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News Round-Up: Rome 2009's 12.7m Debt

Jan 21, 2010  - Craig Lord

Italy: The Director General of the Organizing Committee of the World Swimming Championships in Rome 2009, Roberto Diacetti, resigned yesterday and will no longer be in office when, next Monday,  the remaining board of directors determine the terms and conditions of rescheduling of debt. And how large is that debt? According to official and media reports from Rome: 12.7 million euros, one of the legacies of the championships.  When asked about the timing of his move, Diacetti told Italian reporters: "In fact, my contract expired on December 31. I was willing to cooperate until the closure of accounts, as the 25th should be the last act, my last act was also due. In addition, my role was managerial, not political, so at this stage that role has expired. " Monday may see the appointment of liquidators and will deliver the big question remaining for the board: who burdens the debt? The City of Rome and the Italian swimming federation are the key protagonists.

Australia: whatever your take and preference on briefs or jammers, the AAP agency brings a splendid and particularly Australian perspective to the debate today. The story, under the headline "Budgies or Boardies?" in the Geelong Advertiser, takes the division to the people through their politicians. Shortly before becoming leader of the Aussie coalition, Tony Abbott appeared in photos in what AAP describe as "a pair of red budgie smugglers".  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made it "a constitutional issue" with a smile, stating: "You know something, if there was a referendum tomorrow between budgie smugglers and boardies, I think I'd be voting for boardies. I think there are certain things the Australian people should be protected from and one of those things is national political leaders so attired.'' The final say, however, went to former open water ace Susie Maroney whole tells us this: "My personal preference is most definitely budgies. It sorts out the serious swimmers from the others. If there were two men on the beach with one wearing board shorts and one with a budgie smuggler - I would head for the budgie. The most flattering for a man is again, no question, budgies. Something to do with the contours and you know you are talking to a man.'' Well, there you have it. She even goes as far as suggesting that the "humble smuggler", as AAP calls the brief" is a patriotic tradition: "hey are as Australian as gum trees, zinc cream on noses and the sound of cicadas at Christmas time. Should budgies be banned? No, no and no again. It would be totally unAustralian.'' Quite.

Italy: An Italian national squad is heading for warm winter training at Fort Lauderdale in Florida this week until February 6, Gazzetta tells us today. The tour team: women -Filippi, Gemo, Pellegrini, Spagnolo; men -  Belotti, Giorgetti, Lestingi, Colbertaldo, Donin, Dotto, Galenda, Leonardi, Maglia, Marin, Magnini, Natullo, Pizzetti, Rosolino, Sciocchetti. Coaches - Morini, Butini, Dinic, Rossetto.

Australia: Pity the boy who at 12 is treated to headlines such as that appearing Down Under today: "Its the new Thorpedo - Superfish Ryan sends shockwave through the pool". Time will tell where the early dedication and dimension of young Ryan Leonard takes him. For now, what media reports suggest is that he is one to watch. At NSW age titles at Sydney Olympic Park last weekend, "the Lake Macquarie schoolboy won an astonishing 12 gold medals", says the Aussie Telegraph. "It's never been done before - that's every individual event at every distance in freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke. He then capped it off with another gold in the medley relay." Newcastle swim coach Shane Arnold in October is calmer in tone. "Too early to tell,'' Arnold told the paper of the kid described by the publication as having "the physique of an NRL player - and a size nine shoe". Arnold goes on to say: "Whether he turns out to be another Michael Phelps . . . who knows. It was freakish what he did at the titles and the kid is totally focused on his swimming. A lot of young fellas his age are on computers or playing video games in their spare time. Ryan's doing eight lots of two-hour sessions a week. He's getting flogged. But he keeps getting up at 4am to turn up for more - and then backs up again in the evening after school.'' As for young Ryan, who broke a Thorpey 200 IM age-group record, he said: "I guess I'm starting to think about the 2016 Olympics in Rio. But that's a long way off. I'm swimming now because I enjoy it. It's hard and I guess I miss out on a lot of things my friends do but this is what I love doing." From the mouths of babes ...