World Briefs -- Sochi 2014 Approves Financial Plan; Harbin Considers Bid

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov (right) chaired Wednesday's final Supervisory Board meeting for 2008. (Getty Images)Sochi 2014 Approves 2009 Financial Plan

Organizers of the Sochi 2014 Olympics approved their financial plan for 2009 at the final Supervisory Board meeting of the year.

“In the face of a difficult macroeconomic situation, Sochi 2014 will use an innovative approach towards all its functions, especially in finance,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, president and CEO of the organizing committee.

Chernyshenko did not disclose details of the funding approach following the meeting. “This year the State Duma adopted a law which simplifies the procedure of obtaining work permits in the organizing committee for foreign citizens. This law allows us to employ the best international experts instead of using expensive external consultants,” he added.

Olympic organizers plan to secure some funding from sponsors in 2009. Following the launch of top tier domestic sponsor categories for the 2014 Games earlier this month, SOCOG will be looking to attract partners for six categories: metals, sportswear and apparel, banking, oil, gas and telecommunications.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov chaired the Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board meeting Wednesday. “I am confident that we are laying a strong foundation, which will ensure the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi are staged to the highest level,” he said.

Chernyshenko presented a detailed report about all activities undertaken by the organizing committee this year and detailed some plans for 2009.

“We have already commenced work on Sochi 2014’s 36 functional areas, and in 2009 we will launch 300 new projects. This exceeds the IOC’s expectations,” he said.

Dmitry Kozak, Russia’s deputy prime minister with responsibility for the Olympics, spoke about construction progress for the Sochi Games and the lessons learned from meetings with London 2012 organizers and an inspection of the Olympic Park in the British capital in December.

“As the British are two years ahead of us we were able to see the challenges that we may face in 2010, because today London is in our equivalent [position of preparations] of 2010,” Kozak said. “According to our plan, the massive construction of Olympic venues in Sochi will start no later than 2009 and will be completed by 2012 – we are confident we will meet our plans.”

Harbin Sizes Up Bid for 2018 Olympics

China is considering a bid to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics in the northeastern city of Harbin. Harbin will host the 2009 Winter Universiade in February and Chinese officials say the event would be a test of the city's ability to host a Winter Games.

“We are considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, although the decision has to be approved by Chinese sports authorities,” Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province, confirmed to the China Daily newspaper.

“If the hosting of the 2009 Winter Universiade can win applause from all the guests, it will enhance our confidence to bid for the Winter Olympic Games,” Li said.

Harbin has spent $440 million on venues and facilities for the World University Winter Games and is scheduled to host 4,000 athletes for the event.

In November, Harbin was eliminated from the race to stage the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. It also failed in bids to host the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

Azerbaijan President Re-elected to Lead NOC

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has been re-elected president of the country's national Olympic committee for another eight-year term. He has headed the NOC since 1997.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev was re-elected president of the country's national Olympic committee. (Getty Images)At a meeting this week, Aliyev said he was satisfied with the achievements of 2008. “Our sportsmen won seven medals in Beijing. This is a good result, but the performance of the 2012 London Olympic Games should be much better. The problems of the kinds of sports, where no medals were won, should be analyzed, progress should be achieved in London,” he was quoted as saying by Azerbaijan news agencies.

Nairobi, Kenya Plans Bid for 2018 Commonwealth Games

Nairobi, Kenya is making plans to launch bids for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 All-Africa Games as part of its multi-million dollar renewal project.

The bids for the two events are part of the Kenyan capital’s Nairobi Metro 2030 Strategy, which aims to transform the city into a major regional business and tourism hub.

Nairobi hopes to become the first African host of the Commonwealth Games. Two other African cities are also expected to make bids for the 2018 Games – Abuja, Nigeria, which lost to Glasgow, Scotland for the rights to the 2014 Games, and Durban, South Africa.

The largest international competition Kenya has hosted was the 2007 World Cross Country Championship in Mombassa.

NBC to Relive Beijing Olympics in Primetime Special

NBC will take another look at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in a two-hour primetime special tonight at 8 p.m.

The special, called “The Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony: TV Event of the Year," will replay the opening ceremony as well as focus on the highlights of the Games, NBC will broadcast a primetime special on the 2008 Beijing Games, looking back at the opening ceremony and other highlights.(Getty Images)including the eight gold medal-winning performances of swimmer Michael Phelps, and look ahead to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, which NBC will also televise.

Bob Costas and Matt Lauer, who hosted the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing in August, will be the hosts for the special.

Japanese Legislators Form Caucus to Support Tokyo 2016 Bid

More than 200 legislators from Japan’s House of Representatives and House of Councilors have formed a caucus in support for Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The caucus, named the Tokyo 2016 Parliamentary Caucus, was organized at a meeting on Dec. 19 and is a non-partisan group.

The group agreed that both houses of the Japanese Parliament would vote on a resolution to formally support the 2016 Olympic bid in January.

Among those attending the meeting were former Japanese prime minister and Tokyo 2016 Parliamentarian Caucus Chairman Yoshiro Mori; Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Ryu Shionoya and Tokyo Governor and Tokyo 2016 President Shintaro Ishihara.

Briefs…

…Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps continues to rack up the awards. He was selected as the Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year. Phelps received 172 votes, with Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica (5) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (4) also receiving. Phelps’ feat of winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was also selected as AP’s top sports story of the year.

… IAAF President Lamine Diack of Senegal, track and field legend Maria Mutola of Mozambique and soccer player Roger Milla of Cameroon were inducted into the Africa Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Bamako, Mali on Dec. 20. IAAF President Lamine Diack (left) accepts induction into the Africa Sports Hall of Fame. (JAPPO)A number of African sports leaders were in attendance, including ANOCA President Lassana Palenfro and CONFEJES Secretary General Youssouf Fall.

Sports management company, Jappo presented the Jappo Awards during the ceremony. Recipients were: Gambian National Olympic Committee President Alhaji A.B. Dandeh Njie - Fair Play award; former NBA basketball player Dikembe Mutumbo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Humanitarian Actions in Sport award; South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy - Sport Promotion award and Tunisian NOC President Ben Ali - Achievement of Sport award.

…Mongolian National Olympic Committee President Demchigjav Zagdsuren was re-elected for another four-year term during the organization’s quadrennial Election Congress on Dec. 13 in Ulan Bator. A total of 183 delegates from Mongolia’s sports federations, Olympic study centers, Olympic Academy and Anti-doping Agency participated in the voting. First Vice President Danzandorj Bayasgalan was also re-elected for another term.

…Narciso “Ciso” Bernardo, who played basketball for the Phillipines in two Olympics, died of a heart attack on Tuesday. He was 71. Bernardo was a member of the Filipino basketball team at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany. He was named to the Phillipine Basketball Association’s All-Time Mythical Five of Phillipine Basketball in January, 1998 for his accomplishments during his playing career in the 1960s.

…Indonesia is campaigning for the inclusion of sepak takraw, one of the pacific nation’s most popular sports, as an event in the Olympics because of the expansion of the sport in other countries, according to the head of its national organization. “For a certain kind of sport to played in the Olympics it should be participated in by at least 60 countries. The association is confident that it will be realized,” Indonesia Sepak Takraw Association (PSTI) general chairman Syamsurijal said at the opening of the seventh PSTI national summit on Tuesday. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, except that players are allowed to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball.

Written by Mark Bisson and Greg Oshust.