In Auckland, Andrew Alderson noted that the New Zealand medal drought in the pool "has now been extended to 20 years." Swimming is one of the core sports of the Games, but questions need to be asked by the High Performance Sport New Zealand board whether "they can afford to keep funding it as one of the six targeted sports in the next Olympic cycle." The chances "seem minimal" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 8/5).
GOOD AS GOLD: In Hong Kong, Chan Kin-wa reported that "sports supremo Timothy Fok Tsun-ting urged the government to provide more support to elite sports development after riding the euphoria of sprint cyclist Lee Wai-sze's success." Two years ago, the government identified four elite sports at the Hong Kong Sports Institute as priorities, giving badminton, table tennis, windsurfing and cycling extra funding. However, Fok wants more. Fok said, "Lee's Bronze Medal coupled with Yip Pui-yin's quarter-final place has proved we are able to mount serious challenges at the Olympic Games" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 8/5).
CASHING IN: The KOREAN TIMES reported that Korean footballers are expected to get a windfall, as the Korea Football Association has offered a total of 3.15B won ($2.8M) in prize money if they win Gold at the London Games. A football body spokesperson said that "if they win Bronze, they will be awarded 1.52B won ($1.3M) and if they win Gold, their total award will reach 3.15B won." Individual footballers would get up to 60M won ($53,000), while coach Hong Myung-bo would get 200M won ($176,000). The government has raised prize money by 10M won ($8,800) to 60M won for Gold Medalists at the London Olympics; Silver and Bronze Medalists get 30M won ($26,000) and 18M won ($16,000), up from 25M won ($22,000) and 15M won ($13,000), respectively (KOREAN TIMES, 8/5).
PIN THAT BADGE: CHINA DAILY reported that the Beijing Huajiang Culture Development Co. Ltd. "secured a contract to provide Olympic pin badges to the next Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro" in '16. The partnership agreement was signed in London on Saturday. The company, which is also known as Honav, "has been awarded the license to become the official provider of pins" by the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee (CHINA DAILY, 8/5).
WE ARE OPEN: Sochi 2014, the joint organizers of Russia.Sochi.Park, announced that Sochi.Park is to become free to visitors for the remainder of the London Games, thanks to one of Sochi 2014's principal partners Rosneft (Sochi 2014).
LOCKED UP: In London, Nick Hopkins reported Scotland Yard released numbers showing the London Police "has made more than 100 arrests in and around Olympic venues" across the city over the last fortnight. More than half the total number of arrests -- 58 -- were suspected ticket touts, who could face fines up to £20,000 ($31,000) if they are charged and convicted (GUARDIAN, 8/5).
