A review into the "disappointing performance by Great Britain's swimmers" at the London Olympics has suggested that guidelines be put in place "to limit the athletes' commercial activities in the run-up to major events." The review panel found that British Swimming's program itself was "not broken," but the panel felt that the commercial distractions for individual swimmers "should have been anticipated better" (London INDEPENDENT, 12/3). ... Russian Railways (RZD) "received a first new electric passenger locomotive that will cut the journey time between Moscow and Sochi by more than half" and will be ready for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The EP20 electric passenger train will run at a maximum speed of 200km per hour. Currently it takes 32 hours to travel between the two cities, but the new train will cut the time to 15 hours (INSIDE THE GAMES, 12/1). ... Kuwait said that it has "amended its sports law in response to IOC threats to suspend the Gulf nation because of government interference in the national Olympic committee." No details were immediately given on the decree by Kuwait's emir. But the official Kuwait News Agency quoted the Kuwait Olympic Committee Chair Sheik Ahmad Al Sabah as saying it "ensures" that Kuwaiti athletes can compete under their national flag (AP, 11/27).
