New Zealand Olympic hopeful opens a brothel

New Zealander Logan Campbell has opened a "high-class gentleman's club" to finance his bid to compete at the London Olympics. The 23-year-old taekwondo competitor, who finished in the top 16 in the featherweight division in Beijing last year, was in danger of missing out on the 2012 Games due to lack of funding. Campbell's Beijing campaign cost around £58,000, most of which came from his father, and he does not want to be a burden to his parents any longer so last week launched his new venture in Auckland. He said: "Mum was hesitant but she met the girls, a couple came over to her house and she was sweet as. "She realised they were just normal people supporting their kids and stuff. "When people think of a pimp they think of a guy standing around on a street corner with gold chains. Pimps are more tough-type guys. I'm an owner of an escort agency." Asked if he was bringing the sport into disrepute, he replied: "Some people on the team will not think highly of me for doing this. If they saw this place and how it's operated, they'd change their mind." Campbell plans to take two years off and earn up to £117,000 which he believes would make him a serious medal prospect in London. But Taekwondo New Zealand, who suspended Campbell's funding because he has not been competing, do not appear to support the scheme. Funding manager John Schofield said: "Selection takes into account not just performance but also the athlete's ability to serve as an example to the youth of the country."

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ITN | July 14, 2009

Tags:. .ability. .example. .youth. .highly. .competing