Polish, Swiss 2022 Bids Earn Governmental Support
President Bronislaw Komorowski endorses Poland's bid for the 2022 Olympics.
According to Polish Radio, Komorowski said "work has to start right away" on the bid.
Krakow would be the main host of the Games, with ice hockey and alpine skiing taking place in neighboring Slovakia.
"We need to build cooperation with our Slovak neighbors. We could not prepare this bid without them because our Tatra Mountains are not as big as those in Slovakia," he added.
Meanwhile, the Canton of Graubuenden announced it will compete to be the Swiss bid for the 2022 Olympics.
A statement posted on the Canton website on Tuesday says the Swiss government views Graubuenden as "the only possible partner" in a bid, and touts its "unique mountain scenery" and sporting experience and readiness as selling points.
Davos and St. Mortiz, both cities in the Canton, said they would serve as bid cities.
Voters must approve a referendum March 3.
The Canton’s efforts are led by its president, Hansjoerg Trachsel, himself an Olympian.
Putin Creates Olympics Commission
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that creates a State Commission for the Sochi Olympics.
A statement posted on the Kremlin website says the State Commission for the Preparation and Holding of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi is tasked with coordinating the efforts of all agencies at all levels of government helping to organize the Games.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak is chairman of the Commission.
"It will be something similar to the platinum level of the management in the Games in London, with the cabinet office, so he will be taking a similar position in the State," Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko explained to Around the Rings.
The Commission will report directly to Putin.
Ovechkin 1st Sochi Torchbearer
Alexander Ovechkin is the first known torchbearer for Sochi 2014.
"Coca-Cola has put out a film with Ovechkin in it," Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko was quoted Wednesday by RIA Novosti.
"That means Ovechkin will be one of the torch-bearers."
The confirmation comes despite the lack of guarantees for NHL participation at the Games in the new collective bargaining agreement players and owners agreed to last week.
Olympics participation will instead be negotiated at a later date in discussions also involving the IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation.
Ovechkin, however, will apparently head to Sochi one way or the other as part of the 123-day, 65,000km relay beginning Oct. 7.
"Fill in an application and maybe you too will become an Olympic torchbearer on the streets of your city," the Washing Capitals center says in the commercial, speaking Russian while holding a Sochi torch in one hand and a bottle of Coke in the other.
Click here to view the video.
Rio Food Damage Prevention
The Olympic Press Office for the city of Rio de Janeiro says flood prevention measures along Joao Havelange Stadium will be completed this week.
According to a statement, the drainage network will include 3.7km of a new sewage system that will prevent flooding in the area surrounding the athletics stadium.
Flooding is a concern for the city.
Written by Ed Hula III.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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