IOC Roundup -- Bach Set For Visit to UN Headquarters

IOC president Thomas Bach will meet with Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations, on Monday in New York.

The meeting, which will take place at UN Headquarters, will include both sides signing a memorandum of understanding that "will cement the relationship between the two organizations and result in even closer cooperation," according to an IOC release.

The IOC, which holds UN Observer Status, will have an expanded relationship with the UN as a result, one that will involve the entire UN as a whole.

Bach’s visit will open with a reception at 10 a.m. and the signing of the memorandum at 11:30, followed by a group photo. It is unknown when his meeting with the secretary general will take place.

Last month, the two organizations teamed to celebrate the first UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Positive Test for Latvian Hockey Player

The IOC announced on Friday that a second member of the Latvian men’s ice hockey team tested positive for a banned substance in Sochi.

Ralfs Freibergs, 23, tested positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid on February 22. He gave a urine sample two days after the team’s quarterfinal loss to Canada. He forfeits his diploma for having placed eighth in the men’s competition.

Freibergs, who plays collegiately for Bowling Green State University in the U.S., faces a possible two-year ban.

His Latvian teammate Vitalijs Pavlovs was disqualified earlier after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Felli Goes Behind the Scenes in Rio

Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli is in Rio de Janeiro working closely with organizers about the ongoing preparations for the Olympic Games.

Neither the IOC nor the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee will confirm what parties Felli is meeting with, but both sides said he is still in Rio working with organizers.

Around the Rings reported that Felli is hoping to quell the anxieties of 17 of the 28 sports who expressed concerns at the SportAccord Convention in Antalya, Turkey.

Felli is expected to go from Rio de Janeiro to PyeongChang for the IOC CoComm from April 28 to May 1.

Written by Nick Devlinand Aaron Bauer

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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