(ATR) #ICYMI -- In Case You Missed It ... Sometimes the best stories don't get the attention we think they deserve. Here are our staff picks for articles this week they really want you to know about.
Lausanne 2020 Mascot Unveiled
The first public appearance of the Lausanne 2020 mascot highlights a "one year to go" celebration in the Olympic capital.
Yodli is described by organizers as "a hybrid animal, composed of several emblematically Swiss animals that live in the Swiss mountains: a cow, a goat and of course a St. Bernard dog.
"Their different characteristics and relationships with the environment are embodied in Yodli, who signifies the diversity of the participants of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020."
The mascot was unveiled on Tuesday nightat the Malley ice rink before the Swiss Ice Hockey Championship match between Lausanne Hockey Club and Hockey Club Davos from the Grisons region. Lausanne 2020 says the game symbolized the true national dimension of the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, which will take place in both of these regions, as well as the Canton of Valais and neighbouring France.
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Bidders Interested in Next Winter YOG
Four countries are reportedly interested in bidding for the 2024 Youth Olympic Games.
Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, and Spain have expressed interest in bidding for the event according to a report from Francs Jeux, which quoted an IOC spokesperson as confirmation.
An IOC spokesperson would not confirm the report when asked by Around the Rings, but said that the "2024 YOG host selection process has not yet been established".
"[The process] will not be launched until after Lausanne 2020," the spokesperson added. "In general, a YOG edition is elected 3 years in advance so around 2021 for the YOG 2024."
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Russia Says WADA Granted Access to Lab
Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov says that the World Anti-Doping Agency has been granted access to the Moscow anti-doping lab to collect data required to be declared compliant.
Kolobkov told state outlet RIA Novosti "the work is in full swing" at the lab. WADA had attempted to collect the data in December, but said the mission was unsuccessful due to Russia demanding that equipment being used to collect the data be authorized under Russian law.
"Today, an expert group, Russian experts, and WADA experts began their work," Kolobkov said to journalists in Russia. "Work began on equipment and equipment installation, including copying the database. It is being held in full coordination. Before that, we discussed all the technical details that fully comply with both the criminal code and the WADA code."
WADA’s Compliance and Review Committee will meet on Jan. 14-15 to make a recommendation about the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s compliance. RUSADA was declared conditionally compliant in September by the WADA Executive Committee, needing to fulfill two conditions.
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Homepage photo: Lausanne 2020
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