KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Audacious Bowman skis straight and true to win maiden skis halfpipe gold

©Getty Images (3)

20/02/2014

US freestyle skier Maddie Bowman won the first ever women's Olympic skiing halfpipe gold, scoring an impressive 89.00 points with her second run to edge out France's Marie Martinod (85.40). Japan's Ayana Onozuka (83.20) took bronze.

The 20-year-old put down the two highest scoring runs of the final. Her second, which produced her winning score, included two cleanly executed 900 spins and a backwards 700, combinations that none of her rivals could match.

Hers victory completed an American sweep of the gold medals in the debut of ski halfpipe, after David Wise won the men's competition.
“The way I've gotten here is taking it one day and one competition at a time and having absolutely as much fun as I could, and hey, it worked out,” said Bowman.
For Martinod, 29, the motivation to succeed was a little different. “I wanted to show my daughter that the way to achieve your goals is to focus on them,” she explained.

“She needs to understand why I am busy doing press-ups while she is watching her cartoons.”
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Onozuka, who kept world champion Virginie Faivre of Switzerland off the podium, was in a state of shock at winning bronze.
“I can't believe that I have got a third place. I was nervous the whole day and I couldn't concentrate, but I tried not to worry about it.
“She’s got it all”
Bowman’s fellow American, Brita Sigourney, who finished sixth, paid her team-mate the ultimate tribute.
“[Maddie] said that she wanted me to win and that she's so proud of me,” revealed Sigourney, who had skied straight into her fellow American’s arms after botching her second run of the final.
“I told her to shut up because she deserves this more than anyone. Her’s was the most technical run out of any girl skiing. It's more technical than any run any girl has done all year, plus it's got amplitude and style, she's just got it all.”

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

IOC Injury & Illness Surveillance Study: protecting the athletes’ health

©IOC / Chris Graythen

20/02/2014

The protection of athletes’ health is a key priority for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Medical Commission. At the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the IOC’s medical experts are conducting an extensive surveillance study, collecting invaluable information daily about injuries and illnesses of athletes to assess risk factors and establish prevention strategies.

As was the case at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games, the medical research group, composed of members of the IOC Medical Commission, the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, International Federations (IFs) and Research Centres, is monitoring and collecting data from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) on all individual and team sports, recording any newly acquired illnesses and sports injuries incurred in competition or in training, over the two weeks of the Games.
It is too soon to tell whether the figures recorded at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi will be higher or lower than those recorded at Vancouver 2010, where 11 per cent of athletes suffered an injury and 7 per cent an illness. Figures may differ as the Sochi Games feature a record 98 events in 15 disciplines across seven sports.
However, Professor Lars Engebretsen, head of the medical research team in Sochi, does reveal that figures from the first week “do not significantly differ from the Vancouver numbers. So far, knee injuries are still the most important injury, like in Vancouver in 2010.”
The IOC prevention work is then done by four medical research centres in Calgary, Cape Town, Melbourne and Oslo, which receive yearly grants from the IOC. The injury and illness data collected throughout the Games will be shared with the NOCs and IFs, and used to develop and implement effective prevention strategies to minimise the risk for athletes at all levels.
Sharing this knowledge and establishing concrete measures will be a focus of the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport. Taking place shortly after the Games, from 10 to 12 April in Monaco, this Conference will be a valuable platform of exchange for leading sports and medical experts. It will also be an opportunity to present the main overall findings from the Sochi 2014 injury and surveillance study.
For more information, visit the official Conference website at: www.ioc-preventionconference.org.
Learn more about the IOC Medical Commission

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Canadian comeback queens stun USA to retain their Olympic ice hockey crown

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20/02/2014

Marie-Philip Poulin was Canada’s heroine in the women’s ice hockey gold medal match, as the defending champions overturned a 2-0 deficit to clinch a 3-2 victory at the Bolshoi Ice Dome. The forward scored an equaliser 54 seconds from time, before grabbing a golden goal winner in one of the most dramatic climaxes ever witnessed in an Olympic final.

Canada had trailed 2-0 late in the third and appeared to be heading to defeat before coming to life to score two goals just 2:42 apart to send the game into extra time.
After Brianne Jenner had pulled one back to give Canada hope, Poulin conjured an equaliser with just seconds left on the clock.
After Canadian defenceman Rebecca Johnston backhanded the puck towards the net, US goaltender Jesse Vetter knocked it directly onto the stick of Poulin, who reacted quickly to fire home and force overtime.

Poulin's golden winner came on a power play after US forward Hilary Knight had been sent to the penalty box. Taking a pass from Laura Fortino, she slid a snapshot under Vetter and into the net.
It sparked wild celebrations as she was mobbed by her team-mates, while the Canadian contingent in the crowd sang the national anthem 'O Canada'.
It was Canada's fourth Olympic women's title and, remarkably, a 20th straight victory at the Winter Games in an unbeaten streak that stretches back to 2002.
Swiss stun Sweden for first ever medal
Earlier in the day, Switzerland pulled of a dramatic turnaround of their own to beat Sweden 4-3 and win the bronze.
It was a first ever medal for the Swiss since women’s ice hockey was introduced onto the Winter Games programme at Nagano 1998.
That had scarcely looked possible in a first period where the Swiss managed just a single shot on the Swedish goal, and the Swedes looked comfortable after taking the lead through Michelle Lowenhielm.

Towards the end of the second period, Sweden then doubled their advantage, after an error from Swiss goaltender Florence Schelling enabled Uden Johansson to find the net.
It looked to be Sweden’s game. But all that changed in the third period as, within the space of a 13-minute spell, the Swiss players suddenly discovered a new lease of life and the route to goal.
On 41 minutes, Sara Benz cut the deficit to one; then four minutes later Pheoebe Stanz took advantage of a power play to equalise, before Jessica Lutz put the Swiss 3-2 up in the 53rd minute.
The Swedes were left stunned, and it soon got worse for them as 15-year old Alina Müller increased Switzerland’s lead, firing the puck into an empty net two minutes before the final buzzer.
Pernilla Winberg managed to pull one back 43 seconds from time, sparking a final goalmouth frenzy, but the Swiss did enough to hold on, as their players embraced to celebrate a historic victory.

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Visa inspires people around the world to dream big during Sochi 2014

©IOC/Chris Graythen

21/02/2014

Worldwide Olympic Partner Visa is encouraging people around the world to dream big as part of its global marketing campaign for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The “everywhere you want to be” campaign - which includes social media extensions, television and digital advertising – features the achievements of Olympic athletes as a means to inspire consumers to pursue their own dreams.

Visa – which has been a proud sponsor of the Olympic Games for more than 27 years - is using popular social media platforms around the world, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/visa) and Twitter (@Visa) to ask fans to share what inspires them and lend their support to Olympic athletes using #everywhere.
For more information:
http://www.olympic.org/Documents/IOC_Marketing/Sochi_2014/IOC_MEDIA_GUIDE_2014.pdf

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Sochi 2014 experience to leave lasting “human legacy”

©IOC/Chris Graythen

21/02/2014

In addition to new sports venues, hotels and transport infrastructure, Sochi 2014 will also create a significant “human” legacy thanks to the experience gained by those working to successfully deliver the Winter Games.

Sochi 2014 marks the first time that the Olympic Winter Games have been held in Russia and signals the first of many major sporting events being held in the country, with the inaugural Russian Grand Prix due to take place in Sochi in October 2014 and the FIFA World Cup coming to cities all over Russia – including Sochi – in 2018.
According to Jean-Claude Killy, Chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for Sochi 2014, those working or volunteering at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games will be able to transfer their skills and experience to these and other major events, creating a lasting human legacy from the Games.
“There will be tremendous synergies for the country in a number of areas as it strives to put on these great sporting events,” he says. “In particular, the Games will leave a tremendous human legacy. The highly trained professionals and volunteers from the Games will no doubt play a key role in the success of the World Cup and other major sporting events that Russia will host in the future.”
Hosting the 2014 Olympic Winter Games has also led to the establishment of the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU), which opened in Sochi earlier this year to train the next generation of sports management professionals, catering to the demand in Russia and around the world for highly qualified specialists in the international sport industry. Topics of study will include venue management, event management, media management, governance and sport diplomacy, and talent management.
“Currently, not just in Russia but all over the world, there is a lack of qualified specialists in sports management,” explains RIOU Rector Professor Lev Belousov. “RIOU's task is to set up a mechanism for leading Russian and international practising specialists to pass on practical knowledge to students and to train a new generation of highly qualified sports managers in specialisms needed by the Olympic and Paralympic movement and by the international sports industry.”
During Sochi 2014, students have been able to participate in a unique observation programme allowing them to assess in detail the complex logistical operations behind the organisation of the Winter Games.
"During the Games, our students will have the opportunity to learn and practise what they learn,” explains Aleksander Bryantsev, head of education at Sochi 2014. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
It is experiences such as these that will help create a significant human legacy from the Games, according to Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee.
“The Russian International Olympic University serves as an example of the significant lasting legacy for Russia after the Games have been hosted in Sochi,” he explains. “It will become the key centre for training a new generation of highly-qualified sports managers in Russia.”
IOC President Thomas Bach, who visited the RIOU before the Games, is also convinced by the legacy it will leave.
“There will be many lasting legacies from Sochi 2014, including the RIOU, which is committed to producing graduates of the highest calibre to work in the world of sport,” said President Bach. “The Olympic Movement as a whole will benefit from the establishment of the university, as, of course, will Russian sport.”

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Athlete Role Model Eve Muirhead talks YOG DNA after winning bronze in Sochi

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21/02/2014

Great Britain's skip Eve Muirhead lived her Olympic dream yesterday as she led her curling quartet to win the bronze in women's curling at Sochi. Young Reporter Sonali Prasad caught up with Youth Olympic Games Athlete Role Model after her podium finish.

Congratulations! You've been eagerly awaiting this medal around your neck. How does it feel?Eve: Yes it's long overdue, I have worked hard for this day. It was a close match but when I won the bronze, I could not help tears falling down my face. This is a magical moment.
With curling so popular back home, how did you deal with the pressure?Eve: The pressure is there but it's good for us. We have been able to medal for our country and live up to their expectations. It gives me happiness that so many people back home are supporting us
You are the Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympic Games and your younger brother even participated in the YOG in Innsbruck in 2012. What does the YOG mean to you?Eve: My role as an Athlete Role Model is to share my experiences with the upcoming athletes. I get to share their emotions, dreams and aspirations and, believe it or not, that inspires me. The Youth Olympic Games are special, unlike a junior championships; they have been successful in creating an identity of their own. They are fresh, they are full of spirit and value and they are fun!
Given my sport, everybody thinks it's an old man's sport. But times are changing, and the YOG has brought in much young blood to this sport. When Thomas represented
Team GB in Innsbruck at the YOG, I was a proud sister and I knew that the level of competition would be no less there. The young ones are really talented.
There are many “YOGgies” winning medals here in Sochi; they're even giving some tough competition to the more established Olympic champions! How do you feel about them being here?
Eve: The purpose of the YOG is to give young people a taste of what the Olympics will be like. I am so happy to see so many of them making it to the big stage in Sochi.
They not only make it here, but they are doing so well that are dethroning some really experienced Olympians! It's fantastic! Sport is always fun when it is youthful and energetic.
Do you have any favourites that you have been following?
Eve: It has to be Katie Summerhayes (ski slopestyle). She's a lovely little thing. I followed her competition and she put up a brilliant show.
The next edition of the YOG is in Nanjing in August this year, followed by Lillehammer in 2016. Any message to the budding aspirants?Eve: Just go for it! This will be your one chance to make it big; your one chance to live whatever you only see on TV. All the best! Stay true to the Olympic spirit; be a YOGgie at heart; and enjoy yourself!

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KALYAN KUMAR MAHATA The true appellation of Apu.

Youth Olympic Games skater Adelina Sotnikova crowned as Ice Queen

©Anna Konovalova / IOC

21/02/2014

It was a star-studded night when the world's best figure skaters descended upon the Iceberg Skating Palace at Sochi 2014 for the women's figure skating final. Youth Olympic Games athlete Adelina Sotnikova took home the gold for Russia in a surprise performance dethroning the best of the best, including defending champion Yuna Kim.

Sotnikova could not control her emotions as she read her final scores, ensuring her a golden finish.
“This is still a dream for me, I can't express how this feels, it is a dream, it is a dream.”
Sotnikova finished with a total score of 224.59, almost 5 points ahead of Kim's score.

The “Yoggie”, who participated in Innsbruck in 2012, was thrilled to medal for Russia in her first Olympic Games.

“The Games are in my country and I have finished with gold. It is a very special feeling that will remain with me for the rest of my life.”


Silver medallist and Youth Olympic Games Ambassador Yuna Kim stayed back to hug Sotnikova, congratulating her on her powerful performance.

“She put up a great show. She is very technically sound and she was a tough one to beat tonight. I saw her in Innsbruck where I was present as an Ambassador, and look at how time flies. Tonight, we were fighting for the top spot and she won.”
Other YOG skaters Zijun Li (CHN) and So Youn Park (KOR) put on magnificent performances in the finals.
By Young Reporter Sonali Prasad

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