US Speedskating has appointed Ted Morris as the organisations new Executive Director. 

A seasoned veteran in the Olympic field, sales Morris has previously provided guidance to several U.S Sport Governing Bodies and International Sports Federations. He will bring invaluable experience and insight to the sport of speedskating as the organization heads into the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. 

“I am honored to join US Speedskating during a crucial time period both for the organization and its athletes,” said Ted Morris, Executive Director for US Speedskating. “With 85 medals to-date, the sport of speedskating is built on a tradition of excellence and incredible athletic achievement. I look forward to not only upholding this legacy, but building upon it in Sochi and in the years to come.” 

Morris has previous experience with Olympic governing bodies, including US Figure Skating Association (USFSA), US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), and other sport governing associations and international sports federations. Additionally, Morris has provide high-level marketing consultation to regular Olympic sponsors, including P&G, MetLife, UPS, Kellogg’s, among many others. 

Prior to joining Van Wagner, Morris was vice president of sales and marketing at USSA for eight years. In this role, Morris managed the organization’s revenue-generating partnerships that included sponsorships, media sales, TV programming and production, marketing and brand initiatives. As part of USSA’s senior management team, Morris developed and executed the sport’s strategic business plan, and led USSA to the most profitable eight-year cycle in the history of the organization. 

“We are pleased to welcome Ted to US Speedskating to lead the organization through Sochi and beyond,” said US Speedskating President Mike Plant.  “Ted brings a wealth of experience and contacts with him to this position and he has a strong background within the Olympic movement. We are lucky to have found someone of his caliber.”

African nations should bid for the 2024 Olympics acording to Britain’s Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson.

Robertson told Reuters: “I am a firm believer that the Olympics should not just be restricted to western Europe, to the Americas, to the prosperous nations of the Far East. That’s one of the most exciting things about Rio (host city of the 2016 Games). And I would very much like to see the Olympics in future years go to the continent of Africa.

“I very much hope that African nations will bid (for) 2024. I think it is really good for the Olympics to be spread out around the world, that the Olympic values should travel as far as possible. I would absolutely like to see that happen on the continent of Africa.”

Facebook has launched the Explore London 2012 page, as a big Olympic hub for the summer games.

The Explore London 2012 page contains all of the other pages relating to the games in one handy place. This site can be personalised as an Olympics feed and only the content that you care about will appear in your news feed.

The pages consist of athletes, national teams, individual sports, broadcasters or even sponsors.

Joanna Shields, VP and Managing Director EMEA at Facebook, said: “The Olympic Games have always produced incredible stories. Some make headlines, but many never find an audience.

“These Olympics, every story has the potential to be heard. On Facebook, all athletes can have an audience, and every fan can track how their heroes are doing, support them, encourage them, and share their stories with the world.”

Mark Adams, Director of Communications at the IOC, added: “The Olympics has been connecting fans with memorable sporting events and moments for more than a century, first in the stadiums, then through television and now on social media. It makes sense to give fans the best experience we can and these will be the first truly ‘social’ Games.

“I’m sure that through Facebook and all of our other social media channels we will manage to bring a new dimension to the Games for a new audience.”

We’re glad that Facebook and the IOC have hooked up to create the Explore London 2012 page because it provides fans with a super easy way to get the content they care about the most delivered straight to their news feed instead of seeing a load of rubbish they couldn’t care less about

After it was announced last week that the British Olympic Association (BOA) were setting guidelines for Twitter use by athletes during the London 2012 Olympics, the Football Association have followed suit.

A statement was released by the body warning soccer players in England that improper comments will not be tolerated on Twitter or indeed other social networking sites. The decision comes off the back of last month’s fiasco involving the Liverpool player, Ryan Babel. The Dutch international posted a mocked-up image of World Cup final referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt shortly after a game against the Premier League leaders when Webb awarded a controversial penalty to the Red Devils.

The statement released by the FA read: “The FA has issued clarification to participants relating to the use of social networking sites, including, but not limited to Twitter, Facebook and internet blogs. Participants should be aware that comments made on such sites may be considered public comment, and that further to FA Rule E3, any comments which are deemed improper, bring the game into disrepute, or are threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting may lead to disciplinary action.”

The statement added: “Comments which are personal in nature or could be construed as offensive, use foul language or contain direct or indirect threats aimed at other participants are likely to be considered improper.”

“Consequently, care should be exercised with regards to the contents of such postings. In addition, we would remind participants that social networking postings could also lead to civil proceedings being brought by affected parties.”

The Dutch Olympic Committee has chosen London’s Alexandra Palace to host the famous Heineken House for the duration of the London 2012 Games.

The landmark will be transformed into a giant beer hall acting as a hospitality centre for athletes, officials and VIP officials. Situated in north London the venue will also be open to the general public.

Holland have followed in the footsteps of France, Germany and Brazil who have all secured hospitality areas around London. France have an agreement with Old Billingsgate, Germany with the Museum of London Docklands and Brazil with Somerset House.

Managing Director of the Netherlands Olympic Committee, Gerald Dielessen said: “Heineken has been the organiser of Heineken Holland House since Barcelona 1992, for which we are enormously grateful.

“The national house has grown into an extremely popular Olympic hotspot – with the help of many others. 

“This success is certain to be repeated during London 2012, especially now that it is so close to home. 

“The city is expected to attract tens of thousands of Dutch visitors a day, both with and without tickets to the events.”