Immediately after the "famous malfunction" at the Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony -- four electric snowflakes blossoming into Olympic rings while a fifth remained closed -- Russian businessman Dmitry Medvedev "began using the image in advertisements." Medvedev, who has no relation to his country's PM, "wants to trademark the unintended logo." Medvedev called the four rings "great public relations" and has applied to a Russian patent office because "he worries about being sued by Olympics officials" (L.A. TIMES, 3/14). ... Swedish ice hockey player Nicklas Backstrom will receive his Silver Medal earned at the Sochi Olympics, the IOC ruled. Backstrom tested positive for pseudoephedrine on Feb. 19, but said that he had taken medication containing the substance earlier that day. The IOC ruled there was no intent by the athlete to improve his performance with the substance (IOC). ... The Int'l Paralympic Committee announced that Russia Deputy PM Dmitry Kozak will give a speech at the Sochi Paralympics Closing Ceremony on behalf of the Organizing Committee. IPC protocol states that the Closing Ceremony speech be given by the head of the Organizing Committee, Dimitry Chernyshenko, who spoke at the Opening Ceremony March 7. However, after playing a key role in the organization of the Winter Paralympics and following a request from the 2014 Sochi Organizing Committee for Kozak to speak on their behalf, the IPC has agreed to the change (IPC).
