Olympics

While being critical of the Chinese government, Nancy Pelosi did not say that the United States should boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Pelosi released a press release that stated:

"The Olympic Charter states that the Olympics should seek to foster 'respect for universal and fundamental ethical principles.' Sadly, the Chinese government has not lived up to its commitments to improve the human rights situation in China and Tibet. I believe the International Olympic Committee made a mistake in awarding the 2008 Summer games to China, and I sponsored a Congressional resolution expressing that view at the time.

"However, I believe a boycott of the Beijing Olympics would unfairly harm our athletes who have worked so hard to prepare for the competition.

"The Olympics should provide for more opportunity for free expression, not less. When the Olympic torch passes through San Francisco next month, I support the rights of individuals and groups to make their views known about the actions of the Chinese government.

Marion Jones, who dazzled in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney but was stripped of all her medals when she admitted to steroid use, has been sentenced to 6 months behind bars today. United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karras also sentenced her to 400 hours of community service for lying to prosecutors about steroid use and a check fraud scheme. Jones defense team was hoping for only probation.

"Athletes in society have an elevated status," the judge said before imposing sentence. "They entertain. They inspire. And perhaps most importantly, [they serve] as role models for children around the world."

Dominique Moceanu, a star of the 1996 Womens Gymnastics team, has given birth to a baby girl. Moceanu, who resides in Cleveland and attends John Carroll University, had the baby on Christmas day.

"We are so excited," Moceanu told People Magazine. "Mike and I have talked about starting a family for so long – it's really a dream come true."

Moceanu is married to former Ohio State gymnast Dr. Michael Canales and have named the baby Carmen Noel Canales.

Five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones, who admitted to doping prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was stripped of her medals, and results going back to September 2000 were annulled Friday by the International Assocation of Athletics Federation.

The IAAF also ordered that Jones return the estimated $700,000 in prize money from that same time period. It has also been recommended that the former Olympic relay star's teammates have their medals stripped from the 2000 games in Sydney.

Marion Jones received gold medlas for her wins in the 100 and 200 meters, and the 1,600 meter relay. She also took home a bronze medal in the 400 relay and long jump, and a silver in the 100 at the 2001 worlds.

On Friday, the IAAF also announced that they would uphold a two-year band that was imposed on Jones by U.S. officials.

As we told you back in October, Olympic swimming champion Amanda Beard is now a Go Daddy Girl. Her first commercial for the company has aired and it is impressive. It will be interesting to see Go Daddy will use auto racer Danica Patrick and motorcycle racer Valerie Thompson, or Beard a upcoming Super Bowl advert.

Beard's first spot with company also has a cameo of fellow swimming champ Mark Spitz.

Here is the latest ad that is catching fire online:

Organizers of the London 2012 Olympics unveiled today the plans for their Olympic stadium. While Beijing has designed an ornate bird's nest stadium for their 2008 Olympics, London's design has been described as more "cautious".

The London stadium's chief architect, Rod Sheard, said, "This is not a stadium that's going to be screaming from the rooftops that it's bigger and more spectacular. This is just a cleverer building. This is a cleverer solution."

The 80,000 seat Olympic coliseum-style stadium is being designed to continue to be used once the Olympics have gone. The stadium, which will be built in Stratford, east London, will be designed so that it can continue to be used on a smaller scaler, by scaling the capacity down to 25,000 after the Games. The stadium will then become a multi-purpose venue with athletics as its major use. However, no tenant, such as a football or rugby club has yet been found.

Permanent seating in the stadium will be built on a concrete bowl, which will be sunk into the ground. The architects are hoping that this tight design will help to bring spectators closer to the action, and create an electric atmosphere.