Paralympic Flag Arrives in Rio; Russian Probe Uncovers Olympic Fraud

Paralympic Flag En Route to Rio

Rio 2016 will waste no time getting the Paralympic Flag back to Brazil.

Less than 24 hours after receiving the Flag during Sunday’s closing ceremony, Mayor Eduardo Paes will land at Rio’s international airport Monday at 8 p.m. local time.

"It makes everyone in Rio and Brazil very proud to receive the Paralympic Flag from our friends here in London," Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman said of Sunday’s handover.

"We will ensure the great work here in London to promote inclusivity, accessibility and the great sport of the Paralympic Games will continue in Rio."

Nuzman, Rio governor Sergio Cabral, Brazilian Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons as well as select Brazilian athletes are also aboard the flight back to Rio and will participate in a press conference following the Flag’s arrival.

Russian Probe Uncovers Olympic Fraud

An investigation into a Russian company contracted to provide visa support to the nation’s athletes for the Vancouver Winter Olympics has revealed it stole and laundered $629,000.

A report by RIA Novosti said the probe into the misuse of government funds to prepare athletes by then-President Dmitry Medvedev had lifted the lid on the financial misappropriation of funds by the Europroject company.

The company’s two top officials are accused of stealing funds in collaboration with two men from another firm, according to the news agency.

Vladimir Markin, an Investigative Committee spokesman, said that in 2009 and 2010 they created what appeared to be services for issuing visa documents to athletes of the Russian teams, and also to provide information technology support at sports events.

"In this way they stole more than 20 million rubles, having presented the state contracting authority ... with obviously fraudulent documents that the work had been completed," Markin was quoted as saying.

The four men have reportedly been charged with fraud.

McIlroy Clarifies Rio Plans

Top ranked golfer Rory McIlroy insists he’s still undecided about who to represent at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

McIlroy, whose Northern Irish heritage would allow him to play for either Great Britain or Ireland when golf returns to the Games after a 112-year absence, took to Twitter on Monday incensed that a Daily Mail interview was dominating headlines more so than his third win in four starts.

"I wish to clarify that I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation in the next Olympics," he wrote in an open letter posted to his Twitter account.

"On a personal level, playing in the Olympics would be a huge honor. However, the Games in Rio are still four years away and I certainly won’t be making any decisions with regard to participating any time soon."

The clarification comes less than 24 hours after the Daily Mail reported he was leaning toward Team GB.

"What makes it such an awful position to be in is I have grown up my whole life playing for Ireland under the Golfing Union of Ireland umbrella," McIlroy was quoted by the British tabloid. "But the fact is, I’ve always felt more British than Irish."

Gymnastics, Cheerleading Union Ink Agreement

SportAccord appears poised to welcome the International Cheer Union after signing a trilateral agreement with the International Gymnastics Federation and the ICU.

Gymnastics president Bruno Grandi and secretary general André F. Gueisbuhler added their signatures Aug. 29 at FIG headquarters in Lausanne with ICU counterparts Jeff Webb and Karl Olson in attendance.

According to Grandi, the document "sets out clearly and in a way that satisfies all of the parties involved, those specific activities for which the FIG and the ICU will each assume direct responsibility".

The ICU had applied to join the umbrella body for international federations ahead of SportAccord 2012 but decided to postpone its application before membership voting on the final day of meetings in Quebec City.

"The ICU's membership application will be on the agenda of the next General Assembly," SportAccord president Hein Verbruggen confirmed Monday.

ICU president Webb added: "Our Union is very proud to have taken this positive step forward and we would like to thank our partners and co-signatories of this agreement. SportAccord membership would open up new horizons for the ICU in terms of its development and its profile on the international stage. It is also important for our 103 national federation members as well as over three million cheer athletes worldwide."

Olympic Fever

Watch for some big names to show up for the 31st Olympin Collectors Club Memorabilia Festival from Sept. 28 to 30 in Atlanta.

The city is home to a large number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Their alumnae organization has been working with Olympin and will have a reunion in conjunction with the show. That means there will be 15 or more Olympians and Paralympians attending the show at various times. At least 10 will attend the Friday dinner, with more involved on Saturday. Several are planning to have tables on Saturday where they will have memorabilia for show and / or sale. Most will be available for autographs and pictures, including special guest Pat McCormick, the only double and back-to-back gold medalist in women’s diving.

Other confirmedOlympians and Paralympians attending the show include Dennis Berkholtz (handball, 1972 and 1976);Bob Pickens (wrestling, 1964);Mel Pender (athletics, 1968) andTommie Smith (athletics, 1968).

The event is set for the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown. Tables are still available for vendors; a banquet, reception and auction are on the schedule. Admission is free.

To book a table or to check updates, visithttp://www.olympinclub.com/benefits_fair.html.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Mark Bisson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.