Government Leaders Dismiss Boycott
Government leaders from Germany and the United Kingdom spoke out against a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics this weekend.
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron took to Twitter to address an open letter actor Stephen Fry wrote to Cameron and IOC President Jacques Rogge.
"I share your deep concern about the abuse of gay people in Russia. However, I believe we can better challenge prejudice as we attend, rather than boycotting the Winter Olympics," Cameron tweeted.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called boycotting the games a "mistake."
"This causes more damage to the efforts to protect LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights," said Westerwelle according to media reports. "The Russian government should protect homosexual persons’ rights."
Their announcements follow U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement on Friday that the U.S. would also participate in the Games. It now seems unlikely that any major country would boycott Sochi 2014.
English Sport Legacy
Sport England announced an additional 40 million British Pounds, or $61.9 million in funding for its Inspired Facilities Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund. The increase extends the fund through 2017.
On Monday, 321 sports projects won a share of $25.1 million to be used for improvements to local facilities.
"A year on from the Olympics, it’s inspiring to see how our investment is transforming sporting facilities in hundreds of communities," said Sport England’s Chair, Nick Bitel.
British sport minister Hugh Robertson said the additional funds "demonstrate our commitment to a tangible and long lasting sports legacy" from the London Olympics.
Tokyo 2020 Adds Partner
Rakuten, Inc. is the 21st Tokyo 2020 sponsor. The e-commerce company’s deal was announced on Monday.
"Tokyo 2020 offers certainty in times of uncertainty, and Rakuten’s enlistment as Official Bid Partner underscores the Japanese business community’s strong desire to contribute its knowhow, technologies and creativity toward a dynamic Tokyo 2020," said Tokyo 2020 CEO Masato Mizuno.
IOC Awards TV Rights
Seventeen Asian countries will now be able to watch the 2014 and 2016 Olympics. On Monday, the IOC announced it sold broadcasting for the Games to Dentsu.
The Japanese company will now negotiate rights for Afghanistan; Brunei; Cambodia; Chinese Taipei; East Timor; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Iran; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand and Vietnam.
The agreement comes one month after Dentsu acquired the broadcast rights for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
"An organisation with a long-standing commitment to the Olympic Movement, Dentsu has a proven track record in broadcast rights sales in Asia; and the agreement ensures comprehensive coverage of the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, across Asia," said IOC President Jacques Rogge.
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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