Ghana Considers Lawsuit Against IOC; UN Secretary General to IOC; Beach Volleyball Venue

(ATR) The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it has yet to receive a threatened appeal from the Ghana Olympic Committee over its suspension from the IOC.

Speaking to ATR, Katy Hogg, a spokeswoman for the Court of Arbitration for Sport says "CAS has been informed that an appeal could be filed by the NOC of Ghana against the decision of the IOC EB of last Thursday."

But Hogg says no appeal has been registered so far.

Hogg said the time limit is 21 days to file a case with the court.

The IOC Executive Board suspended Ghana after exhausting efforts to persuade the Ghanaian government and sports ministry to revise sports legislation that is in breach of the Olympic Charter.

The IOC requires national Olympic committees to have complete autonomy from the government.

Currently, the government says it has the power to name leaders of the national sports bodies.

Benson Baba is listed by the IOC as the president of the GOC, although he lost a 2009 election to Francis Dodoo, a professor in the United States. Dodoo was believed to be backed by the national government.

Reports in Ghanaian media cite an anonymous "high placed" government source saying the government has "contacted some seasoned lawyers and will soon begin the process" to challenge the EB decision.

The Ghanaian report says "the IOC has been completely misled by the Benson Tongo Baba-led GOC".

If the suspension stands, Ghanaian athletes could be blocked from competing under their national flag at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Kuwait is currently the only other one of 205 NOCs under suspension over charges of government interference.

Ghana’s Olympians have won four medals at the Games: a silver in boxing in 1960 , a bronze in boxing in 1964 and 1972 and a football bronze at the 1992 Olympics. No African country had won a medal in football at the Olympics before.

Nine athletes represented Ghana at the Beijing Olympics, with six coming from boxing.

Ghana made its first Olympic appearance in 1952 as the Gold Coast. Since then it has appeared at every Olympics except the 1956, 1976 and 1980 Games.

Ban Ki-moon to IOC

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

His visit, which was announced Tuesday, is part of an official visit to Switzerland where he will meet with several non-governmental organizations.

An IOC spokesperson tells ATR the visit will take place Jan. 25, with more details coming.

2012 Beach Volleyball Venue

Beach volleyball will be played at Horse Guards Parade during the 2012 Olympics.

LOCOG announced the Westminster City Council’s Planning and City Development Committee decision on Tuesday.

Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: "I am delighted that we have received permission to go ahead with our plans and thank Westminster City Council for their support."

In mid-June of next year, a temporary stadium seating 15,000 will be constructed.

Comcast NBC Deal Wins Approval

The merger of NBC Universal with Comcast is approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Justice Department.

The approvals were needed for the deal to be finalized. The $30 billion merger was announced in 2009.

The government agencies imposed some conditions on the merger that are supposed to prevent the new company from stifling competition in the broadband marketplace. Together, NBC and Comcast reach nearly 40 million customers by cable or broadband connection.

NBC is the rights holder for the U.S. TV rights to the Olympics through 2012. Government approval of the merger with Comcast, the final steps needed for the deal to close, will help set the stage for NBC to enter the bidding for the 2014/2016 Olympics, supposed to open later this year.

NBC Universal Sports chairman Dick Ebersol will remain with the new company to lead the bid for the next U.S. rights package.

Women’s World Hockey Championships Announcement

The site of the 2012 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships will be announced Wednesday, and ATR has learned Burlington, Vermont is likely to be the host.

A source within USA Hockey tells ATR the women’s world championships is the next major event to be hosted in the U.S., and that the announcement will take place in Vermont, adding "you can draw your own conclusions".

Burlington was competing for the right to stage the tournament against Rochester, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., Minneapolis, Minn. and Kalamazoo, Mich.

The tournament is scheduled for April 6-15.

Written by Ed Hula III.