanks to our enthusiastic teachers we are already shaping active leaders in our Olympic Education System who will be capable of addressing the challenges of involving the younger generation in the Olympic movement," Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said in a statement.

"The new generation will not only personify youth, but also commitment to an active way of life, sport and the Olympic and Paralympic values of friendship, respect, excellence, courage, equality, determination and inspiration."

The four teachers will now develop four extra-curricular lessons on Olympic and Paralympic values to be taught throughout this academic year.

Triathlon on TV

Triathlon’s increase in television ratings is proof of the sport’s continuing growth, according to the International Triathlon Union.

On Thursday, the ITU revealed ratings numbers that claim 556 hours of triathlon aired in 2010, up from 350 hours in 2009.The federation says "television contacts" rose to 323 million per event in 2010, compared to 262 million contacts per event in 2009.

"People are drawn to triathlon because it's exciting, looks spectacular on television and is a true lifestyle sport that is within everyone's grasp, regardless of age or gender," said Marisol Casado, ITU President.

"Through increased television audiences and unprecedented participation at all levels, we can see that people relate to triathlon, which fuels the sport's continual growth."

Additionally, there were triathlon broadcasts in 149 countries with live broadcasts in 24, and 728,000 spectators went to events.

Media Watch

John Abbott, a risk management accountant for RSM Tenon, warns about the danger of bribery during the London Olympics in The Telegraph newspaper.

In a post on the International Ice Hockey Federation's website, editor Martin Merk mulls the Olympic future of the women's game and outlines IIHF's efforts to keep both sexes on the Games program.

Written by Matthew Grayson.