US Ski Official Praises Sochi Venue
US Skiing vice president Luke Bodensteiner is praising the venue for skiing at the 2014 Olympics.
"What a great place for our athletes to come and have the time of their lives" Bodensteiner said following a visit to Sochi with a team from the U.S. Olympic Committee.
"It's like nothing I've seen for a Winter Olympics. Excellent food, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and still an intriguing hint of the old Russian style reminds you that you are in a very different place. It's the biggest construction project I've ever seen – think Rome in a day!"
"It's going to be great for the athletes and I think they're really going to like it" he added.
Warm weather plagued some of the skiing during the Vancouver Olympics but Bodensteiner predicted a good competition in 2014.
"It snows pretty frequently, but they get a lot of moisture from the sea, so I don’t know if it will be dry, powdery snow or something a little wetter. It will for sure be great skiing."
Survey Says British Sport Healthy Ahead of 2012 Games
With London 2012 just two years away, statistics show British sport is already alive and well, promising news for a nation whose ability to deliver on the worldwide stage will soon be tested.
Responses from a VisitBritain sponsored question included in the 2008 Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey indicate foreign tourists spent $3.5 billion in 2008 watching and playing UK sport. Nearly 2 million visitors spent $2 billion watching sport, while 1.4 million visitors spent almost $2 billion playing football, cricket, golf, rugby and a host of other sports. Overlap between the two accounts for the discrepancy in revenue, and only those who actually attended events were included.
"This survey clearly demonstrates British sport is growing in popularity with foreign visitors," Sandie Dawe, Chief Executive of VisitBritain, saidin a statement.
"Millions are travelling to watch our world-class events and participate in our famous, sometimes quirky, sporting traditions. It is a hugely encouraging sign that Britain has the sporting expertise to stage an Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 that we hope will win the hearts of the world and deliver a tourism legacy, jobs and economic growth for this country."
Eight of the top 10 tourism markets were European, but two distant relatives, Australia and the U.S., rounded out the list. 176,000 Americans watched sport during their stay, another healthy sign for the future host city and another number sure to be topped come 2012.
Asian Council Opens Oman Meetings
The Olympic Council of Asia holds an Olympic Solidarity forum in Muscat, Oman with representatives of the 45 member national Olympic committees of OCA.
Also on tap this week is the chefs de mission meeting for both the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou this November and the 2nd Asian Beach Games to be held in Oman in December.
It’s the first time for such a major OCA meeting in Oman.
"We have three important days for the NOCs to discuss and share their experiences of what the Olympic movement is facing in the countries, and it is a good opportunity to learn from each other and improve our system back home," said Husain Al Musallam, OCA Director General.
Ali Bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, the Minister of Sports Affairs and president of the Oman NOC also spoke at the opening session Monday.
"Today marks a significant milestone as we bring together in Muscat the 45 National Olympic Committees of Asia. By working in cooperation we aim to provide a platform for useful dialogue that will lead to the progress of each NOC," he said.
IOC member and OCA secretary general Randhir Singh of India told his colleagues that this is his first journey to Oman.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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