Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, 94
Honorary IOC member Pedro Ramirez Vazquez is being remembered as "a longtime supporter of the Olympic Movement" and the founder of modern Mexican architecture.
"The IOC expresses its deepest sympathies to Pedro Ramírez Vázquez’s family," the IOC said Thursday in a statement announcing the death of Ramírez Vázquez on Wednesday at age 94.
After heading the organizing committee for Mexico City 1968, he won the presidency of the Mexican Olympic Committee in 1972 and joined the IOC that same year.
During more than two decades on the IOC, he chaired the Cultural Commission and served as architect for the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, the IOC Pavilion at the EXPO in 1992 as well as the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
He left the IOC in 1995 and was elected an honorary member in 2005.
Bolt In, Pistorius Out for London Anniversary
Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah are among a dozen Olympic champions confirmed for the London 2012 Anniversary Games.
The meet, which will double as the 2013 London Grand Prix, is scheduled for July 26 and 27 followed by Paralympic events July 28.
Sally Pearson, Aries Merritt, Greg Rutherford, Kirani James and Sanya Richards-Ross are some of the other stars of London 2012 signed up for their Olympic Stadium encore.
"The crowds were amazing at the Games, and I hope they will be out again in their numbers at the end of July," Bolt said Thursday in a statement.
"I haven't competed at the London Diamond League since 2009, but it has always been a great meet with lots of Jamaican support. It almost feels like running at home."
One athlete who apparently won’t be welcome is Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, who awaits trial in his native South Africa on charges of premeditated murder.
"‘I don’t want to see the Sunday of the Anniversary Games turning into a media circus. It would overshadow every other athlete that was there," UK Athletics Chairman Ed Warner was quoted Wednesday by BBC.
"Anything might change but, based on what I know at the moment, it would be a ‘no’ if he rang this morning."
Ahmad Meets Korean President
Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah met with Korean President Park Geun Hye to secure support for two upcoming sporting events in South Korea.
"Her Excellency the President of the Republic gave us the whole support, and for that we give our gratitude and appreciation to the government of Korea for the support they give to the city of Incheon for the success of the Games," Ahmad said in a statement from the OCA, referring to the Asian Games in Incheon Sept. 19-Oct. 4 and the Indoor and Martial Arts Games scheduled for June 29-July 6.
Incheon Mayor Song Young Gil noted the Korean peninsula seems "shrouded by the dark clouds of conflict" but said the two events in the city could bring peace between North and South Korea.
"Just as the Seoul Olympics helped to tear down the wall of the Cold War, 2.9 million Incheon citizens and I are determined to make the Incheon Asian Games a peace festival to melt down all conflicts in Asia."
Song added: "Our determination to bring peace is stronger than ever before. President Park Geun Hye has made it clear that this is the time for the trust-building process on the Korean peninsula to begin. She is committed to overcoming the current crisis through dialogue.
"There can be no doubt that realizing peace on the Korean peninsula and in North East Asia is the prerequisite for a peaceful Asia."
North Korea recently intensified its rhetoric toward the United States and South Korea, and concerned were raised that the country had increased its nuclear weapons capability.
IOC Award for YOG Village
The Austrian Olympic Committee (OOC) awarded Klaus Lugger the IOC Trophy for his role leading construction for the 2012 Youth Olympic Games Village in Innsbruck. He received the honor for "Sport and Sustainable Development" efforts.
The 13 houses and 444 apartments comprising the Village were handed over to the Innsbruck government, which will use the complex for public housing.
"With this project, we could not only offer affordable accommodation for young athletes from the whole world, but also helped many Tyroleans to find a modern, economical operable apartment," Lugger said in a statement.
Merlo Re-Elected as AIPS Leader
Gianni Merlo will serve another four-year term as president of the International Sport Press Association (AIPS). He was re-elected at the organization’s Congress in Sochi last week.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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