Olympic Newsdesk -- Swiss Studying Bid; Queen's Baton from Pakistan to India

Switzerland Continuing to Study Olympic Bid

The Swiss Olympic Association executive board decided it will continue to study a bid for the Winter Olympics.

The decision came Friday following the report of a task force led by former SOA chief executive Marco Blatter. The task force was studying the feasibility of a bid, as well as what problems a Swiss bid faces, and if the country could overcome those obstacles. What was not answered is which Games Switzerland might seek.

According to a statement posted on the SOA website, there is "a chance of success" for a Swiss bid if several problems can be addressed.

Having Olympic-quality accommodation, a sustainable sport infrastructure and the ability to circulate thousands of athletes, officials and spectators throughout small Switzerland are the biggest potential hang-ups for a Swiss bid.

One condition must be met, however, before Switzerland would bid for an Olympics, says the report.

"The only chance for a possible candidacy…is to have the support of the entire country," said Jörg Schild, President of the SOA.

Members of the SOA EB will now study the task force’s report in depth to determine what is needed to finalize a Swiss bid.

In April, an SOA spokesman told Around the Rings if Annecy, France or Munich won the right to stage the 2018 Olympics, Switzerland would not consider a bid for the 2022 Games.

Commonwealth Games Chief Says Relay Shows Sport’s Importance

Michael Fennel, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, tells Around the Rings, the Queen’s Baton Relay travel between Pakistan and India shows the power of sport.

Fennel said the stop will help build friendship through sport.

"Here it is we have a situation where there’s a very sensitive relationship between Pakistan and India as two countries" he said.

"We feel that in keeping with our motto and what we do as a friendly games and building friendships the symbolichandover of the Queen’s Baton from Pakistan to India would be a nice occasion to show we can be friends all over the world through sport."

The Queen’s Baton passed through the India/Pakistan border Friday, 100 days to the games.

Suresh Kalmadi, the head of the Delhi organizing committee and Indian Olympic Association was the first person to carry the baton in India.

Concerns had been raised about the pace of construction and security for the Games but Fennel said the reports he received on the Games’ progress are "very positive".

"Certainly everything is moving on track a lot of work is yet to be done but they’re working well and the work ethic is good.

"There is a big security conference again at the end of July where we do a big review with all our international partners.

"I think it’s going to be a very spectacular Games" he added.

TOP Celebration

The IOC celebrated the 25th anniversary of the TOP sponsor program at the tony Palace Hotel in Lausanne Thursday night.

Many of the pioneers of the TOP program -- the IOC’s biggest sponsors -- attended the reception, including a number with companies that are no longer involved with the Games.

Gerhard Heiberg, IOC Marketing Commission chair, hosted a dinner thanking the sponsors for their support of the Olympic movement.

Richard Pound, one of the IOC members who helped start the TOP program gave a speech at the dinner, as did other founders.

A cocktail session with the Marketing Commission and Jacques Rogge preceded the dinner.

Juan Antonio Samaranch and Horst Dassler, one of the founders of Adidas, were given special recognition for creating the TOP Sponsor program. Pound and Michael Payne were commended for putting the plan in place and making the TOP a reality.

Written by Ed Hula III.