Pan American Games, PASO Assembly
The largest multi-sport event of 2011 kicks off Friday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dubbed Fiesta de las Americas or "the Americas' party" in English, more than 6,000 athletes from the 42 member countries of the Pan American Sports Organization will compete. Adding extra fire to the competition, 15 sports will have qualification spots for the London Olympics on the line.
On the program are the 26 Olympic sports as well as some notable non-Olympic disciplines such as baseball and softball. Basque pelota, 10-pin bowling and water skiing are some of the other unique events on display.
Games organizers have come under fire for their preparations, most notably for venues being well behind schedule for construction. One source within the PASO movement said he expects "everything will fall into place" but did not express high hopes for the Games themselves.
Before sports start, PASO will hold its general assembly Monday through Wednesday.
Around the Rings will be on the scene for the Assembly andthe competition.
IOC Athletes' Forum
President Jacques Rogge and 15 of his IOC colleagues are in Colorado Springs, Colorado alongside Olympians and Paralympians past, present and future for the 5th International Athletes' Forum.
The two-day gathering running Sunday and Monday is the first chance for Olympic leaders to gauge the reactions of athletes to last week's landmark doping decision as well as an early opportunity for nearby Denver to potential itself for a potential 2022 Winter Games bid.
Rogge will speak Monday to the forum and is expected to comment on the next steps the IOC might take to restore its stricken "Osaka Rule". The IOC Athletes Commission will then meet Tuesday morning.
Sportel Monaco
Sportel Monaco, a trade show for high-level executives in sport media, runs Monday through Thursday of this week. On Monday, a presentation is scheduled called: "Olympic Games - The Lean Forward Revolution in Sports". ATR will have a correspondent at the event.
World Champs in Gymnastics, Fencing
The artistic gymnastics world championships in Tokyo continue until Sunday.
Meanwhile, the fencing world championships in Catania, Italy also run through Sunday.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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