Rogge Congratulates Bids; IOC Repairs "On Track"

Rogge on Bid Books

IOC President Jacques Rogge congratulated the three 2020 candidate cities for delivering their bid books to the IOC on Monday.

"The submission of the Candidature Files represents an important milestone for the Candidate Cities and the cities should be congratulated for their excellent work," he said.

Either Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo will be selected as the host of the 2020 Olympics at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 7.

IOC Repairs Complete by March

Repairs to flood damage at Chateau de Vidy, IOC headquarters, are expected to be completed before March, with a ceremony that month to re-open the facility.

"The reparation work on the IOC headquarters is fully on track with staff scheduled to move back to their offices from 14th January," IOC communications director Mark Adams said in a statement to Around the Rings.

ATR was unable to visit the most damaged part of the headquarters Monday, but temporary generators could be seen at the building’s entrance.

ITTF Restructures HQ

The International Table Tennis Federation is doing away with its executive director role following the recent departure of long-serving Jordi Serra.

According to a Saturday statement, the former competition manger for Barcelona 1992 will not be directly replaced due to a restructuring at ITTF headquarters in Lausanne.

Alison Burchell, formerly Deputy Executive Director of Operations, will be promoted to Director of Operations while CEO Judit Farago will assume all Olympics duties.

Media and promotion matters are going to the ITTF marketing office in Singapore, and the Lausanne office will hire a Finance and Administration Manager to handle Serra’s former financial duties, Saturday’s statement indicated.

Cycling Stars Show Squash Support

Some of Team GB’s top athletes are among the latest backers of squash’s bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Cycling champions Victoria Pendleton and Joanna Rowsell as well as bronze medalist rower Greg Searle stopped by The Queen’s Club in London late Sunday for the closing session of the ATCO PSA World Series Squash Finals.

"Squash is a very physically demanding sport and it’s also very spectator-friendly," Pendleton was quoted Monday in a release from the World Squash Federation.

"The nature of the game means that it works really well – it’s fast and exciting – and it has all the qualities required to make it a great Olympic sport. I don’t know why it isn’t in already."

Pendleton, upon meeting women’s world No. 1 Nicol David for the first time, showed the Malaysian her medals from London 2012 and said: "You deserve to have one of these."

Squash is among seven sports shortlisted for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics ahead of a September decision at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires.

Roddick Serves Up Support for Buenos Aires

Andy Roddick says he supports the Buenos Aires bid for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

The former top-ranked tennis player was in the Argentine capital for exhibition matches as part of six-months-to-go celebrations until the 2018 decision.

"I have always been a great supporter of the Olympic Movement and the spirit of Olympism," Roddick said. "I have been lucky enough to represent my country at two Olympic Games and each time it has been a great honor.

"In many parts of the world the values of Olympism can help young people believe in themselves and inspire them to achieve and prosper in the future – not just in sport, but in all aspects of their lives. Olympians of the past owe it to the stars of tomorrow to give young people this opportunity.

"The city has excellent sports facilities that will enable athletes to perform at their very best. It would be a great choice for 2018."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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