(ATR) On the eve of national elections, the Bulgarian government has given its approval for Sofia to bid for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Bulgaria's sports minister calls the decision "one of the happiest days of my life."

"I hope that we will have more luck this time," says Vasil Ivanov-Luchiano, referring to Sofia's bids for 1992 and 1994.

"We have one month to prepare all documents together with Bulgarian Olympic Commettee and to work hard until 2007," he says.

Deadline for applications to seek the 2014 Games is July 28.

Will controversy over Bulgarian IOC member and NOC President Ivan Slavkov hurt a Sofia bid?

Among the hurdles the nascent bid must overcome is the case of controversial NOC president Ivan Slavkov, who faces an expulsion vote from the IOC in two weeks.

Slavkov has been suspended from the IOC after being shown on a BBC TV program last year discussing the buying and selling of IOC votes for the 2012 race.

Slavkov says he will go to the IOC Session in Singapore to contest his expulsion.

The future of the bid depends on the outcome of the June 25 elections, which could bring a change in government that is not favorable to a Winter Games bid.

Other potential bidders for 2014 include the Republic of Georgia, which this week expressed interest, as well as Pyeongchang, South Korea; Salzburg Austria and Ostersund, Sweden.

111 Years Since the Founding of the IOC

(ATR) The rumble of tens of thousands of feet around the globe marks the latest celebration of World Olympic Day with what has become the tradition -- an Olympic Day Run. Beijing 2008 will use June 23 to launch its cultural festival.

NYC 2012 bid leader Dan Doctoroff will be one of 30,000 runners in the 3.5 mile Olympic Day Run through Central Park, sponsored by NYC2012 and the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge.

London's Olympic Day Run, a one mile event for parents and children, will take place at Chessington World of Adventures. The race is sponsored McDonalds and the British Olympic Association.

French students will show their support of the Paris bid on Thursday in a walk from the Olympic Landmark to the Stade de France Paris 2012. The French National Olympic Committee has also organized an Olympic Day Run and other events to celebrate Olympic Day.

Moscow held it is Olympic Day Run on Saturday at Olympiyski Avenue.

The Spanish Olympic Committee will organizes June 23 events across the country as well as in Madrid with the bid committee.

The U.S. Olympic Committee will recognize celebrate Olympic Day at its five training centers and a 30-feet high bronze and iron sculpture, "Olympic Strength", will be erected in Colorado Springs.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and IOC President Jacques Rogge issued a statement asking the sporting community to rededicate itself to Olympic ideals such as community service and universal peace.

Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the IOC on June 23, 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Around the Rings
Thursday, June 23, 2005

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