The Australian Olympic Committee "will make the country's top athletes
sign pledges that they have never worked with coaches or support staff
that have engaged in doping-related activity." The AOC said that "it was
moving early to bring national sports federations up to code," and
would work with Australia's peak anti-doping agency to send letters to
1,200 "shadow" athletes for the 2016 Rio Games (REUTERS, 8/25). ... Russian North Pacific island Sakhalin "could become the training base for Russian skiers preparing for the 2018 Winter Olympics" in PyeongChang, South Korea. Three-time Olympic champion and Russian Cross-Country Ski Association President Yelena Valbe said, "I assume that we will lead the preparation of athletes here, on Sakhalin. From here, we will leave for the Olympics. Our time zone is close to that in South Korea. The climate is suitable as well. Thus, everything stands in favor for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" (RIA NOVOSTI, 8/21). ... The ice bucket challenge "has reached the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic
Village." Athletes, ambassadors and even NanjingLELE, the official
mascot of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, "have taken up the
challenge." Artistic gymnast Sydney Townsend and diver Molly Carlson,
both from Canada, "posted videos on Instagram that show them getting
drenched in iced water at the Youth Olympic Village" (XINHUA, 8/25).
