Qatari Heir to ANOC; New Job for Furlong; Coe's Medal Predictions

Qatari Heir Pitches ANOC

The heir apparent of Qatar will headline Doha’s presentation to the ANOC General Assembly, the first international campaigning for the five 2020 bids.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee and chairman of Doha 2020, will speak during Saturday morning’s 10-minute presentation to leaders of the world’s National Olympic Committees convened in Moscow.

"This General Assembly marks an important moment in the development of ANOC. We have an opportunity to present the different visions for the 2020 Games and we have seen a significant development in the leadership of the organization," the IOC member said in a statement.

Doha 2020 vice chairs Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, CEO Noora Al Mannai, Barcelona 1992 bronze medalist miler Mohammed Sulaiman and swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakji, who will form part of Qatar’s first female delegation to an Olympic Games at London 2012.

"We want to use our presentation to set out the exciting and unique opportunities that we believe Doha 2020 offers to the Olympic Movement," added Al Mannai.

"We want to show that this is a special time in our region, a time to Inspire change among young people and to help empower girls and women through sport."

Coe: "China, USA, Then Russia"

LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe says he expects China to overcome the U.S. atop the total medals table at London 2012.

"I think it will be China, USA and then Russia," Coe told The Associated Press on Thursday.

"Look at the way the Chinese have ranged far wider than some of their staple sports like gymnastics," he added. "They have strength in the pool, women's football. It's going to be a truly global Games."

For comparison, China narrowly lost out to the U.S. in overall medals (100 to 110) at the Beijing Olympics but easily topped Team USA (51 to 36) when ordering by IOC convention of gold medals won.

Team Great Britain finished fourth in 2008 – one ahead of Australia, six ahead of Germany – and is targeting the same this Summer Games.

"The Germans are probably going to bring the strongest team they've ever brought," Coe told AP.

"The French are very, very strong this time, and the Australians will think fourth place is very much up for grabs. We (Britain) could end up with more medals than we got in Beijing and maybe not finish fourth in the medals table."

New Job for Furlong

John Furlong, former CEO of VANOC, has a new role in the Winter Olympic city of Vancouver.

Whitecaps FC announced Thursday that he will join the Major League Soccer franchise as executive chair effective immediately.

"I look forward to being part of this next chapter and contributing everything that I can to help all areas of the club succeed," Furlong said in a statement.

"As a lifelong supporter, I know that the experience for fans at a Major League Soccer match is unique, unlike any other sport, and we have only just begun to explore its enormous potential."

Whitecaps FC joined the MLS last year and finished 6-18-10 in 34 matches, good for last in the league.

IOC Hosts 2018 YOG Bidders

The six bids for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games are fresh off a workshop at IOC headquarters.

"I would like to thank the IOC for what has been a hugely valuable process," Glasgow 2018 director Paul Bush said in a statement from the British Olympic Association.

"It has also been a privilege to meet and engage with our colleagues from across the world who are also bidding to stage the event," he added about the April 11-12 meeting.

Poznan, Poland; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Guadalajara, Mexico; Rotterdam, Netherlands and Medellin, Colombia are the other five cities. The field could be shortlisted by the IOC Executive Board on Feb. 12 and 13 after a technical review of their formal candidature files, due in Lausanne by Oct. 15.

The IOC will then pose additional questions to those cities still in the running with video conferences between the bid committees and Evaluation Commission scheduled for March 2013and a report to follow in May.

An election will be included on the program when IOC members gather in Lausanne in July 2013 for the technical briefing on the 2020 summer bids.

IOC Taps New Medical Director

Olympic champion rower Richard Budgett will succeed Patrick Schamasch as the IOC’s medical and scientific director.

Budgett, a former team doctor for British Bobsleigh and longtime chief medical officer of Team Great Britain, now serves as CMO for LOCOG but will take over in Lausanne following the Olympics. Schamasch is set to retire then after 27 years.

"Dr. Schamasch will leave the IOC after many years of outstanding service," IOC president Jacques Rogge said Friday in a statement.

"We are pleased to have found such a capable replacement in Dr. Budgett, with whom we first became acquainted as an Olympian and later through his work with Team Great Britain and LOCOG".

Budgett will be charged with assisting Games organizers, updating the IOC’s medical policy and running doping control, among other responsibilities.

Coe, Chernyshenko Headline ATR Newsmaker Breakfast

"Breakfast with Seb and Dima" – next Monday's Around the Rings Newsmaker Breakfast – is set for the Fusion Plaza restaurant, 2nd level (street mall) of the World Trade Center Moscow.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, and Dmitry Chernyshenko, president and CEO of Sochi 2014, will join Ed Hula, editor of ATR.

The event is sponsored by ISM Ltd., the IOC's worldwide exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee, and The Concerto Group, London's premier events planning organization.

Space is strictly limited. Click here for more information, and RSVP to Harriet Drinkwater of The Concerto Group.

Written by Matthew Grayson

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