Olympic Newsdesk - Peace and Sport Passes Flag; "No Stress" Over Sochi World

Sochi Takes Peace and Sport to New Venue

After five years in the Principality of Monaco, the Peace and Sport International Forum heads abroad for the first time, to Sochi in 2012. The 2014 Olympic city will host the three-day event at the end of October.

The Peace and Sport flag was handed over to Sochi mayor Anatoly Pakhomov by Prince Albert II in the final minutes of the 2011 forum Friday. Albert, also an IOC member, is the patron of the Monaco-based organization.

"It’s a big responsibility that lays on our shoulders but we will not let you down," pledged Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko at the handover ceremony.

"We are well-trained to take care of flags. We already have two, one from the International Olympic Committee, one from the International Paralympic Committee. Now we have a third," he quipped.

The 2011 forum drew about 500 delegates from 100 nations, including a half-dozen heads of state, plus sports ministers, IOC members and numerous NGOs involved in peace and sport activities.

Peace and Sport founder and president Joel Bouzou rates this edition of the forum as the best ever.

"We had great representation and people put a real passion for delivering the message they wanted to deliver from whatever region, whatever group of society they were from," he told ATR.

Confidence for Brazil with New Sports Minister

The IOC says it’s that Brazil's new sports minister, Aldo Rebelo, will keep the Brazilian government on task for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Rebelo replaces the embattled Orlando Silva, who resigned over corruption allegations. Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's president, appointed Rebelo on Thursday.

According to media reports, the IOC says even with the change an "excellent" relationship remains with the Brazilian government as well as the confidence that "this change will not impact preparations for Rio 2016."

Rebelo served as a high-ranking minister in the administration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and led the lower house of Brazil's parliament.

Silva denied the corruption charges even as he resigned on Wednesday, the sixth minister to do so since Rousseff’s inauguration in January.

"No Stress" Over Sochi World, Says Chernyshenko

Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko tells Around the Rings he is unfazed by Westminster City Council’s expected rejection of Russia’s plans to build a party venue in central London ahead of London 2012.

"It’s a normal working process," Chernyshenko says. "We submitted an application that they considered. They’ve got some comments and concerns that we will consider and all the requirements will be faced."

Unveiled by Olympic organizers in April, the proposal was for a development at Marble Arch to promote the Winter Games from May through October. Sochi World was to have staged ice-shows and cultural events and was expected to attract 8,150 visitors per day.

But a recommendation was made Thursday to reject the ambitious plans on six grounds following widespread opposition from police, transportauthorities, English Heritage and conservation experts. Among their concerns were traffic congestion, excessive pedestrian crowding, security and environmental issues.

Whether the plans will be revised to move Sochi World activities away from Marble Arch but keep them in the Hyde Park area – as suggested Thursday to ATR by an official with the Russian Olympic Committee – remains to be seen.

"It’s a landmark, and I’m sure that we will find a solution and make the treatment of the project satisfy the Metropolitan Police. I do believe the solution will be positive and Sochi Center in some way will be presented in the heart of London at Marble Arch," Chernyshenko tells ATR.

"Considering that we’ve got more than nine months ahead, we’re pretty confident that we will find a solution, so no stress."

IOC Evaluates Nanjing 2014 Progress

The IOC Coordination Commission for the 2014Youth Olympics wrapped up a visit to Nanjing, China on Friday.

The Co-Comm noted the progress made by the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee since its last visit in January.

"There have been some major developments since our last visit earlier this year, which is testament to the efficiency and professionalism of the Nanjing Organizing Committee," said Co-Comm chairman Alexander Popov.

"The Nanjing 2014 team has truly embraced the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games and its vision is now becoming a reality."

In the past six months, NYOGOC created a Games emblem, marketing program and volunteer recruitment program as well as finalized concepts for the Culture and Education Program.

Construction has also already started on the Youth Olympic Village, slated for completion by April 2014.

Dual Meaning for World Judo Day

Around the world on Friday people are celebrating the first annual World Judo Day.

"For the very first time in history, a full day dedicated to our sport has been set up. I know that many of you across the planet have prepared a special event to celebrate the educational dimension of Judo," wrote Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, in a message on the World Judo Day website.

The day marks the beginning of the 2011 world championships in Tyumen, Russia as well as the birthday of the sport’s founder, Jigoro Kano.

"When Master Jigoro Kano created judo in 1882, he wanted to create a means of education and he did it. This is the foundation of our discipline," wrote Vizer.

"Nowadays, I want this dimension to be better known by all the judoka and generally speaking by everybody."

Written and reported in Monaco by Ed Hula and in Atlanta by Ann Cantrell

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