In the last few months, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been courting potential 2026 Winter Games host cities like never before, but there was a time when no less a figure than the IOC President would cheerfully have abolished the event altogether.
The visit to Morgedal this weekend is a significant staging post in the journey of Lillehammer’s Flame for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG). It was here in the early 19th century that Sondre Norheim, considered the father of modern skiing, grew up in a tiny cottage at Overbo overlooking the valley.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iranian judoka Arash Miresmaeili was disqualified for weighing in at nearly four pounds above the limit for his weight class of his under-66 kilograms match against an Israeli opponent Ehud Vaks in the first round. It was claimed Miresmaeili had gone on an eating binge to protest the International Olympic Committee's recognition of the state of Israel. Iran does not recognise the state of Israel, and Miresmaeili's actions won praise from high-ranking Iranian officials. Mohammad Khatami, the country's President at the time, was quoted as saying Miresmaili's actions would be "recorded in the history of Iranian glories". He was later awarded $125,000 by the Government - the same amount given to Olympic gold medallists.
FA - Partnerships Manager, International Relations - London, UK
The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England. We are responsible for promoting and developing the game at all levels; from grass roots through to the professional game, The FA Cup and the England International teams, and has two core assets: Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park. This new role requires carving out and delivering new engagement programmes across the confederations, using existing experience of working in international football. It requires confidence in working with and for leadership teams, and an ability to think and work strategically, deliver projects overseas and build a network of contacts across the national associations.
The International Table Tennis Federation is preparing to move its global headquarters from the Olympic capital Lausanne to a new location - probably in Asia - to capitalise on the massive interest in the sport there and which has helped it reach an annual turnover of $20 million, 10 times more than it was making 10 years ago. Mike Rowbottom reports.
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