IOC, Korean Presidents Meet; JOC Investigates Federations; USOC Plans Road to Sochi

IOC, Korean Presidents Trade Honors

IOC President Jacques Rogge awarded Myung Bak Lee the Olympic Order on Friday, while the Korean president honored Rogge with the Order of Sport Merit.

The ceremony took place Friday during a visit of the two presidents at Blue House, the presidential residence in Seoul.

"Sport in Korea is clearly a national priority," Rogge said in a statement on the IOC website. "The support from the highest levels of government is clear, the National Olympic Committee is investing heavily in the future of its athletes, and the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee is progressing well in its preparations for the Games. We have been very impressed with what we have seen this week and wish Korea much success in its various sporting endeavors."

Rogge was in Korea to pay a visit to PyeongChang, host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, and to meet with Games organizers.

JOC Investigates Federations

In response to allegations that the former women’s head coach Ryuji Sonoda abused judoka ahead of the London Olympics, the Japanese Olympic Committee said it would investigate those allegations, and all national sport federations to ensure "similar misconduct has not occurred."

Media reports surfaced earlier in the week that Sonoda beat athletes under his tutelage.

The statement from the JOC did not directly name Sonoda or the allegations but said the "inappropriate actions" have "no place in sport and directly contradicts the values of the Olympic Movement."

An emergency meeting was convened by the JOC Executive Committee on Thursday to discuss the allegations.

"We firmly believe in the dedication and integrity of Japanese athletes, and are confident that the Japanese sport community as a whole adheres to the highest levels of conduct and respect," a JOC statement said.

"JOC will implement all necessary measures to ensure that every national sport federation understands the gravity of these recent events and takes whatever steps necessary to ensure that they do not occur in their respective sports. We reconfirm our total commitment to protecting the Olympic Values and pledge our utmost effort to regain complete trust in the Japanese sport community."

USOC Marks One Year to Sochi

The U.S. Olympic Committee will dedicate a week to one-year-to-go celebrations for the 2014 Olympics.

A Feb. 6 broadcast on NBC’s "Today" show featuring Olympians and Winter Olympic sports will be the highlight.NBC will have Sochi 2014 promotions airing throughout the week, as will other USOC sponsors.

"The Road to Sochi is about sharing the inspirational stories of our athletes with the American public ahead of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games," said Lisa Baird, USOC chief marketing officer. "Americans will get to know the 2014 U.S. Olympians and Paralympians better than ever before in the 12 months leading up to the Sochi Games."

Tokyo 2020 Adds Comms Exec

Hisao Shuto is the new International Communications Director for Tokyo 2020.

Shuto previously worked with JAWOC, the organizing committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea, as well as Japan’s professional football league.

Bid president Tsunekazu Takeda described Shuto as "an experienced marketing and communications professional and an enthusiastic sports fan" who will benefit the bid.

"I have seen and felt first-hand the true passion for sport that exists throughout Japan during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan," Shuto said in a statement. "Ever since, I have hoped that Japan could one day host the world’s most inspirational celebration of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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