U.N. Counting Down to Olympics; 30 Days to Daegu; Olympic Anniversary

(ATR) U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon started the United Nations’ Olympic countdown clock, while also offering a glimpse at what is to come for PyeongChang 2018.

On Monday, Ban plugged in a replica of the official 2012 Countdown at the U.N. headquarters with gold medalist Carl Lewis (himself a U.N. ambassador) and British ambassador to the U.N. Lyall Grant.

The event was scheduled to have the clock start ticking almost at the exact minute the Games will start on July 27, 2012.

Naming the clock was the biggest challenge, Ban said.

"We all know of ‘Big Ben.’ So I thought to name it ‘Big Build.’ After all, that is the nickname given by the people of London to the construction being done to prepare for the London Olympic Games.

"Then somebody suggested to me that another possibility, since this will be placed in the United Nations, we might perhaps name it ‘Big Ban?’"

Ban, who is Korean, then joked: "I thought, we had best save that for the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Korea, in 2018!"

"However we refer to this clock," he added "we can be sure of one thing: these Olympic Games will be a big event – not only for the sporting world but for our global mission of peace."

He cited the benefits past Games have had in ending conflict, and noted the London Games’ desire for sustainability, which he said "will be my Number One priority in the years to come."

Ban admitted to Lewis that he is a "fan" of the track legend and was a "hero in the Seoul Olympic Games."

30 Days to Daegu

Countdowns are all the rage this week as South Korean organizers celebrate 30 days to go until the athletics world championships.

"During nine days we will watch the greatest athletes in the world, from more than 200 teams, together in Daegu for the biggest sporting event of 2011," IAAF president Lamine Diack said Thursday in a statement.

"As we approach the last lap, I offer my best wishes to all involved in the organization of the championships."

Roughly 2,000 athletes are expected to compete on and within the host city’s state-of-the-art blue track with events running from Aug. 27 through Sept. 4. More than $7 million in prize money will be up for grabs.

Olympic Anniversary

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics began today, 27 years ago.

The Games were important in shaping the Olympics we know today. They were the first to rely on private sponsorship to fund the Games, creating the model used by organizing committees today.

L.A.’s organizingcommittee was headed by Peter Ueberroth, who later went on to lead the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Among the many highlights of the Games: Edwin Moses won the 400m, Carl Lewis won four gold medals equaling Jesse Owens feat in Berlin, and Nawal El Moutawakel became the first female gold medalist from a Muslim country.

Perhaps the most glaring omission from the Games: the Soviet Union and 13 other countries boycotted the Games in retaliation for the U.S. and other non-communist countries boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Toronto 2015 Troops to Guadalajara

Organizers of the 2015 Pan American Games are in Guadalajara this week to study preparations for this year’s edition.

CEO Ian Troop led a delegation from Toronto to the Mexican host city to meet with both the organizing committee and the Pan American Sports Organization.

"We learned a lot from COPAG team," he said Wednesday in a statementdistributed by PASO.

"With less than 100 days to the opening ceremony know they are busy working to deliver a superb Games."

With 36 sports on the program, Guadalajara 2011 is poised to be the largest multi-discipline event of the year as well as a qualifier for 15 of the 26 sports on the London Olympic program. Events run from Oct. 14 to 30.

Media Watch

Olympic marketing expert Rick Burton explains how companies can make the most of the 2012 Olympics.

A highly visible, but now obscure piece of Vancouver 2010 history is up for sale.

With the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Olympics looming, commentator Frank Deford reminds us that other countries use the same techniques the Nazis did to promote themselves during the Games.

Which stars will shine in Daegu for the IAAF world championships?

Hosts South Korea are aiming to finish in the top 10 of the medal tally.

A Polish Olympian in ice hockey turned Catholic priest has a new ministry: coaching the sport.

A column in The Hindustan Times says India is not prepared for the 2012 Olympics.

Written by Ed Hula III.