Osaka's chance to shine with East Asian Games.

Osaka, Japan bidding to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, will have its chance to impress the IOC this month when it hosts the East Asian Games from May 19th-27th. Osaka has never held a major games in modern times. One must go all the way back to the 1923 Far East Championships.

China topped the medals tables in both the first and second East Asian Games in Shanghai, China in 1993 and in Pusan, Korea in 1997. Japan and Korea finished much closer in 1997. Australia will make its first appearance at the East Asian Games this year which will add an interesting twist to the medals race. North and South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Guam also participate in the games.

Games of the Small Countries of Europe

San Marino held the very first Games of the Small Countries of Europe back in 1985. The games have rotated through all eight small European nations and return this month to San Marino for their ninth edition.

The games are open to and rotate between the countries of Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and San Marino.

Iceland, Cyprus and Luxembourg generally finish atop the medals table. San Marino had a very strong showing at the last games in Liechtenstein, winning six gold medals. San Marino's previous best gold medal total in any games had been two.

Afro-Asian Games still tentative

The on-again off-again Afro-Asian games are still being planned for November of this year in New Delhi, India though the Indian government had stated last month that the games would be postponed. Renovations of venues are behind schedule.

Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and India's sports minister Uma Bharti met with the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and convinced the government not to postpone the games. The primary concern was that India's reputation in international sports would be severely damaged if the games were postponed again.

The idea for the Afro-Asian games has a long and checkered past, having first been mentioned in 1985 when Kuwait was to hold the games. Games were to have been organized in India in 1991 and 1999 but were not held.

The games will cost almost $14 million, with athletes from Africa and Asia competing in athletics, boxing, field hockey, shooting, soccer, swimming, tennis and weightlifting.

Arafura 2001

The sixth edition of Darwin Australia's Arafura Games will be held this May. The games began in 1991 and are held every two years. Four additional sports will be contested this year. Judo and beach volleyball for the first time, while road cycling and men’s soccer return to the Games program.

This years games will also include a sports conference, "Developing an Elite Sporting Culture" hosted by the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and Sports Medicine, and the Arafura Sport and Trade Show with as local and interstate sporting businesses and organizations on exhibit.

Beijing Visit: For University Games

April saw another visit to Beijing, this time from FISU representatives and over 40 Heads of National delegations inspecting venues and the village for the 2001 World University Games (Universiade) to be held August 22 to September 1.

FISU delegates were pleased with the renovations of the 70,000 seat Workers Stadium, where the Opening and Closing ceremonies and football finals will be held.

The games village is expected to be complete by the first of May and consists of 3500 rooms and capacity for 7000 people. The dining room will hold 3000 people at a time.

Three Tenors to Support Beijing Bid

The Three Tenors -- Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras -- are scheduled to perform in concert inside Beijing's Forbidden City on June 23, Olympic Day. The concert is an official event to support Beijing and its bid for the 2008 Games. The singers are said to be scheduled to make a statement during the concert supporting the bid. The concert is expected to draw at 100,000 people.

2003 World Wheelchair and Amputee Games

Christchurch, New Zealand did a wonderful job of the 1999 World Wheelchair Games and have been asked to host the games again in 2003. The games are expected to be larger with amputee athletes included in the next edition.

Vote for the 2005 Mediterranean Games mascot.

The organizers of the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Spain are asking for your opinion. Go to www.almeria2005.es and vote for your preference on the mascot for the 2005 Games.

Anniversaries

Eighty Years

Far East Championships Shanghai, China, May 30 - Jun 3, 1921

Fifty Years

Britain's Festival of Sport London, England, May 5 -September 8, 1951

Forty Years

Hapoel Games Tel Aviv, Israel, May 1-6, 1961

Thirty Years

Hapoel Games Tel Aviv, Israel, April 29 - May 5, 1971

Twenty Years

European Special Olympics Brussels, Belgium, May, 1981

Ten Years

International School Children's Games Bratislava, Czech Republic, May 31 - June 2, 1991

Defi Sportif Montreal, Canada, April 26- May 5, 1991

Hapoel Games Tel Aviv, Israel, May 6 -13, 1991

Arafura Games Darwin, Australia, May 18-25, 1991

Games of the Small Countries of Europe Andorra, Andorra, May 21-25, 1991