World Briefs -- IOC Excludes Right to Play; Anglicans Oppose Brothels

Johann Koss says Right to Play will still reach out to athletes at the Vancouver Olympics despite the group being barred from the Olympic Village. (ATR)IOC Excludes Right to Play from Vancouver Olympic Village

The leader of Right to Play tells Around the Rings that his group will still find a way to reach athletes at the Vancouver Olympics even if the IOC says it can no longer be done at the Olympic Village.

“I’m very, very disappointed,” says Right to Play President Johann Olav Koss, speaking by telephone from the headquarters of the humanitarian organization in Toronto.

Koss says he learned late last year, prior to the holidays, that the IOC had decided not to renew the memorandum of understanding with Right to Play. The MOU allowed Right to Play to have a presence in the Olympic Villages of recent Games, including Beijing.

Koss was one of the founders of Olympic Aid, a group formed in Norway prior to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. He donated the prize money from his gold medals at those Games to Olympic Aid, which eventually became Right to Play. The group aids children in distressed parts of the world with sports programs and other projects such as health care and education, often with Olympians heading to project locations.

“We will be present in Vancouver and have a lot of activities planned,” Koss says.

While Koss says initially VANOC seemed to be in support of a Right to Play presence during the 2010 Games, but that the IOC decision not to renew ended that possibility.

"The IOC has extensive peace promotion, humanitarian assistance and environmental programs and is also active in refugee camps. The IOC has decided to focus its resources on these programs," said a statement from IOC media relations manager Emmanuelle Moreau.

"Right to Play will remain a recognized organization within the Olympic Movement and thus enjoy the full respect of the IOC for its activities."

The IOC statement does not mention commercial conflicts as a reason for dropping the Right to Play MOU, which has accepted sponsorships from non-Olympic sponsors, among them Mitsubishi. But in Beijing, Right to Play worked with then-sponsor Johnson & Johnson. Since then, the medical products company has dropped out of the roster of worldwide Olympic sponsors. Koss says he believed that sponsorship issues had been resolved between Right to Play and the IOC.

Despite the difficulties posed by exclusion from the Olympic Village, the deputy director of Right to Play in Canada says his group will still make the most of the Vancouver Olympics to bring athletes to the cause.

“While the Olympic Games have always been an important venue for Right To Play as our heritage lies within the Olympic Movement, this creates new opportunities for us and gives us the flexibility to pursue relationships that will directly contribute to the success of our organization," said Mark Brender.

"This is a critical and necessary next step in Right to Play's growth and its mission to create a healthier and safer world for children in some of the most disadvantaged parts of the world,” he added.

Anglican Opposed to Brothels

Dioceses in the Church of England said they want to avoid the “mega-brothels” at the London Olympics like the ones that popped up during the 2006 World Cup.

Saying combating human trafficking is the way to prevent the sex houses, Rev. Canon Michael Webb of the Newcastle Diocese said, "We do not want this same kind of thing for London 2012.

"Anything like slavery is wrong, but as Christians we are concerned that this is not how God treats people."

Webb added that the government The Anglican church has called on England to crack down on sex trafficking to prevent the spread of brothels for the London Olympics. (Getty Images)needs new laws and enforcement against forced prostitution to prevent the “evil trade.”

The dioceses of Newcastle and Winchester added, "We wish to support and encourage H.M. Government to do everything in its power to ensure that nothing like this is allowed to happen in our cities."

Britain’s interior ministry said in a statement, "We are aware that the preparations for the London Olympics in 2012 could attract criminals who seek to profit from the fact that hospitality, catering and construction workers are required as well as the risk of an increase in prostitution, including those who have been trafficked."

Olympics Could Hurt Afghani War Efforts

Officers in Canada’s armed forces say the Olympics will place strain on the country’s efforts in the war in Afghanistan.

Col. Christopher Coates, the leader of Canada’s air forces in Afghanistan, said the use of helicopters currently deployed in Afghanistan to provide security will place “pressure” on the forces. He wouldn’t say if the Games will hurt the country’s military.

Lt. Col. Jeff Scott, the commander of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron echoed Coates’ sentiments saying the Games will put a “big drain on helicopter resources.” The 408 flies CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

Some 4,000 Canadian soldiers will be deployed to Vancouver for the Olympics. There are currently 2,750 troops in Afghanistan, with most working in the volatile Kandahar province.

Olympic Piano Sold

The Chihuly Olympia piano. The piano designed by U.S. artist Dale Chihuly that was used during the 2002 Opening Ceremonies was purchased by a Florida businessman and Steinway Piano collector.

The one-of-a-kind Steinway featured Chihuly’s distinct blown-glass colors and is a brilliant green color. The piano's striking design features winter images, bright Promethean colors representative of the Olympic spirit, a clear glass piano desk and a translucent glass top - the first designed for a Steinway piano, according to a press release.

DeVoe Moore, who purchased the piano, is well known as a Steinway collector and already owns six other Steinway & Sons pianos. He will display the piano in his museum.

"The Chihuly Olympia is a piano like none other," said Todd Sanders, vice president of sales and marketing for Steinway & Sons in a press release. "It deserves a home with someone who has the vision and imagination to appreciate it. We're very pleased that these magnificent pianos can be viewed and enjoyed by the public in Mr. Moore's museum."

Jose Torres, Silver Medalist in Boxing, 1937-2009

Jose Torres, a silver medalist at the 1956 Olympics, died of a heart attack Monday at the age of 72, according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The Puerto Rican Torres fought in the Light Middleweight division of the Melbourne Olympics where he lost to Olympic legend Laszlo Papp of Hungary.

After his Olympic career, he continued to fight in the amateur ranks for two years, eventually claiming the light heavyweight world championship in 1965. He also served as New York State Athletic Commission chairman.

He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.

"Through his boxing, writing and speaking out on the important issues of our time, Jose was an inspiration to millions of people across the country and around the world," New York Governor David Paterson said in a statement.

Written by Ed Hula, Bob Mackin and Ed Hula III.