Sam Ramsamy, a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ruling Executive Board, has predicted that South Africa could still launch a bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics despite the Government claiming that it had shelved any such plans.

The Government originally announced in May that the focus was on devoting more resources to improving social welfare in the country, and this was the reason they had decided against a bid for the 2020 games.

However Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has since vowed to get a change of decision from the Cabinet and that there is growing optimism a bid will be put forward after all.

Ramsamy stated, “I will not be surprised if the Government is persuaded to go for a bid.” He went on to reference the upcoming IOC Session in Durban as a turning point, “with the world’s top sports administrators and corporate sponsors coming to the city, strategically we knew it would give IOC members a first-hand perspective of the kind of infrastructure and environment we have in South Africa to host major sports events,” said Ramsamy.

Ramsamy is optimistic that a successful Session, which is due to last until Saturday (July 9), will help persuade the Goverment change their mind about a South African bid, with Durban the favourite city to be put forward.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) have looked to divert attention away from current money dispute with London 2012 organisers (LOCOG), appointing a group of 27 of Britain’s most inspirational and accomplished Olympians from previous Games as Team GB 2012 Ambassadors.

Among the stellar list of sporting icons are five-times champion Steve Redgrave and double gold medallists Kelly Holmes and James Cracknell. Between them, the Team GB 2012 Ambassadors can draw upon experience of winning 51 Olympic medals, including 27 gold medals.

Redgrave stated: “The Olympics are pretty daunting, and the fact that these will be a home Games is going to be even worse in some ways.

“It’s great if the majority in a stadium are cheering for you, but that also means added pressure. 

“We are going to be able to pass valuable information over to competitors about how best to handle that.

“I hope I can use my vast experience of competing in the Olympic environment to help prepare members of the team to deal with the pressure, the scrutiny, the highs and the lows.

“But also to make the most of one of the most special moments in their lives; being an Olympian, in front of a home crowd. Hopefully I can help enable them to achieve their dreams, like I did mine.”

The Team GB 2012 Ambassadors are:  Adrian Moorhouse, Amir Khan, Amy Williams, Christopher Dean, Colin Jackson , Darren Campbell, David Hemery, Denise Lewis, Duncan Goodhew, James Cracknell , James DeGale, Jayne Torvill, Jonathan Edwards, Kelly Holmes, Kriss Akabusi , Lynn Davies, Mary Peters, Rhona Martin, Roger Black, Robin Cousins, Sally Gunnell, Sharron Davies, Shirley Robertson, Steve Backley, Steve Redgrave, Tessa Sanderson and Tim Henman.

The Ambassadors will offer their voluntary help to British athletes and the wider Team GB to achieve their Olympic ambitions.

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said:”The Team GB 2012 Ambassadors will create an important connection between our Olympic heroes of yesterday, who have provided us with so many unforgettable moments of great achievement and British pride, with the stars of today and tomorrow, who will be inspired through their engagement with the Ambassadors to make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented by competing at a home Olympic Games.”

“It is not just the athletes we have to think about; the support behind Team GB is just as important, the coaches, the support staff, the sports, the friends and families who have supported athletes throughout their careers.

“Helping the wider ‘Team GB family’ deal with the unique Olympic environment – and the specific pressure of being at home will also be a key part of the Ambassadors role.”

Team GB 2012 Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “The announcement of the Team GB 2012 Ambassadors is an exciting moment in the development of Team GB – Our Greatest Team – at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

“Team GB will be the largest single team to represent the nation in any sporting event for over 100 years, consisting of over 500 athletes and with the support of the whole of the UK, Our Greatest Team is 60 million strong.

“The Ambassadors will play a vital role at the heart of Team GB, inspiring the athletes, coaches, their families and everyone involved in Team GB’s quest to make the nation proud with our performances at London 2012.”

Both Moynihan and Hunt were barred from sitting in on London 2012 board meetings last week whilst they continue to pursue legal action in the recent untimely money row.

Annecy’s underdog status in the race to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics has taken a substantial hit once again after it was announced that the French city will be the only one of the three bidders not to be represented here by its Head of State after President Nicolas Sarkozy resisted attempts for him to make the trip.

The struggling bids opposition from Munich will have German President Christian Wulff as part of its delegation at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session next Wednesday, July 6, while Pyeongchang will be boosted by the presence of South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak.

Annecy will instead be represented by France’s Prime Minister François Fillon and bid leader Charles Biegbeder insisted his delight at Fillon’s presence at the session, despite the apparent snub from Sarkozy. 

Sarkozy has so far ignored all efforts by France’s Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno to get him to change his mind and travel to support Annecy, which he claims to back, hailing the potential economic benefits of a successful bid.

Sarkozy may well be wary of suffering the embarrassment his predecessor as French President, Jacques Chirac, had done so after he travelled to Singapore for the IOC Session in 2005 to support Paris, which eventually saw the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics awarded to London.

The absence of Sarkozy will undoubtedly be a personal blow to Charles Beigbeder, the President of Annecy 2018, who had claimed in April at the SportAccord convention, saying: “I am sure he [Sarkozy] will be there but I cannot confirm it. He loves sport and he loves Olympism.”

Nevertheless, Beigbeder tried to put a positive spin on Fillon’s presence, stating in a press release yesterday, June 30: “It is fantastic news for Annecy 2018 that the Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon, will lead with the Minister of Sports Chantal Jouanno the French delegation in Durban.

“Throughout this campaign we have had support from the President and the Prime Minister for our vision of authentic Games in the heart of the mountains, with the athletes for the future.

“We are proud that Francois Fillon, the head of our government, has had a close association with the bid during the campaign and met personally with the IOC Evaluation Commission in Annecy in February 2011.

“His presence in Durban shows how much Annecy 2018 means to our country and how strong our desire is to work in partnership with the IOC to use the global platform of the French Alps to benefit winter sports all over the globe.”

Fillion will join Jouanno, who led Paris’ successful bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup last month, is due to arrive here on Sunday (July 3), while Beigbeder, Annecy 2018 vice-president Jean-Pierre Vidal, Annecy Mayor Jean-Luc Rigaut and·Denis Masseglia, President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), are all due in tomorrow.

According to research from business advisory firm Deloitte, bronchi a third of UK companies are set to increase flexible working hours next year, to allow staff to watch the Olympic and Paralympics Games in London.

The report revealed that 32 per cent of respondents claimed they would be happy for staff to take time out to watch live events during the Games, as long as the hours were made up at the start or end of the working day.

Research also claims that 44 per cent of companies will encourage staff to attend the Games, while 42 per cent plan to install screen for staff to watch live events unfold.

London 2012 lead partner at Deloitte, Heather Hancock stated: “It is encouraging to see businesses thinking ahead about the potential impact the Games could have on their day-to-day operations. We know the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be business as usual, especially in London”.

As well as allowing for more flexible hours, 30 per cent of respondents said they would be more understanding if staff had difficulty getting into work during the Games, which will have a huge impact on commuters.

Stevan Rolls, head of HR at Deloitte added: “Of course, it will be essential for companies to find the right balance and ensure there is no impact on client service levels”.

The  Breeders’ Cup, rx Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global racing event, purchase today announced that it has reached an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Henry Birtles Associates, (HBA)  one of horse racing’s leading media consultancies, to distribute international television rights to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The 2014 Breeders’ Cup, which annually attracts the top Thoroughbred horses from around the globe, will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on October 31-November 1. This year’s event will consist of 13 Championship races held over two days, with purses and awards totaling $26 million. Over the years, the Breeders’ Cup has attracted horses from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Germany, Peru, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. as well as the United States.

‘We are very excited about the opportunities ahead as a result of our agreement with Henry Birtles Associates,” said Peter Rotondo, Breeders’ Cup Vice President, Media & Entertainment.  “Distributing the Breeders’ Cup and Thoroughbred racing to the largest possible audience requires special knowledge and expertise in the global television market place, coupled with a genuine enthusiasm for the sport itself.  HBA possess all of these attributes.”

“What is important is the partnership element of this arrangement where both organizations will work side by side to get the best out of Breeders’ Cup for international TV purposes, and where the passion that defines racing comes across to a new audience and succeeds in winning new fans for this great sport,” said Henry Birtles, Managing Director, HBA.