An attempt to establish a "JEREMY LIN Party" in Taiwan has been rejected by the Ministry of the Interior. A Taiwanese man was "seeking to establish a political party named after Lin" (CNA, 11/26). ... Former Argentina striker MARTIN PALERMO "has begun his coaching career" at Argentine first-division club Godoy Cruz (REUTERS, 11/27). ... British sailor BEN AINSLIE said that he "has ruled out chasing more Olympic glory and will not compete at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro." The 35-year-old, four-time Gold Medalist, "became the first sailor to win medals at five successive Games earlier this year when he was victorious in the Finn class at the London Olympics" (REUTERS, 11/27). ... BRIT award-winning KAISER CHIEFS "are to perform a special hometown concert in Leeds," England on Sept. 13, "celebrating the opening of the city's brand new arena venue" (STEREO BOARD, 11/27). ... NHL Pittsburgh Penguins C SIDNEY CROSBY said that the "chances of him playing in Europe this winter have improved significantly of late as the NHL lockout continues." Crosby said that his agent, CAA Hockey co-Head PAT BRISSON, "has spoken with multiple teams" in Russia and Switzerland" and did not rule out discussions with teams in other countries" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/27). ... Chelsea Chair BRUCE BUCK "held face-to-face talks with MARK CLATTENBURG" as the Premier League club "took the first significant step toward brokering peace with the referee following the controversy of the past four weeks" (London GUARDIAN, 11/26).
INSIDE THE IOC: IOC President JACQUES ROGGE received a Royal Dutch order on Monday during the eighth edition of the IOC World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture in Amsterdam. He was appointed Commander of the Order of Oranje-Nassau (XINHUA, 11/26). ... The British Olympic Association and IOC President JACQUES ROGGE "are among the int'l recepients of the Fourth Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sports Creativity Awards '12." Among other prominent winners "is the UAE’s ABDULLAH SULTAN AL ARYANI, who won a Gold Medal in shooting at the 2012 London Paralympic Games; the Qatar National Olympic Committee; Algeria’s TAWFIQ AL MAKLOUFI, who took Gold in the men’s 1,500m at the London Olympics and special athlete from Morocco NAJJA AL KARA'A, who set a new world record in the discus throw at the 2012 Paralympic Games" (GULF TODAY, 11/27). ... Australian Olympic Committe President JOHN COATES is hopeful that the IOC's exec board will be able to strip "disgraced cyclist" LANCE ARMSTRONG of his Bronze Medal from the Sydney Games when it meets in Lausanne, Switzerland next week (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/28).
BBC SPORTS AWARD: Britain's Olympic and Paralympic heroes "dominate the 12-strong shortlist for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award." World No.1 golfer RORY MCILROY "is the only nominee not to have won a medal at London 2012, while there are five women included on the shortlist in contrast to last year's all-male nominees" (SKY SPORTS, 11/27).
- NICOLA ADAMS (Boxing)
- BEN AINSLIE (Sailing)
- JESSICA ENNIS (Athletics)
- MO FARAH (Athletics)
- KATHERINE GRAINGER (Rowing)
- CHRIS HOY (Cycling)
- RORY MCILROY (Golf)
- ANDY MURRAY (Tennis)
- ELLIE SIMMONDS (Paralympic swimming)
- SARAH STOREY (Paralympic cycling)
- DAVID WEIR (Paralympic athletics)
- BRADLEY WIGGINS (Cycling)
