The discovery of a new highly sophisticated steroid, designed to evade drug testers, has been lauded by Olympic chief Jacques Rogge.
Sports scientists announced the discovery of desoxy-methyl-testosterone (DMT), earlier this month, following an anonymous tip-off.
It seems that this substance was seized by Canadian customs, at the Canada/US border last year.
Rogge acknowledged that:
"There will be more in the future...this is unavoidable because of the bad use of scientific knowledge."
He added:
"The gap is closing between us and them...It is closing because we test more, because we test unannounced and because we test out of competition...We have information...and that is what you need to beat this...".
The head of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) doping control laboratory in Montreal Professor Christiane Ayotte said DMT, which aims to artificially boost strength and stamina, was the most sophisticated substance yet discovered by testers.
DMT is the second designer steroid found, following the discovery of THG (tetrahydrogestrinone) in 2003.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Turin's Budget Crisis
The Italian government has promised to make up the $196M budget shortfall on the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Oddly enough the International Olympic Committee executive board will visit Turin, on Thursday and Friday, one year before the games begin.
Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta's office said:
"We must guarantee the success of Turin 2006 and everything will be done through a very good and healthy administration, which will be inspired by transparency and by accounting and managing rigour..".
The Turin organising committee has been desperately looking for a solution to the budget shortfall, in the overall budget of $1.5BN, which is due mainly to a lack of support from Italian state-owned companies.
The IOC has repeatedly pressed the Italian government to help. However, as a private foundation, the committee is prevented by state law from receiving government subsidies.
This provides yet another object lesson, if one were ever needed, in proving that no one makes money out of the Olympics; apart from the IOC, certain gold medal winners and certain multi nationals.
Oddly enough the International Olympic Committee executive board will visit Turin, on Thursday and Friday, one year before the games begin.
Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta's office said:
"We must guarantee the success of Turin 2006 and everything will be done through a very good and healthy administration, which will be inspired by transparency and by accounting and managing rigour..".
The Turin organising committee has been desperately looking for a solution to the budget shortfall, in the overall budget of $1.5BN, which is due mainly to a lack of support from Italian state-owned companies.
The IOC has repeatedly pressed the Italian government to help. However, as a private foundation, the committee is prevented by state law from receiving government subsidies.
This provides yet another object lesson, if one were ever needed, in proving that no one makes money out of the Olympics; apart from the IOC, certain gold medal winners and certain multi nationals.
Tuesday, February 8, 2005
CBC Lose Rights
Canada's first domestic Olympics, in more than 20 years, will be shown on private networks; after a consortium of BellGlobe Media and Rogers Communications outbid CBC for the rights to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Games.
The winning bid was a record US$153-million, with US$90-million going for the Vancouver Games.
The winning bid was a record US$153-million, with US$90-million going for the Vancouver Games.
Saturday, February 5, 2005
The $12BN White Elephant
The cheering crowds of the Athens Olympics are but a fading memory. However, what is most certainly not to be forgotten is the $12BN spent on the construction of the various venues that housed the Olympics.
The only trouble is, the Greek government has not a clue as to what to do with them.
In the rush to build the most expensive and "stunning" venues ever, for the 2004 Olympics, the planners and government of the day forgot to ask themselves the following blindingly obvious question:
"When the party is over, what do we do with these buildings?".
In addition to trying to recoup the cost of the buildings themselves, something that the Greek taxpayer will spend over 10 years paying for, there are the annual maintenance costs of over $100M.
The financial failure of the Greek Olympics should be a lesson to any city, idiotic enough, to want to host these games; namely:
-Don't overspend
-Build something that can be used after the Games
-Don't allow politicians to become involved
The only trouble is, the Greek government has not a clue as to what to do with them.
In the rush to build the most expensive and "stunning" venues ever, for the 2004 Olympics, the planners and government of the day forgot to ask themselves the following blindingly obvious question:
"When the party is over, what do we do with these buildings?".
In addition to trying to recoup the cost of the buildings themselves, something that the Greek taxpayer will spend over 10 years paying for, there are the annual maintenance costs of over $100M.
The financial failure of the Greek Olympics should be a lesson to any city, idiotic enough, to want to host these games; namely:
-Don't overspend
-Build something that can be used after the Games
-Don't allow politicians to become involved
Friday, February 4, 2005
Luge Cancelled
Luge test events on the track for the 2006 Turin Olympics have been called off this weekend, as a result of a number of accidents.
The International Luge Federation has asked for the track to be simplified.
The accidents included:
The International Luge Federation has asked for the track to be simplified.
The accidents included:
- Brazil's Renato Mizoguchi injuring his head during a crash
- Lugers from Latvia, Virgin Islands and Romania crashing at the same corner in the last few days
- Raluca Stramaturaru, of Romania, breaking an arm Wednesday
Gaetano Coppi, president of the Italian winter sports federation, does not think that it is the track to blame; quote:
"It's not the track which must be modified ... but the criteria of the (federation) about the technical level of athletes allowed to compete..".
Thursday, February 3, 2005
Paris in The Lead
Paris is currently in the lead, to win the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Today, the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission arrives in Madrid; to conduct its first review of the plans submitted by the five cities, who hope to host the games.
The review process is expect to be completed by March, the final decision will be announced in July of this year in Singapore.
Paris's bid was helped by the fact that the Queen told a visitor to a Buckingham Palace reception, that she expected Paris to win. Then, compounding London's embarrassment, a newspaper claimed that London had "in effect abandoned hope of winning".
Today, the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission arrives in Madrid; to conduct its first review of the plans submitted by the five cities, who hope to host the games.
The review process is expect to be completed by March, the final decision will be announced in July of this year in Singapore.
Paris's bid was helped by the fact that the Queen told a visitor to a Buckingham Palace reception, that she expected Paris to win. Then, compounding London's embarrassment, a newspaper claimed that London had "in effect abandoned hope of winning".
Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Showtime
The IOC's evaluation commission will begin visiting the 5 cities hoping to host the 2012 Olympics, over the next 7 weeks.
The cities on their visiting list are; Madrid, Paris, London, Moscow and New York.
Their findings will be published in May. A poor report will scupper a city's chances.
The cities on their visiting list are; Madrid, Paris, London, Moscow and New York.
Their findings will be published in May. A poor report will scupper a city's chances.
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Canada Owns The 2010 Olympics
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, has called on all Canadians to put their full weight behind the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Speaking in Montreal, Rogge said:
"We believe the Games must be Canadian Games...There must be a sense of ownership in all of Canada, in all the provinces, for these Games...I know our friends in Vancouver want that, too..." .
Rogge is spending 3 days in Canada, meeting with political and business leaders to build support for the 2010 Games.
The federal government has been asked to put up half the money for the Games, the rest will be tapped from private sources.
Rogge expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the 2010 Olympics. However, he warned that the Games were still only in their "honeymoon phase".
The next stage will be more difficult; when roads are blocked, and holes dug, during the construction of the venues.
Speaking in Montreal, Rogge said:
"We believe the Games must be Canadian Games...There must be a sense of ownership in all of Canada, in all the provinces, for these Games...I know our friends in Vancouver want that, too..." .
Rogge is spending 3 days in Canada, meeting with political and business leaders to build support for the 2010 Games.
The federal government has been asked to put up half the money for the Games, the rest will be tapped from private sources.
Rogge expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the 2010 Olympics. However, he warned that the Games were still only in their "honeymoon phase".
The next stage will be more difficult; when roads are blocked, and holes dug, during the construction of the venues.
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