Shootout Raises Questions About Olympic Safety
Coverage of a shootout this weekend in Rio de Janeiro focuses on potential security concerns ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Ten gunmen took 30 people hostage at a luxury beachside hotel, then exchanged fire with police for hours before surrendering.
The Brazilian city has a history of safely hosting large events, and Saturday’s altercation doesn’t change that, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau told BBC Brazil.
"Security is an important aspect of all the Olympics, no matter where they are in the world, and is a priority for the IOC," she told the news agency.
Moreau said security plans are the responsibility of the hosting government.
Brazilian authorities launched an aggressive campaign last year to invade Rio’s slums, drive out drug gangs and leave behind a police presence.About 10 slums are now free of gangs, the Associated Press reported.
Emmanuelle told BBC Brazil the IOC has full confidence in Brazil’s ability to host a safe Summer Games, just as its evaluation commission did when inspecting Rio’s candidacy last April.
The next FIFA World Cup is scheduled for June 13 to July 13, 2014.
The Rio Olympics are scheduled for August 5 to 21, 2016.
London 2012 Basketball Arena Takes Shape
Thousands of seats are soon to be installed in the London 2012 basketball arena - one of the largest temporary venues ever used for an Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The seating structure is taking shape inside the 12,000-capacity venue, with the first block of black and orange seats going into the venue early next month.
The arena is set to be one of the quickest venues to finish in the 500-acre Olympic Park. Construction of the 1,000-ton steel frame only started in March – just over a year before the expected project completion date in April 2011.
Meanwhile, the Olympic Delivery Authority today unveiled plans for thousands of new trees, parks, play areas and open spaces to support the new homes being delivered in the 2012 Athletes’ Village site.
The announcement came as the first stage of landscaping work got underway in the village site with the creation of an extensive wetlands park.
After the Games, the Athletes’ Village, located next to the Olympic Park in east London, will deliver the legacy of 2,818 new homes for east London. Of these, 1,379 will be affordable,owned and managedby Triathlon Homes. Under the landscaping of the village site project, 10 hectares of new parklands, wetlands, and open space areas will be created.
Rudisha Sets Record, Trumps Semenya’s Comeback
Wilson Kipketer’s 800m time is no longer the fastest ever.
David Rudisha smashed the Dane’s 13-year-old world record Sunday at the IAAF World Challenge in Berlin.
The 21-year-old Kenyan’s time of 1:41.09 is two hundredths of a second better than Kipketer’s 1997 mark.
His performance at the meet overshadowed the return of Caster Semenya after gender tests kept her out of competition for nearly a year.
The South African middle distance runner won her first major race inalmost a year at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, site of her 2009 WorldChampionship win in the 800m.
Semenya did not compete for 11 monthswhile the IAAF conducted gender tests to determine if she could competeagainstfemale runners. She was cleared in July and ran two minor racesin Finland.
The 19-year-old also plans to run the Diamond Leaguefinal Friday in Brussels and two meets in Italy andhopes to make SouthAfrica's roster for the Commonwealth Games.
BadmintonWorlds Underway in Paris
The Badminton World Championships opened in Paris today. Around 400 of the world’s top players representing five continents are taking part in the Aug 23-29 championships, which are being staged in the French capital for the first time.
Competition is taking place at the 4,500-capacity Pierre de Coubertin Stadium, which is also the venue for the French Open Super Series.
Defending men's world champion Lin Dan of China is already through to the second round after a straight-sets win over Iran's Ali Shahhosseini, wrapped up in just 26 minutes. World No. 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia also comfortably advanced to the second round on Monday.
In the women's singles, the absence of reigning world champion Lu Lan of China could bode well for up-and-coming Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, the world number two who has won three competitions in 2010.
NBC Sports Scores Pair of Emmys for Olympic Coverage
Olympic athletes weren't the only ones turning in award-winning performances at the Vancouver Games.
NBC Sports won primetime creative arts Emmys for its coverage of the opening ceremony.
The awards were for lighting and music direction.
Almost 200 million Americans watched NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Only the Lillehammer Games in 1994 had more viewers.
Written by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson.
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