Afghan Stadium Reopens; Coe Toasts Media; Denver Mulls 2022 Bid

Afghan Stadium Reopens

The president of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee reopens Kabul’s Ghazi Stadium –once the site of executions by the Taliban.

Mohammad Zaher Aghbar and other dignitaries were on hand for Thursday’s ceremony.

"Of all the international projects implemented in Afghanistan, this is one of the most popular, it enjoys the support of all Afghans," he was quoted by Reuters.

"The place that once was used to execute people during the Taliban, and then football played on their blood, is now turned into a peaceful place.

"Sport helps societies get together, it will strengthen our national solidarity,"

General John Allen, commander of the NATO-led ISAF and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, added: "We will continue to partner very closely with General Aghbar and other ministries that can help the Afghan youth and can help to organize and increase the sports programs."

Seb Coe Toasts London Media

London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe asks for the understanding of journalists as the "hard work begins" for organizers of the Games next year.

Coe spoke at a holiday drinks reception for the press held Thursday night at the Soho Hotel.

Coe said the final months to the Games will be complicated in many ways but said the communications team at London 2012 stands ready to help with answers.

The reception was hosted by Coe along with CEO Paul Deighton and ODA chief John Armitt. About 100 turned out for the reception, including all the major media outlets in London as well as international news agencies.

IOA Powerless to Boycott Olympics, Says President

The head of the Indian Olympic Association says the NOC can protest Dow Chemical’s sponsorship but not boycott the Games.

AFP reports that Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Friday only the Indian government can decide upon a boycott.

"It's for the government to take a decision on this. We will write to the government saying that it's a sensitive issue and they should tell us what action is going to be taken," he was quoted by the French news agency.

The IOA executive board decided Thursday that they would write a protest letter to the IOC over Dow’s Olympic sponsorship.

Dow has been linked to a disasterin 1984 in Bhopal, India where a pesticide plant leaked gas and killed thousands. In 2001, Dow bought Union Carbide Corporation, which held more than half of the shares of the responsible company at the time of the incident.

Activists and Bhopal survivors claim Dow has failed to compensate victims and that the company should not be associated with the Olympics.

The IOA hopes the company will be dropped as a sponsor, says Malhotra.

"It is unethical and unacceptable under the Olympic Charter that such a tainted company is associated with the Olympic Games," he told AFP.

"It has been said that Dow bought the original company long after the tragedy, but the case is still going on and process of payment of compensation is not yet over."

Denver Mulls 2022 Bid

The only city to reject hosting the Olympics is forming an exploratory committee to bid for the 2022 Winter Games.

In a statement announcing its creation, The Denver Exploratory Committee says it will meet "in the coming weeks" to evaluate a bid,and report to Colorado governor John Hickenlooper and Denver mayor Michael Hancock.

"The opportunity to pursue the Games is an endeavor worth taking very seriously," Hickenlooper said. "We’ve asked this exploratory committee to explore all issues relevant to Denver potentially submitting a bid to the USOC. Those issues include making certain any bid would be financially sound and will help economic growth in the state. We would also want to find ways to showcase Colorado as the healthiest state in the nation for work and play no matter of a bid’s outcome."

"The combination of natural winter resources, healthy lifestyle and a pro-business environment would make Denver a strong applicant to host the Games," Hancock said. "But first we’re going to ask the right questions and make sure we’re satisfied with the answers. The work by the Denver Exploratory Committee will begin laying the groundwork for a larger conversation about Denver playing host to the Olympics."

A U.S. bid must first be approved by the USOC, which has insisted it is not considering an Olympic bid.

Arab Games Update

Doha 2011's website is getting an impressive numberof visitors from both Arab and Western countries, according toQatar Olympic Committee press chief Hassan Abdullah Al Muhammadi.

More than 1,700 journalists are covering the ongoing Arab Games, which arebeing held in theGulf region for the first time. Around 6,000 athletes from 21countries are taking part in thetwo-week multi-sport event ending Dec. 23. Strife-tornSyria is the only country sitting the Games out.

"Media presence at the 2011 Arab Games has reached record numbers," Hassan said Friday during a press conference at the Main Media Center in Doha.

"In addition to the coverage of print, audiovisual and electronicmedia, there is also a huge presence on social media sites.

"For example, Facebook where the 2011 Arab Games page has reached15,000 fans, and the Youtube channel which receives a high number ofvisitors from Arab countries and from all over the world.

"Our subscribers include the IOC and LOCOG," headded.

Hassan also announced that telecommunications company Q-tel, one of Doha 2011's main sponsors,will honour Qatar's medal winners during a Tuesdayceremony at Aspire Academy. Thehosts have won 22 gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze after a full week of competition.

IOC Awards Broadcast Rights to Octagon

Octagon has broadcast rights for the London Olympics in sub-Saharan Africa.

The IOC awarded Octagon with the exclusive terrestrial television and non-exclusive radio and mobile platform rights in the region.

IOC executive board member Richard Carrion, who led the negotiations, said this deal is a new approach for the IOC in terms of broadcast rights in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Our new partner Octagon has acquired the rights and will now begin to look for broadcast partners, who will be able to utilise a broadcast feed tailored for Sub-Saharan African viewers," said Carrion.

"We will be working closely with Octagon to ensure that the widest possible audience has access to the London 2012 Olympic Games."

Innsbruck 2012 Torch Lighting

Innsbruck 2012 CEO Peter Bayer and a small delegation from Austria will travel Saturday to Olympia to light the flame for next month's first-ever Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Bayer, Austrian Olympic Committee president Karl Stoss and AOC secretary general Peter Mennel will be among those in the delegation joining IOC president Jacques Rogge, director general Christope de Kepper and Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli at the lighting ceremony.

The Olympic flame returns to Innsbruck the same day and will go on display in a specially made cauldron in the city center for 10 days before the start of the torch relay on Dec. 27.

Media Watch

Sports Features Communication has an exclusive interview with former PyeongChang 2018 chair Jin Sun Kim about starting the PyeongChang organizing committee.

Qatar’s efforts to win the 2020 Olympics are profiled in this AP report.

With reporting from Ed Hula in London and Ann Cantrell in Atlanta.

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