UIPM Celebrates Centenary; 2016, 2018 FINA Bidders; Squash Day Stretches 'A' to 'Z'

UIPM Celebrates Centenary

Klaus Schormann is set to preside over the International Modern Pentathlon Union for a sixth straight four-year term.

Elections for all Executive Board Members and committees top the agenda at the 64th UIPM Congress opening Friday in Buenos Aires, where the German will stand unopposed Saturday in the voting for president.

"UIPM is proud and happy that we could finish our process of modernizing our sport in the year 2012, which was our 100-year anniversary of being in the Olympic Games," Schormann said Thursday, referring to the introduction of laser pistols and a combined shooting/running finale in London.

"This 64th Congress will focus mainly on development and the important steps linked to the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and on promotional activities for our wonderful, historical sport."

According to UIPM, the Congress will also act as a celebration of modern pentathlon’s centenary as a member of the Olympic Movement.

Meetings run through Sunday in Buenos Aires.

Bidding for 2016, 2018 "Short-Course" Worlds

It’s a three-way race for hosting rights to the World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2016 and potentially 2018.

Though eight national federations initially expressed interest back in July, only Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and a joint bid from Windsor, Canada and Detroit, Michigan submitted formal candidatures by Monday’s deadline.

Voting will top the agenda for a Dec. 11 meeting of the FINA Bureau in Istanbul on the sidelines of the so-called "short-course" world champs for 2012.

"If two bids are judged capable," says FINA, "the Bureau will award the organization of the two editions at the same time." Otherwise, a separate process for 2018 will be organized at a later date.

After the 2012 edition in Istanbul, the event heads to Doha in December 2014 when the Qatari capital will also stage the 3rd FINA World Aquatics Convention.

Investigation Continues Into Korean’s Controversial Celebration

FIFA is asking the Korea Football Association for more information about Jongwoo Park’s post-match celebration at the London Olympics.

According to Yonhap news agency, FIFA's legal affairs division is giving the KFA until Oct. 27 to submit any additional documents pertaining to Park, who brandished a sign saying "Dokdo Is Our Territory" after South Korea beat Japan for the bronze medal at the Games.

Dokdo is the Korean name for the Liancourt Rocks, a tiny cluster of islets in the Sea of Japan to which both countries lay claim.

"I believe FIFA has been careful because this is an unprecedented case," a KFA official was quoted in the Yonhap report. "Our chairman Cho Chung-yun will travel to FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, this week to meet with officials there and have further discussion on Park's case."

After the match, Park’s bronze medal was withheld by the IOC, who is waiting for FIFA to complete its disciplinary case before taking a final decision.

Korean officials are so far backing Park, insisting he did not plan the gesture but was passed the sign by a supporter in the stand.

Both the IOC and FIFA prohibit political statements on the pitch.

World Squash Day Stretches "A" to "Z"

As many as 40,000 players from Argentina to Zimbabwe will take part Saturday in World Squash Day.

The World Squash Federation announced Thursday that more than 750 squash clubs in 72 countries are signed up for the so-called World 2020 Challenge organized on behalf of the sport’s Olympic bid.

"It just shows the solidarity for the World Squash Federation," President N Ramachandran tells Around the Rings.

WSF CEO Andrew Shelley adds: "It's very encouraging to see that these clubs are showing such passion to support the bid and are doing so on court – not only primarily promoting squash locally but also demonstrating all the positive attributes that squash can bring to future Olympics."

Squash’s goal for Saturday is create the biggest match in history. Clubs are invited to field two teams of 20 players, each of whom will compete against his or her opposite number in one game up to 20 points. The scores from every club in the world will count towards an overall global result between Team Squash and Team 2020.

Squash is among eight sports shortlisted by the IOC for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics.

Reported by Matthew Grayson

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