Pan American Games; U.S. TV Rights Update; Beckham for Samsung Olympics

Pan Am Village Construction Shut Down

Construction of the athletes’ village in Guadalajara is at a stand-still until Pan American Games organizers can comply with city council requests.

Mexican news media indicate government officials told developers Wednesday they must add eight hectares of land to the project, now 80 percent complete, as well as change the number of parking spots to better fit with its legacy mode.

The shut-down comes on the heels of a court-ordered work stoppage issued in response to complaints from the townspeople of nearby Zapopan that building the so-called Villa Panamericana would harm their supply of drinking water.

Despite the legal hurdle, the organizing committee COPAG kept its builders at work until late Wednesday when Zapopan authorities forced the construction site's closure, according to a Reuters report.

Efforts made by ATRthroughout Wednesday to contact both COPAG and the Pan American Sports Organization for comment have been unsuccessful.

With 36 sports on the program, Guadalajara 2011 is poised to be the largest multi-discipline event of the year as well as a qualifier for 15 of the 26 sports on the London Olympic program.

Olympic Rights to be Settled

June 6 and 7 are apparently the dates the IOC will select a U.S. Olympics broadcasting rights-holder.

New reports indicate the IOC will hold meetings with U.S. broadcasters interested in showing the 2014 and 2016 Games on those dates and select a broadcaster during that time.

Around the Rings was the first to report that the IOC had hoped to secure a deal prior to the IOC Session in Durban, South Africa this July.

Efforts made Wednesdayby ATRto confirm June 6-7 as the bidding dates have not been unsuccessful.

"As I've told you, our aim is to get it done before the Session," Puerto Rican IOC member Richard Carrion, the IOC's lead negotiator for U.S. TV rights, told ATR.

"I don't want to be any more specific than that at this point."

NBC hold the rights for London 2012 and has shown every Olympics since Nagano in 1998.

The interested networks will reportedly make presentations to the IOC, then present their secret offers for the rights packages. NBC paid $2 billion for the Vancouver and London rights packages.

Three of the four major broadcasters, ABC, Fox and NBC are expected to be the frontrunners.

Beckham Seeks Olympic Football Role

David Beckham says he's keen to be part of the Team Great Britain side at the London 2012 Olympics.

"So far I've heard that I'm going to be managing, coaching, playing, so we'll see. I would like to be part of it in some way," the former England captain told Sky Sports after signing a major sponsorship deal Wednesday to be Samsung's global brand ambassador for next year’s Summer Games.

"I'd love be a player in it, of course, but to be just part of that team would be pretty incredible because for a football team to go into the Olympics in England is a huge thing."

Beckham, who will be 37 by the time of the Olympics, is unlikely to figure as a player in the U-23 squad. FIFA rules allow for only three over-age players.

"Playing would be a bonus," said the LA Galaxy player, who was a key figure in the London 2012 bid team that won the Olympics in 2005.

He added: "To be part of the bid team that brought the Olympics to my manor, I am incredibly proud to be part of that. I have always been so proud to represent my country in many different ways especially when I have played on the field.

"It's [the Olympics] going to be an amazing occasion."

Beckham clocked up 115 appearances for England - a record for an outfield player - and was part of Fabio Capello's England coaching staff at the South Africa World Cup. He missed out on playing for England at the tournament due to an Achilles tendon injury.

Beckham, who was born Leytonstone, east London, only a single tube stop from the 2012 Olympic Park, begins his Samsung ambassador role with immediate effect. He'll be responsible for helping to raise the profile of the Korean electronics giant's sponsorshipof London 2012 as a Worldwide Olympic Partner.

Beckham is set to appear in multi-platform adverts and public relations campaigns, covering various elements of Samsung's 2012 marketing program.

For more on his role with Samsung, visit World Football Insider.

Competition, Cash a Plenty for IAAF Worlds

The IAAF confirms that 201 of its 212 member federations are taking part in this summer's Daegu World Athletics Championships, the biggest sports event this year.

The world governing body for athletics said Wednesday a total of $7.3 million would be available in prize money.

A $100,000 bonus is on offer for any athlete who notches a world record at the track-and-field champs, whichrun from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 in the South Korean city.

As the IAAF’s flagship event, the biennial world champs are nearly as big as the Olympics. For comparison, 204 NOCs competed at the Beijing Games.

London Assembly Taps New Sport Chair

Dee Doocey is the new chair of the London Assembly's economy, culture and sport committee for the next year.

Part of her remit is to help ensure a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics, "in particular equipping young people with skills, giving local people priority over housing, and improving local sports facilities".

Doocey is deputy chair of the assembly, the 25-member body which acts as a watchdog on decisions and actions taken by London Mayor Boris Johnson to ensure he delivers on his promises to Londoners.

Media Watch

Halfpipe skiers are starting to feel like Olympians following the IOC’s decision to add the discipline to the Olympic Program.

A local paper relives the 1960 Squaw Valley Games.

Philip Hersh of The Chicago-Tribune criticizes Jacques Rogge for not taking a stronger stance on the death of Osama bin Laden.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.