Twist in BOA, London 2012 Dispute; Sochi Sizes Up Hockey Rinks

BOA, LOCOG Dispute Heads to Court of Arbitration for Sport

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will settle the spat between the British Olympic Association and London 2012 organizers over their joint marketing program agreement.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the BOA is taking its case to CAS to resolve the row as soon as possible.

"We are now seeking a speedy, final and binding decision through the Court of Arbitration for Sport on how the Olympic Games surplus should be determined," the BOA said in a statement.

"Decisions made by CAS are final and binding, and the Host City Contract specifies that CAS is the appropriate forum for resolution of matters such as this."

The cash-strapped BOA argues that the agreement struck with LOCOG in 2004 was worth substantially more than the $49 million in cash and services to the NOC. With just over 500 days to the Games, the BOA is facing a funding gap of up to $16 million.

London 2012 has resisted attempts by BOA chief executive Andy Hunt to renegotiate, insisting the deal is fair.

The BOA's decision to involve CAS comes a day after the IOC confirmed that itwould mediate in the financial fight.

The IOC said in a statement that the joint marketing program agreement (JMPA) allowed for it to make the final decision in a dispute between LOCOG and the BOA.

"The IOC has been extremely helpful to the BOA and the London 2012 Organizing Committee in attempting to reach consensus on this very important matter and we thank them for their efforts," the BOA said Thursday.

The financial issue could impact the BOA's support for the nearly 550 athletes in their preparations for the 2012 Games.

Games costs for the BOA, which must raise all its revenues from sponsorship and is not funded by government, are expected to be well over $8 million, which includes running the Team GB holding camp in Loughborough.

IIHF Ups Sochi Rink Size

The International Ice Hockey Federation is going big for the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The 13-member IIHF Council approved Thursday the use of international-sized rinks for the 2014 tournament.

"When an IIHF-sanctioned event takes place in Europe, we should acknowledge the custom on this continent," IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement.

"This decision carries nothing political. The reason is solely based on respecting the tradition and also practicality."

Vancouver 2010 staged its ice hockey competition in North American rinks measuring 60x26 meters, slightly narrower than the standard 60x30m.

Fasel added that decades of research prove neither rink width favors one style of hockey over another.

"The experience shows that the best team wins regardless of which rink you play on," he said.

The Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002 used the international standard, but a total of 27 IIHF competitions in North America since 1972 have gone with the narrower rinks.

Branson, Klitschko Lobby for OIympic Kiteboarding

Richard Branson is among the big names backing a bid for kiteboarding to surf onto the Olympic program in time for Rio 2016.

"It has all the spirit of the original Olympics," the Virgin founder and multi-billionaire was quoted Wednesday by Sail World.

"Men against the elements, women against the elements, tremendous skill, tremendous excitement. It’s also perhaps the best spectator sport. It looks beautiful and any future Olympics that doesn't have kitesurfing in it need to have their heads examined."

Branson’s testimony comes as part of an Olympic campaign that also draws support from 1996 Olympic boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko and two-time Olympic sailing medalist Michael Gebhardt.

All three are listed as Olympic ambassadors by the International Kiteboarding Association, as are a number of kiteboarding world champions.

The IKA is lobbying for one of sailing’s 10 events on the program for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Early Award for Sochi Volunteer Program

Sochi 2014’s volunteer program is already earning praise almostthree years before the Games begin.

Chief organizer Dmitry Chernyshenko was in Barcelona on Wednesday to collect an award named for former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.

"The program of coaching volunteers for the Games is one of the largest scale and most innovative projects undertaken by the Sochi 2014 organizing committee," the Sochi CEO said in a statement.

"The program allows us not only to create the infrastructure for training thousands of volunteers for the Games, but will also help to develop the overall volunteering culture in Russia."

Sochi will train an estimated 25,000 volunteers at 26 organization and performance centers announced late last year by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Recruitment will begin early next year,and training will follow throughout 2012 and 2013. Volunteers will have the opportunity to compete in scheduled test events, another innovative aspect of Sochi’s award-winning program.

IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior presented Wednesday’s trophy in Barcelona.

Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Secretary General

Stanley Mutoya is the new secretary general of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

Mutoya was reportedly appointed to the position Thursday.

He replaces Robert Mutsauki who left the ZOC to become technical director of ANOCA, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

Mutoya joined the ZOC in 2006.

Media Watch

Hugh Pearman, architecture critic for London’s The Sunday Times raves about the 2012 velodrome.

Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin gives the venue a "gold architectural medal".

Rio 2016 profiles its sports director, Agberto Guimaraes.

South Korea is attempting to secure its first medal in cycling.

Written by Matthew Grayson.