Tim Watt: Robert Korzeniowski

Three race walkers on the stump in the Olympic village

Today the Athletes[base '] Commission launched its election for new members. Four of the 31 candidates will be elected by vote and will become both members of the Athletes' Commission and the IOC for a term of eight years. A total of 32 athletes, representing as many countries, are running for election to the IOC Athletes' Commission. Only NOCs which have an athletes[base '] commission could propose a candidate. In order to be eligible, candidates must have taken part in the Sydney or Athens Games and must never have been found guilty of a doping offence during their sports career. The Athletes[base '] Commission is composed of 19 members, of which there are: eight summer sports athletes elected by their peers during the Games of the Olympiad; four winter sports athletes elected by their peers during the Olympic Winter Games; and seven athletes appointed by the IOC President to ensure a balance in terms of gender, sport and region. In addition, a World Olympians Association[base ']s representative and an International Paralympic Committee representative are ex officio members. Candidates include race walkers Susana Feitor, Robert Korzeniowski and Jefferson Perez. The election is being held between 11 and 25 August, and the results of the vote will be announced at 2 p.m. on 26 August in the "Amphitheatre" of the international zone of the Olympic Village. The new members will be officially introduced during the Closing Ceremony of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens.

Olympic Weblogs multiplying

According to my google research there are currently still only a small number of proper weblogs for the Games - but the numbers are bound to grow, and maybe come the media background story of the Games. As the inventor of the medium Dave Winer writes, people are getting tired of the misquotes and soundbites in traditional media - better to follow the motto 'if you don't like the news you get, make some of your own'. Out there so far is a rather dreary Aussie Olympic weblog and some volunteer sites. The best I've seen so far is by Stuart Hughs, a BBC insider with a fascinating story to tell. Unfortunately, this site doesn't allow an easy way to make comments and uses the Atom version of RSS - but is good with audio and video. My favourite headline is " BAD OLYMPIC JOKE OF THE DAY - Irish distance runner caught doing craic". A sports phoographer is claimed to have a blog - the first post but no linked webpage is here US 20km Phil Dunn has a site including photos from the Athens race course. Kjersti Platzer, Robert Korzeniowski and Jefferson Perez and other walkers have web journals, though not really weblogs. There have been rumours of a crack down on athletes posting to the web from the village - but within certain limits, and technology willing, there should be no problem posting updates to here from Athens.

MCDONALDS launches "healthy" adult happy meals

Manchester Evening News - Manchester,England,UK .. have been signed-up to help promote the new meals which also come with a guide containing tips from Polish race walking world champion Robert Korzeniowski. ...

Legendary walker advises Irish hopefuls

Registration required - Legendary walker advises Irish hopefuls. IrishExaminer.com (subscription), Ireland - Jul 21, 2004
... Robert Korzeniowski, who won both the 50k and 20k titles in Sydney, will be defending his 50k title in Athens but will be taking time out to advise Heffernan ... [Google News Search: robert korzeniowski]

Korzeniowski's daughter is born

IAAF - Wednesday 7 July 2004 - "Agnieszka & Robert Korzeniowski have today informed us that on 29 June their daughter Rozalia was born. " "The IAAF is very pleased to congratulate the World, Olympic and European champion Race Walker and his wife on their very good fortune, and to offer our very best wishes."

IOC chief counts on golden moments

Financial Times - London,England,UK .. Another who can expect a visit from Rogge is Robert Korzeniowski, the legendary Polish 50km walker, who is bidding for a third gold. .

15th consecutive national title for Korzeniowski

IAAF - Sunday 4 July 2004 The world's greatest ever race walker, Robert Korzeniowski, walked to his 15th national title on the second day of the Polish Championships in Bydgoszcz, 2 to 4 July 2004.

Robert Korzeniowski standing for IOC post

CNN - Poland's Robert Korzeniowski, winner of three Olympic golds in race walking is one of 32 athletes vying for places on the IOC athletes' commission. Four positions are open on the 19-member panel. The voting will take place in the athletes' village during the Athens Olympics in August, with the results announced on August 26. Peter Matthews predicts Olympic wins for Jefferson Perez and Robert Korzeniowski. Matthews insists: "Robert Korzeniowski is surely the greatest walker of all-time with three Olympic, three world and two European gold medals," tipping the Pole to win the 50K walk from the Russian duo of German Skurygin and Aleksey Voyevodin.

Interview with Robert Korzeniowski

Conversation at Belfast, 22 February 2004