Brief Notes: Panama Ultimatum, Collectors' Fair, Olympism Awards

q ODEPA Ultimatum to Panama Olympic Committee

The Panama Olympic Committee has until June 26 to settle its problems, or face sanctions from the Panamerican Sports Organization.

ODEPA president Mario Vazquez Rana made the announcement to COP president Roger Moscote in Mexico City on June 20, Mexican media report.

The dispute dates back to August 2006 when several Panamanian federations charged they were unfairly left out of executive voting. Moscote took over the presidency pending an ODEPA-supervised election.

However, a majority of federations, acting under Panamanian law, elected their own executive, Miguel Vanegas of the judo federation. Panama courts upheld the validity of that election, while the IOC recognizes a Moscote presidency.

If the dispute is not settled, Panamanian athletes will still go to the Panamerican Games in Rio in July, but will compete under the ODEPA flag.

Olympic Collectors Collect in Beijing

The World Olympic Collectors Fair kicks off in Beijing on June 22. The 13th edition of the annual Fair is on its first trip to China.

Organized by the IOC with BOCOG and other partners, the Fair brings together collectors of all kinds of Olympic memorabilia from torches to clothes to pins.

Fair managers have already received 320 applications for 166 exhibitor spots available at the Beijing Desheng International Cultural Center.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, IOC Honorary President for Life and Chairman of the Olympic Philately, Numismatics and Memorabilia Commission, will be on hand for the opening ceremony on June 24. Part of the stamp collection he donated to the Olympic Museum also will be on display at a sport stamp show planned to coincide with the Fair.

Admission will be free and open to the public. The Fair closes June 28.

Sport and Olympism Awards in Belarus, UK, Gambia

Gennady Alekseenko receives an award for sport building in Belarus, (BNOC)Gennady Alekseenko, vice president of the Belarus NOC, has received an IOC Sport and Promotion of Olympism trophy. As a top sport leader in both the Byelorussian government and the NOCB, he has supported the preparation of national Olympians and pushed for improvement of the Olympyisky Sports Complex.

The UK's Don Anthony, an Olympic hammer thrower and volleyball promoter, received the same IOC award. The nearly 80-year-old athlete has spent several decades promoting Olympic sport via service with the British Olympic Association, the English Volleyball Association, the National Olympic Academy and voluminous writing and research.

Gambian Alhaji Abu Dandeh Njie also takes a trophy in recognition of his accomplishments as president of the Gambia NOC. Under his presidency, GNOC has enhanced its relationship with Olympic Solidarity, hosted an Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa General Assembly and built a new headquarters.

Each year, the IOC provides one Sport and Promotion of Olympism trophy to each NOC to award an outstanding sport promoter.

International Children's Games Underway in Reykjavik

The International Children's Games, one of the international multisport games endorsed by the IOC, began on June 20 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The competition includes 950 athletes from 36 delegations, including separate teams from Greenland and Scotland.

The annual games are for young people between 12 and 15 years old. The next two editions are scheduled for San Francisco then Athens.

Compiled by Maggie Lee

Maggie@aroundtherings.com