LOCOG Unfazed by Case; New IOC Commissions; UK Bid for Athletics Worlds

LOCOG Unfazed

A potential court case between LOCOG and the British Olympic Association will not impact the 2012 Olympics.

The issue is how to divvy up marketing revenue from the Games. The BOA claims its slice of the money will leave it cash-strapped, while LOCOG says the allotment is fair.

In a statement provided to Around the Rings, LOCOG says "This is a technical point and we are confident it will be resolved.

"This will not affect the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, which LOCOG is completely focused on. Neither will it affect our athletes. The sporting bodies who prepare the British athletes, including the BOA, have given assurances that the athletes preparation for London 2012 will not be affected."

New IOC Commissions

The IOC unveiled its commission list for 2011.

None of the commissions have any new chairs however, two few remain. With the conclusion of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games, their respective Coordination Commissions are no longer active.

Two notable additions are U.S. Olympic Committee president Larry Probst joining the International Relations Commission and USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun added to the Marketing Commission.

In a statement, Blackmun said: "Larry and I are honored to join these very important commissions. We are grateful that the IOC has selected us to serve alongside so many important leaders of the Olympic Movement, and we look forward to working on behalf of the worldwide Olympic Movement."

The USOC has spent the past few years attempting to repair its relationship with the IOC and the Olympic Movement as a whole. The appointments could be seen as fruits of their work.

UK Athletics Confirms Bid for 2017 World Champs

London will vie for the 2017 World Athletics Championships after the 2012 Olympic Stadium’s once-murky future compromised a bid for 2015.

UK Athletics confirmed its intention Friday in an announcement expected ever since last month’s long-awaited legacy decision ensured the stadium’s running track would live on after the Games.

"The World Athletics Championships is the greatest sporting event never staged in the UK and we’re committed to changing that," UKA chairman Ed Warner said in a statement.

"We are a leading host for major sporting events and we have the experience and expertise to deliver a World Athletics Championships that will make the IAAF proud."

London is so farthe only city in the running. Formal bids are due to the IAAF by Sept. 1. An evaluation visit and presentation will follow in October, and a decision is expected in November.

Phone App Fights London Grime

A new cell phone application is mobilizing Londoners to help clean up their city ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

The aptly titled "Love Clean London" lets users photograph graffiti, litter and improperly disposed garbage, then upload those pictures to an online map of so-called "grime crime". Participating boroughs receive email notification of the report and then know exactly where to target their clean-up resources.

"In tough financial times, this smart use of technology can deliver genuine savings whilst encouraging people to take an active pride in their localenvironment," London mayor Boris Johnson said in a statement.

The app was developed by Lewisham Council and is available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 platforms.

Scam’s Over for Olympic Funding Fraudster

A London man will serve three years in prison for scamming Olympic hopefuls.

Reuters reported Friday that Mark Cas, 46, drew top athletes to his Croydon-based business by promising them lucrative sponsorships ahead of the 2012 Summer Games.

Global Sponsorship Group also pledged to pay a regular income and cover training expenses, reportedly prompting some clients-turned-victims to give up their dayjobs.

2004 Olympic 4x100m champion Mark Lewis-Francis was among those British athletes to pay the roughly $800 initial fee for the company’s supposed services.

Cas was found guilty Thursday of two counts of fraud by false representation, for which he will serve three years.

Briefs ...

... British prime minister told Iran if they boycott the 2012 Olympics they will not be missed. Speaking to Jewish News, Cameron said the Iranians’ belief that "Zion" was contained in the London 2012 logo is "completely paranoid". "Adding "if the Iranians don't want to come, don't come - we won't miss you."

... Ken Tupua was elected as the new head of the American Samoa National Olympic Committee. Tupua replaces Ben Solaita who died in January. He was unopposed in his election. Preparing for the Pacific Games in August is his top priority he said.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.