India is flirting with the idea of boycotting the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics as it plans to intensify its protest against Dow Chemicals’ sponsorship of the summer games.

India will take the decision on whether to boycott the ceremonies after it gets a clear reply from the organizers about Dow issue. 

According to reports, Indian officials will not only skip the opening and closing ceremonies, but will also boycott all official ceremonies related to the event. 

However, IOA has confirmed that the athletes will not join the boycott. 

Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh said that the IOA has not taken any decision to boycott the Games. 

“IOA has not taken any such decision. We don’t want the athletes to suffer. We are here for the interest of the athletes. Athletes have been training for so many years, we have not taken any such decision,” said Singh. 

The Indian government had on February 27 lodged a formal complaint against Dow’s sponsorship of London Olympics with the Union Sports Ministry writing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

The Union Sports Ministry has strongly protested against Dow sponsoring the Games.

by Ismail Uddin

The Doha 2020 Bid Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games yesterday delivered its applicant file to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at Lausanne, sale Switzerland.

The Doha 2020 delegation was led by vice chairman and Qatar Olympic Committee general secretary Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
The delegation included leading Qatari athletes Olympian shooter Nasser al-Attiyah, doctor swimmer Nada Arkaji, sprinter Noor al-Malki and para athlete Ali al-Mass, Doha 2020 legal director Tariq Falamazi and public relations director Mohamed al-Othman.

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman said it was a proud moment to be delivering the Doha 2020 applicant file to the IOC headquarters.

“A huge amount of work has gone into its production and I believe its contents are very strong. We look forward to making its contents public soon and continuing to build on our campaign to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Middle East for the first time.”

The Doha 2020 Bid Committee vice chairman explained that the applicant file contained a strong hosting plan based on many existing venues and a number of planned facilities.

“It also outlines an exciting legacy vision focused on building opportunities for Olympic sports in the region and growing participation across the Middle East – especially among girls and women,” he stated.

“2020 is a historic opportunity to grow the Olympic movement in a new region and our applicant file is a crucial step in our ambition to turn this opportunity into reality,” he added.

Al-Mass said that being in Lausanne at IOC headquarters made the Doha 2020 ambition seem even more real.

“If Doha is given the honour to stage the Games, it would give an amazing boost to the profile of paralympic sport across the Middle East and inspire people with disabilities in our region to take up sport,” he added.

The applicant file started its journey to the headquarters of the IOC on Sunday at a “send-off” event at Doha International Airport.

Nada Arkaji, who represented Qatar in swimming at the 2011 Doha Arab Games, said it was a great honour to be travelling to the International Olympic Committee as part of the Doha 2020 delegation at such an exciting time for sports in the Middle East.

“Sport has changed my life and I know that if the Olympic and Paralympic Games were to come here, to a region that has never had the honour of hosting the world’s greatest sporting event, many more young lives across the Arab World would be changed for the better.”

Al-Attiyah, four-time Olympian shooter and international rallying champion, said he had had the great privilege of competing at four Olympic Games and seen first-hand their transformational impact and how they could inspire more young people to participate in sport.

“If Doha were to be given the honour of hosting the 2020 Games, I believe there is a wonderful opportunity to get many more young people across the Middle East playing sport and inspired by Olympic values,” he added.

by Ismail Uddin

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) is on the hunt for a new commissioner after Gary Pemberton announced he will retire from his role on October 31.

Pemberton, a former chairman of Qantas, Billabong and Racing NSW, was one of the seven commissioners appointed to the newly-formed ARLC in February 2012.

He was also a key player in broadcast negotiations for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and ARLC chairman John Grant paid tribute to his work in helping the commission through its infancy.

“Gary undertook to serve on the commission for two years when he was appointed and we’re extremely grateful he’s been able to do so,” Grant said.

“The contribution he has made from the early period of due diligence prior to formation, through our initial year and into this second year has been invaluable.

“He retires from the role of commissioner with the sincere thanks of his fellow commissioners.

“The timing for Gary’s departure is such that the new commissioner will have the off-season to become familiar with the organisation and the role.

“The recruitment process has commenced and we’re looking widely for a suitable candidate.”

The Queen will officially open the London 2012 Olympics this summer, Buckingham Palace have confirmed.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will lead the Opening Ceremony at the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium when the Games begin on July 27, as was widely expected.

Buckingham House officials also revealed that the couple, who have long been strong supporters of the Olympics, will open the Paralympic Games on Aug 29 – a first for the Queen.

As head of the Commonwealth, the Queen opened the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, and her husband opened the Melbourne Games on her behalf in 1956.

The 1984 Paralympic Games were officially opened by Prince Charles, son of the couple. Those games were held in both Europe and North America, with the opening ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire – the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: “This summer we will be hosting the largest Paralympic Games ever and the opening ceremony on August 29 will be a fantastic event.

“The Paralympic Games will undoubtedly be a time of extraordinary pride for our nation, and it is fitting that Her Majesty will declare us under way.”

by Ismail Uddin

Tokyo have formally submitted its bid to host the 2020 Olympics on Monday, check delivering the file to the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters in Lausanne, ailment Switzerland, ed cheap two days before the Feb. 15 deadline.

“The Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee, together with the Japanese people, is truly honored and excited to submit our nation’s application file for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Tokyo 2020 President and Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda said.

Tokyo bid unsuccessfully for the 2016 Olympics, which were awarded to Rio de Janeiro. Tokyo is now competing with Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, Doha, Qatar and Baku, Azerbaijan.

Tokyo is promising a compact bid with all facilities within an 8-kilometer radius. Forty percent will be existing venues that will be renovated.

“We have learned valuable lessons from our previous bid, which are evident in these improved technical plans,” Takeda said.

Tokyo is promoting its 2020 bid as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left over 15,000 people dead or missing on Japan’s northeast coast.

The IOC will study the bid files and decide in May whether to retain all the candidates or pare the list. The IOC will select the 2020 host city at a meeting in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

by Ismail Uddin

England’s 2018 World Cup bid team has lodged a complaint with Fifa against the head of Russia’s rival campaign over comments he made about London.

Russia 2018 chief executive Alexei Sorokin was quoted as criticising high crime rates and the drinking habits of young people in England’s capital.

Fifa has strict rules prohibiting criticism of rival bids.

Sorokin said he would apologise for any “misunderstanding” but not for the comments he claims were misinterpreted.

It is being reported that England is seeking a formal apology from Sorokin rather than expecting action from the ethics committee ahead of the World Cup vote for the 2018 and 2022 hosts on December 2 vote.

The ethics committee, chaired by former Swiss international Claudio Sulser, is already dealing with allegations of corruption involving two FIFA executive committee members, and collusion involving two bidding nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.