Bitten and Bound » Olympics

Oprah Winfrey Supports Chicago Olympics 2016

Missy — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:21:10 +0000

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials are in Chicago for the next six days and many are working hard to ensure that they have nothing but favorable impressions while they are in town.

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey was on hand last night at a gala in order to lend her support for the 2016 Olympic bid to host the Summer Games in the ‘Windy City’. Another famous Chicago resident also pledging his full support is President Barack Obama.

Not everyone is as excited as Oprah and there were many protesters outside the gathering. Winfrey spoke with the Chicago Tribune about her support of the event.

“Olympics in the windy city is going to be big, it’s huge, it’s enormous. I don’t understand what they are complaining about. It’s going to be good for everyone.”

The committee will spend nearly a week being wined and dined and will also get the grand tour of all proposed venue sites before heading on to rival cities Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid.

Check out the proposed logo below.

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Tim Montgomery Track Olympian Gets 5 Year Prison Sentence

Meg — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:19:27 +0000

Tim Montgomery, Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and a silver medalist in 1996, received a five year prison term for dealing heroin to an informant. He will serve the sentence after finished the four year term he is already serving.

The 33 year old track and field champion, in an agreement with the government, pleaded guilty in July to possession and distribution of more than 100 grams of heroin. In exchange, he was given the minimum sentence under federal sentencing guidelines. He will complete the sentence after he finishes doing time on an unrelated check-kiting scheme.

Montgomery has been ordered to a five year supervised release and drug testing program after he finishes serving his time. The prosecutor, Eric M. Hurt called the former athlete “totally irresponsible” for fathering four children with four different women, including disgraced Olympian Marion Jones. He went on to say, “What we find here is someone who has wrecked his life. He has chosen to ignore every benefit given to him.”

The seemingly super-human athletic skills that took him to glory in the 400-meter relay were wiped off the record books after a doping scandal that linked him to BALCO. He retired in December 2005 after the ban was imposed. Last year he admitted helping his former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, and others cash $1.7 million in stolen and counterfeit checks.

In a brief remark after sentencing, Montgomery said, “I just want to say I’m very sorry for what I’ve done. I’m sorry to my community and my family.”

Check out photos of Montgomery and Marion Jones below.

Check out Marion’s ‘fall from glory’ and photos here.

Source

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Michael Phelps Buys $1.69 Million Baltimore Condo

Andrea — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:34:20 +0000

Michael Phelps has already started spending his projected endorsement dollars, plunking down $1.69 million for a waterfront condo in his Baltimore, MD hometown.

23-year-old Phelps, the record holder for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics, has won 16 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at the 2004 Athens Games, and eight gold in Beijing, surpassing the previous record held by Mark Spitz, who won seven at the 1972 Olympic Games.

The 4080 square foot condo overlooking Baltimore’s revitalized Harborfront, features a private screening room, rooftop terrace, state-of-the-art gym, a clubhouse with pool tables and a swimming pool.

View photos of Michael Phelps’ new condo below.

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Angel Matos Banned After Kicking Ref (Video)

Andrea — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:31:03 +0000

Angel Valodia Matos, a Cuban taekwondo athlete, has been hit with a lifetime ban after kicking referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden in the face.

Matos, who won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney games, was disqualified for taking too much time on the mat for a leg injury in a bronze medal match against Kazakhstan’s Arman Cilmanav. Fighters are allowed one minute to receive medical attention, and Matos’ time ran out.

The angry Cuban fighter questioned the decision, pushed a judge, pushed and kicked the ref, then spat on the floor before being escorted out.

Cuban coach Leudis Gonzalas, who offered no apologies for the fighter’s actions, also received a lifetime ban. He alleged the match was fixed and accused Kazakhstan of offering him money.

“He was too strict,” Gonzalez said of the decision to disqualify Matos.

The WTF issued an official statement saying, “This is a strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games. The sanctions are the following and are effective immediately: Lifetime ban of the coach and athlete in all championships sanctioned by the [World Taekwondo Federation] and at the same time, all records of this athlete at the Beijing Games will immediately be erased.”

More photos and a video of the incident below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DtzeycIYf4[/youtube]

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