IOC Opens Sochi Inspection; Danish Doping Allegations; E&Y Women's Program

IOC Opens Sochi Inspection

The IOC Coordination Commission for Sochi 2014 began its penultimate inspection of the Black Sea resort’s preparations Tuesday.

The ninth visit of the commission led by Jean-Claude Killy is joined this time by leaders of the seven international winter Olympic sports federations.

With less than a year to the Games opening, the IOC will seek assurances that the timetable for delivery on all fronts is being adhered to.

In closed-door meetings, Sochi 2014 organizers will update the IOC panel across areas of preparation including venue and infrastructure construction, accommodation, security, transportation, Games operations, and the Olympic torch relay.

Still to be confirmed is whether the torch relay will be taken into space, as previously proposed.

The Co-Comm will also analyze plans for the client experience, with working groups examining the services to be provided to athletes, National Olympic Committees, spectators, the marketing partners, workforce and the media.

While there is no venue tour plan, the IOC officials will receive an overview of the test event program to date and the facilities still to be tested.

Today, commission members will get a glimpse of the newly stamped Olympic coins. Sochi 2014 said the final two series of coins dedicated to the Winter Olympics and Paralympics are now being put into circulation. The star attractions are several commemorative gold coins weighing between 1 and 3 kilograms.

Russian Olympic organizers say the Sochi 2014 Coin Program will be one of the biggest in the history of the Olympic Movement. From 2011 to 2014, a total of 47 different types of commemorative and investment coins will have been launched. Altogether, the number of coins produced will exceed 46.7 million.

On Wednesday, Sochi 2014 will unveil a new commercial partner.

The signing ceremony will be followed by a press conference wrapping up the two-day IOC visit.

Killy will join Sochi 2014 president Dmitry Chernyshenko and Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli at the news conference.

Ernst & Young Women Athlete Leadership Program

Rio 2016 sponsor Ernst & Young unveiled its Women Athletes Global Leadership Network on Tuesday.

The event took place in Rio.

The professional services firm says the program will connect female athletes with retired athletes who have successfully transitioned to a new career following competition.

"We will also connect these women athletes with our robust business network of top women leaders and entrepreneurs around the world, many of whom have sports in their background," a statement from the company said.

"The network will be designed to share lessons learned from career transitions, to mentor, open doors, create opportunities and inspire the next generation to maximize their potential."

Danish Doping Allegations

Michael Rasmussen says his Danish cycling teammates at the 2004 Olympics used performance-enhancing drugs.

Rasmussen made the comments to Danish outlet Politiken, alleging he and his five teammates used the drugs while staying in the Olympic Village in Athens. They used the banned substances by hiding syringes in battery compartments of electronic devices, he claims.

"We need to get to the bottom of this because it’s absolutely insane if that actually happened," said Jasper Worre, former Danish cycling chief and head of the Olympic team for the Games.

No Danes won medals in cycling at the Games.

In January, Rasmussen admitted to doping during the majority of his 12-year cycling career.

AFP/Deltatre Olympic Partnership

French news agency AFP and Deltatre will partner to provide "Premium Digital Solutions" for clients during the Olympics.Deltatre is a digital sports information company.

The deal was announced Tuesday.

Under the agreement, AFP’s wire service will be augmented with real-time sports information computers and mobile devices.

Announcing the deal, Emmanuel Hoog, Chairman and CEO of AFP, said: "Combining Deltatre’s world-leading sports technology and AFP’s unrivaled editorial content, our clients will have access to a whole new set of premium interactive applications."

TDAmeritrade Expands, Extends USOC Sponsorship

TDAmeritrade will sponsor the U.S. Olympic Committee through the 2016 Olympics.

The brokerage firm first sponsored the USOC for the 2012 Olympics in the online brokerage category but now has the personal investing and wealth management categories as well.

"Our theme, 'It's amazing how far you can go with a little help along the way,' is a powerful message that speaks to all of us, whether you are an athlete going for the gold or an individual investor planning your financial future," said Fred Tomczyk, president and chief executive officer of TD Ameritrade.

Written by Ed Hula III and Mark Bisson.

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