News

IOC launches new Youth Olympic Games visual identity “YOG-DNA”

In just 200 days, at 20.10 SGT on 14 August 2010, Singapore will open its doors to 3,600 of the world's best young athletes for the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG). To celebrate the countdown, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the visual identity of the Youth Olympic Games - "YOG-DNA". The "YOG-DNA" label can be viewed on the YOG website, "the Cube" www.olympic.org/yog, and will be integrated into all YOG digital and social media concepts in both the build-up to Singapore 2010 and future YOG editions. A film has also been created, which takes the viewer on a journey to understand what it means to have

Great Expectations for Nepal

Last time, in Colombo, Nepal was placed fourth in the ranking with 53 medals including seven golds among the seven nations of the region. In Dhaka, 283 Nepali players will compete for 132 gold medals in 23 events. And, players, coaches and officials know they could have prepared better for the event. "We could not meet your expectations but we request you to forget all about that and concentrate on your performance," Timalsina told the players during a farewell organized by the Nepal Weightlifting Association. Nepali players will be led by Deepak Bista, the Olympic qualifier, who is vying for the fourth consecutive gold medal in the SAG. Karateka Kushal Shrestha, Manita Shahi (taekwondo) and Kamal Bahadur Adhikari (weightlifting) are also hoping for the gold. Weightlifting has won the largest number of medals for Nepal in the SAG so

SOUTH ASIA BIGGEST GAMES OPEN IN BANGLADESH

The 11th South Asian Games kicks off with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opening the greatest sporting extravaganza of the region releasing pigeons, the symbol of peace. "The 11th South Asian Games is opened," she said while colourful balloons swarmed the skyline of the Bangabandhu National Stadium in seconds to mark the announcement. The country welcomed scores of South Asian and Asian sports dignitaries to an opening ceremony watched by nearly 25,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of half a billion in the South Asia region. It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in SA Games history. Nearly 1,800 athletes from eight countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka - joined the games considered "South Asian Olympic" to compete in 23 disciplines, which offer 158 gold medals. The 23 official sports for the 11th SAF Games: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Handball, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu.

IWF gives nod for SAF Games after India pay installment of fine

The International Weightlifting Federation cleared the deck for Indian lifters' participation in the January 29 -February 8 South Asian Games after the national body paid $50,000 as first installment of the $500,000 fine imposed on it by IWF The IWF has imposed the fine on Indian Weightlifting Federation after six of its lifters had flunked dope tests conducted by WADA and NADA in September last year. "When the fine was imposed on India the SAF Games was knocking at the door, so the Indian federation did not get much time and paid the first installment," Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh said. "The international federation has sent letters to their Indian counterpart, IOA, Asian Weightlifting Federation and also the SAF Games authority informing the eligibility criteria of the Indian lifters' in the Dhaka event," he added. The IWF earlier cracked the whip on the offenders and banned Shailaja Pujari for life, imposed a fine of $5,500 on Vicky Butta and Harbhajan Singh and $5,000 on four other lifters -- Rajesh Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Sunita Rani (Punjab), A Vijayadevi (Jharkhand) and Pujari. "However, in any case the Indian federation has to pay the whole amount of $500,00 before the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in order to participate there. Now the Indian federation and the international body will work out the timeframe, number and amounts of installments to be paid," Randhir said. Sahdev Yadav, secretary-general of the Indian Weightlifting Federation said they will sit with the game's world governing body once the SAF Games is over. A six-member Indian team will now leave for Dhaka on January 29 to participate in the 11-day competition. (The Times of

Call to send entries to 2nd World University Championships-Taichung,TPE

The 2nd World University Weightlifting Championships will be held - under the auspices of FISU - 1-5 July 2010 in Taichung City, Chinese Taipei.The IWF would like to encourage its members to send teams to the WUWC 2010 - via your National University Sport Federations. Forms, information available from the IWF Calendar and 2010 WUWC website.

Sri Lanka’s largest sports contingent leaves for Dhaka

The Sri Lankan contingent to the 11th South Asian Games (SAG), comprising 204 men, 90 women and 69 officials making a total of 363 persons, will be the largest ever local squad to participate in any international event. They are ready to take part at the 11th SAG scheduled to be held from January 29 to February 9 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sri Lanka will be looking for gold from Chintana Widanage who won a weightlifting gold at the last SAG. (by By Dhammika