Monday Memo: Russia Olympics Election, South American Games

Russia Elects New NOC President

Members of the Russian Olympic Committee meet May 29 to elect a new president. Alexander Zhukov, who has held the post since 2010, has declined to run for reelection. Two candidates are vying to succeed him. Alexander Popov, a former IOC member and Olympic swimmer and Stanislav Pozdnyakov, one time fencing champion.

World Cup Task Force Delays Report

A task force that was to report May 29 on the fitness of the two bids for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now expected to deliver its verdict next week. Morocco and a united bid from Mexico the US and Canada will be evaluated by the task force to certify that they meet the requirements of FIFA to host the tournament.

The bids are now scheduled to meet with the five-member task force on May 30 to answer any questions. The 211 national federations will vote on the host for 2026 on June 13 in Moscow, just ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Pele Testifies in Rio 2016 Corruption Trial

Football great Pele face questions this week about what he knew about an alleged plot to buy votes for the Rio 2016 Olympic bid. He is scheduled to begin his testimony May 29 in the trial against former Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral.

Cabral, along with former Rio 2016 leader, IOC member and Brazilian Olympic Committee president Carlos Nuzman, is linked to a scheme that distributed as much as $2 million, allegedly to IOC members in 2009 when they voted for the 2016 host city.

Testimony from Pele, 77 and suffering from health issues, will be delivered via a video connection to the courtroom in Rio de Janeiro.

Cochabamba Sports Festival

The latest edition of the South AmericanGames is under way in the Bolivian mountain city of Cochabamba. Opening ceremony was held May 26. The games run until June 8.

There are reports of issues with several venues, but organizers say problems with the field hockey pitch have led to the only delay in the competitions.

The sports program includes 35 disciplines and 377 events, with 4030 athletes from 14 countries participating, along with 1,600 officials and 900 referees.

Paris Plans Olympic Day

Olympic Day, June 23, is always a big day for the French National Olympic Committee. The date of the founding of the International Olympic Committee in Paris in 1894, Olympic Day has additional meeting now that Paris has been chosen as host of the 2024 Games.

CNOSF President Denis Masseglia, Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024 and Jean-François Martins, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of Sport, Tourism and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will announce plans for the 2018 celebration this week.

The group will make their presentation May 29 at the Port des Invalides, part of the chain of sites along the river Seine which will serve as a public gathering space during the 2024 Games.

ATR Holiday

Staff of Around the Rings take a daylong break May 28 for the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S. The Atlanta headquarters office opens for business again on May 29.

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