Olympic Newsdesk - Canadian NOC Patron; Hockeyroo Picks; Boxer Sent Packing

6/19/2012

Canadian Governor General is COC Patron

Governor General of Canada David Johnston is now the Patron of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

“As stewards of Canada’s Olympic Movement, we are honored and humbled that His Excellency has formally singled out our organization as one whose values work in tandem with the purpose of his office,” COC president Marcel Aubut said in a statement.

“With our mandate energized by this honor, we will continue to support and promote outstanding achievement and the pursuit of excellence by our Canadian athletes, and a stronger, prouder, healthier Canada for all of us.”

The Governor General is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada.

Aussie NOC Names 16 Hockeyroos

The Australian Olympic Committee recently announced the 16 female hockey players heading to London.

“There was a lot of competition within the group of 27 across the attack, midfield and defense and it was a difficult process to pick the final squad, but I am very happy with the team we selected,” Hockeyroos head coach Adam Commens said.

More than half the members are making their Olympic debuts.

The Hockeyroos will practice on home soil through July 15, when they head to London to compete in three practice matches ahead of the Games.

Australian Boxer Sent Packing

Team Australia’s light heavyweight boxing representative Damien Hooper was recently dismissed from a preparation camp.

Boxing Australia CEO Kable Kelleway made the announcement Tuesday.

“Damien has been removed from the National Team’s Preparation Camp due to general behavior breaches towards the National Coach, fellow Olympic Team-Members and Management,” the statement said. “Damien has been advised he will be able to rejoin the Australian Team’s Preparation Camp when he understands and undertakes to adopt the reasonable standards of good manners and respect a member of a team should extend to his team mates, his coaches and other people with whom he comes into contact.”

Boxing Australia chairman Ted Tanner said that the altercations between Hooper and Team Australia officials and athletes were not physical. He blamed the boxer’s disruptive behavior on the stress of the upcoming Olympics.

Hooper is expected to return to Team Australia and the preparation camp soon.

Michael Johnson Talks "Healthy Share"

Around the Rings social media director Marcel Tirado spoke with Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson on Tuesday about his "Healthy Share" campaign to promote health and fitness on Facebook.

Click here for the full interview.

Written by Hannah Reid.

For general comments or questions, click here.

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