Judicial agents spent four hours removing eight computers and 20 boxes of documents from the Costa Rica NOC office on Friday. (COCR)Costa Rica NOC Lambasts Lawsuit, Health Deputy Minister, Media
The Olympic Committee of Costa Rica says the raid at the NOC office and the media furor are due to existing tensions with executive committee members and the government.
On Oct. 19, agents from the public prosecutor's office seized evidence in a fraud complaint against NOC president Jorge Nery Carvajal Castro. But a pair of statements from the NOC claim the complainant was paid to approach the prosecutor.
Retired judo official Danny Valverde – the complainant -- is receiving economic support from unknown persons in exchange for being the public face of the charge against Carvajal, according to the COCR statements.
And three executive committee members are trying to oust Carvajal so that they can become president, secretary and treasurer, the statements also allege.
Also part of the disruption is the deputy minister of health and president of the Sports Council of Costa Rica, says the statement, though it omits his name, Osvaldo Pandolfo.
"Since the birth of Olympic organization in Costa Rica, there have been confrontations between the state and sport, or, between politics and sport, an unending power struggle," one of the NOC statements reads.
The Sports Council cut funding to the NOC in August after tensions boiled over about Costa Rica's poor performance at the Pan Am Games and negative comments by Carvajal about Pandolfo, Costa Rica media report.
During Friday's raid, plenty of media were on hand to record the story in writing and with cameras – but they have acted irresponsibly, says the COCR.
Carvajal was elected NOC president in accordance with regulations, one statement emphasizes, in response to the use of the word 'dictatorship' in a Costa Rica publication to describe Carvajal's tenure.
Many of the media have used exaggerated headlines and harassed Carvajal by filming near his house, one statement says.
Top Olympic Marketer Revives Consultancy
Veteran Olympic marketer Rob Prazmark will return to his own company following his departure from the Wasserman Media Group earlier this month. 21 Marketing, a sports marketing and sponsorship consultancy that Prazmark operated from 1991 through 1997, is scheduled for a re-launch.
Prazmark assisted sales for the IOC TOP program until 1996, and advised Olympic sponsors such as Delta and John Hancock. The company's roster also included other sports properties such as the FIFA 1994 World Cup and the Dallas Cowboys, as well as non-sport Rob Prazmarkproperties including the Smithsonian Institution and NASA.
In 1997, sports marketing giant IMG acquired Prazmark and his properties. Clients he brought in included Salt Lake 2002, the USOC and the Johnson & Johnson Olympic consultancy. He left IMG for an executive vice presidency at Wasserman in July 2006. Prazmark says his departure from Wasserman was amicable, and that he will continue a few projects for the company.
The revived 21 Marketing will return to its roots to build “an Olympic core competency,” Prazmark says.
Prazmark tells Around the Rings he looks forward to developing relationships with the Olympic Movement and the IOC on intellectual and cultural projects.
Youth, Sport and Peace Fund Launched in Congo
Republic of Congo president Sassou N’Guesso and ANOCA president Lassana Palenfo launched the Youth, Sport and Peace fund with a meeting in Brazzaville earlier this month.
"The concept of the fund on Youth, Sport and Peace Fund in Africa is a complex but generous initiative underpinned by African values and solidarity. The establishment of this fund is in lockstep with the development drive of Africa through concerted and coordinated action of all stakeholders concerned by the future of the continent," Palenfo said at the launch.
The fund will start with money from the government and be enhanced with private contributions, according to a statement from ANOCA.
Sport leaders agreed in principle to the fund during the Youth, Sport and Peace forum in Brazzaville in January.
CACSO Returns Leaders
Puerto Rico Olympic Committee president Hector Cardona was reelected president of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization during its meetings during the week of Oct. 8 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Vice president Steve Stoute of Barbados was also returned to his position. The next CAC Games are scheduled for Mayaguez in 2010.
Utah Lodge Fire
The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah, was evacuated Sunday due to a fire on the first floor. No one was injured. The lodge was named after the gold medalist in the giant slalom in 1952.
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