Olympic Briefs -- Deadly Cricket Attack, New IOC Communications Director

3/3/2009

Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team Claims Six Lives in Lahore

A deadly terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket team, which was touring in Lahore, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of six security personnel and injured eight players. The team was traveling to the third day of the second test match at Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday when the attack occurred.

Security video footage showed multiple gunmen carrying assault weapons firing on the team and then running away after the team's bus driver sped off. Authorities later found AK-47s, grenades and two rocket grenade launchers at the scene.

Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rahman told CNN the scene was "pandemonium" and that the attackers were still free.

After canceling the match, the Pakistani government provided helicopters for the Sri Lankan team to return home.

The governor of Punjab province described the attackers as terrorists vowing to catch them "one way or the other."

Around the sporting world, the attacks were quickly denounced, with the International Cricket Council Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat saying in a statement, "we note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation. It is a source of great sadness that there have been a number of fatalities in this attack and it is also very upsetting for the wider cricket family that some of the Sri Lanka players and one match official have been injured in this attack. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died."

In a BBC report, Lorgat was quoted as saying the future of test matches being played in Pakistan was grim.

"Perhaps for some time Pakistan should consider playing at neutral venues," he said, "rather play some cricket than none. I'm not sure any team would be ready to play cricket in Pakistan."

Pakistan is one of the co-hosts of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned Tuesday's attack calling it a "cowardly terrorist attack." He added, "The Sri Lankan players had gone to Pakistan as ambassadors of goodwill." He did not say who he believed was behind the attack.

Sri Lanka Cricket had no statement available on their Web site, but their accounts described the attack as "brutal."

Cricket boards from around the world including Australia, India, South Africa, Ireland, and England and Wales criticized the attack and expressed sympathy to the families involved.

Gianni Merlo, the International Sports Press Association also denounced the attacks saying, "With this appalling terrorist attack which has hit the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan we are going back to the dark days of 1972.The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) will stand firmly against any crime committed against the youth of the world. The world of sport has an important cultural value because it is helping and developing the younger generation of the world to better know and understand each other."

In New Zealand, India was squaring off against the Kiwis in a One Day International Match and the two teams wore black armbands in sympathy for the attacked.

Despite the harrowing news, ICC President David Morgan tried to coax hope out of the hearts of cricketers saying the sport "must go on" and "will go on," despite the attacks.

IOC Selects Communications Chief

After a five-month search, the IOC names Mark Adams as the new communications director. Adams is currently serving as managing director and head of media and communications for the World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, an hour drive from IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

A native of Great Britain, Adams, 45, is supposed to start with the IOC at the end of May.

An IOC release says that Adams supervises a staff of 18 at the World Economic Forum and is responsible for media, web and publications departments, along with image management of the Forum, best known for its annual gathering of world elites at Davos.

Adams is a former journalist with the BBC and ITV in London. Before joining the World Economic Forum, Adams worked in Lyon, France with the European TV news channel Euronews as editorial director.

A 2005 profile of Adams in PR Week takes note of his days in Manchester as an "Old Labour activist" and as radio disc jockey.

IOC President Jacques Rogge says he welcomes Adams and his background developing media aimed at young people.

"Mark comes with strong media experience and a good understanding of the communications challenges facing big organizations such as the IOC. His expertise and creativity in finding innovative ways to reach out to young people will be a strong asset," says Rogge in an IOC statement.

Adams fills the opening created when Giselle Davies left the post in November.

He calls the IOC "one of a handful of truly world class organizations with a powerful global influence."

"To maintain the IOC's relevance and to make sure the ideals of the organization are truly understood around the world and with all age groups is a truly exciting challenge," Adams is quoted in the IOC statement.

Chris Finnegan, 1944-2009

Boxing gold medalist Chris Finnegan died at the age of 64 Monday.

The British light-heavyweight beat Aleksey Kiselyov to win the middleweight gold medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics at the age of 24.

Finnegan turned to professional boxing after the Olympics and won the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles.

He attempted to win the world title at Wembley but the reigning champion American Bob Foster knocked him out in the 14th round.

His brother Kevin Finnegan was the 1974 British middleweight champion and died in October at the age of 60.

...Briefs

...The 16th Asian Games announced the schedule for the Second Round Song Competition for the Guanzhou 2010 Asian Games. The competition is to promote the vision of the Games through music. Chinese-based or international people will compete to compose the official song for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, official songs for the Asian Para Games, theme songs for the Torch Relay, volunteers and Youth Camp, sport music, music for athlete's entrance and music for the victory ceremony.

Written by Isia Reaves and Ed Hula III.

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