PyeongChang Expands Dream Program; Karate OKs Hijab; Putin Signs Sochi Bills

Dream Program Kicks Off

The 10th edition of the Dream Program kicks off in PyeongChang this week with 13 countries participating for the first time.

Scheduled for Jan. 5-16, the program will take place at the Alpensia resort, where many of the 2018 Olympic venues are located.

A new addition for the 2013 edition is a "master class" session with Olympians providing one-on-one training with participants.

Started in 2004, the Dream Program invites children to PyeongChang from countries where winter sport is unavailable.

A total of 166 participants from 40 countries are expected to take part.

Karate Approves Islamic Headscarves

Muslim female athletes may now wear the hijab in competition, the World Karate Federation announced Thursday.

After studying the Islamic headscarf and its use for more than two years, the WKF Executive Committee approved a single model of black color that covers the head and the back of the neck while sporting a WKF logo.

"The World Karate Federation has been always sensitive to the diversity of the whole karate family across the five continents," said a Thursday statement from the WKF.

"From this reality, and from the authority given by the 100 million karate athletes worldwide, the decision to approve the hijab is historical and confirms the universality and the integration power of the sport of karate and of the WKF."

The hijab has been a hot topic in some sports, particularly football, for the past few years.

FIFA fielded complaints from the Football Federation of Iran last year after its women’s team was banned from an Olympic qualifier because of its Islamic dress. At the time, FIFA insisted team officials were well-aware that the hijab is banned for safety reasons – and has been since 2007. FIFA also banned Iran in April 2010 for similar kits. Its girls instead opted for specially made caps at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Putin Signs Sochi Bills

Russian president Vladimir Putin signed into law two bills related to the Sochi Olympics.

The first is an anti-scalping law which sets maximum penalties of more than $30,000 for scalping, and the second caps hotel prices in Sochi during the Games at $450.

Grenada PM Congratulates James

The Prime Minister of Grenada congratulated Kirani James for his Spirit of Sport Award. James won Grenada’s first medal when he won gold in the 400m at London 2012.

"We were all excited with the athletic achievement of Kirani on the stadium tracks at the Olympics but the heart of this champion was displayed when the world also took notice when he swapped bibs with double amputee, South African athlete Oscar Pistorius," a statement on Prime Minister Tillman Thomas’ website said.

"People celebrate champions and the world took notice when this Grenadian star athlete did something selfless, especially when tradition suggests that the first priority for individual competitors is to receive the accolades from their adoring fans."

The Spirit of Sport Award was given to James on Dec. 28.

Calls for Olympic Darts

World champion Phil Taylor says he’d be "chuffed to bits" if darts ever joined the Olympics.

"I don't think it'll be in my lifetime but you never know," the Brit told BBC Sport late Tuesday after claiming his 16th World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London.

"You'd have a good atmosphere," he added. "It'd be exciting to watch (at the Olympics)."

Taylor’s comments came in response to a Tweet posted during the competition by Clive Woodward, the World Cup winning ex-coach of English rugby who served as director of sport for the British Olympic Association until October.

"Darts is definitely an Olympic sport," he told his followers.

"Look at fans, TV coverage, audience and real skill under pressure."

With the program for the 2020 Games getting finalized this year, 2024 is the earliest darts could hope to join the Olympics.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.

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