Rogge Recovering; EOC, EU Commission Talk Matchfixing; BOA Chairman Election

(ATR) IOC president Jacques Rogge is said to be convalescing well following hip replacement surgery and is expected back at work in a few weeks.

Rogge had "routine hip replacement surgery" earlier this month and has been recuperating at home in Belgium.

"We expect him to be back as planned, at the beginning of October," an IOC spokeswoman told Around the Rings.

The 70-year-old is not expected to be traveling extensively in his first few weeks back at the helm of the IOC.

His first major trip following the surgery may be the London 2012 debrief in Rio de Janeiro in mid-November.

Matchfixing on EOC Meeting Agenda

European Olympic Committees officials hold their annual meeting with EU Commission chiefs Wednesday in Nicosia, Cyprus, where matchfixing is one of the top agenda items.

Folker Hellmund, director of the EOC’s EU office in Brussels, tells Around the Rings that the fight against matchfixing and the EU’s sports funding and structural funding programs will be the main topics of discussion at the summit.

"There are a lot of activities going on from different stakeholders, the IOC, EU and Council of Europe. We are trying to get closer to each other," he said.

The Council of Europe is drafting plans for an international convention on matchfixing, Hellmund revealed. Discussions will take place Wednesday about the format of the inaugural meeting.

"That is a very important issue where we have a big interest," he said of the need to exchange ideas and best practices to tackle match-rigging across sports. European football’s governing body UEFA has launched a major crackdown on matchfixers in the past two years.

EOC president Pat Hickey and Denis Masseglia, president of the French NOC, are among EOC representatives at Wednesday's meeting.

BOA Chairman Elections Set

The British Olympic Association will elect a newchairman on November 7.

Potential candidates must first submit documents in writing by September 24 to Odgers Berndtson, an international executive recruiting firm.

The elections will take place as part of the BOA's annual general meeting.

Colin Moynihan, the incumbent chairman, announced he was leaving the post shortly after the London Olympics. He has served as BOA chairman since 2005.

LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe is seen by many as the favorite to succeed Moynihan after saying last week: "I have been asked and I'm happy for my name to go forward."

QR Stamp for Sochi

Sochi 2014 is making postal mail a little more digital.

On Tuesday, the Olympics organizing committee unveiled a stamp designed as a QR code.

When scanned, the code directs usersto the Sochi 2014 website. A total of 540,000 copies of the 25 ruble stamp will be printed.

"Today we have taken a step into the future with the launch of the Sochi 2014 stamp with QR code incorporated, which is the first of its kind both in the history of Russia and the Olympic Movement," Sochi 2014 CEO and president Dmitry Chernyshenko said in a statement. "The new stamp will really add some sparkle to the Sochi 2014 Philatelic Program and build on a range of distinctive and innovative Sochi 2014 souvenirs, such as 3D credit cards, coins and the Games Mascots!"

Phelps, Felix Feted by USOC

Michael Phelps and Allyson Felix are the U.S. Olympic Committee's athletes of the year. The women’s eight rowing team were named the team winners with Jessica Long, Raymond Martin and the men’s quad doubles wheelchair tennis team taking Paralympic honors.

"Through their commitment to excellence on and off the field, these athletes represent our country with incredible grace and composure, and their outstanding achievements are an inspiration to all Americans," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.

A ceremony at the U.S. Olympic Assembly this week will honor the winners.

Written by Mark Bisson and Ed Hula III.

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