Team GB Football Manager Stresses Olympics; Samsung, Hungary Talk PyeongChang

Pearce Excited About Olympics

Team GB football manager Stuart Pearce says the Olympics are "one of the most exciting" tournaments to take place in England for its young British players.

Speaking on a panel about player development at the Soccerex European Forum in Manchester, Pearce agreed with concerns that there were not enough high level competitions for players aged 18-21 but highlighted the Olympics as a key tournament for the age group.

"I know there was concern about one or two of the British associations losing their independence but I think FIFA has waylaid that and the most important thing I've found in travelling around the country and picking out the players – not only English players – I want to consider is the excitement about the Olympics," he told delegates.

"If we have any level of success I think it could galvanise Great Britain and it really is one of the most exciting tournaments to take place at this age group here."

Pearce, who is the full-time England U-21 manager, said the experience of playing at Euro 96 in England was the best experience of his career.

"The feel-good factor about playing a tournament on your own soil - the only chance I had was Euro 96 – is off the Richter scale," he said. "Hopefully we can harness all of that."

For more from Soccerex, visit World Football INSIDER.

Samsung Chairman, Hungarian President Discuss PyeongChang

The leaders of Samsung Electronics and the Republic of Hungary met in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss working together for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

Kun Hee Lee and Pal Scmitt, both IOC members, met as part of Schmitt’s official visit to South Korea.

A report in The Korea Herald says Schmitt also discussed ways to increase sport participation and promotion of the 2018 Games, while Lee thanked Schmitt for his support in the 2018 race, and Hungary’s support of Samsung.

"Chairman Lee expressed gratitude to President Schmitt for the Hungarian people and government’s support for Samsung, which made visible progress after entering the market about 20 years ago," the paper quoted a Samsung statement.

On Thursday, Schmitt faced increased pressure at home to resign after an investigation found he plagiarized large segments of his doctoral thesis "An analysis of the program of Modern Olympic Games".

The investigative committee from Semmelweis University found "unusually large amounts of verbatim translation" in his thesis, but the university did not issue a final decision on whether his degree should be revoked. That decision is expected later in the year.

Schmitt has denied any wrongdoing, and his critics say the news damages his credibility as Hungarian president, a largely ceremonial role.

2012, 2016 Brazil Medal Targets

As part of its "realistic goals" for the next two Summer Games, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) wants to double its medal haul for Rio 2016.

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, COB president, said at a press conference on Wednesday he hopes Brazilians win 15 medals in London this year, equal to the amount won in Beijing, and ultimately finish in the top 10 of the medal tally when the Games come to Brazil four years later.

"We are always looking to improve, to change, to do what the top countries do," Nuzman said at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. "This is the Olympics in which the committee worked with the greatest intensity to give the athletes everything they need to think only about training, resting and competing."

Brazil is hoping to send 250 Olympians to London this year.

Cavs Big Man Wants Olympic Duty

Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao says he hopes to suit up for his native Brazil at the 2012 Olympics.

"If I'm healthy, I will play in London," he told The Associated Press on Wednesday,adding that he's especially excited about Rio de Janeiro hosting the Games in 2016.

Varejao is averaging 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds this season for the Cavs but broke his right wrist in a game last month and is expected to be sidelined through early April - if not the end of the NBA season.

A national team member since 2001, he helped Brazil win gold at the 2005 and 2009 FIBA Americas Championship. A torn tendon in his right foot kept Varejao from the 2011 edition in Argentina, where his countrymen's runner-up finish qualified Brazil for its first Olympic basketball competition since 1996.

Mardy Fish Unsure About London

USA's top-ranked tennis player says he's undecided about competing at London 2012.

"I have a lot of great memories from the Olympics, and I have a lot of tough memories from the Olympics, as well," world No. 8 Mardy Fish told reporters in Miami, where he plays in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson open later Thursday.

"I haven't decided yet. It sounds amazing. My memories from Athens I'll always have. So we'll see."

Fish won a silver medal in singles at the 2004 Olympics but stayed home in 2008 along with countryman Andy Roddick to prepare for the US Open and other summer hard-court tournaments, an option he admitted Wednesday he may exercise this year too.

"Staying closer to home, playing tournaments that I'm comfortable in," he said. "I think [London] comes up against Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles I ride my bike to UCLA right now, so I'm pretty close there."

Pin Points

Olympianartifacts.com will host an Olympic Memorabilia auction opening Sunday, April 1 at 9 a.m. and closing Monday, April 30 at 5 p.m. EDT. The auction will feature just 15 items with an emphasis on the Games in general and aquatic sports in particular.

The auction includes swimming tickets, trading cards as well as medals. Also included is a St. Louis 1904 participant medal with a starting bid of $17,000. Click here for a full list of the items up for sale.

A large portion of the proceeds will go to the International Swimming Hall of Fame and its programs such as the Olympic and Aquatic Sports Collectors Show, which runs May 10 to 12 at the ISHOF in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Written by Ed Hula III, Matthew Grayson and Evan Owens.

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