Olympic Newsdesk - New Jobs For Vancouver Execs, Award for Beijing 2008

5/2/2010

New Jobs Ahead for Furlong, Cobb

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong is reported to be in line to become the chairman of Own the Podium, the government funded program that supports elite Canadian athletes.

Canadian Press reports that Furlong is the leading candidate for the non-paying post to lead the new board of directors. The board would replace a group made up of government officials. A study last year recommended that an independent board take control of Own the Podium.

Dave Cobb, Furlong’s deputy at VANOC, responsible for finance and marketing, is said to be on his way to BC Hydro, the province-owned company that supplies electric power. Cobb’s appointment as CEO could be announced next week, say news reports from Vancouver. The chairman of BC Hydro is Dan Doyle, formerly VANOC’s construction director.

BOCOG Chief Accepts Sport Accord Award

Two years after the Beijing Olympics, more accolades for organizers of the 2008 Games.
 
Deputy mayor and former executive vice president of BOCOG Liu Jing Min received the Sprit of Sport award from SportAccord at the group’s annual general assembly in Dubai April 30. BOCOG was given the award in the organization category.
 
Antonio von Ondarza, International Hockey Federation vp and president of the Pan American Hockey Federation received the Spirit of Sport award for work on behalf of his federation.
 
Ko Koren received the award for his service to the International World Games Association.

Pan Am Sports Organization Meets in Mayan Mexico

Preparations for the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara are expected to be of top concern this coming week as the 42-nation Pan American Sports Organization meets in the Yucatan capital of Merida.

The 2011 Pan Ams have been troubled with delays in construction of major venues such as the Pan American Village and the stadium for athletics.

The PASO delegates will hear from organizers of other upcoming games, including Olympics in London, Sochi and Rio de Janerio, as well as first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this August and the 2015 Pan Ams, awarded to Toronto six months ago.

The PASO assembly starts May 5 and concludes May 8 with the Pan American Sports Convention. The convention, an initiative of PASO president Mario Vazquez Rana, brings together sports ministers from the region to discuss ways to improve cooperation with National Olympic Committees.

Written by Ed Hula. For general comments or questions, click here.

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