"Taking the pulse" will be the theme of the next IOC Session in one year's time. And if they aren't careful, the IOC could go on life support.
Tromso just dropped out of the 2018 Winter Games bidding, citing escalating costs for it's government. The worldwide credit crunch has hit the bids. Another issue that is to be decided is if the current IOC President, Jacques Rogge will stick around for another term. And it's the once-every-ten-years-or-so IOC Congress. Whew-there is going to be enough to keep everyone busy.
The upcoming IOC Session will be a good opportunity to seriously examine the future of the IOC, the bid process itself, and where the IOC will be going in the next five, ten, fifteen or so years. Taking stock of itself, you could say. I would hope this time, they buckle down and take stock of the serious issues that have been sorely neglected during the Rogge presidency. We've discussed some of them here. Otherwide the next IOC president will have a mess to clean up on their hands.
It concerns me that the same issues that seem to come up again and again at an IOC Session are the ones that the IOC very publicly chooses to ignore: the escalating costs of bidding, despite Dr. Rogge's commitment in 2003 at Prague "to bring the costs of the Games down", the continued issues in regards to doping, and now, issues that have come up regarding the ages of athletes in certain competitions. Enough already!
My hope for Copehagen is that the Session and Congress will take on these issues, so we can move on to more new and positive aspects of sport that enrich all our lives, to the betterment of all concerned.
It will be a good way to avoid declaring the IOC DOA.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Denver-not so fast!
They're at it again.
Didn't they go thru this once before-and tell the IOC to stick it where the sun doesn't shine?
The Metro Denver Sports Commission thinks they can bring an Olympics to Denver. Remember the last time Denver was actually awarded the Games, only to have the tree-huggers vote the Games out of town? Innsbruck, Austria saved the day, and in turn, saved the IOC from major embarassment.
I recall a conversation I had with a senior IOC member in regards to a possible Denver bid. He told me it "would be a cold day in hell" before the IOC would ever award another Games to Denver, all because of "what happened the last time."
Sport Accord to be held in Denver next March is sure to have some hot and heavy discussion regarding any Denver bid. My personal opinion is that Denver would best be served if they forgot about the Olympics and tried to lure another major sports event, such as the Super Bowl to Denver, that would have less risk and less chance of failure, due to the amount of public money that is needed to finance a bid versus committing hundreds of millions of public money that in the end might not be successful.
Save your money, Denver. Your citizens will thank you in the end.
Didn't they go thru this once before-and tell the IOC to stick it where the sun doesn't shine?
The Metro Denver Sports Commission thinks they can bring an Olympics to Denver. Remember the last time Denver was actually awarded the Games, only to have the tree-huggers vote the Games out of town? Innsbruck, Austria saved the day, and in turn, saved the IOC from major embarassment.
I recall a conversation I had with a senior IOC member in regards to a possible Denver bid. He told me it "would be a cold day in hell" before the IOC would ever award another Games to Denver, all because of "what happened the last time."
Sport Accord to be held in Denver next March is sure to have some hot and heavy discussion regarding any Denver bid. My personal opinion is that Denver would best be served if they forgot about the Olympics and tried to lure another major sports event, such as the Super Bowl to Denver, that would have less risk and less chance of failure, due to the amount of public money that is needed to finance a bid versus committing hundreds of millions of public money that in the end might not be successful.
Save your money, Denver. Your citizens will thank you in the end.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
How old are you?
That's the question being asked by the IOC this week in regards to the Chinese gymnasts who have raised suspicions with various sport governing bodies in regards to their ages. The Chinese authorities have turned over copies of documentation, such as passports, residence permits and ID cards to prove the ages of the 2008 gold medal team are within the 16-years old minimum age limit.
I watched some of the gymnastics events. If all of those kids are at least 16, then there is a bridge somewhere that is for sale. One of them looked awfully young. I have heard thru the grapevine that one of them is all of 11 years old. Some of the members of China's 2000 Sydney gymnastics team are also being investigated. If it turns out some of these girls are under age, it throws the medal placements into chaos.
China's "win at all costs" attitude got them into trouble. And it's victims are the youngest ones, pawns in a closely-crafted propaganda machine, that awards deceit and punishes honesty.
No one knows what the eventual outcome of this is going to be, but one thing is for certain: we haven't heard the last of this one yet.
A case of child abuse: legally sanctioned by the Chinese government.
And this is only the beginning.
I watched some of the gymnastics events. If all of those kids are at least 16, then there is a bridge somewhere that is for sale. One of them looked awfully young. I have heard thru the grapevine that one of them is all of 11 years old. Some of the members of China's 2000 Sydney gymnastics team are also being investigated. If it turns out some of these girls are under age, it throws the medal placements into chaos.
China's "win at all costs" attitude got them into trouble. And it's victims are the youngest ones, pawns in a closely-crafted propaganda machine, that awards deceit and punishes honesty.
No one knows what the eventual outcome of this is going to be, but one thing is for certain: we haven't heard the last of this one yet.
A case of child abuse: legally sanctioned by the Chinese government.
And this is only the beginning.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bye Giselle
Come the end of November or thereabouts, the Olympic media office will have one less person we have come to know. It's definitely going to be a loss.
Giselle Davies was (and still is!) a class act. However, I understand her decision to step down after six years. Being the Director of Communications, and all that goes with it takes a lot out of you-especially the travelling. She has said she "wants to start a new chapter both personally and professionally" in her life.
I had another friend who worked in the press office. She cited similar reasons for wanting to get off the treadmill and put down roots. It's tough to have any resembalance of a life when one's job takes you to London, Sydney, Beijing and all points inbetween.
She has been entirely supportive of me-and that means a lot. Considering that what I have written has many times not been entirely complimentary regarding IOC activities, she certainly has supported my right to say it. Sometimes painful things have to be said-and I can't think of a better person to leave the Communications department in good hands than her.
I only hope her replacement will continue her high standards and fairness. I have seen her handle uppity press people (you know who you are!) with grace and style. I wish her all the best.
What next for her? At this time, no one has said and if they know, it's being kept close to the vest. I personally would like to see her write a book, and knowing where the bodies are buried will make for very interesting reading. I would love to read what she has to say after she leaves that she probably couldn't have said before.
Happy trails Giselle. You've more than earned this next chaper in your life-and it's going to be a good one!
Giselle Davies was (and still is!) a class act. However, I understand her decision to step down after six years. Being the Director of Communications, and all that goes with it takes a lot out of you-especially the travelling. She has said she "wants to start a new chapter both personally and professionally" in her life.
I had another friend who worked in the press office. She cited similar reasons for wanting to get off the treadmill and put down roots. It's tough to have any resembalance of a life when one's job takes you to London, Sydney, Beijing and all points inbetween.
She has been entirely supportive of me-and that means a lot. Considering that what I have written has many times not been entirely complimentary regarding IOC activities, she certainly has supported my right to say it. Sometimes painful things have to be said-and I can't think of a better person to leave the Communications department in good hands than her.
I only hope her replacement will continue her high standards and fairness. I have seen her handle uppity press people (you know who you are!) with grace and style. I wish her all the best.
What next for her? At this time, no one has said and if they know, it's being kept close to the vest. I personally would like to see her write a book, and knowing where the bodies are buried will make for very interesting reading. I would love to read what she has to say after she leaves that she probably couldn't have said before.
Happy trails Giselle. You've more than earned this next chaper in your life-and it's going to be a good one!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Getting ready for another busy year
We've been busy, but we haven't forgotten about you! Many thanks to my loyal readers. We're coming up on our first anniversary and I thank you for your support. There's going to be lots of stuff to discuss in the run-up to Copenhagen 2009, so stay right here!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Ring that bell!
First off, I will say I don't care much for John McCain. I care even less for his trophy wife. But there is one thing both presidential candidates agree on that I can approve of: tying the attendance of George Bush at the 2008 Olympic Games to human rights improvements in China.
According to a report in Around the Rings, Barack Obama said any attendance should be tied to China's improvements in their relation to the Dalai Lama. John McCain has said attendance should be tied to overall human rights improvements. It's not a popular subject with most writers and even less with those that are toeing the party line of their media employers (and there are a LOT of those around.)
Some people have said Barack Obama's comments could hurt the Chicago 2016 bid. I really don't think they will have much of an effect, since they are already in trouble, with their avoidance of the issues and refusal to answer some vital questions regarding the city's rogue cops and how they would handle policing and security, should the IOC award the Games to that city.
You don't usually get straight talk from politicians, especially in an election year. But McCain himself has said he has "bucked the party line" with his stance on some of the issues. It took a lot of guts for him to say what he did and I applaud that. But it won't be enough to garner my vote.
After the November elections, I think it will be a new day in terms of the US's relationship with the IOC, and the bidding process overall. My gut feeling is that this is going to be one ugly and bitter election in Copenhagen, the likes of which we haven't seen since Moscow 2001. And that is when corners get cut, and people start to take shortcuts. The USOC needs to keep a watchful eye on things, especially after November, otherwise you are going to see some people slide back into the old ways of doing things, which the IOC has fought a great battle to clean up.
But we're digressing here a bit. It's refreshing to see two presidential candidates tell it like it is (and how it should be) with our relationship to China and tying that relationship to improvements in human rights. I expected it from Obama and got caught by surprise by McCain.
How about us "catching some others by surprise" and holding them responsible?
And you don't have to wait for November to roll around to do it.
According to a report in Around the Rings, Barack Obama said any attendance should be tied to China's improvements in their relation to the Dalai Lama. John McCain has said attendance should be tied to overall human rights improvements. It's not a popular subject with most writers and even less with those that are toeing the party line of their media employers (and there are a LOT of those around.)
Some people have said Barack Obama's comments could hurt the Chicago 2016 bid. I really don't think they will have much of an effect, since they are already in trouble, with their avoidance of the issues and refusal to answer some vital questions regarding the city's rogue cops and how they would handle policing and security, should the IOC award the Games to that city.
You don't usually get straight talk from politicians, especially in an election year. But McCain himself has said he has "bucked the party line" with his stance on some of the issues. It took a lot of guts for him to say what he did and I applaud that. But it won't be enough to garner my vote.
After the November elections, I think it will be a new day in terms of the US's relationship with the IOC, and the bidding process overall. My gut feeling is that this is going to be one ugly and bitter election in Copenhagen, the likes of which we haven't seen since Moscow 2001. And that is when corners get cut, and people start to take shortcuts. The USOC needs to keep a watchful eye on things, especially after November, otherwise you are going to see some people slide back into the old ways of doing things, which the IOC has fought a great battle to clean up.
But we're digressing here a bit. It's refreshing to see two presidential candidates tell it like it is (and how it should be) with our relationship to China and tying that relationship to improvements in human rights. I expected it from Obama and got caught by surprise by McCain.
How about us "catching some others by surprise" and holding them responsible?
And you don't have to wait for November to roll around to do it.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Seven years ago today...
...I was on a trip that would change my life-literally.
But little did I know that at the time. Everyone else knew it, except me. I was too busy working my fanny off to do battle with people who said they couldn't be taken to task, that they deserved the big prize, after Sydney beat them out.
They ultimately were proved wrong, in one sixty-second exchange, that sent 600 reporters running to their computers and the auxiliary media work room across town going dead silent. A buddy of mine was in there, and later on that day, we met up for a drink and I asked him what the reaction was.
"You could have heard a pin drop", he said. Another guy was overheard to say "She's nailed it."
When someone came up to me later and said that I "was quite prepared", I had to respond by saying that I had no choice. I was a one-man band, going up against people who had been doing this for ten, twenty or more years. With j-school degrees.
My qualifications? A passion for justice, spurned by the senseless beating of a dear friend of mine, which eventually required her to be on a medivac flight back to her home country. I didn't want it to happen to anyone else, and I wasn't prepared to toe the Party line either that so many folks here in this country were all to eager to appease.
I can't believe it's been seven years. I am still quite humbled at the years since. It's been an amazing journey, full of laughs, tears, and yes, sometimes puzzlement. But I wouldn't have done anything differently or said anything different in the years since.
Hey, I am even grateful for the jerks, because they teach me how not to present myself at IOC activities. No one is above anyone else, and no one is better than anyone else.
We're all in this together.
Stay safe, stay cool and most important, stay humbled. There is not enough of that in the Olympic media pool right now and it's desperately needed.
Thank you.
But little did I know that at the time. Everyone else knew it, except me. I was too busy working my fanny off to do battle with people who said they couldn't be taken to task, that they deserved the big prize, after Sydney beat them out.
They ultimately were proved wrong, in one sixty-second exchange, that sent 600 reporters running to their computers and the auxiliary media work room across town going dead silent. A buddy of mine was in there, and later on that day, we met up for a drink and I asked him what the reaction was.
"You could have heard a pin drop", he said. Another guy was overheard to say "She's nailed it."
When someone came up to me later and said that I "was quite prepared", I had to respond by saying that I had no choice. I was a one-man band, going up against people who had been doing this for ten, twenty or more years. With j-school degrees.
My qualifications? A passion for justice, spurned by the senseless beating of a dear friend of mine, which eventually required her to be on a medivac flight back to her home country. I didn't want it to happen to anyone else, and I wasn't prepared to toe the Party line either that so many folks here in this country were all to eager to appease.
I can't believe it's been seven years. I am still quite humbled at the years since. It's been an amazing journey, full of laughs, tears, and yes, sometimes puzzlement. But I wouldn't have done anything differently or said anything different in the years since.
Hey, I am even grateful for the jerks, because they teach me how not to present myself at IOC activities. No one is above anyone else, and no one is better than anyone else.
We're all in this together.
Stay safe, stay cool and most important, stay humbled. There is not enough of that in the Olympic media pool right now and it's desperately needed.
Thank you.