PM, Mayor Defend Legacy; IOC, Rio 2016 React to Fire

Rogge to Nanjing

President Jacques Rogge faces a full schedule Tuesday in Nanjing, the IOC tells Around the Rings.

Rogge arrives in China late Monday for his second visit to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games host. He also stopped by straight after the 2010 YOG in Singapore.

"His agenda in Nanjing is busy," an IOC spokeswoman tells ATR.

"He will be visiting the Youth Olympic Village, staff and volunteers at the NYOGOC headquarters and [will hold] several meetings with NYOGOC senior management. He will also have a press conference and media interviews and an official dinner in the evening."

Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli and Alexander Popov, who chairs the Coordination Commission for Nanjing 2014, will round out the IOC delegation in Nanjing.

After a whirlwind Tuesday, both Rogge and Felli then fly to Korea to inspect preparations for PyeongChang 2018.

ATR is on the scene for compete coverage of the IOC president’s first visit to the Winter Olympics host.

Cameron, Johnson Defend Legacy

Prime Minister David Cameron and Mayor Boris Johnson say they "won’t let the Olympic Games legacy die" six months after the open of London 2012.

"Six months on we are putting as much focus on the legacy of the Games as we did on delivering the Games in the first place," they write in a joint editorial for Monday’s edition of the London Evening Standard.

"And by learning the lessons of the past we will make sure that the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games ever really do benefit our entire country for generations to come."

Cameron and Johnson cite school sport, volunteerism, the regeneration of the East End as well as the London Legacy Development Corporation’s ongoing promotion of Olympic Park, which includes separate deals signed last week for the Samsung Diamond League to stop by on the anniversary weekend of the opening ceremony and for music promoter Live Nation to host major concerts there this summer.

"The newly renamed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is set to attract a million visitors a year by 2016, with all the economic benefits that increased tourism will bring," the PM and Mayor write.

To read their complete editorial, click here.

IOC, Rio 2016 React to Fire

Rio 2016 and the IOC both extend their condolences to the victims of a fire in a Brazilian nightclub that claimed the lives of more than 230 concertgoers.

A fire broke out following a pyrotechnic display by the band on stage early Sunday.

Funeral services began on Monday, postponing festivities to mark 500 days until the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In a statement released in Portuguese, Rio 2016 said it "deeply regrets the tragedy in Santa Maria," adding that it hoped for a speedy recovery for the victims.

The IOC added it sends "sincere condolences" to those impacted by the tragedy.

"The safety of everyone involved in the preparation, staging and celebration of the Olympic Games is a top priority for the IOC. We work closely with the local organizing committees of the Games to ensure that safety standards meet required international norms, and we have no reason to doubt that Rio 2016 will deliver anything but a safe and secure environment for fans, athletes and workers in three years’ time."

Rio Mascot Update

Rio 2016 met Monday with the 15 companies competing to design the Games mascot.

The meeting was attended by Rio 2016 president Carlos Arthur Nuzman, COO Leonardo Gryner and Paralympic chief Andrew Parsons, among others.

Leaders of Rio 2016 presented an overview of the Games, explained the "essence" of the Rio 2016 emblem and the technical details of the creative work.

"The Mascots mark the Games History," Nuzman said in a statement. "They are responsible for the emotional connection between the Games and the population."

Gryner expanded on the importance of the mascot, saying: "It’s the creation of a character, which needs to be available for various purposes."

With phase one completed, companies will now embark on phase two of the design process, coming up with a draft of their mascot design. A third phase will select a winning design.

A contract of $25,000 to design Olympic and Paralympic mascots will be awarded to the winning firm. The mascots will be unveiled in the second half of 2014.

BOA Launches Supplier Recognition Scheme

In an Olympic first, British companies that helped stage the 2012 Olympics will be able to use the Games to market themselves following the Olympics.

A deal with the British Olympic Association, IOC and the British government was announced on Sunday, allowing "tens of thousands" of British firms involved in the staging, construction and infrastructure to leverage their Games association.

Under the deal, companies can apply for a free license from the BOA that will allow them to promote their work at trade shows, apply for industry awards using their 2012 work and access the Olympic Delivery Authority’s Olympic library.

"I am delighted that those companies that played such a crucial role in making London 2012 an incredible success can now be rightly recognized," said sports minister Maria Miller. "By lifting these restrictions we will be able to maximize the economic benefits from the Games. Now we have removed the barrier, companies can capitalize on the role they played at home and abroad by really selling their involvement in one of the biggest and most successful projects this country has ever put on."

BOA and LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe added: "The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provided Great Britain with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the very best of our what our country has to offer – from our athletes and volunteers, to our history and culture, and of course, the expertise and innovation of British businesses.

"This should be a catalyst in creating new business opportunities and further growth for these companies, and that is an important economic legacy of the Games," he said.

Nine Not Broadcasting 2016

Australia’s Nine Network will not broadcast the 2016 Olympics.

A report in The Australian says the network lost $25 million on the London Games and will not bid for the country’s 2016 broadcasting rights.

Reports say long-time Olympic broadcaster Seven Network is likely to reclaim the rights for free-to-air broadcasts. The Ten Network faces a tight budget, and will likely be unable to match Seven’s offers.

Foxtel may retain the pay-television rights with Seven, much like it did with Nine for the 2010 and 2012 Games.

TSE Adds Advisor

TSE Consulting added Helmut Digel to its roster of Academic Advisors.

Digel has worked in sport at the Institute of Sport Science at the University of Tuebingen in Germany, the National Olympic Committee of Germany and International Association of Athletics Federations, where he served as vice president for six years.

"Being able to contribute my knowledge and experience will be an exciting endeavor," he said. "Being in contact with TSE and their other Academic Advisors will certainly bring new and innovative ideas to the table."

TSE's Academic Advisors are a group of nine researchers who keep the firm abreast of the latest research trends.

Managing Director of TSE Consulting Lars Haue-Pedersen said: "Dr. Digel is very well respected and admired and so we are very pleased to have him join our Academic Advisors. We forged a relationship with him through our work at the IAAF and look forward to further developing this. There is no doubt he will bring fresh perspectives that will be of value to many of our client assignments.

Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.

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