A perceived lack of real progress in the improvement of conditions for foreign labor, aggravated by a Qatari reluctance to engage in public debate beyond platitudes, is undermining the soft-power goals underlying the Gulf state’s sports strategy

Until a few years ago, I used to ice skate in the winter – when it was cold enough. Making beautiful trips across the ice of frozen lakes, gliding amid the beautiful Dutch landscape. Ice skating has an enchanting, and also somewhat addictive effect. Even on TV. So, over the next few days I will be fascinated, watching the Olympic team perform in Sochi, Russia. Indeed, the Netherlands is one of the top countries in ice skating. Over and over again, great talents arise, both men and women.

Until a few years ago, I used to ice skate in the winter – when it was cold enough. Making beautiful trips across the ice of frozen lakes, gliding amid the beautiful Dutch landscape. Ice skating has an enchanting, and also somewhat addictive effect. Even on TV. So, over the next few days I will be fascinated, watching the Olympic team perform in Sochi, Russia. Indeed, the Netherlands is one of the top countries in ice skating. Over and over again, great talents arise, both men and women.

In Sochi, Russia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the power of sport to promote human rights and unite people regardless of their age, race, class, religious, ability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity in a first of its kind address to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

On Friday the Popular Committees of the World Cup published a list of their 8 demands for the federal and state governments in Brazil. This is attracting a good amount of interest in Brazil and has been shared on the blogs of some of the most popular sports journalists in Brazil. So far, I haven’t seen an English language version of these demands so I’ve translated them below.

He can still dunk like a butterfly, but in the personally tragic case of former basketball pro Dennis Rodman in North Korea, the embrace of Kim Jong Un and his policies sting like a bee. Rodman is the most recent example of sports diplomacy gone awry. With the Sochi Olympics starting, a new cadre of unpredictable athlete diplomats will likely take the stage.

Known as football (or fútbol) around the world, soccer has been considered a legendary sport for years and years, lauded for its style, grace, speed, and extremely dedicated fans. "Fútbol: The Beautiful Game," presented by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, explores the significance and impact of soccer around the world, presenting a visual history of the game through paintings, photography, sculpture, and video works from 30 international artists.