Olympic Park Concerts; Further Challenges for Furlong

Further Challenges for Furlong

Former Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong faces new allegations as a result of a defamation lawsuit he has filed against a reporter from a Vancouver newspaper.

Allegations of sexual assault are contained in the reporter’s lawsuit defense filed last week in a British Columbia court.

The document filed on behalf of journalist Laura Robinson cites accusations from Furlong’s first wife and another woman described as a common law spouse.

None of the allegations has surfaced before.

A Vancouver Sun article details the new charges.

Furlong filed the defamation lawsuit after Robinson and the Georgia Straight last year reported allegations of physical abuse carried out by Furlong during the time he taught at a rural school in B.C. 40 years ago. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating those allegations.

Music Festivals Bound for Olympic Park

Live Nation will bring a series of concerts and festivals to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ahead of its full opening next year.

London Legacy Development Corporation announced the deal Tuesday, giving the music promoter exclusive rights to host major concerts in the North Park, including the Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling confirmed for July, as well as Olympic Stadium this summer.

"The confidence now shown by one of the world's leading live entertainment promoters to relocate two of its biggest music festivals from the center of the capital is a ringing endorsement of our legacy plans," said Mayor Boris Johnson, who also chairs the LLDC.

"Along with the other major international sports events we have already secured this latest news proves that the park has a very bright future indeed."

According to Live Nation, headline acts for the Wireless Festival and Hard Rock Calling will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will reopen in phases beginning July 27 – one year after the opening ceremony of London 2012 – with a full opening to follow in spring 2014.

Indian Athletes Launch Protest

Indian Olympians want the current Indian Olympic Association leadership out of office.

Twenty members of Clean Sport India wrote the letter to IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala saying they will not cooperate with him. The IOC said in December at its Executive Board meeting it would not recognize the leadership of Chautala. The IOC suspended the IOA for violation of the Olympic Charter.

"We have decided not to co-operate with you and your collaborators who claim to be office-bearers of the IOA through an illegal election," said the letter, sent to the IOA Executive Board, according to The Associated Press. "In the interest of Indian sports please leave the IOA office as directed by the IOC."

"We strongly believe that the IOC has taken the right decision," the letter continued.

"The IOA has been suspended by the IOC and it is an illegal body. Why should all the award winners give legitimacy to an IOA headed by Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot?"

Bhanot was elected secretary general and also faced corruption charges stemming from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

IOC Member Running for Parliament

Franco Carraro is running for Parliament in Italy.

The former mayor of Rome and chair of the IOC Program Commission was announced as the latest candidate for Senate with Silvio Berlusconi’s Popolo delle Libertà party. He was a former member of the Socialist party in Italy.

In addition to his sport background, Carraro has also served as mayor of Rome and led three different ministries.

Kenyan Olympic Celebrations

Kenya’s Olympians are enjoying two days of celebrations.

The team will deliver their official flag to president Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday. A gala for 11 of the country's Olympians was scheduled for Monday by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Forty-seven athletes represented Kenya in London.

Written by Ed Hula and Ed Hula III.

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