The Int'l Boxing Association (AIBA) said that "unprofessional relationships" within AIBA created an "atmosphere of collusion" between senior management and judges that "undermined boxing at last year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics." It added, however, that an investigation committee "found no evidence of active interference in the results after carrying out 50 interviews over a four-month period." AIBA said that the 36 Rio referees and judges, who were sidelined pending the investigation, "would now be reintegrated on a case-by-case basis" (REUTERS, 1/27).
Six-time Paralympic champion David Weir decided "never to represent his country again" after a British Athletics coach allegedly called him a “disgrace” and accused him of "intentionally sabotaging a race at last summer’s Paralympics." Explaining his decision to retire from int'l duty, Weir claimed that his "feud with Jenni Banks, British Athletics’ lead wheelchair coach, had come to a head in explosive fashion in Brazil when she accused him of failing to try during the relay heats -- a slur he was unable to accept" (London TELEGRAPH, 1/27).
PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee President Lee Hee-beom signed a memorandum of understanding with George Washington University, which is set to send 40-50 students to volunteer at next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games. POCOG also signed an agreement with four more foreign universities, all of which have campuses in Songdo Incheon: the State University of New York, George Mason University, the University of Utah and Ghent University (IOC).
