Olympic Briefs -- Table Tennis Championships End; NZOC Chief Retires
5/6/2009
Wang Hao (right) defeated Wang Liqin to win the men’s singles title at the HIS World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, Japan, which concluded on Tuesday. (Getty Images)China once again asserted its dominance in international table tennis as it won nearly all of the medals at the HIS World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, Japan, which concluded on Tuesday.
China swept the gold and silver medals in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles and the mixed doubles competitions.
Wang Hao defeated Wang Liqin in the championship match of the men’s singles, while Zhang Yining beat Guo Yue to win the women’s singles title.
In the doubles events, Chen Qi and Wang Hao defeated Ma Long and Xu Xin in the men’s doubles championship, Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia beat Ding Ning and Guo Yan for the women’s doubles title and Li Ping and Cao Zhen beat Zhang Jike and Mu Zi to claim the mixed doubles crown.
NZOC Chair Retires, Leaves Million Dollar Parting GiftEion Edgar, President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee for the past eight years, retired and left the NZOC with
Eion Edgar retired from the NZOC presidency, leaving a gift of almost $600,000. (NZOC)a gift of nearly $600,000 USD, or $1 million New Zealand dollars.
"This donation will create opportunities for the NZOC and enable them to take on additional projects that will make a real difference to our communities" Edgar was quoted as saying.
The NOC elected Mike Stanley as the new president. Stanley is an NZOC board member, Olympian and former world champion rower.
NZOC secretary general Barry Maister called Edgar "passionate" adding "we cannot overstate the value of his leadership and the legacy he leaves."
"I like to leave an organization in better shape than I found it," Edgar said. "This is certainly the case with the NZOC and I strongly commend Barry Maister for his leadership and his willing team for their enthusiasm and outstanding work. I have also been fortunate to have worked with a capable and hard working Board. I thank the Board members most sincerely."
Swimming New Zealand’s Murray Coulter has been elected to the New Zealand Olympic Committee executive board, replacing Stanley.
IAAF Partners with NBCThe International Association of Athletics Federations announced that NBC Universal Sports will broadcast athletics events in the United States.
NBC will broadcast IAAF events including the IAAF World Athletics Series of competitions between 2010-2015 and the Golden League for 2009.
"This is an improved agreement for the premier events of our sport," IAAF President Lamine Diack said.
“I am delighted that now, American fans will not only be able to enjoy World Championship athletics but also the ÅF Golden League across the three mediums of terrestrial, cable and internet.”
World Hockey Tournament Moves On to QuarterfinalsReigning champion Russia and last year’s runner up Canada were among the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals after the conclusion of qualifying round play at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Switzerland.
Russia and Canada will be joined by the U.S., Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia and Belarus in the quarterfinals, which will be played on Wednesday and Thursday.
Russia will play Belarus and the U.S. takes on Finland on Wednesday, while Canada goes up against Latvia and Sweden squares off against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
The semifinal round on Friday will feature the Russia-Belarus and U.S.-Finland winners in one game and the Canada-Latvia and Sweden-Czech Republic winners in the other contest.
All games in the rest of the tournament will be played at Post Finance Arena in Bern.
Chicago 2016 Holds Olympic WeekChicago 2016 is celebrating Olympic Week in America this week.
Olympic Week in America connects schools with the Olympic movement and involves classroom lessons about the Olympic movement.
“Even as a Candidate City, Chicago 2016 is dedicated to furthering the Olympic Movement and promoting its ideals and values among the youth of Chicago,” Chicago 2016 CEO Patrick Ryan said.
“We believe the increased participation in this year’s program is a reflection of the excitement and interest in the Games among people in Chicago.”
Olympian Dwight Stones and Paralympian April Holmes attended the Opening Ceremony at Mayo Elementary School in Chicago on Monday.
England Bidding for 2015 Rugby World CupEngland’s Rugby Football Union decided to bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The RFU and the British government will team up to put forward the bid, with a five-man delegation presenting England’s proposal to the International Rugby Board’s council in Dublin, Ireland on May 13.
“England 2015 would be a superb addition to a great decade of sport in Britain,” British MP Andy Burham said. “The RFU has pulled together an outstanding bid that will take the game to new audiences. It has the government’s full support and we will now work with them to make the case for it.”
England last hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1991, along with Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France.
Briefs......The World Badminton Federation has named former world champion Thomas Lund as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective June 15. The 41-year old Lund, the mixed doubles world champion in 1993 and ’95 and a three-time All-England champion, was the chief executive officer of the Denmark Badminton Association.
Written by Ed Hula III and Greg Oshust.
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