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Ukraine Centennial; IOA Deadline; USOC CEO Award; IOC Warns Pakistan Back To Main

Ukraine Celebrates Centennial

Sergey Bubka helps cut the ribbon to dedicate the Ukraine Olympic Academy with academy President Marie Bulatova and University Rector Yevheny Imas. (ATR)

The Ukrainian Olympic Committee will celebrate the 100th anniversary for the 1913 Russian Games this weekend in Kiev.

The event, organized by UOC President Sergey Bubka, is slated to draw about a dozen IOC members as well as representatives from all three 2020 Olympic Bids.

The aim of the event is to raise the profile of Ukrainian Sport ahead of a possible bid from Lviv for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

The celebrations include sports demonstrations, a museum dedication, as well as an academic conference on the 1913 Russian Games.

IOC Sets IOA Deadline

The Indian Olympic Association must hold new elections by Sept. 1.

IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper wrote a letter to the IOA informing them of the deadline this week.

The letter was quoted in a Reuters report.

The IOC suspended India from the Olympic Movement in December over concerns regarding government interference and poor administration.

USOC and Scott Blackmun Honored at Sports Business Awards

Action from the U.S. Olympic Swimming trials. (Getty Images)

The USOC received Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Awards, and USOC CEO Scott Blackmun won Sports Executive of the Year. 

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming was a finalist in the Event of the Year category, but the award went to the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix.

Other awards include Anheuser-Busch as Sponsor of the Year.

Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the industry.

IOC Continues to Warn Pakistan

The IOC sent another warning to a disputed National Olympic Committee in Pakistan.

Pakistan at the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. (Getty Images)

Jerome Poivey, IOC head of institutional relations sent an email to the breakaway group saying: “The IOC has no intention to deal with an illegal body and it is expected that you respect the IOC stand and the legal entities and structures of the Olympic Movement.”

He added: “There is indeed a unique NOC in Pakistan, namely the POA, that is duly recognised by the IOC and that is currently headed by Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan following the elections which took place on February 4, 2012 in the presence of IOC and OCA observers.”

Poivey called on government authorities to work with the IOC recognized POA, “instead of entering into unproductive disputes which have no effect but to regrettably damage the development of sport and the athletes in your country.

“We request that you stop your misleading actions which go against the Olympic Charter and the principles which govern the Olympic Movement and could only result, unfortunately, in the suspension of the representation of Pakistan in the international sporting events with all consequences this would imply. We hope this is not what you are looking for.”

The Pakistani government has insisted on term limits for sport officials in the country. The Olympic Charter requires National Olympic Committees to be free of government interference.

DOSB Thanks Institute

An FES employee tinkering with a bobsleigh. (DOSB)

Germany’s Olympic committee, the DOSB, thanked Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES) for helping deliver 141 gold medals on its 50th anniversary.

DOSB President Thomas Bach traveled to Berlin for the FES anniversary, saying “141 gold medals in the Olympics since 1964 and 461 world championship titles since 1963 are shining proof.”

The FES works on improving sport technology in Germany.

Australian Photographer Delly Carr Endorses Tokyo

Following a photo shoot in Tokyo, award-winning Australian sports photographer Delly Carr said he will offer his services in support of the 2020 bid city.

“I will do everything I can to make sure Tokyo wins,” he said in a statement distributed by the bid committee. “I’ve been here a week and seen a lot more than I thought was possible. Tokyo will do an amazing job.

When asked what he likes about Tokyo he responded: “Tokyo is cool.”