Fed Leaders Confident in Plans for Rio 2016 -- ATRadio

(ATR) Newly-elected president of the International Tennis Federation David Haggerty tells Around the Rings that construction on Rio 2016's tennis venue is "coming together well."

Haggerty was elected president of the ITF on Sept. 25 at the federation's general assembly in Santiago, Chile.

Looking forward, he says that outgoing president Francesco Ricci Bitti is a "terrific role model" to help him settle into the ITF presidency.

Haggerty, who spoke withATR editor Ed Hula after his election, said his first order of business is to "build a new team feeling" among federation leadership.

Tracey Gaudry, vice president of the International Cycling Union, also expressed confidence in Rio 2016 during an interview with ATR last week.

The two-time Olympic road cyclist said that a presentation from Rio 2016 at the last UCI congress in September inspired hope in preparations for next year's Olympic Games.

Gaudry spoke with ATR on the final day of the 2015 Road Cycling World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.

Aside from talk about Rio, Gaudry was still brimming with excitement over the addition of the Women's WorldTour (WWT) to the federation's 2016 calendar.

UCI president Brian Cookson, who also spoke withATRat the road worlds last week, said that the WWT is a "major step forward" for women's cycling.

Written and produced byNicole Bennett

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