Rio Golf Course Dispute; Glasgow Hands Over YOG Bid Book; Buenos Aires En Route

Rio Golf Course Dispute Drags On

Rio 2016 says it’s confident all deadlines for golf course construction will be met despite a land dispute still keeping workers away.

Brazil's Higher Court of Justice decided last week that a Rio tribunal wrongly denied an appeal by Elmway Participacoes and entrepreneur Pasquale Mauro, who claim ownership and are now asking a judge to bar any building at the site.

International Golf Federation executive director Antony Scanlon told Around the Rings last week in Lausanne he expected work on the course to begin this week, but IGF vice president Ty Votaw says the further delay is "not a concern at this time.

"There are some final discussions between the land owner and the organizing committee, and the mayor's office that are just being finalized," he was quoted Thursday in an Associated Press report.

"There is some flexibility," Votaw added. "We could be ready as early as March of 2015 or as late as August of 2015. You could have the test events in 2016 as well."

Rio will host golf’s first Olympics competition in 112 years. Paris and St. Louis staged tournaments at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Games.

Glasgow 2018 Hands Over Bid Book

A new survey says 69 percent of the U.K. believe staging the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Glasgow would "inspire a generation" just like London 2012.

The results, which also indicate 62 percent public support across Britain and 68 percent within Scotland, were released Friday as Glasgow 2018 CEO Paul Bush and a pair of young Glaswegians flew to Lausanne to hand over the bid book at IOC headquarters.

The delegation was waved off at Glasgow Airport by Olympic sprinter Lee McConnell, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson, Scottish minister for external affairs and international development Humza Yousaf as well as Colin Moynihan, chair of the British Olympic Association.

"The Glasgow 2018 Bid Committee understands that sport has the unique power to inspire young people to pursue their dreams, and to unite the youth of the world in a shared commitment to values that have never been more important than they are today," said Moynihan.

"These principles are at the heart of the Candidature File that is being submitted today, and the BOA extends its congratulations to our partners at Glasgow 2018."

Glasgow is the first of five candidates to announce its bid book submission to the IOC ahead of Monday’s deadline. Guadalajara mailed its package last Tuesday, Around the Rings is told, while both Buenos Aires and Medellin will send small teams Monday. ATR understands Rotterdam is also on track.

Buenos Aires En Route

The bid book of Buenos Aires is now bound for Lausanne.

Bid CEO Martin Gomez Tena heads a team that left the Argentine capital Friday and will hand over the candidature file at IOC headquarters Monday.

"One fifth of Argentina’s population is under the age of 18 – we are a youthful, confident and energetic country," IOC member and NOC president Gerardo Werthein said Friday at the delegation’s departure ceremony.

"With Buenos Aires’ vibrancy and dynamic culture we can now help energize the youth of the world by hosting the YOG in 2018."

Mayor Mauricio Macri added: "As a major international capital city, Buenos Aires is a significant economic and commercial hub that can uniquely help the Youth Olympic Games develop and have a long-term sustainable future."

Media Watch

Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that NBC Sports Network will "resurrect" NBC’s coverage of the London 2012 Olympics to fill the vacancies in its programming lineup caused by the ongoing NHL lockout.

Written by Matthew Grayson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.