Final four cities in race to host 2016 Summer Olympics

Chicago was among the four cities picked as finalists Wednesday for the 2016 Summer Olympics, setting the stage for a high-profile bidding contest between candidates from the United States, Europe and Asia.

Also making the IOC shortlist were Madrid, Spain; Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Eliminated from the race were Doha, Qatar; Prague, Czech Republic, and Baku, Azerbaijan.

The final field was selected by the International Olympic Committee executive board.

The big four -- Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio -- all had been virtually assured of advancing to the final stage. The main issue had been whether Doha also would make the cut.

The finalists now advance to a 16-month race that will culminate on Oct. 2, 2009, with a secret ballot by the full IOC at its session in Copenhagen, Denmark.

An IOC evaluation report assessing the technical merits of each bid ranked Tokyo with the top overall marks, followed closely by Madrid. Chicago and Doha were tied for third, with Rio fourth. Prague and Baku were sixth and seventh.

Why Olympics should not be boycotted

With more and more countries joining the banter to boycott the olympics, it seems imminent that this Beijing olympics will be as controversial as the Berlin olympics in 1936. But complete boycott of the olympics is not the solution. Chinese pride would be hurt but they will not in any circumstances withdraw from Tibet. Worse they might intensify their atrocious army actions in Tibet.

Hundreds of years ago Olympics was one of the four sporting festivals of Greece. The kingdoms of Greece would stop all wars and put off their differences during these festivals. Same should happen now. Tibet issue is a blot on the 21st century humanitarian efforts.

But instead of complete boycott, what the countries should do is to boycott the opening ceremony, ask the athletes to wear black arm band,etc.

IPL marginalises other atheletes training for olympics

Sections of India's sporting community fear that the cricket board's new professional Twenty20 league will eat into sponsorship revenue that could have gone to athletes preparing for the Beijing Olympics in August.

The multi-million dollar Indian Premier League (IPL), featuring a majority of the game's leading international players in the eight franchises, will get underway on April 18 and is poised to become one of the most lucrative sporting events in Asia.

India's thriving advertising industry sees the IPL as a potential goldmine in a retail-booming economy and the franchises are also looking to acquire individual sponsorships.

Shahrukh Khan and his one night stand with sports

It is irritating to see shahrukh khan in important India Twenty20 matches. He seems to be using the popularity of the format to promote his movie "om shanti om". He did this in the final against Pakistan wearing a t-shirt from the movie. In yesterday's match he made an appearance with Deepika Pudukone ,the lead actress of the film,
Looks like SRK has moved over "Chak De" and promoting sports other than cricket to taking refuge in the gentleman's game for his commercial interest.

ICC back to IMPERIAL ways

ICC without thinking much about cricket crazy fans of Indian subcontinent increased the number of teams in the world cup . they know that we will watch the matches and earn them advertising revenue . It reminds me of pre-independence era when British looted India . They further made last 8 league format rather than knock-out one . ICC in trying to capture new markets are ignoring older ones . With craze of soccer and other sports increasing in India it is time ICC takes notice.