Cricket inclusion in Olympics may be shelved by the IOC

Edinburgh, Eng: 27th June 16: Opposition to cricket’s entry into the Olympics is set to become increasingly problematic after the ICC was advised that the sport’s preferred path to inclusion may be shelved by the IOC. The Olympics question is set to be among a suite of agenda items to be discussed at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh this week.

The earliest window for cricket to be played at the Olympics is 2024, an event favoured to be awarded to Los Angeles. Budapest, Paris and Rome are the other bidding cities, with the formal award announcement to be made in September next year.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that greater urgency has been added to the debate by advice from the IOC that the direct entry path to the Games may soon be closed off. The ICC is eager to apply directly through the IOC, rather than through the local organising committees of individual games. This is partly because the IOC path involves direct funding of at least $15-20 million for the ICC, in addition to the money made available to each individual Board. It would also guarantee cricket’s inclusion in at least two editions of the Olympics.

While that pathway is more attractive, the ICC has been told that it may be shut down for the 2024 Olympics and beyond, due to a desire to make the Games as flexible as possible for each host city. The 2020 Olympics, scheduled for Tokyo, recently nominated karate, skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing and baseball/softball for inclusion. To wait on the desire of a host city to add cricket would require the selection of a location that already has cricket as part of its culture, with the chance that it could then be dropped again after only one Olympics.

Earlier this month an IOC statement said: “The Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 proposed the new sports in response to the new flexibility provided by Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, to encourage innovation in the Olympic programme. Olympic Agenda 2020 gives host cities the option of suggesting new sports and events for inclusion in their edition of the Games. The host city selections are not binding on future Games hosts.”

Recent talks between the ICC and the BCCI saw the Indian board reiterate its unwillingness to work with the Indian Olympic Association “in any way at this point in time”. The BCCI’s reluctance relates to issues of government intervention that have also been highlighted by the International Olympic Committee, notably when the IOA was suspended by the IOC between 2012 and 2014.

As a result of discussions with the BCCI, ICC management has agreed to speak to the IOC about the possibility of cricket entering the games without the BCCI entering into formal agreement with the IOA. Cricket’s governing body will also ask the IOC whether it would be possible for the sport to be included in the Olympics without unanimous support of member nations.

However it is believed that ICC management has already concluded that both these possibilities are unlikely, leaving the BCCI’s fractious relationship with the IOA as an enormous obstacle to cricket’s participation in the Olympics. This is despite the softening of English opposition in particular, in recognition of the growth that would be possible were cricket to place itself under the Olympic umbrella.

That conclusion was strengthened by concurrent discussions with broadcasters, where the ICC has tested the financial viability of an Olympic T20 tournament for men and women in addition to the existing schedule of ICC events.

While it was agreed that much in the cricket calendar may change significantly between the present and any possible Olympic inclusion, the broadcasters advised that the shape and scope of the tournament would likely be very different to the World T20.

In that case, they concluded: “The more different that the two cricket events look, the less competition between the two and the less likely any negative impact on the commercial value of the ICC’s existing WT20 events.”

One early measure of cricket’s place in multi-sport events may arrive for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, due to be held in Durban. There have been talks about including a women’s tournament as part of those games, a move supported by Cricket South Africa and also up for discussion in ICC meetings this week.

Curtsy espncricinfo

WADA suspends Rio lab ahead of Olympics

A woman walks into the head office for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on November 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo

Montreal, Canada

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended credentials for a testing lab in Rio de Janeiro just over a month before the city hosts the Olympics, due to non-conformity with international laboratory standards.

WADA said in a public statement on Friday that the Rio lab has 21 days to appeal the decision to an arbitration court, starting on Wednesday when the agency first communicated its decision to the lab. The laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro declined to comment immediately on the decision.

Brexit: Sports in limbo, Lineker blasts ‘selfish’ 50-somethings

London’

England football great Gary Lineker led a host of sports stars expressing their anger at Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union on Friday.

On a practical level there was confusion over what the EU exit would mean for foreign players, not only in the lucrative English Premier League, but also in cricket and rugby union.

Sports lawyers say it is crucial that Britain negotiates successfully to remain part of Europe’s single market, which enshrines freedom of movement.

Failure to do so could lead to an exodus of foreign talent and also restrictions on buying players.

Clubs could also lose the right to sign young players under the age of 18. At the moment, they can carry out such deals under a special arrangement between football world governing body FIFA and the EU.

Lineker, though, was more concerned about what impact the vote would have on his four sons.

• ‘Ashamed of my generation’ –

The 55-year-old former Barcelona and England striker blasted the 50+ generation — the majority of whom voted to leave — for letting down the young.

“Feel ashamed of my generation,” tweeted Lineker, whose middle name is Winston in honour of World War II leader Winston Churchill and whose birthday he shares.

“We’ve let down our children and their children,” said Lineker.

“It’s not a time for triumphalism. Not a time for division. Not a time for hatred. It’s a time for change. A time for calm. A time in history.”

Former Liverpool and England defender, and father of two, Jamie Carragher, a Champions League winner in 2005, also aimed his vitriol at the 50+ generation.

“A vote for (UKIP leader Nigel) Farage, (Leave figurehead) Boris (Johnson) & a recession, well done to the over 50s for thinking of the future!,” tweeted the 38-year-old, who since retiring splits his time between TV punditry and charity work.

Northern Irish golf superstar Rory McIlroy cheekily suggested going back to January 1 and starting the whole year over again.

Northern Ireland was one of the few geographical regions — London and Scotland being the other two — where a majority of voters wished to remain.

“With #Brexit and the way the US presidential race is going…. Can we take a mulligan on 2016??,” tweeted the 27-year-old four-time major champion, using the golfing term to retake a shot.

• Foreign talent question mark –

In terms of the effect on foreign playing talent in English football, Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke — a pro-Remain campaigner — said it would take a while to assess the impact.

“It could take two years to really know, but there could be quite an impact on English football because of Brexit,” he said.

“It would be a shame if some of the great European players can’t come here but I don’t think that will happen. Whether the total number reduces will depend on the terms of the exit.”

Dan Lowen, a partner at a leading specialist sports law firm, said staying in the single market was essential to ensure the Premier League remained competitive in the transfer market for foreign talent.

However, if at the end of the future negotiations over exiting the EU Britain did not succeed in remaining a member then all bets were off.

The extent of the impact “will be dependent in part on the terms of the renegotiated relationship with the EU. If we remain within the single market and accept freedom of movement as a result, the position may not change significantly.

“On the other hand, if there is no freedom of movement, it will be left to the UK government to determine the work permit rules that apply to players with EU citizenship.”

 

AFP

Russia faces another Rio ban over dope tests

The Russian national flag (R) and the Olympic flag are seen during the closing ceremony for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Russia, February 23, 2014. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

London:

Russia’s weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country.

Five days after its track and field team’s suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia’s weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the August 5-21 Olympics.

Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport’s governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio.

Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come.

The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters.

Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF’s decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country’s systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport’s federation.

Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend’s youth world championships.

The IWF, stressing its “zero tolerance” toward dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one).

As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: “The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year.

“Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.”

Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport’s administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment.

The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission.

“Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,” said a statement.

The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances.

The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world’s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive.

The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio.

The Olympic bans take to four the number of nations who will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each.

 

Reuters

Golfer McIlroy pulls out of Rio over Zika fears

Jun 18, 2016; Oakmont, PA, USA; Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the continuation of the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

London:

Northern Ireland‘s four-times major winner Rory McIlroy has decided to pull out of the historic golf tournament at the Rio Olympic Games in August because of health fears over the Zika virus.

“After speaking with those closest to me, I’ve come to realise that my health and my family’s health comes before anything else,” the world number four said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.”

The International Golf Federation (IGF) said it was disappointed with McIlroy’s decision.

The 27-year-old was due to represent Ireland, rather than Britain, at the Games and his withdrawal is the latest blow to golf, which is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1904.

A number of big names, including Fiji’s Vijay Singh and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, have also withdrawn because of the virus.

Controversy over the Aug. 5-21 Games has grown as more becomes known about Zika. The mosquito-borne virus can cause crippling birth defects and, in adults, has been linked to the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre.

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the Games did not need to be moved or postponed because there is “a very low risk” that holding the event in Brazil will cause further spread of the virus.

An expert WHO panel on Zika concluded that staging the event during the Brazilian winter means the mosquito population will be smaller and intensified mosquito-control measures in place around venues “should further reduce the risk of transmission”

MIXED RESPONSE

Medical experts had a mixed response to McIlroy’s decision.

Derek Gatherer, a virus expert at Britain’s Lancaster University, said if the golfer was “contemplating becoming a father within a year or so, then it was a perfectly reasonable precaution to stay away from regions of active Zika transmission”.

But Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: “Obviously I don’t know the reasons for this decision, but it does strike me as being extreme.

“The chances of being infected by the Zika virus is low, especially if you protect yourself from mosquito bites by covering up and using a good insect repellent.”

But there are clearly worries in the golf world. Earlier this month, world number one Jason Day expressed doubts for the first time over whether he would compete and the virus was a hot topic of conversation among golfers at last week’s U.S. Open.

Masters champion Danny Willett, whose wife Nicole gave birth to their first child at the end of March, said he was excited about the Olympic Games but would not to go if his family’s health was at risk.

The list of Rio absentees also includes Australian world number eight Adam Scott and South Africa’s world number 14 Louis Oosthuizen, who both opted out over scheduling conflicts

 

FROZEN SPERM

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has now confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in mothers.

Britain’s Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford has decided to have his sperm frozen before the Games.

His partner Susie Verrill, who will not travel to Rio with their young son, said the couple had taken the precaution because they wanted to have more children.

McIlroy, who is engaged to American Erica Stoll, took a long time to decide who he would represent in Rio and threatened to skip the Olympics as he agonised over his choice between Britain and Ireland before opting for the latter in 2014.

“I trust the Irish people will understand my decision (not to go,” McIlroy added. “I will continue to endeavour to make my fans and fans of golf proud with my play on the course and my actions off it.”

Irish golf team captain Paul McGinley said McIlroy would have been a 100 percent certain pick for the Games but fully understood the reasoning behind the player’s withdrawal.

“It’s not for me to influence his decision, it’s a health decision he has discussed with his family and wife to be,” McGinley told Irish national broadcaster RTE.

“Shane (Lowry) and GMac (Graeme McDowell) are the next two in at the moment.”

In a statement the IGF said: “(We) are disappointed with Rory’s decision but recognise that some players will have to weigh personally a unique set of circumstances as they contemplate their participation in golf’s historic return to the Olympic Games in Rio, with the Zika virus foremost among them.”

 

Nita Ambani First Indian Woman Nominated to International Olympics Committee (IOC)

Nita Ambani first Indian Woman nominated to International Olympics Committee (PRNewsFoto/Reliance Foundation)

LONDON, June 21:

Nita Ambani, the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, is the first Indian woman nominated as a candidate to be a new member of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) the supreme authority of the Olympic Games. Ms Ambani is one of eight candidates nominated; the final decision will be ratified by its Members Election Commission at the 129^thIOC session in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016.

The IOC’s role is to supervise, support, and monitor the organisation of the Games to ensure they run smoothly; and the rules of the Olympic Charter are respected.

Thomas Bach, IOC President commented, “The eight candidates we are proposing to the next IOC Session are a strong and varied group of individuals that are experts in their respective fields and will make great contributions. The nominees represent a cross-section of expertise from the worlds of sport, culture, medicine, sociology, business, law and management.  They have been vetted by new criteria in keeping with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, and will add extra strength and diversity to our already universal orchestra of IOC Members.”

Ms Ambani, who has been a major advocate of sports in India, said, “It is truly an honour and privilege to be nominated by committee, I believe in the power of sport to shape our youth, to bring together communities and bridge gaps between cultures and generations. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute in meeting the goals of IOC.”

As founder and chairperson of India’s Sports Development Ms Ambani has shown extraordinary commitment to developing sports talent in India.  If elected as a member of IOC, Ms Ambani will be at the forefront of supervision of Indian players who will participate in the Olympic Games; and will be the first woman to represent India in the IOC.

The Reliance Foundation, founded in 2010, is the philanthropic arm of energy and petrochemicals company Reliance Industry Limited, led by Ms Ambani to provide impetus to various initiatives. She has promoted different sports in India, including a Junior NBA programme, focusing on young talent through grassroots programmes; reaching over three million children in more than 5,500 villages and urban locations across the country.  Ms Ambani is also the owner of Mumbai Indians cricket team.

Amazon jaguar shot dead at Olympic torch ceremony

Brazilian physiotherapist Igor Simoes Andrade poses for picture next to jaguar Juma as he takes part in the Olympic Flame torch relay in Manaus, Brazil, June 20, 2016. Picture taken June 20, 2016. REUTERS/Marcio Melo

Amazon, Brazil: A jaguar featured at an Olympic torch ceremony was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus as the animal escaped from its handlers, an army statement said.

The jaguar was killed Monday at a zoo attached to a military training center, when a soldier fired a single pistol shot after the animal, despite being tranquilized, approached the soldier, the army said.

“We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our values,” the local organizing committee Rio 2016 said in a statement, adding “We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016.”

A smiling yellow jaguar known as Ginga is the mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team.

The shooting caused uproar among animal rights groups, which questioned why the animal was involved in the Olympic event.

“When will people (and institutions) stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals?” the Rio de Janeiro-based animal rights group Animal Freedom Union said on its Facebook page.

The jaguar is a nearly threatened species that has already been wiped out in Uruguay and El Salvador, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The use of Juma, as the jaguar was known, at the event was illegal, according to Ipaam, the Amazonas state government environmental authority that oversees the use of wild animals.

“No request was made to authorize the participation of the jaguar “Juma” in the event of the Olympic torch,” Ipaam said in a statement.

Ipaam said it is investigating the incident.

A jaguar featured at an Olympic torch ceremony was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus as the animal escaped from its handlers, an army statement said.

The jaguar was killed Monday at a zoo attached to a military training center, when a soldier fired a single pistol shot after the animal, despite being tranquilized, approached the soldier, the army said.

“We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal. This image goes against our beliefs and our values,” the local organizing committee Rio 2016 said in a statement, adding “We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016.”

A smiling yellow jaguar known as Ginga is the mascot of the Brazilian Olympic team.

The shooting caused uproar among animal rights groups, which questioned why the animal was involved in the Olympic event.

“When will people (and institutions) stop with this sick need to show power and control by confining, taming and showcasing wild animals?” the Rio de Janeiro-based animal rights group Animal Freedom Union said on its Facebook page.

The jaguar is a nearly threatened species that has already been wiped out in Uruguay and El Salvador, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The use of Juma, as the jaguar was known, at the event was illegal, according to Ipaam, the Amazonas state government environmental authority that oversees the use of wild animals.

“No request was made to authorize the participation of the jaguar “Juma” in the event of the Olympic torch,” Ipaam said in a statement.

Ipaam said it is investigating the incident.

More crackdowns expected on drugs cheats before Rio Olympics

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Craig Reedie (L) speaks with President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Francesco Ricci Bitti during the Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland June 21, 2016.

REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE

Leading sports powerbrokers gathered at the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters on Tuesday morning to discuss further crackdowns on drug cheats before the Rio Games.

International athletics boss Sebastian Coe and Russia’s Olympic committee chief Alexander Zhukov were present at the meeting, just four days after the IAAF maintained its suspension of Russia’s track and field team, effectively ruling out their participation in Rio.

The gathering of IOC members and federation heads is set to discuss the situation in Russia as well as several other countries, non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The IOC said it would discuss “the difficult decision between collective responsibility and individual justice”.

On Saturday the IOC backed the IAAF’s decision to extend its ban on Russia for systematic doping, denting hopes the nation might have had of competing at the Rio Games in August with a full team.

The IAAF suspended Russia last year over concerns its athletes were guilty of systematic doping.

Several countries, including Russia, Mexico, Ethiopia and Kenya among other, are non-compliant with WADA less than two months before the start of the Rio Games.

 

Basketball: LeBron James may skip Olympics participation

OAKLAND, Calif. – In the aftermath of a grueling NBA Finals, LeBron James is leaning toward not competing at the Olympics in Rio this summer, league sources told.

While James has not informed USA Basketball of his decision, team officials are operating with the expectation that it is unlikely James will be part of the team.

James, 31, has been a member of USA Basketball since 2004. He is one of three players – along with Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony – to be part of three men’s Olympic teams and has been integral to the United State’s resurgence as a basketball super power.

James will likely join a growing list of notable players electing not to play in Rio this summer. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry withdrew earlier this month. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Houston’s James Harden and San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge have also chosen not to play.

IOC Executive Board welcomed IAAF’s decission

Lozanne: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomes and supports the IAAF’s strong stance against doping. This is in line with the IOC’s long-held zero-tolerance policy.

The IOC has taken note of the decision of the IAAF Council and of the report and recommendations of the IAAF Taskforce.

The IOC Executive Board, in a telephone conference today, emphasized that it fully respects the IAAF position. The eligibility of athletes in any international competition including the Olympic Games is a matter for the respective International Federation.

The IOC will initiate further far-reaching measures in order to ensure a level playing field for all the athletes taking part in the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The upcoming Olympic Summit on Tuesday will address the situation of the countries in which the National Anti-Doping Organisation has been declared non-compliant by WADA for reasons of the non-efficient functioning of the national anti-doping system.