The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reallocated the medals won by Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

The IOC disqualified Jones on 12 December 2007 from the five Olympic Games events in which she participated at the Sydney Games, and one event she competed in at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens after she admitted to using a prohibited substance prior to, during and after the 2000 Games.

The medals are allocated as follows:

100m, where Jones placed 1st:
Gold: Not awarded
Silver: Ekatirini Thanou (Greece)
Silver: Tanya Lawrence (Jamaica)
Bronze: Merlene Ottey (Jamaica)

200m, where Jones placed 1st:
Gold: Pauline Davis-Thompson (Bahamas)
Silver: Susanthika Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka)
Bronze: Beverly McDonald (Jamaica)

Long Jump, where Jones placed 3rd:
Bronze: Tatyana Kotova (Russia)

The reallocation of the medals for the 4 x 400m relay and 4 x 100m relay, where Jones’ teams placed first and third respectively, is still pending the outcome of an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

United Airlines charter flight will display colorful Chicago 2016 logo

Chicago 2016 announced that it has teamed with United Airlines to charter a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the final presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Boeing 747 will feature the Chicago 2016 logo and will be filled with hundreds of supporters en route to Copenhagen where the IOC will select the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“With just seven days to go until the final decision, we appreciate everyone’s support and are honored that so many Chicagoans are traveling with us to Copenhagen for the big day,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. “It is the enthusiasm of everyone in Chicago that makes this time in Chicago’s history so exciting. We thank United Airlines for being such a valuable partner in our efforts.”

Chicago 2016 will have a strong presence in Copenhagen for the historic event. On board the United Airlines flight will be Chicago 2016 committee members, supporters, athletes, media, staff and others. Chicago 2016 sold packages, including travel, accommodations and cultural events, for those wishing to attend to show their support for Chicago’s bid.

Members of the Chicago 2016 delegation will make the final presentation to the IOC on the morning of October 2, with the Host City announcement following later that evening.

“As Chicago’s hometown airline and official airline of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams, United is proud to support Chicago’s and the U.S. bid for the 2016 Games, and be a partner in this historic event,” said Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO of United Airlines. “We are very pleased that our flight crews, our customer service and ramp employees, and all of the other employees get to be a part of this momentous flight.”

Chicago 2016

Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee’s board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization’s chairman and CEO.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, Alderman Michelle Harris (8th) and State Representative Marlow Colvin (22nd) joined the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), Chicago 2016, Allstate, the Chicago Park District and members of the Jesse Owens family to dedicate a new field house and Olympic-themed playground at Jesse Owens Park, 8800 S. Clyde, on the city’s South Side.

“Two weeks from today the International Olympic Committee will select the next host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Daley. “That’s why today, with great excitement, we are celebrating Jesse Owens’ impact to our city and to the Olympic Movement by dedicating this Olympic-themed playground and new field house in his honor.”

Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany. He first gained national attention in Chicago in 1933, when he equaled the world 100-yard dash record in the National High School Championship meet. “Throughout his life, he embodied the commitment of the Olympic Movement to young people, and Chicago keeps his memory alive not only with this park where young people play, compete and learn the values of sport, but also at the Jesse Owens Community Academy where young people learn,” said Mayor Daley.

Plans for the new fully accessible playground were announced by Allstate and the USOC in 2008, during the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Chicago. The playground not only serves as a fun and safe place to play for local children and future Olympians and Paralympians, but also as a symbol of commitment to enhancing Chicago-area communities.

“The ‘Little Hands’ Playground is the first Olympic-themed playground in our city,” said Mayor Daley. “I’d like to thank Allstate for this state-of-the-art facility and for its commitment to promoting the Olympic Movement and enhancing our neighborhoods.”

The playground features competition stations throughout the playground with Olympic-inspired artwork by Chicago Art Group, a spray pool, Olympic medallions referencing important statistical Olympic records, a track-themed pathway bordering the playground, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.

“Allstate is committed to improving Chicago’s neighborhoods and our longstanding alliance with the City of Chicago and the USOC has allowed us to leave this physical Olympic legacy for the City of Chicago,” said Alice Byrne, Allstate Field Vice President Midwest Region. “It is our hope that the ‘Little Hands’ Playground will provide a healthy and safe environment for children to play and envision their own Olympic dreams.”

The field house features a competition-sized gymnasium, fitness and club rooms, locker rooms, administrative support offices, central air conditioning, and is fully ADA accessible. The building was designed to achieve a Silver rating under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System. Some of green elements of the building include a green roof, efficient lighting systems and a reflective roof and paving, which contributes less urban heat island effect.

Funds for the 18,500-square-foot field house were provided with $3.5 million from Representative Colvin, $3.2 million from Alderman Harris and City of Chicago tax increment financing (TIF) funds, and $3 million from proceeds from the Chicago Park District’s lease of its parking garages.

“This is a banner day for us,” said Parks Superintendent Tim Mitchell. “In these tough economic times, the Chicago Park District could not afford to bring projects like these to deserving communities alone. Thanks to the public-private partnership that has brought together City of Chicago TIF funds, State Rep Colvin’s member initiative funds, and a private donation from the Allstate Foundation and the USOC; we realize more than $9 million dollars in improvements to this park.”

“Allstate has been a longtime, supportive partner to the USOC and has shown a tremendous commitment to the Olympic Movement,” said USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter. “Through programs like the ‘Little Hands’ Playgrounds, Allstate is spreading the Olympic spirit and active living opportunities to youth in Chicago. This playground is a shining example of the legacy of the Chicago 2016 bid, just as it’s a vision of the legacy the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will leave for the youth of Chicago. The USOC extends our gratitude to Allstate and the City of Chicago for all they are doing to spread the Olympic spirit and to help make Chicago a true ‘playground of sport.’” With the announcement of the Host City for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games two weeks away, the opening of the playground and new field house is the latest catalyst to support Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Games.

Also in attendance at the dedication were Chicago Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell, Allstate Regional Vice President Alice Byrne, USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird, Board Chair, Chicago Park District Bob Pickens, Board President of the Chicago Park District Gery Chico, Public Building Commission Executive Director Erin Lavin, Director of Paralympic Sport and Accessibility for Chicago for Chicago 2016 Linda Mastandrea, Olympian Dian Simpson (Gymnastics 1988), Olympian Willie May (Athletics, 1960), Ann Swisshelm, Olympian (Curling 2002) and members of the Jesse Owens family.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions for helping to make this new and improved park a reality,” said Mayor Daley. “This refurbished park is a good example of the private and public sector working to benefit our city.”

Source: Allstate

Vanilla Star Jeans, one of the top denim brands for kids and juniors is sending a back-to-school message that Smart Girls Rock and they can live whatever dreams they envision.

With much praise from Vanilla Star’s customer base and the retail success of the “Smart Girls Rock” ad campaign, Vanilla Star will be dropping the second series of the print campaign featuring U.S. Olympic gymnast, Nastia Liukin on Friday, August 29th in national magazines, buses, kiosks and billboards in New York and Los Angeles. The unveiling of the new ad will take place that day at Parsons School of Design, located at 560 Seventh Avenue in New York City, at 9:30 a.m.

The juxtaposition of sport and fashion unites Vanilla Star’s customer base nationally and globally. Vanilla Star tapped Nastia as a global ambassador for the “Smart Girls Rock” campaign because she exemplifies a young woman living her dreams in a high profile and high pressure field while remaining true to herself as role model for young women.

“We love that Nastia is the perfect fit for Vanilla Star like our jeans are for her,” says Sandeep Behl, Vanilla Star’s CEO, “The grace and class she continues to demonstrate in her performances and in her attitude are a great representation of the values that Vanilla Star stands for.”

“I am really excited to be a part of Vanilla Star’s ‘Smart Girls Rock’ ad campaign,” says Nastia. “I know what it is like to have a dream in your mind and work as hard as you can to achieve it. I’m just happy I can encourage others to do the same.”

“Vanilla Star is proud to embrace an ‘anti-jean’ company philosophy by opposing the trend of exploiting young teens’ bodies in its ads. We always try to find personalities that our core Vanilla Star customer is attracted to and will set a good example for today’s impressionable youth market,” says Vanilla Star’s President, Mark Levy. “We feel that Nastia is special, not only for her amazing skills but as a role model and inspiration to young generations. She’s truly living the dream.”

Nastia Liukin has taken the “Smart Girls Rock” message to the global stage as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team. Nastia leaves Beijing with five medals including one gold, three silvers and one bronze, becoming the third American woman to tie the U.S. record. Her Olympic medal haul bests that of her father, Valeri, who “only” has four. Nastia is a four time World Champion. Nastia’s other accolades include: nine-time World medalist, four time US National Champion and has won multiple Pacific Rim and American Cup titles. In 2005 she was named Gymnast of the Year by the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and was a nominee in both the World Top 10 Athletes Award and the U.S. Sport’s Academy Athlete of the Year Award.

In addition to Vanilla Star, Nastia is sponsored by many major brand names including AT&T, Visa, Adidas, Covergirl and Wheaties, where she will appear on cereal box covers.

Vanilla Star has set its sights on celebrating the positive attributes of young women by allowing them to “live their dream” through the Live The Dream Scholarship, awarded annually to young women to pursue their dreams in academics, fashion, sport and entertainment. Nastia has designed signature T-shirts to promote the campaign with proceeds going to the Vanilla Star Live The Dream Scholarship, sold exclusively on Vanilla Star’s official Web site www.vanillastarjeans.com.

The Web site will also launch behind-the-scenes video from Nastia’s Vanilla Star photo shoot, along with her exclusive interview at midnight on Thursday, August 28th.

Vanilla Star Jeans is an international company founded in 2002 and based in New York City. Since then, it has quickly become the jean leader for junior and girls in the U.S., sold at all major department and specialty stores throughout the nation.

Source: Vanilla Star Jeans