Syrian NOC Chief on London; Women's Boxing Rankings; World's Oldest Olympian

Syrian Olympic Chief: London Ban "An Honor"

The president of the Syrian Olympic Committee, Mowaffak Joumaa, says he would feel honored to be banned from the London Olympics.

"Once I am blacklisted, it would be an honor for me to be one of the citizens who were banned from entering Britain because of their country’s dignity and freedom," he told The Associated Press.

Joumaa may be barred from attending the Games because he is a Brigadier General in the Syrian army, which has led a brutal crackdown on anti-government activists over the last year. The European Union placed travel restrictions on Syrian officials as part of punishment over the crackdown.

New Somali NOC Boss

Duran Ahmed Farah is the new president of the Somali Olympic Committee.

A report in Somali media says he was named to the post Tuesday.

Farah, the former senior vice president of the SOC,replaces Aden Hagi Yeberow, who died in a suicide bomb attack on April 4 in the capital of Mogadishu.

Baku 2020 Touts Bid Petition

A petition for Baku to host the 2020 Olympics now counts the signatures of almost half a million Azeris.

The campaign, carried out by hundreds of volunteers from the country’s Union of Student Organizations, reached a total of 494,087 supporters as the five 2020 bids pitched leaders of the world’s NOCs over the weekend in Moscow, their first international presentations.

"I feel so moved and proud of the level of support we have been given from our fellow citizens all over the country," Baku 2020 CEOKonul Nurullayeva said in a statement.

"Everywhere I go in Baku, people call out to wish us well in our Bid. And now Azerbaijanis have been able to show their huge support for us in a physical and tangible way."

Federations, NOC Mark 100 Days to London

Rowing reflects on the significance of 100 days to go. "Think of how those rowers who are selected or aiming for selection for the London Olympic Games are feeling going into these last 100 days," says FISA. "These rowers will continue to prove themselves every day in training. They will either need to prove that they should be selected, or to prove that they will be at their very best 100 days from now."

USA Pentathlon will mark the milestone a couple of days late with a Monday night reception at the New York Athletic Club. Fencing and pentathlon Olympians will join fans for a fundraising dinner and celebration of the countdown to London.

According to the Australian Olympic Committee, a total of 77 athletes from the sports of boxing, canoe/kayak, sailing, swimming, synchronized swimming and taekwondo are selected so far with 100 days still to go until the Games. "Australia is well on the way to fielding a strong team that will be ready to take on the rest of the world in London this July," Aussie chef de mission Nick Green said Thursday in a statement."We know we are in for a tough tussle to claim a revered top five spot with hosts and long-time rivals Britain, the strong European contingent headed by Germany and France, and the ever-present Japanese."

New Zealand observed Wednesday’s occasion by naming four triathletes – Andrea Hewitt, Kate McIlroy, Kris Gemmel and double Olympic medalist Bevan Docherty – to its team for London 2012 as well as crowning Ryan Nelsen and Rebecca Smith as its men’s and women’s football captains for the Games. "I’m delighted to welcome them to our proud Olympic team," New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general and selector Kereyn Smith said in a statement. A street party and celebrity run in Wellington as well as the announcement of "Stand Tall" by Sam RB as the official song of the Team NZ for London 2012 rounded out the day’s festivities.Squash World Champs Head to Doha

Doha 2020 says the staging of major events such as squash’s 2012 world championships is a key component of Qatar’s investment in sport.

"This is great news and comes hard on the heels of Doha winning the privilege of hosting the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)," CEO Noora Al-Mannai said Thursday in a statement following the Professional Squash Association’s announcement of hosting rights.

"The more our boys and girls see leading athletes compete at the highest levels, the more they will become inspired."

Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex will host the championships from Dec. 7 to 14, Doha’s third time doing the honors.

"Squash is a growing sport in Qatar and we are delighted to extend our partnership with the PSA to host its flag-ship event and look forward to working with them to ensure a memorable Championships and the continued growthof squash in Qatar," added Qatar Olympic Committee secretary general Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, also a vice chair of the 2020 bid.

World Rankings for Women’s Boxing

Women’s boxing features world rankings for the time ever in advance of its Olympic debut.

Steluta Duta of Romania (45-48kg), Cancan Ren of China (51kg), Elena Savelyeva of Russia (54kg), Tassamalee Thongjan of Thailand (57kg), Katie Taylor of Ireland (60kg), Gulsum Tatar of Turkey (64kg), Marichelle De Jong of The Netherlands (69kg), Mary Spencer of Canada (75kg), Meiqing Yuan of China (81kg) and Yunfei Li of China (81+kg) top their weight classes in the inaugural edition published Thursday.

"Launching the AIBA Women's World Ranking makes me really proud," International Boxing Association president C.K. Wu said in a statement.

"I have always been convinced that the future of our sport will be led by women's participation. Boxing is growing very fast and I cannot wait to witness the first women boxers competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games."

The rankings are based on results at the 2010 women’s world championships, 2011 youth and European women’s championships as well as 2012 American and Asian championships.

They will also help determine seeding at next month’s world champs in Qinhuangdao, China, where eight women’s boxers from each of three weight categories – 48-51kg, 57-60kg and 69-75kg – will qualify for London 2012.

World’s Oldest Olympian Turns 100

Ingeborg "Kickan" Sjöqvist, the world’s Oldest Olympian, is 100.

The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) issued a statement on Thursday commemorating her birthday.

She competed at the 1932 Los Angeles and 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics in diving, finishing fourth and ninth respectively.

"When I sat my foot on American soil after one weeks boat trip over the Atlantic ocean I thought to myself ‘here comes little me from Kalmar and places my foot in the big world’" she said in the statement from the SOK.

"It was a big moment and I can still feel the step I took then in my foot today."

Sjöqvist insists she still follows sports – "everything, everyday" – and plans to watch the London Olympics.

"The summer is saved, I can tell you that. I cannot stop being surprised over the fact that you can sit here in little Rydebäck in Sweden and watch what is going on in the big world at the same time."

Korean Sports Ministry on London

South Korea’s sports minister announced 11 sports the country will target for medals at the 2012 Olympics, a "stepping stone" for further sporting success.

Kwang Shik Choe made the announcement Thursday, the Korea Herald reports.

He said gold medalists would receive $52,600 per medal, while silver and bronze medalists will take home $26,000 and $16,000.

Choe also noted the 1948 London Olympics were the first Games that South Korea participated in following the country’s liberation.

"We’re returning to London after 64 years. During this time the Korean sports have developed significantly, and now we want to make it yet another stepping stone," he said.

Siemens Settles Olympic Corruption Case

German electronics company Siemens will pay more than $350 million to settle bribery charges related to the Athens Olympics.

Siemens bribed Greek state officials to obtain telecommunications and security contracts for the 2004 Games.

Reuters reports Siemens will pay the money to the Greek state, with $105 million for "debt repayment", $118 million for lost compensation and $130 million for academic research.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.

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