Former South Korea Trade Minister Lee Hee-beom "moved a step closer to becoming the new 2018 Winter Olympics chief" after the PyeongChang organizing committee (POCOG) unanimously approved his candidacy on Thursday. Lee is "now awaiting final approval from the country's ministry of culture, sports and tourism before officially taking up the role next week." Lee is set to replace Hanjin Group Chair Cho Yang-ho, who "stepped down last week in order to focus on the management of the troubled Hanjin shipping business" (REUTERS, 5/12).
Australia's Olympic team doctor has been "forced to publicly calm fears about the risk of Zika virus as concerns about the disease escalate ahead of the Rio Games." Dr. David Hughes insists Australian competitors and officials can "head to Rio with confidence" as long as they follow recommendations about avoiding the mosquito-borne disease, which can also be transmitted through sexual contact via male bodily fluids. Athletes are being encouraged to "use barrier contraception" in Rio and upon their return. As such, the AOC has already "supplied 144 boxes of condoms, each containing six condoms (a total of 864)." Hughes' reassurance "comes on the back of a Canadian expert's warning that the influx of visitors to Rio could create a global outbreak once they return to their homelands" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/12).
