Abhinav Bindra qualifies for 2012 Olympics

Beijing Olympics gold-medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra Saturday gave India its eighth quota place for the 2012 London Olympics with an eighth-place finish in the ISSF World Cup in Munich.

The seven other Indian shooters to win quota places were: Gagan Narang (rifle), Hari Om Singh (prone) Ronjan Sodhi (double trap), Sanjeev Rajput (three position), Vijay Kumar, Annu Raj Singh and Rahi Sarnobat (all pistol).

This was Bindra's last chance to win a quota place for the country and the 10-metre air rifle champion trained for two weeks with his coach Gaby Buhlman before reaching Munich.

Bindra shot a qualification score of 596 points, which tied him with eight others, but made it to the finals with 52.6 points in the shoot-off.

He started the final at seventh place, but with two disappointing shots of 9.3 and 9.8 points, he came hurtling down to the eighth place. Competing with Are Hansen and Peter Hellenbrand, he scored a total of 100.7 points in the final and finished with a total score of 696.7 points (596+100.7).

He was awarded an Olympic Quota Place, securing a qualification spot for India at the next 2012 Olympic Games since the others in the field had already booked their berth for London.

"It has been a long way through," said Bindra.

“I am happy that I finally reached this Olympic Quota Place to participate in the 2012Games."

"I will have to go through trials to make it to the Olympic team, I believe. Now that I have a Quota, life seems easier."

Bindra, 28, is currently ranked 31 in the ISSF world ranking for this event. After victory at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he had never made it to an ISSF final again, finishing in 25th place at the 2010 ISSF World Championship in Munich.

2010 World Cup head calls for African Olympics

A successful World Cup in South Africa will increase the pressure on the IOC to bring the Olympics to the continent for the first time, the chief organiser of next year''s soccer showpiece said on Sunday.

Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africa''s World Cuporganising committee, said the decision to award the 2016 Olympics to Brazil "opens the way to the African continent in 2020".

Rio de Janeiro became the first South American city to be awarded an Olympics when it won the race to host the 2016 Games last month.

Jordaan, speaking in a Reuters interview, said the selection of Rio de Janeiro left one glaring omission for the International Olympic Committee to address.

"I think that 2020 must be Africa''s turn," Jordaan said. "The fact that the Olympics now has gone to Rio and to South America leaves Africa the only continent since 1896 still waiting."

He said the choice of Rio over Chicago and other cities "indicates also that there is a shift in the thinking of the IOC that developing countries must be considered".

Jordaan added: "So I think that the IOC will be under pressure to seriously consider an African bid and part of that of course is a highly successful 2010 FIFA World Cup that will increase that pressure.

"We understand the importance of a successful World Cup in our country." He said South Africa, the biggest economy in Africa, would have a strong case if it decided to bid for the Olympics because existing infrastructure was a key factor in winning the Games.

South Africa is still dealing with concerns about security, transport and accommodation for the World Cup, which runs from June 11-July 11 next year.

Organisers are expecting 450,000 foreign visitors for the first African World Cup, which is being held in a country with one of the world''s highest rates of violent crime.

Jordaan said that security questions were being taken extremely seriously and he pointed to the lack of major problems associated with recent high profile sporting events in the country, including the Confederations Cup, the British and Irish Lions rugby tour and Indian Premier League cricket.

"We have 9.5 million tourists every year to South Africa -- surely we would not have seen a one million year-on-year growth in tourism if it was not a destination where people can come on vacation and be safe," Jordaan said. "(Security) is a matter that we take very, very seriously."

Jordaan said winning the right to stage the World Cup was an event as important for South Africa as the release of Nelson Mandela from jail and the end of apartheid in 1994.

"When the envelope was opened and it was South Africa, I think it was almost a second liberation for us," Jordaan said. "It was a huge moment of joy."

He said it was crucial for South Africa''s national team -- who have suffered a string of recent defeats -- to do well in the World Cup if all races in the country were to "get connected".

"It is a very important issue," he said.

Ferguson dismisses Olympic role

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would not be interested in managing a Great Britain football team should one take part at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Manchester United boss did speak to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and 2012 chief Lord Coe about the job.

But he plans to retire within three years and told Inside United magazine: "I won't turn to international management. After here, I'm finished."

British Olympic bosses want to enter a team in 2012 despite major opposition.

The national governing bodies for football in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to the plan and last year Ferguson said he thought it was unlikely that a British team would be take part.

"I'm not sure they would allow it anyway, because countries have their own identity," he said.

Ferguson, who has been United manager since 1986, will be 70 in 2012.

If there was a combined British Olympic football team in London, it would be the first since 1972, when Britain failed to qualify.

The last time a Great Britain side played at the Olympics itself was in 1960.

One of the main reasons for a team not having featured in the Olympics since then is the fear it may threaten the international status of the individual national sides of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

With this in mind, the prime minister spoke to Sepp Blatter, the president of football's governing body Fifa, about the prospect of a British team in 2012.

Blatter has assured the associations that a one-off British team would not affect the status of the home nations but opposition to the plan remains very strong.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond believes the idea is a "massive own goal" and that Brown's enthusiasm for it shows he is "out of touch with Scotland".

Scotland manager George Burley insisted the Scottish Football Association (SFA) was against the idea.

"It's been black and white from day one with the SFA," said Burley.

"The national team comes first and at the moment we are keen to keep our nationality intact.

"We have to have a national Scottish team and we can't put that in jeopardy so there has been no change."

Blatter has said it might be better to enter a team featuring players only from England.

Home Depot to end Olympics sponsorship

After 16 years as an Olympic sponsor, Home Depot is hanging up its rings.

On Wednesday, the world’s largest home improvement retailer informed 98 employees in its Olympic jobs program that it is ending its sponsorship of the Olympics and Paralympics.

The innovative jobs program had allowed Olympic athletes to work part-time at Home Depot while enjoying full-time pay and benefits, gaining time to train.

Three Georgia athletes will be affected. They are in Morrow, Savannah and Athens, said Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi, who couldn’t immediately provide their names.

Over the course of the retailer’s 16-year sponsorship, more than 660 athletes participated in the jobs program; 300 Home Depot athletes made Olympic and Paralympic teams; and they brought home nearly 150 medals, 95 of them gold.

Athletes will be paid through March 2. After that, they can stay in their current positions for part-time pay, apply for full-time jobs that become available, or leave the company.

Home Depot had been a U.S. Olympic Team sponsor since the 1992 games in Barcelona, followed by the 1996 games in the company’s hometown of Atlanta.

Home Depot, a publicly traded company, doesn’t disclose how much it spends on sports sponsorships. Niemi wouldn’t specify Wednesday night how much money it invests in the Olympic jobs program. “We don’t disclose that at all.”

While other companies also sponsor Olympic athletes, Home Depot’s program was high-profile: It had used its athletes in advertising campaigns.

In May, prior to the summer Olympics, 137 athletes were in the program. At the time, the company had said it was weighing whether to continue its Olympic sponsorship.

Home Depot’s announcement could signal a cascade of ending sports sponsorships, as some big brand names and retailers are suffering from the economic downturn.

Niemi said Home Depot’s decision wasn’t based on the economy, but rather on finding “new ways” to reach out to customers and staffers.

“We came to the decision the time was right to move on and look at other opportunities,” she said. “There are no plans in place as of now as to what to do with the money.”

Summer Olympic games in recent years have been in farflung locations, from Sydney to Athens to Beijing, where the big-box chain has no presence, or only a small one, like its dozen or so fledgling stores in China.

Meanwhile, the company has added on expensive sponsorships for NASCAR and other popular American sports, like college and professional football.

These sports appeal to the main customer base of Home Depot, as the majority of the chain’s stores —- just under 2,000 out of about 2,274 —- are in the U.S. market. Its other three markets are Mexico, Canada and China. Still, the bulk of the company’s revenue and profit comes from its U.S. stores.

Patrick Rishe, director of Sportsimpacts, a St. Louis sports marketing firm and a marketing professor at Webster University, wasn’t surprised Home Depot was cutting back.

“In tough times like these, companies are going after things that are not essential, like marketing and goodwill initiatives,” said Rishe, noting Atlanta-based UPS’ rival FedEx’s decision not to advertise at this year’s Super Bowl. He said the economic and public relations backlash probably won’t be too severe. “I’d like to the think, given everything that’s going on, the general public are probably more likely to cut them some slack,” he said. “If the economy was going well, people might scratch their heads a little, but not now. Besides, a lot of people may not even notice because they’re too busy dealing with their own situation.”

The company’s total advertising and marketing budget in 2007 was $1.2 billion, according to the 2007 annual report, the most recent available.

Several firms track the numbers. One, IEG Sponsorship Report, says Home Depot spent $60 million to $65 million on sports sponsorships in 2007.

The Nielsen Co. reported that Home Depot purchased $25.3 million and $30.1 million in ads during the 2004 Summer and 2006 Winter games, respectively. Nielsen also reports Home Depot spent nearly $12 million on NASCAR ads in 2007, while rival Lowe’s spent $7.7 million.

A memorable Olympics

It was to be China’s time to shine, a year of celebrations with the Olympic spirit touching the hearts and minds of one-fifth of the world’s population as the Olympics headed to Beijing.

Instead, months before the August 8-24 Games, human rights groups disrupted the globally televised torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, setting off a chain of worldwide protests.

From Paris and London to San Francisco and Seoul, the Beijing Olympics torch relay became a target for human rights protesters as it meandered across the globe.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced mounting criticism and bad press for its decision to award the Games to China, given the country’s human rights record. “We are not an activist organisation,” IOC chief Jacques Rogge said, defending the decision and saying the Games would bring change to China.

The word “boycott” crept into discussions months before the Games but in the end none materialised. Even Iraq, temporarily suspended weeks before the Olympics, managed to send athletes to China. By the time the Olympics started with a record 204 teams from around the world parading in the spectacular Bird’s Nest stadium, both local organisers and the IOC were under intense media scrutiny.

Internet restrictions for foreign media, pro-Tibet protests and Beijing’s air quality grabbed the headlines in the days running up to the Games. However, the dazzling opening ceremony showcasing the might of modern China, which invested an estimated $40 billion to prepare for the Games, set the stage for memorable performances in breathtaking venues.

US swimmer Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals while Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt captured the 100 and 200 metres sprint double as well as a 4x100m relay gold in world record-breaking time.

Defending Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang added drama when he hobbled off the track minutes before his first heat, stunning a capacity Bird’s Nest crowd. Team China, though, were unstoppable, topping the medals table with 51 golds, leaving the United States second with 36. Russia were third and Britain fourth .

The IOC saw record television audiences in most major markets and used the YouTube video-sharing website to post Olympic footage online, recording more than 16.5 million hits and unlocking the potential of new media to attract younger viewers. The opening ceremony alone was seen by 1.2 billion people around the world.

Doping concerns led to extensive pre-Games testing by federations and Olympic teams which rooted out some 50 cheats. An additional 5,000 tests were conducted during the Games, nabbing nine athletes, but the Games were spared the embarrassment and unwanted distraction of a major doping scandal.

The spotlight quickly switched to the 2012 Summer Games after the Beijing closing ceremony, with the British capital already struggling with its biggest project, the one-billion-pound Olympic village.

Funding boost for GB Paralympians

Britain's Paralympic sport boss Phil Lane welcomed the £16.1m increase in funding ahead of London 2012.

But cash for development has been cut, while the grant of £201,000 for women's wheelchair basketball in Beijing looks unlikely to be renewed.

"A number of proven medal-winning sports have received a significant boost to their funding," said Lane.

"We had aspirations of sending a full team so the home crowd had something to cheer. That may not happen now."

British Paralympians won 102 medals, including 42 golds, in Beijing.

Boccia and shooting saw their funding almost trebled, while cycling enjoyed a 118% increase to £3.85m over the next four years.

Swimming, responsible for 11 gold medals, will receive £10.06m - an increase of 45% on Beijing funding.

However, the ParalympicsGB organisation has received a cut in funding from £4.29 million to £1.86 million.

"We had a winning formula in two parts. Lottery funding to the sports doubled in the lead-up and ParalympicsGB maximised that investment," said Lane.

"That last bit of the equation will now be missing in part."

Men's wheelchair basketball saw its funding increased but the women's team will not find out until January whether they will receive any grant at all.

However, their representative Paul Hudson was upbeat, saying: "Whilst we do not have an indication of funding for the next four years, probably the most important four years of our women's programme in its history.

"We will work closely with UK Sport and other partner organisations to realise a level of support for the GB women's national team."

First 2012 Olympic venue unveiled - Olympics London 2012

The first purpose-built sporting venue for the London 2012 Olympics has been completed with the end of construction at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy.

The £15m complex, which will also host the Paralympics events, was brought in under budget and ahead of schedule.

The world-class facility will play host to 400 athletes competing in 10 Olympic sailing categories.

National Lottery has raised £375m so far for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, it was announced.

The Olympic Lottery Distributor said it had reached half of the £750m Olympics funding target it intends to raise from sales of specially-designed lottery games.

'Great news'

Ralph Luck, of the Olympic Delivery Authority, will join gold medalist Paul Goodison at the unveiling of the sailing academy later.

The British sailing team's successes at the Beijing Olympics included a haul of six medals, four of them gold.

The early completion of the venue will give Britain's competitors a chance to train "well ahead of 2012", said Lord Coe, who chairs the organising committee.

Paul Goodison, who won gold in the Laser class at Beijing, said: "We save a lot of time travelling around the world when we can get out of bed and it is here on our doorstep.

"It is a fantastic opportunity, not just for myself, but some of the youngsters to see us in 2012 and aspire to 2016."

Councillor Howard Legg, Weymouth and Portland council's special projects portfolio holder, said: "It is ahead of time, on budget and opening today.

"It is great news for the community.

"This is a real local effort, and it is not just people involved with sailing.

"We have hoteliers learning different languages to help welcome people here in their own language."

'Fantastic upgrade'

John Tweed, chief executive of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, said: "With these enhanced facilities they [sailors] will really be able to hone their skills before the 2012 games.

"It is just a fantastic upgrade to what is already here."

A 656ft (200m) breakwater protects the new facilities with a new pier offering two yacht-lifting cranes and a pontoon providing 70 berths for race boats.

The start of construction, using 70,000 tonnes of Portland stone, was delayed to avoid disrupting the nesting season of over-wintering birds around the local coastline.

National Lottery funding will contribute a total of about £2.2bn to the Games to help fund the east London-based Olympic Stadium, a new velopark, aquatics centre, handball arena and hockey centre.

Phil Lane ready for challenge of 2012

British Paralympic Association chief executive Phil Lane has warned that there is more hard work ahead as the team work towards London 2012.

In Beijing, Great Britain were second in the medal table behind China but Lane insists there is no room for complacency.

"We have to look at what we have achieved and be ruthless at improving standards," he said.

"We need to rise to the challenge of competing in a home Games in 2012."

Speaking at the launch of ParalympicsGB's Beijing report, Lane praised the achievements of Britain's team in China where they came away with 102 medals, including 42 golds, but warned of other nations catching up.

"This was an extraordinary performance achieved with the pressure of following a successful Olympics and in the backyard of a dominant home nation," he said.

"In what was the most competitive Games I have known, the GB team was the best prepared and best organised to leave these shores and our athletes rose magnificently to the challenge.

"But to retain our place in the medal table in the future will be a test.

"The USA have regrouped and pushed us close for second in the table, Russia are much more prominent and nations like the Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa are making huge strides.

"It means that there is more pressure on established Paralympic nations and we have to be strong and find those small margins which can keep us in front and hold off both new and old rivals."

However, with many anticipating a cut in resources when UK Sport announces the ongoing funding for Olympic and Paralympic sports next week, Lane is keen that the money is channelled in the most effective way.

He says they will need a figure in the region of £6-7m over the next four years to 'back existing winning habits and break new ground.'

"We are the envy of other nations because of what we have achieved but we want to build on our winning formula and challenge sports which didn't achieve in Beijing," he said.

Lane also added that they would be working on developing new talent and ensuring that the 2012 organisers deliver a Games current and future athletes.

But he refused to be drawn on UK Sport's hopes that the British team would be in a position to top the medal standings in London.

"There would be be no greater crowning glory than to top the medal table but we are realistic about the situation.

"We all know that if China turn up in London with the volume of numbers we know they have and with investment they will be a difficult set of opponents.

"But we will do our best to strive and if we get the funding right we will be right."

London assembly wants T20 in Olympics

Cricket may finally reach out to a wider audience other than the traditional Test playing nations with the London Assembly calling for Twenty20 to be included in the 2012 Olympics.

The assembly agreed a motion proposed by member Murad Qureshi urging the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to work with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) so that T20 cricket is included in the quadriennial mega event.

Wednesday's motion was carried by the consent of assembly members, with no votes against.

''Cricket is our traditional summer game and I can't think of a better way of spending an afternoon - whether it's playing or watching,'' Qureshi said.

''Twenty20 cricket is a shorter, more accessible version of the game that is played throughout London. We already have the best venues and a very good cricket administration, so there is no need to build new facilities. We are looking forward to next year's Twenty20 World Cup, which will be hosted in the capital and hope that the game will become a fixture for the 2012 Games,'' he added.

''If the Chinese can show (martial art sport) Wushu to the world, I can see no reason why London shouldn't have cricket in 2012. It is this country's summer game after all.'' Qureshi has started an online petition to gauge support for the proposal, although it is too late to have the sport added to the official Olympic list in 2012.

The London Assembly motion comes after the MCC World Cricket Committee addressed the issue at their latest meeting in New Delhi, led by former Australia cricket captain and committee member Steve Waugh.

Qureshi's comments were backed by fellow assembly member Navin Shah, who had seconded the motion.

''The Twenty20 game has transformed the perception of cricket and is now played in well over 100 countries - not just the traditional cricket playing countries,'' Shah opined.

''It is extremely popular, especially amongst the youth. It is only fitting that one of the fastest growing games in the world is included in the Olympic Games.'' However, IOC president Jacques Rogge has said cricket will not be considered as a new Olympic sport until the 2020 Games at the earliest.

The usual route is for a sport to begin as a 'showcase' event before being elevated to full Olmypic status.

London: Cricket may finally reach out to a wider audience other than the traditional Test playing nations with the London Assembly calling for Twenty20 to be included in the 2012 Olympics.

The assembly agreed a motion proposed by member Murad Qureshi urging the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to work with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) so that T20 cricket is included in the quadriennial mega event.

Wednesday's motion was carried by the consent of assembly members, with no votes against.

''Cricket is our traditional summer game and I can't think of a better way of spending an afternoon - whether it's playing or watching,'' Qureshi said.

''Twenty20 cricket is a shorter, more accessible version of the game that is played throughout London. We already have the best venues and a very good cricket administration, so there is no need to build new facilities. We are looking forward to next year's Twenty20 World Cup, which will be hosted in the capital and hope that the game will become a fixture for the 2012 Games,'' he added.

''If the Chinese can show (martial art sport) Wushu to the world, I can see no reason why London shouldn't have cricket in 2012. It is this country's summer game after all.'' Qureshi has started an online petition to gauge support for the proposal, although it is too late to have the sport added to the official Olympic list in 2012.

The London Assembly motion comes after the MCC World Cricket Committee addressed the issue at their latest meeting in New Delhi, led by former Australia cricket captain and committee member Steve Waugh.

Qureshi's comments were backed by fellow assembly member Navin Shah, who had seconded the motion.

''The Twenty20 game has transformed the perception of cricket and is now played in well over 100 countries - not just the traditional cricket playing countries,'' Shah opined.

''It is extremely popular, especially amongst the youth. It is only fitting that one of the fastest growing games in the world is included in the Olympic Games.'' However, IOC president Jacques Rogge has said cricket will not be considered as a new Olympic sport until the 2020 Games at the earliest.

The usual route is for a sport to begin as a 'showcase' event before being elevated to full Olmypic status.

GB Yngling trio future in doubt

The Yngling class, in which Britain have won gold at the last two Olympics, will not feature in the 2012 Games.

The International Sailing Federation has instead chosen the Elliott 6m for women's keelboat match racing in 2012.

Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson won Olympic Yngling gold for Great Britain at Qingdao in August.

Webb said: "We're very disappointed. The Elliott 6ms are heavy, overpowered and an incredible handful. I don't think we're big enough to race them."

However, the Royal Yachting Association, has said it will assess its programme for 2012 in light of the Yngling being dropped.

RYA racing manager and performance director John Derbyshire said: "We will now consider how best to take this forward.

"We look forward to our women adapting to the challenges of match racing in the Elliott 6m."

In a statement the RYA added: "We welcomes the decision to select the equipment as the Elliott 6m at this juncture, to allow nations to begin developing their national programmes, and ISAF World Cup event organisers to establish fleets of supplied equipment.

"The RYA is now calling for prompt clarification from ISAF as to the 2012 Olympic qualification process for the women's keelboat match racing event, so that the sailors and their support teams can begin to put their 2012 campaigns together."

In 2004, Ayton and Webb teamed up with Shirley Robertson to win the Yngling Olympic title in Athens.

The 2012 London Olympic sailing events will take place at Portland and Weymouth.

Seven sports seek 2016 inclusion

Golf and rugby sevens are among seven sports presenting their cases on Friday for inclusion in the Olympic Games.

The sports for London 2012 have already been decided and these seven have to wait until next October to find out if they have a place in the 2016 Games.

Baseball and softball are bidding for a return as both were dropped from the 2012 programme, baseball because many of the top players did not compete.

Squash, roller sports and karate are also making presentations.

The IOC has set a limit of 28 sports in 2016, meaning the sports will fight over the last two available slots.

The program commission is chaired by Italian Franco Carraro, one of eight IOC members on the panel questioning the delegations before presenting a report to the executive board.

Each sport has a one-hour slot, with baseball making the first pitch in the closed-door presentations in Lausanne, Switzerland.

To win reinstatement for 2016, baseball must show the IOC it can deliver major league players to an Olympic tournament.

The baseball delegation was asked about its ability to deliver major league players to a 16-team Olympic tournament in August 2016 - right in the middle of the US major league season.

"We're committed to bringing the best players ever to the Olympic baseball tournament," said International Baseball Federation president Harvey Schiller.

"We talked about our advances in drug testing. We have an agreement with the professional leagues in terms of out-of-competition testing for the events we sanction."

Softball - a women's sport in the Olympics - is battling to return to the Games after missing out by just a single vote in 2005.

Golf, which was last played at the Olympics in 1904, proposes to return with men's and women's tournaments.

The golf delegation, including USPGA executive Ty Votaw and Peter Dawson of the Royal and Ancient - golf's governing body outside the US - brought the trophy presented in St Louis 104 years ago.

Votaw said golf's strong points were "speaking with one voice, bringing top players, and worldwide participation," with the sport televised in 216 countries each week.

"We would be able to promote golf in the Olympics and the Olympic movement across that platform every single week," Votaw said.

The World Karate Federation, comprising 180 national governing bodies, proposes to award 10 gold medals in five classes for each of the men's and women's competitions, with the International Federation for Roller Sports hoping to stage races on city streets for men and women, but not rink hockey or skateboarding.

Rugby fell from the Olympic program in 1924 and wants to come back with the seven-a-side, shorter version of the game for men and women, rather than the more established 15-a-side competition.

Finally, the World Squash Federation hopes that television-friendly, glass-enclosed courts can counter the sport's reputation as one that struggles to translate the speed of play to viewers.