Recession Not Issue for Madrid Olympic Bid, Says Minister
New statistics confirm that the Spanish economy has slipped into recession. The figures show that the economy shrank by .3 percent in the first quarter, the second consecutive quarter for a decline, meeting the technical definition for a recession.
But Minister of Education, Culture and Sports José Ignacio Wert tells news agency EFE that the economic situation won’t hurt the Madrid Olympic bid.
Acknowledging the difficulties faced by Spain, Wert said that by 2020 nobody expects the economy to remain in recession until then.
Wert noted that 84 percent of the venues needed for a Madrid Olympics are in place, which he says will minimize the cost of preparations.
But projections from Madrid Mayor Ana Botella that the Madrid Olympics would create about 320,000 jobs are under fire by an opposition leader on the Madrid city council.
Spokesman Angel Lopez expressed doubt over that figure, claiming it is eight times more than the Olympics-related jobs created in London.
Lopez says Botella’s claim about jobs is based on information from the failed bids from Madrid for 2012 and 2016.
Botella says the 1992 Games in Barcelona resulted in 260,000 jobs.
Spanish unemployment stands at 24 percent.
Nuzman Draws Challenger
Eric Maleson, president of the Brazilian Winter Sports Confederation announced his intention to run for president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB).
Maleson, who competed in bobsleigh at the 2002 Olympics, hopes to defeat Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Rio 2016 president and COB chief since 1995.
Elections are scheduled for October.
Maleson also serves as vice president of the International Bobsleigh Federation.
It is unknown if Nuzman will draw any other challengers, although rumors have circulated that others may also run.
Switzerland Doubles Up
Swiss curlers are crowned world champions for the second time in two months.
Martin Rios and teammate Nadine Lehmann topped Sweden 7-6 in Sunday’s final game of curling’s mixed doubles world championship in Erzurum, Turkey.
The gold medal came five weeks after Switzerland won the women’s world title in Lethbridge, Canada and marks the country’s fourth mixed title in the event’s five-year history.
Instead of the normal four players, just two – a man and a woman – compete on each mixed doubles team.
The event made its Olympic debut at January’s inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, and the World Curling Federation is pushing for its inclusion at PyeongChang 2018 as well.
Dae Sung Moon Fallout
IOC member from South Korea Dae Sung Moon has offered to resign his professorship at Dong-A University after it was discovered he plagiarized his doctoral thesis,Yonhap News Agency reports.
Dong-A University is also reportedly looking into allegations that Moon plagiarized his Master’s Thesis as well.
He served as a professor of taekwondo, the sport in which he won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.
TSE Consulting Expands into Singapore
TSE Consulting now has a presence in Asia with the opening of a Singapore office.
Kenneth Quah, a Singapore native who has been based in the TSE headquarters in Lausanne, will lead the new office.
"We are pleased to have Kenneth, a native to Singapore and an experienced TSE Consultant, take the lead of our new office, said Lars Haue-Pedersen, Managing Director of TSE.
"From Singapore he will enable us to better serve our clients in the region and at the same time expand our reach to new areas throughout Asia.
"The Asian market is very active in hosting events and using sport to reach government objectives."
TSE Consulting helps public sector clients use sport to achieve various goals.
"One School - One Country" Sochi 2014 Program Launched
Sochi 2014, in cooperation with the Russian Education Ministry and the City Administration, launched the "One School – One Country" scheme for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
During the program, students at each school in Sochi will create educational projects and arrange presentations related to one country participating in the Games.
Steven Mesler, a U.S. Olympian in bobsleigh, kicked off the program in a video.
Written by Ed Hula, Ed Hula III, Matthew Grayson and Evan Owens.
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