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KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia '€” After the stress of seven years of intense planning, a financial meltdown, problematic weather, a gruelling cross-country torch relay, an athlete's death on opening day and the euphoria of a final-day gold-medal hockey win, the staff and volunteers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics were emotionally drained.

CANMORE, Alberta (AP)—Three-time U.S. Olympian Justin Wadsworth has been hired to coach Canada’s cross country ski team.

Wadsworth is familiar with Canada’s program—he’s married to two-time Canadian Olympic medalist Beckie Scott, his former training partner.

Wadsworth said in a statement Friday that he’s excited to join a program “with a talented pool of athletes.” He replaces Inge Braten, who returned to Norway after completing a one-year contract to lead Canada through the 2010 Vancouver Games.

MOSCOW(AP) —The head of Russia’s freestyle skiing federation has resigned, the fourth sports official to quit following the country’s poor performance at the Vancouver Olympics.

The federation’s vice president, Lev Kofman, says Alexander Cherkasov resigned late Tuesday.

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - Plans to use Greenwich Park as an equestrian venue for the London 2012 Olympics were approved by local councillors at a planning meeting on Tuesday.

The London Organising Committee (LOCOG) had met stiff opposition from local residents, pressure groups and wildlife organisations worried about the impact the plans would have on the park, which is a World Heritage Site.

MOSCOW(AP) —The president of the Russian cross-country skiing federation has resigned after the country’s weak performance at last month’s Vancouver Olympics.

Vladimir Loginov’s resignation Monday made him the third high-ranking sports official to depart following the country’s worst-ever performance at the Winter Games, where Russia won only three golds in a 15-medal haul.

Loginov says that the four cross-country medals Russia won in Vancouver “is not sufficient for the authority of Russian skiing sports.”

MOSCOW, March 22 (Reuters) - Vladimir Loginov quit as president of the Russian cross-country skiing federation (FLGR) on Monday following the country’s dismal showing at last month’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“Unfortunately, our Olympic performances could not be called satisfying, therefore I have decided to resign as FLGR president,” Loginov, who has headed the FLGR since 2004, said in a statement.

Canada's Brian McKeever has qualified for the semi-finals in the men's one-kilometre sprint in the para-Nordic event, finishing first of all his competitors.

WHISTLER '€” Russia repeated as Paralympic women's cross-country relay champions on Saturday, beating out the Ukraine by 19.5 seconds at Whistler Paralympic Park.

Canada was fourth, missing a medal by 17 seconds.

Maria Iovleva, Mikhalina Lysova and Liubov Vasilyeva crossed in a time of 20 minutes 23.3 seconds to claim Russia's 10th gold and 29th medal of these Games, by far the most of any nation.

WHISTER - Team Russia picked up its 30th medal of the Paralympic Games, winning gold in the men's cross-country relay.

The Russian team of Sergey Shilov, Kirill Mikhaylov and Nikolay Polukhin finished the 1x4-km plus 2x5-km race in a time of 38:54.8, 21.9 seconds ahead of Ukraine's Iurii Kostiuk, Grygorii Vovchynskyi and Vitaliy Lukyanenko.

Norway's Trygve Toskedal Larsen, Vegard Dahle and Nils-Erik Ulset won bronze.