On the Scene - Syrians Reach London, Coe IOC Report, EB Decisions

Syrian Athletes in London Despite Violence

The IOC member in Syria tells Around the Rings that 15 athletes and 17 officials are now in London for the Games.

"They are all here, along with the chef de mission" said Samih Moudallal on Saturday in London.

"But the NOC president and secretary general did not receive invitations," he added. Both men are from the military and closely allied to their commander-in-chief Bashar Al-Assad.

Syria NOC President Mouwaffak Joumaa is a general in the Syrian army who, in an April interview with ATR, denied that the government was behind the violence that is wracking the country. The daily bloodshed is now being termed a civil war.

Moudallal says the situation in Syria is "very bad" but noted some parts of Damascus and other cities have not been touched by the gunfire and shelling.

"But every day it seems to be worse, more dangerous," he says, refusing to predict how the troubles will end in this ancient nation.

IOC Applauds LOCOG Preparations

London 2012 organizers received the thumbs-up from the IOC Executive Board at its meeting in the British capital today.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe updated EB members on a range of issues, notably offering reassurances that G4S's security failures would not impact the Games as well as explaining that all was fine with transport plans and delivery of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Responding to Coe's presentation, IOC president Jacques Rogge congratulated the double Olympic champion on all his hard work in leading LOCOG and wished him good luck.

London 2012's director of communications Jackie Brock-Doyle updated reporters on Coe's presentation to the EB in a briefing at the Park Lane Hilton in London.

"There were lots of 'well done's and thank yous," she said.

Some of the EB members apparently expressed disbelief that London was now on the eve of staging the Games seven years after the city beat Paris to secure hosting rights.

"Everyone is finally excited. It is here, ready to go," she said.

Only one question came from the EB, she confirmed. Morocco's IOC member Nawal El Moutawakel asked for assurances that Muslim athletes observing Ramadan would be catered for. Coe said fasting packs were available for all who required them.

Brock-Doyle dismissed reports in the media of tensions between Danny Boyle, the film-maker directing the July 27 opening ceremony, and Olympic Broadcasting Services over camera positions. Coe told the EB that "they are all working well".

Coe finished his presentation by thanking the IOC for its guidance through the years of preparation and particularly the decision to make the torch relay a domestic affair because the 70-day journey of the Olympic flame around the UK had worked out so well.

He also praised Britain's IOC member Craig Reedie for his help in LOCOG's work.

Denis Oswald, IOC Coordination Commission chair for London, did not report, having only just arrived in London.

It was left to Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli, who has been in the city for 10 days, to express his satisfaction that the small issues that needed to be fixed in the final weeks of preparations for an Olympics had been resolved.

LOCOG's presentation included its work on the venue overlay. Felli told the EB members he had visited a lot of the venues and was impressed with their readiness for the Games - and that the possibility of more wet weather had been factored into planning for spectators.

It's not the last the IOC will hear from Coe before the opening ceremony; he reports to the IOC Session on July 24.

Pettigrew, Cox Cost U.S. Medals

Olympic medals are already being awarded here in London six days out from the opening ceremony.

Members of the IOC Executive Board ruled Saturday to reallocate those won in the men’s 4x400m relay from Sydney 2000 due to the doping admissions of Antonio Pettigrew, a member of USA’s gold medal-winning team.

"Pettigrew was disqualified in August 2008," according to a statement from the IOC, "but the EB delayed a decision on reallocation until it had received information stemming from investigations into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative sports-doping scandal."

Pettigrew testified to taking human growth hormone and EPO before, during and after the Sydney Olympics while on the witness stand during the BALCO designer steroid scandal, making him the third of the six-member squad to be tainted by doping.

Teams from Nigeria, Jamaica and the Bahamas that finished immediately behind the U.S. now move up on the podium to gold, silver and bronze positions as a result of Saturday’s ruling.

Russia, Jamaica and Great Britain, meanwhile, could likewise benefit if the IAAF acts upon the EB’s decision to disqualify one of USA’s gold medal-winning 4x400m sprinters from Athens 2004.

Crystal Cox, who ran in the qualifying heats for the U.S. team, admitted in 2010 to doping during the Athens Olympics.

"It is now within the remit of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to interpret its rules as to whether the disqualification of the athlete would have any effect on the results of the US relay team," ruled the IOC.

EB members are also requesting Cox return her gold medal.

Investigation of Tickets Scandal Ongoing

Another major item on the agenda for Saturday – and future EB meetings, apparently – is the London 2012 ticketing scandal that involved a number of NOC leaders.

An undercover investigation by the British newspaper Sunday Times released last month shows NOC ticket agents and one NOC president discussing the sale of Olympics tickets at multiples of their face value, as much as ten times.

"The Ethics Commission has received evidence from the newspaper and noted that each individual case merits a detailed analysis involving the hearing of all parties, particularly with regard to the existence of deliberate intent to breach the various rules that govern the sale of tickets for the Olympic Games," said the IOC.

"As a result, the EB approved the recommendation from the Ethics Commission that it continue its investigation as it is currently not in a position to recommend provisional measures ahead of the London 2012 Games.

Besides suspensions, the IOC could levy fines and withhold future ticket allocations to NOCs.

No Passport Needed

Marathon runner Guor Marial will race in London without a passport to his name, the EB announced Saturday.

Marial was born in South Sudan, which declared its independence in July 2011 but lacks a recognized National Olympic Committee.

Though he now lives in the U.S. as a permanent resident (refugee status green card), his lack of citizenship leaves him with little option.

"He is unable to compete for the United States, South Sudan or Sudan," said the EB, who approved his request to run as an "Independent Olympic Athlete" under the Olympic flag.

Written and reported in London by Mark Bisson, Matthew Grayson, Ed Hula, Ed Hula III.