Swiss Leaders Discuss Bid; IOC Studies Bilalov Decision; Coe Takes New Role

Swiss Leaders Discuss Bid, Referendum

Joerg Schild, president of the Swiss Olympic Association, said the March 3 referendum on the 2022 St. Moritz Olympic bid "will be very close".

Schild was quoted by Reuters making the comments at a press conference Monday. He spent time outlining the bid and saying the St. Moritz/Davos bid was better positioned for the Winter Olympics than previous hosts.

Campaigning for the Games is well underway with organized efforts both for and against the bid. Critics worry about the costs and the potential for environmental damage in the region.

"We want to bring the winter Olympics back to the snow, it would be great if you could sit in the hotel and watch it snowing outside," Schild said.

"Turin is a beautiful city, but it took two hours by car to get to the alpine sports venues. Vancouver was a fantastic Games, but it was one-and-three-quarters of an hour to the mountains."

IOC Studies Bilalov Decision

Chairman Gerhard Heiberg tells Around the Ringsthe IOC Marketing Commission is studying the case of member Akhmed Bilalov.

He was fired from his post as Russian Olympic Committee vice president – reportedly by Russian President Vladimir Putin as an act of censure following delays and cost overruns related to the Sochi Olympics.

"We are following Akmed Bilalov with great interest," Heiberg told ATR.

"Of course, we will await what happens in Russia about him. We are not in a great hurry to make a decision here," he added.

Heiberg also said there is no news in the search for new IOC TOP sponsors.

"We are still working hard to find the right ones," he said.

New Role for Coe

Former London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe will serve as an ambassador for Nike in fighting obesity.

Coe, a Nike-sponsored athlete during his competitive years, was announced as a "wide-ranging advisor" for the athletic apparel giant for its "Designed to Move" global campaign.

"I’m looking forward to being part of the Nike team and working with them in this new role and playing a part in addressing the need for the next generations to become more active," said Coe.

Designed to Move was launched in 2012 and works with 70 organizations to increase physical activity throughout the world.

Sochi Broadcasters Meet

The broadcasters of the 2014 Olympics are meeting in Sochi through March 2.

More than 200 representatives from broadcasters including NBC, the BBC and the Russian broadcasters are participating in the second World Broadcasters Meeting, where they make inspections of the broadcasting fit-out of venues.

A statement from Sochi 2014 says broadcast facilities will be installed in venues starting in May, with the secondary broadcast center in the mountains having its fit-out in September.

More Hockey for England

Elite hockey is coming back to London, the International Hockey Federation announced Monday.

Almost a year after Great Britain’s women won Olympic bronze at the Riverbank Arena on Olympic Park, Team GB will take the pitch again in hopes of qualifying for the 2014 Women’s Hockey World Cup.

University of Westminster's Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground in Chiswick will stage the Investec Hockey World League Semi Final from June 22 to 30 and, in turn, the next Investec London Cup in 2014.

"The Investec World League Semi Final provides the perfect opportunity for the British public to see many of our Olympians on home turf again after our women’s team captured the love of the nation last summer," England Hockey CEO Sally Munday said in a statement.

FIH President Leandro Negre added: "I am delighted that the Investec World League Semi Final tournament will be played in England. This is a great start to the London 2012 hockey legacy for the country."

Alongside the English women, Olympic silver medalists Argentina, Australia and China will also enjoy automatic qualification to the tournament with the remaining four teams to be decided following the World League Round 2 in Brazil next month.

ITU Calls for 2015 Bids

Bidding is open for the 2015 World Triathlon Championships.

"ITU is committed to hosting top level events in iconic cities," International Triathlon Union President Marisol Casado said Monday. "As our sport continues to rise in popularity, we believe hosting the ITU World Triathlon Championships offers cities the possibility to showcase their city to a global audience."

Notably, the World Triathlon Championships is the ITU’s new name for the final race of its showcase World Triathlon Series.

In addition to crowning the elite world champions, the weeklong event also includes the annual ITU Congress, world championships for the junior and Under 23 divisions as well as Paratriathlon, Aquathlon and age group races.

A formal announcement of the 2015 hosts will be made at the ITU World Triathlon Yokohama in May.

Click here for the bid document.

Uganda NOC Elections

Elections for the Uganda Olympic Committee are scheduled for March 9.

Reports in local media say that after the nomination period closed, president William Blick is unopposed, as are the rest of the slate of officers.

Peninnah Kabenge, the current secretary general, will not run for reelection, with Donald Rukare running for the slot.

"The fact that my team has come unopposed is proof that the federations have confidence in us," Blick was quoted by the New Vision outlet. "It shows that federations appreciate what we have delivered over the past eight months."

He added the change of secretary general is a good development.

"Don is a better administrator. That’s why executive board endorsed him."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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