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TSX REPORT: Court of Arbitration rejects Valieva’s “grandfather explanation”; Milan Cortina marks two years to go; call for sports anti-crime agency

The Olympic Rings projected on the Col Druscie ski track in Cortina to mark two years until the Milan Cortina Winter Games (Photo courtesy Manaz Productions)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Valieva decision published: “Grandfather Explanation” rejected
2. Cortina marks two years to go with 100-skier parade
3. Paris police chief warns Olympic “life” will be different
4. USADA’s Tygart calls for sports anti-crime agency
5. ESPN-FOX-WBD tie-up erupts to change U.S. television landscape

● The Court of Arbitration for Sport published the complete, 129-page decision in the Kamila Valieva doping appeal, finding that her use of trimetazidine was “intentional” within the meaning of the World Anti-Doping Code, but was careful not to brand her as a “cheater.” It rejected her primary defense of contamination from a glass or a dessert from her grandfather, and also explained the delay at the Stockholm lab which processed her sample.

● Guest correspondent Brian Pinelli captured the scene in Cortina d’Ampezzo as the two-years-to-go celebrations were made for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games there and in Milan. On Wednesday, the Milan-Cortina organizers also unveiled mascots Tina and Milo for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

● In an interview, the head of the Paris Police confirmed that there will be access restrictions in several areas related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, but that accommodations have been made to allow life to go on – with some added protocols – during the event periods. But things will not be normal.

● The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency told a conference in Norway that an “anti-crime” agency for sports needs to be set on a worldwide basis, as was the World Anti-Doping Agency 25 years ago. Issues of abuse and competition manipulation are growing and need to be independently addressed, although how a criminal enforcement project would work is unknown.

● A major shake-up in sports television in the U.S. was announced Tuesday, with 14 channels from ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery to be combined into a single streaming application, possibly costing $40-50 a month. But Olympic sports and events are likely to be little impacted as NBC has most of them; however, the profile of these events may be lowered if the new combo pack takes off.

World Championships: Aquatics (3: van Rouwendaal completes open-water sweep; China scores twice more in diving; Minisini wins 10th career artistic medal) ●

Panorama: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (U.S. teams set to stay in Eaubonne for training) = Russia (Former Sochi 2014 head says Russia going its own way now) = Athletics (3: Katir suspended for whereabouts; Saruni arranged for lookalike to take a 2022 doping test; Sauders says she’s done with track after five more meets) = Cycling (Glasgow Worlds has economic impact of more than $250 million) = Football (UEFA distribution formula for $4.7 billion from 2024-27 men’s club events) = Wrestling (NCAA signals approval of women’s wrestling for 2025-26!) ●

1.
Valieva decision published: “Grandfather Explanation” rejected

The Court of Arbitration for Sport published the full, 129-page version of the arbitration decision concerning Russian skater Kamila Valieva and her doping positive from 25 December 2021, in which it upheld an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency and others and imposed a four-year sanction.

There was no doubt about the presence of Trimetazidine, a prohibited substance, in her sample. The question was how she ingested it. In the decision, it was stated that Valieva thought she might have taken a drink from the same glass that her grandfather had used at a lunch they had together on a training day; her grandfather was taking Trimetazidine at the time for a heart condition and had crushed the pills and mixed them in the glass with water. Or, one of the pills might have gotten into a dessert she ate there, or later.

The various appeals submittals from RUSADA, the International Skating Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency all agreed on the doping positive, with RUSADA’s view that the ingestion of the Trimetazidine was likely unintentional. The ISU appeal cast doubt on the grandfather story all together and believed that Valieva was taking the drug intentionally:

“The Athlete was taking Hypoxen and L-carnitine. There is expert evidence to suggest that TMZ has a synergistic relationship with these substances.”

The ISU asked for a four-year sanction, but would also accept a two-year sanction if the CAS panel found her ingestion of the drug to be involuntary.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s position was that “The Grandfather Explanation ‘has no evidentiary basis whatsoever’ and ‘is more or less entirely unsubstantiated,’” and asked for a four-year sanction. Moreover, its submittal emphasized that:

“TMZ is recommended for use in Russian sport. It has been recommended in the Russian National Guidelines on Sports Medicine and a review of the scientific literature in Russia shows that ‘TMZ is widely recommended in elite sport in particular in support of the heart in connection with heavy training’ – in circumstances where the Athlete was diagnosed with a heart condition at the end of 2020.”

Valieva’s submittals rejected the appeal arguments and insisted that her ingestion of the drug was unintentional.

The arbitrator’s decision was that, beginning with the 2015 version of the World Anti-Doping Code, an intentional doping violation should carry a minimum four-year sanction, even for minors. And a doping charge is essentially presumed to be “intentional” if the actual source of the drug cannot be shown:

“While it is theoretically possible for an Athlete or other Person to establish that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional without showing how the Prohibited Substance entered one’s system, it is highly unlikely that in a doping case under Article 2.1 an Athlete will be successful in proving that the Athlete acted unintentionally without establishing the source of the Prohibited Substance.”

The arbitrators discounted the ISU and WADA notices of the use of Trimetazidine in Russian sports medicine as out of date, but did note that the drug is effective in increasing oxygen in the body, a benefit for harder training, and that due to side effects, is generally not prescribed to minors.

The bottom line:

“In light of the fact that the Athlete has not established, on the balance of probabilities, that she did not commit the ADRV intentionally, it must follow that the period of ineligibility is four years.”

The opinion did indicate that the panel was split, 2-1, on the length of the sanction, between two years and four years, but not on the question of a sanction for doping. It was also explicitly noted that Valieva was not found to be a “cheat,” but that she could not show grounds which would relieve her of a sanction for an “intentional” – as defined – doping finding.

The decision also illuminated the questions surrounding the delay of the Stockholm testing lab to which Valieva’s samples were sent. The lab was closed from 30 December to 10 January 2022, then resumed testing and got a positive result for Trimetazidine on 11 January. It re-tested the sample, but had three straight failures of its quality-assurance tests. It took from 20 January to 3 February to prepare a new protocol – and for some of the Stockholm lab staff to return from Covid-19 infections – which confirmed the testing validity on 7 February. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency was informed of the confirmed positive test on 8 February.

In the meantime, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Team Event in figure skating concluded on 7 February.

Valieva was suspended by RUSADA on 8 February and she immediately appealed to the independent Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, which made a finding of “no fault” and ended her suspension, allowing her to continue competing at the Winter Games. Her situation was the subject of a review of a hearing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ad hoc division for doping at the Winter Games and allowed to compete pending an after-Games investigation.

2.
Cortina marks two years to go with 100-skier parade

The Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will open on 6 February and programs were mounted in both locations for the two years-to-go date. Guest correspondent Brian Pinelli reported on the festivities in Cortina:

Excitement is quickly ramping up as celebrations were held in Cortina d’Ampezzo; the date marked exactly two years until the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

Festivities in Cortina on Tuesday evening kicked off with a torchlight parade of local skiers descending Col Druscie, the women’s 2026 Olympic Slalom trail, followed by the lighting of Olympic Rings on the mountain, all visible from the center of town below.

Cortina d’Ampezzo mayor Gianluca Lorenzi hosted the party in town, while expressing great enthusiasm, and a little bit of nervousness, in welcoming the winter sports athletes in 24 months.

“It will be amazing because in just two years we will be here along with the Olympic athletes and it will all be like a dream,” Lorenzi said. “There is already so much emotion here getting ready for Olympic Games.

“The feeling is amazing, but it is not so easy to comprehend what the Olympics will be like in Cortina, once again after 70 years.”

Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the VII Winter Games in 1956.

“We will have about 1,200 athletes here and I hope after they return home it will be a dream for their whole life,” the Cortina mayor said.

Women’s Alpine skiing on the Olympian delle Tofane and Col Drusciè slopes, curling at the 1956 Olympic Ice Stadium, and bobsleigh, skeleton and luge at the Eugenio Monti Olympic Track – which just received the green light to be reconstructed last Friday (2nd) – are all planned to be held in the venerable Italian Dolomites resort.

Italian three-time Olympic medalist and 2020 overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone is thrilled about her country once again welcoming the world at the XXV Olympic Winter Games.

“I think it will be really important, just amazing, for our nation to have the Olympic Games once again,” Brignone said. “If you participate as an athlete, you will be part of the show.

“Our sport has changed a lot since 1956 and Milano Cortina 2026 is going to be really nice,” said the Italian three-time Olympic medalist. “The Olympic and winter spirit will really shine.”

Men’s Alpine ski races will be contested in Bormio on the Stelvio piste, a regular stop on the FIS World Cup circuit. In Milan, where ice events will be held, the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos were unveiled in Piazza della Scala on Tuesday.

(For more, visit Brian Pinelli on Twitter and Instagram)

The Milan Cortina organizers also officially revealed the Games mascots Tina and Milo, two stoats (ermines), with “Tina” taking her name from Cortina and “Milo” from Milan.

They were unveiled at the Sanremo Music Festival on Wednesday; Tina will represent the Olympic Winter Games and Milo the Winter Paralympic Games.

They were selected from a schools contest which drew 1,600 entries with the winning concept from the Istituto Comprensivo of Taverna from the region of Calabria. Tina and Milo are accompanied by six snowdrops, inspired by the other finalist concept submitted by the Istituto Comprensivo Sabin of Segrate in Lombardia.

3.
Paris police chief warns Olympic “life” will be different

“Life won’t be as it was before.”

That’s the key takeaway from Laurent Nunez, the Paris Prefect of Police, in an interview with Agence France Presse on the traffic conditions for locals during the Olympic and Paralympic period this summer.

Nunez previously announced that access to Olympic and Paralympic venue areas in and around Paris would be restricted, with residents required to have a mobile phone and obtain a (free) QR code to allow access. The concept remains in place, but there have been accommodations made:

“The important part is that we have opened up the number of exemptions in order to reflect the reality of people’s personal and professional lives in order not to paralyse their activity, while also upholding our rules on security. ...

“There will be special lanes [for Olympic traffic], detours. But our message is that we are doing everything to ensure essential car journeys are possible.

“The delivery of packages or meals in a vehicle is not allowed, but will be possible on foot.”

He explained that taxi drivers, caregivers and emergency technicians – locksmiths, for example – would be able to enter restricted areas, provided they have registered their status ahead of time.

The exact outlines of the restricted areas are expected to be revealed by the end of February.

4.
USADA’s Tygart calls for sports anti-crime agency

The World Anti-Doping Agency was created in 1999. Now, 25 years later, Travis Tygart, the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, is calling for a similar body to be created to control crimes in sport.

He told the 2024 Play The Game Conference in Trondheim (NOR):

“There is an incredible need for it, particularly because of the sexual abuse cases in sport. It’s horrific stories. Sport has to care about individual lives who are being affected.

“And the manipulation of competitions as well. Just as in the anti-doping space, the public, broadcasters, and sponsors are not going to stand for sport that does not have a legitimate outcome. Fairness is at the heart of why we play sport in life. Sport is so valuable, so I think absolutely there is a need for it.”

The questions of what such an agency would look like, funded and staffed are all to be solved. But Tygart wants to start:

“It is only a matter of time before something happens. And then those who want to see change are going to be in a certain state of panic like the world of sport was back in 1999 and that ultimately led to the World Anti-Doping Agency being established.

“The dark side always exposes itself. In the U.S, we now have an unprecedented piece of legislation that gives 20 million dollars to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent organization that tries to tackle these issues. There is a lot of ‘devil in the detail’ of how to make that truly effective, both in the U.S. but also around the world.

“It can’t be a political body where politicians are influencing the decisions. And then I think you need to have the proper authority. That means it cannot become an overly bureaucratic organization that through regulation attempts to control everyone and gets rid of the discretion and trust of those in the field who have to make difficult decisions.”

Ironically, Tygart, who has railed against the failures of the worldwide anti-doping system, still sees some sort of anti-crime agency that could come out of the same concept:

“We see incredible failures of the current anti-doping system. That does not erase all the great work. But a byproduct of all this regulation is that no one takes responsibility and let us be clear: We have a long way to go to win the gold medal for clean athletes.”

His comments came out of a seminar session titled, “Clearing Sport: Towards an agency countering crime and protecting integrity of sport?”

5.
ESPN-FOX-WBD tie-up erupts to change U.S. television landscape

Tuesday’s announcement of a forthcoming, direct-to-consumer mega-streaming package alters the American television market in a substantial way, but leaves the country’s Olympic television partner on the sidelines.

The announcement led with:

“ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery have reached an understanding on principal terms to form a new Joint Venture (JV) to build an innovative new platform to house a compelling streaming sports service.

“The platform brings together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks, certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services and sports – including content from all the major professional sports leagues and college sports. The formation of the pay service is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements amongst the parties.

“The offering, scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024, would be made available directly to consumers via a new app. Subscribers would also have the ability to bundle the product, including with Disney+, Hulu and/or Max.”

What this means is that 14 over-the-air and cable channels will be combined in a single offer:

Disney (7): ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS
Fox (4): FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN
WBD (3): TNT, TBS, truTV

Baseball, college football, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL and a host of soccer fixtures will all be offered, but not the Olympic Games or any of the many sports contracted to NBC – such as the World Athletics meets and the Diamond League – and many U.S. national federation events. CBS, which has its own Paramount+ streaming service – is also not involved.

Pricing is being reported in the $40-50 per month range, so it isn’t going to be cheap, but the opportunity to bundle with other services could make a combined offer interesting for consumers.

Observed: What does this mean for American viewers of the Olympic Games or Olympic sports? In the short term, not much; to the extent such events are contracted to NBC – including the Olympic Games through 2032 and the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials events – they will continue as before.

But what this tie-up does is further erode the visibility of Olympic sport in the U.S. Beyond the Olympic Games, NBC has moved much of its Olympic-sport programming to the Peacock streaming service, which continues as a separate entity, at $6 and up per month. To the extent that the new three-network app absorbs fan interest, eyeballs and money – and its forthcoming impact is unknown – it further relegates Olympic-sport events off people’s schedules. To the extent it diminishes – if at all – Peacock’s share among sports fans, it lowers American Olympic sport’s presence.

Nielsen reported that, in December 2023, over-the-air and cable viewing accounted for 51.5% of all U.S. television viewing, with 35.9% streaming and 12.5% for other uses, such as video games. Streaming advanced from 32.8% in January of 2023, a 9.5% gain in one year.

With the implosion of newspapers continuing nationally, the opportunities for U.S. Olympic sports to obtain awareness and impact are already challenging. As none of the three U.S. entities that are part of this new streaming venture have much at all to do with America and the Olympics, it’s another worry point for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● Day six of the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT) featured the two 5 km open-water events, with Rio 2016 Olympic and 2024 Worlds 10 km champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) completing her sweep of the Doha women’s events.

Trailing Australia’s Chelsea Gubicka into the final half of the last lap of the non-Olympic 5 km race Wednesday, van Rouwendaal charged in the final 150 m to get the lead and then touched first in 57:33.9, with Gubicka at 57:35.0 and Brazilian star Ana Marcela Cunha third (57:36.8).

American Katie Grimes was fourth (57:38.4) and teammate Mariah Denigan was 12th (57:55.3). Gubicka has now won silvers in the 10 km in 2023 and now in the 5 km; Cunha won her 16th career Worlds open-water medal (7-2-7).

France celebrated a 1-2 finish in the men’s 5 km with 2019 Worlds silver winner Logan Fontaine passing Rio Olympic 10 km bronze medalist Marc-Antoine Olivier in a blanket finish among five swimmers. Fontaine was timed in 51:29.3 to 51:29.5 for Olivier, who also won the 10 km silver in Doha, with Italy’s Domenico Acerenza third (51:30.0) and Hungary’s 10 km winner Kristof Rasovszky fourth (51:30.5).

China is concentrating on the Olympic-program events in diving and swept Wednesday’s men’s 3 m Springboard final and the women 3 m Synchro.

Two-time defending World Champion Zongyuan Wang took his third title in a row at 538.70, followed by Tokyo Olympic champ Siyi Xie (516.10). Osmar Olvera (MEX), the 1 m Springboard winner, got the bronze (498.40). Americans Tyler Downs (342.35) and Grayson Campbell (328.00) were 29th and 37th in the prelims.

China also sailed to gold in the women’s 3 m Synchro with Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen winning their third World title in a row at 323.43, trailed by Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith (AUS: 300.45) and Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen (GBR: 281.70). Americans Alison Gibson and Krysta Palmer just missed the bronze, finishing fourth at 279.30.

For Chang, 22, it’s her fourth Worlds 3 m Synchro gold, as she also won in 2017, but with Tingmao Shi.

China now has five-for-five in the Olympic diving events, with three left and has won seven medals (5-2-0) in seven opportunities.

Italy’s Giorgio Minisini won the men’s Solo Free in the only Artistic Swimming final on Wednesday, scoring 210.1355 to win easily over Dennis Gonzalez (ESP: 196.2750) and Colombia’s Gustavo Sanchez (192.0812). It’s the 10th career Worlds medal for Minisini, including a total of four golds.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Reuters profiled the soon-to-be U.S. training center for the Paris 2024 Games in Eaubonne, France, about 10 miles north of the Olympic city.

Rocky Harris, the USOPC Chief of Sport and Athlete Services explained:

“It really has exceeded all of our needs. We’ve visited over a dozen facilities and this one early on, it became clear that it was our top choice.

“It really replicates a lot of what we have in our training centre back home so our athletes will feel at home here.”

Eaubonne itself is a town of 25,000 and has the Athletica facility, which includes 100 bedrooms, sports training and medical facilities, and a restaurant, with other venues close by. Both the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams will be supported there.

● Russia ● Dmitry Chernyshenko was well known in the Olympic Movement as the President of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee. Now, as a Deputy Prime Minister in Russia, he has been harshly critical of the Olympic world since sanctions were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Wednesday, he told the Russian news agency TASS:

“The Olympic Movement has been infected with the Russophobia virus and it has strayed from its core values as well as the Olympic spirit of competition.

“We can all see full well that the right to host the Olympic Games is granted to those countries that are simply ready to submit their bids and eventually they win this right without any competition.

“We hope that the International Olympic Committee will change its policies and cooperation will resume at some point. But this is a matter of perspective and Russia is now going its own way.”

● Athletics ● Another doping stunner, with Spain’s Mohamed Katir, 25, the 2022 Worlds 1,500 m bronze medalist and 2023 Worlds 5,000 m runner-up, provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for “whereabouts” failures.

This means he missed three tests within 12 months. He refutes the charges and expects to be cleared: “I consider that there is no violation arising from three location failures in the last twelve months. In some of the location failures reported by AIU, I was available at the place, date and times provided by me. …

“This is a simple file derived from the completion of location data on the ADAMS platform that could generate location errors (whereabouts).”

Even stranger is the case of Kenyan 800 m star Michael Saruni (1:43.25 best from 2018), who was suspended for four years – to 30 August 2027 – because he “adamantly, evaded, refused and failed to give a sample or submit to sample collection and by collusion or trickery escaped or left the venue.”

During the Kenyan World Championships Trials in 2022 in Nairobi, Saruni was identified for doping control after finishing ninth in the race. Then things got crazy:

“85. The Panel has held above that the Athlete was well identified and notified. He then changed clothes and in the company of the chaperone went towards the [doping control station] before hurriedly going into the male washroom on the run. Thereafter two people emerged from that washroom who were dressed in a similar manner. One was held who turned out to be Dennis Mwangi, but the Athlete Respondent was nowhere to be found. Dennis Mwangi was dressed exactly in the same or similar manner as had been described by the Chaperone Karen – ‘a blue hoodie jacket and black trousers with white stripes on the side.’

“86. Dennis Mwangi was a friend of the Athlete. He was present at the stadium that day not as an athlete but on errands and by invitation of the Athlete. He was not there to race. That he therefore ends up being detained in place of the Athlete/Respondent without other cogent explanation against the evidence by the four witness, in the panel’s view can only point to an intentional act of evading or avoiding to submit to sample collection. The Athlete, duly notified, consciously chose to walk/run away from the Chaperone and other [Doping Control Officers] instead of cooperating as required by the WADC. That action is commensurate with “evasion” which per [World Anti-Doping Code] comment to Article 3.2 in regard to sample collection ‘contemplates intentional conduct by the Athlete.’”

Wow.

The Olympic women’s shot silver medalist from Tokyo, American Raven Saunders announced she has one more year left in her. She posted on Tuesday:

“Just know I’m only doing 5 meets this year and then I’m retiring from Track and field!!!! I refuse to compete another year to struggle financially in a sport that shows no respect fiscally for my event #HULKOUTTF24″

She’s a two-time Olympian and a member of the 2017 U.S. World Championship team; she will finish an 18-month “whereabouts” failure suspension on 14 February 2024.

● Cycling ● A report on the first-of-its-kind UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland last year concluded that the event generated a total economic impact of £205 million, or about $258.95 million U.S. (£1 = $1.26 today)

Compiled by the professional services firm EY, the report noted:

● “A goal of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships was to promote Scotland as a tourism destination and engage a global audience. 1,000,000 visitors attended the Championships, over a third of whom came from outside Scotland; people travelled from five continents. Spending by visitors, teams and media provided a significant boost to local businesses.”

● “Over the course of their stay, international visitors contributed £115m in direct spending into Scotland, particularly through spend on accommodation and transport, while non-local attendees contributed over £105m to the region.”

● “In total, there was £344m of incremental spend across direct, indirect and induced impacts, which resulted in £205m of additional value added to Scotland-based businesses and supported the equivalent of 5,285 full-time jobs.”

The event was also judged to be a success on social impacts and was operated with a special emphasis on sustainability.

● Football ● The European Football Union (UEFA) Executive Committee met in Paris on Wednesday and approved the distribution formula for the €4.4 billion ($4.74 billion U.S. at €1 = $1.08) from its men’s club competitions from 2024-27:

“Of the projected threshold of €4.4bn: 10% (€440m) is allocated to solidarity with 7% (€308m) to non-participating clubs and 3% (€132m) to qualifying rounds clubs. In addition, €25m are reserved to UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Youth League.

“The net amount (after deduction of costs, solidarity payments and payments to other competitions) is shared between participating clubs (93.5%) and UEFA (6.5%).

“Out of the total amount available for distribution to participating clubs (€ 3.317 bn), €2.467bn (74.38%) will be distributed to clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (and UEFA Super Cup), €565m (17.02%) will be distributed to clubs competing in the UEFA Europa League and €285m (8.60%) to clubs in the UEFA Conference League. The ratio between the three competitions has been kept on the same level as in the current 2021/24 cycle.”

These amounts are separate from the UEFA European Championships, or any of the women’s competitions.

● Wrestling ● A major win for USA Wrestling with the NCAA announcement that women’s wrestling is expected to hold its first NCAA Championship in the winter of 2026:

“The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics voted at its meeting Wednesday to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a national collegiate women’s wrestling championship.”

The vote on the proposals would come at the NCAA Convention in January 2025. The floor of 40 schools with women’s wrestling programs was passed in 2022-23, with 51 schools involved, and 70 projected for next season.

This would be the NCAA’s 91st championship sport, completing a process which started with the University of Minnesota-Morris adding women’s wrestling back in 1993-94. Already fielding a powerful team, USA Wrestling will quickly benefit from having collegiate programs to aid its development process.

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TSX REPORT: New Balance indoor outdraws U.S. Marathon Trials on TV; Olympic T&F Trials tickets coming; San Diego ramps up World Road Champs

How about those ratings for the New Balance Indoor on NBC? (Photo: Nielsen audience report on SportsMediaWatch.com)

The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. T&F out-draws Marathon Trials on NBC, 1.197 million to 760,000!
2. French financial prosecutors looking at Estanguet pay
3. Five more world leads at the Copernius Cup in Poland
4. Ticket packages and prices posted for Olympic Track Trials
5. San Diego looking to expand World Road Champs in ‘25

● Television viewing data from Neilsen showed that Sunday’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston significantly outdrew Saturday’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and had an excellent 1.2 million average audience to see Noah Lyles and others. The U.S. Figure Skating Nationals also drew significant TV interest, but the difficult time zone hurt the Australian Open.

● The French national financial prosecutor’s office is reported to be investigating Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet’s compensation in yet another inquiry into the organizing committee’s affairs. The Paris 2024 organizers expressed surprise at the reports.

● More hot indoor running and jumping, this time at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland, with a sensational women’s 1,500 m won by Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu in 3:55.28, moving her to no. 3 all-time indoors.

● TrackTown USA revealed that all-session ticket packages for June’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene will go on sale on 20 February. There will be packages at five different levels, priced from $995 to $395, plus fees.

● A major expansion of the World Athletics Road Running Championships is coming for the second edition in San Diego in 2025. The three core races – mile, 5 km and Half Marathon – will be augmented with a children’s program, Gold Label Race Walking events, concerts and a lot more. Total participation of 50,000 is hoped for over three days with a total economic impact of perhaps $100 million.

World Championships: Aquatics (2: China sails to another diving gold; Simoneau and China win artistic golds) ●

Panorama: International Olympic Committee (With two years to go to Milan Cortina 2026, IOC has 227 scholarship recipients in winter sports) = European Games (Istanbul in line for 2027) = Alpine Skiing (French federation panned for not showing women’s World Junior races) = Weightlifting (North Koreans claim three world records at Asian Champs) ●

1.
T&F out-draws Marathon Trials on NBC, 1.197 million to 760,000!

The long-awaited U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was in a good time slot on NBC on Saturday, with a noon start and at least five spots on the starting line in Paris this summer on the line.

Meh.

On the first Sunday without NFL football since the summer, the first major indoor track meet of 2024 was on in Boston, with stars including triple sprint World Champion Noah Lyles.

Yep, that got some interest.

Nielsen-provided audience numbers for the weekend showed that the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, live on NBC at 4 p.m. Eastern – the late NFL window – did a very respectable audience of 1.197 million, a 38% rise over the 2023 total on essentially the same date.

That was way ahead of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, also shown by NBC, at noon on Saturday, but on a two-hour tape delay, which drew 760,000. The network TV audience totals were hampered by the timing, as the live race was just finishing at noon on the Peacock streaming service.

The New Balance Grand Prix was the seventh-highest-rated sports show on Sunday, well behind the NFL Pro Bowl shows on ABC (3.85 million) and ESPN (1.83 million). The Marathon Trials ranked 18th on Saturday, behind college and NBA basketball, golf, auto racing, ice hockey and soccer.

And a cautionary note for followers of demographics: both the New Balance Grand Prix and Marathon Trials failed badly with younger viewers. In the 18-34 age group, just 69,000 watched the track meet (vs. 604,000 for the Pro Bowl) and 38,000 watched the marathon (vs. 513,000 for Duke-North Carolina men’s basketball).

Just behind Sunday’s track extravaganza was the lead-in, week-old exhibition skate replay from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which did very well at 1.084 million on NBC at 2 p.m., preceded by highlights of the ISU Four Continents Championships at noon, which did 828,000. Those numbers are up considerably from the usual 600-700,000 seen on Sundays against NFL regular-season and playoff games.

The U.S. Nationals in Columbus, despite being against the NFL conference championship games, drew strongly (all times Eastern):

25 Jan. (Thu.): 260,000 for the Pairs Short Program (USA: 2 p.m.)
25 Jan. (Thu.): 216,000 for the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance (USA: 5 p.m.)
26 Jan. (Fri.): 222,000 for the men’s Short Program (USA: 4 p.m.)
26 Jan. (Fri.): 2.207 million for the women’s Free Skate (NBC: 8 p.m.)
27 Jan. (Sat.): 1.071 million for the Ice Dance Free Dance (NBC: 2:30 p.m.)
27 Jan. (Sat.): 455,000 for the Pairs Free Skate (USA: 8 p.m.)
28 Jan. (Sun.): 764,000 for the men’s Free Skate (NBC: 3 p.m.)

The USA Swimming Tyr Pro Swim Series highlights from Knoxville that aired on Sunday (28th) at 2 p.m. on NBC drew 499,000.

The Australian Open tennis finals suffered from the time difference to Melbourne. The women’s final on Saturday (27; Australian time) was listed with a 3:30 a.m. Eastern start time by Nielsen and drew 338,000 on ESPN and then 184,000 on ESPN on an 8 a.m. replay. A third showing on the Tennis Channel at 11 a.m. Eastern had 111,000 viewing.

Sunday’s men’s final was also at 3:30 a.m. Eastern and drew 476,000 and then 256,000 for an 8:30 a.m. Eastern replay on ESPN2.

2.
French financial prosecutors looking at Estanguet pay

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet, 45, the three-time Olympic canoeing gold medalist who has been a popular figure at the head of the organizing committee’s work since its formation in 2017, is reported to be under investigation by the French financial prosecutors, the Parquet national financier (PNF).

An inquiry was apparently started last week, with Agence France Presse reporting that “Estanguet received annual remuneration of 270,000 euros gross until 2020, according to figures communicated by [Paris 2024] in 2018.” (€270,000 is about $290,417 U.S.)

Stories last year explained that Estanguet does not draw a salary as a Paris 2024 employee, but has his pay channeled through his company, a common procedure. In the context of the FNP, however, it was reported that “The arrangement is to avoid a salary cap imposed on charities with the same status as the organising committee.”

The FNP has been examining Paris 2024 contracts, looking for favoritism or overpayments, but have so far had no impact on the continuing work of the organizing committee. The Paris 2024 compliance director said it had not been contacted on the matter by the FNP.

3.
Five more world leads at the Copernius Cup in Poland

The suddenly-hot indoor track & field season continued on Tuesday with the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun (POL), most of all for Poland’s 2019 World women’s 60 m champ, Ewa Swoboda.

She ran a world-leading 7.01 to edge Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, who scored a national record at 7.02, to highlight five world leads at the meet:

Men/3,000 m: 7:25.82, Selemon Barega (ETH)
Men/Triple Jump: 17.61 m (57-9 1/2), Andy Diaz (ITA)
Women/800 m: 1:57.86, Habitam Alemu (ETH)
Women/1,500 m: 3:55.28, Freweyni Hailu (ETH)

Barega, the Tokyo Olympic 10,000 m champ in 2021, held off countryman Getnet Wale in the 3,000 m, and moved to no. 5 all-time. Wale was second in 7:26.73, the no. 9 performance ever, but slower than his 7:24.98 best from 2021.

Former Cuban Diaz got a lifetime indoor best in the triple jump on his second try, then retired, winning by almost two feet.

Also impressive, but short of a world lead was Ethiopia’s two-time Worlds Indoor gold medalist Samuel Tefera, who won a fast 1,500 m in 3:34.61. That’s no. 5 on the world indoor list for 2024, but just barely ahead of countryman Biniam Mehary, 17, second in 3:34.83, setting a World Junior Record indoors. Remember that name this summer.

The women’s world leads in the distances also came from Ethiopia, with Tokyo Olympic finalist Habitam Alemu taking the women’s 800 m all alone at the finish in 1:57.86, an indoor best for her. The 1,500 m was tighter, with Freweyni Hailu flying into the lead with just 100 m left to win in 3:55.28 with Diribe Welteji (3:55.47), Hirut Meshesha (3:56.47) and Tigist Girma (3:58.79) completing an 1-2-3-4 Ethiopian sweep.

How fast was this race? Hailu and Welteji moved to nos. 3-4-5 all-time indoors, with the fourth, fifth and seventh-fastest races ever. Girma is now no. 9 all-time indoor with her fourth-place finish.

Coming on Saturday is another World Indoor Tour Gold meet, the Hauts de France in Lievin and then the Millrose Games in New York on Sunday.

4.
Ticket packages and prices posted for Olympic Track Trials

With the Olympic Marathon Trials concluded, the track & field meet is coming next, at Hayward Field in Eugene, from 21-30 June. The TrackTown USA organizers have posted the seating chart and pricing for all-session tickets that will go on sale beginning on 20 February 2024.

Five seating zones have been identified, with pricing:

Zone 1: $995 for all sessions ~ finish line area
Zone 2: $855 ~ home straight
Zone 3: $725 ~ first curve to 1,500 m start
Zone 4: $495 ~ backstraight
Zone 5: $395 ~ second turn

No added seating is shown, so the facility capacity should be 12,650, with 12 sections being held out of this first sale. These are expected to be used for athletes, officials, sponsors and media. The map notes that “Order processing fees will be added to the cost of each ticket. Customers are limited to purchasing eight ticket packages.”

Comparisons with the Olympic Trials in 2021 are difficult due to Covid restrictions that impacted pricing then, but the combined cost of individual tickets for Zone 1 each day in 2021 – eight days in all – was $1,130 not including fees. That went down to $1,030 for Zone 2 and finally to $440 for Zone 7. There will be fewer zones for 2022 (nine days) thanks in part to the passing of the pandemic.

5.
San Diego looking to expand World Road Champs in ‘25

What was expected to be a brilliant introduction to the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga (LAT) last October had to be condensed to a single-day event over worries about impacts from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There are no such concerns today over the second edition, to be held in and around Balboa Park in San Diego, California in 2025, with plans now underway to expand the concept very substantially:

● A three-day event has been approved for 26-28 September 2025, less than one week after the 21 September conclusion of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN).

● The three-event program from Riga will be maintained: men’s and women’s mile, 5 km and Half Marathon, with a projected $321,000 in prize money.

● But mass-participation races are expected to draw 50,000 runners to the starting lines in San Diego, which has a fabled history as the birthplace of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. Goals for the mile are for 7,500-10,000 entrants, another 9-12,500 for the 5 km and 25-35,000 for the Half.

● The road mile will be staged as a series, starting at 10-minute intervals, from age-group up to Masters and finishing with the World Championship races. Same for the 5 km program, but the Half will be run as a single event, with timed waves following the Worlds races, which will start first.

● The Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series format will be used, with live bands at every mile, cheerleaders at every mile, themed water stations, and a headline-performer concert at the post-race party every day.

Veteran organizer Tracy Sundlun, who co-founded the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, estimates the event budget at about $8.3 million, coming from registration fees for the mass-participation events and from sponsorships.

But the plan moves well beyond the road running components and is expected to include a free-entry children’s program for up to 10,000 kids – coordinated with area schools – and a showcase for the usually-ignored race walkers. The plan is to offer separate races in all three distances for race walking and to offer prize money and travel assistance that will allow these races to be certified as World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold Label events.

This could be a pivot point for race walking in the U.S., especially if these events are continued as a legacy program. San Diego and environs has been a center for walking and has hosted at least one USA Track & Field National Championship for the past 11 years. The total economic impact of the 2025 program could approach $100 million.

Observed: This event has the potential to morph into a major annual U.S. running festival beginning in 2026. If the 2025 World Roads is successful and supported by the San Diego running (and walking) community as well as local business, it is not hard to see this kind of event being held annually, possibly with multiple USA Track & Field national championships in running and walking, or the start of a new tradition, just as marathons in Boston, New York and Chicago got going and became annual attractions on their own.

There’s a long way to go before then, but the potential is there and with Sundlun and others who have developed high-profile programs before, the opportunity is too good to pass up.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● Day five of the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT), and the expected Chinese domination in the Olympic diving events, this time with a 40-plus-point win for their “teen team” in the women’s 10 m Synchro.

The amazing Hongchan Quan – still just 16 – and Yuxi Chen (18) went 1-2 in the women’s 10 m Platform final on Monday and teamed up to win their third straight 10 m Synchro Worlds gold together over the last three years. They scored 362.22 points vs. 320.70 for North Koreans Jin-mi Jo and Mi-rae Kim; Kim won her third career Worlds medal and her first since 2017! Britain’s Andrea Splendolini-Sirieix – the 10 m Platform bronze winner – got a second medal in tandem with Lois Toulson, after finishing second together in 2023.

Americans Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell, the Tokyo Olympic silver winner, finished eighth at 271.26.

Canada’s Jacqueline Simoneau took the women’s Solo Free routine gold, after finishing second in the Solo Technical. She scored 264.8207 to 253.2833 for Solo Technical winner Evangelia Platanioti (GRE), with Belarusian “neutral” Vasilina Khandoshka third (245.1042).

China won the Team Technical routine gold at 299.8712, well ahead of Spain (275.8925) and Japan (275.8787). The U.S. ended up fourth at 266.9333.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The IOC noted that with two years to go – the opening will be on 6 February 2026 – its Olympic Solidarity program is now supporting 229 Olympic scholarship holders and 57 National Olympic Committees. What does that mean:

“Scholarship-holders receive a monthly grant to contribute to their qualification efforts, which can help alleviate the financial strain of pursuing their sporting dreams.”

The IOC says that many more scholarships are expected to be awarded in advance of the Milan-Cortina Games.

● European Games 2027 ● Following a meeting of the European Olympic Committees Executive Committee in Madrid (ESP), President Spyros Capralos (GRE) noted the candidature of Istanbul (TUR) for the European Games in 2027:

“It is a sign of the standing of the European Games and the success of last year’s event that a city such as Istanbul are prepared to host the fourth edition in 2027.

“In today’s world, it is very difficult to attract candidates to organise multisport events, but Istanbul have demonstrated that they have the infrastructure required to host the Games and would welcome the benefits that it would bring to the city. We look forward to visiting Istanbul for further discussions.”

The 2023 European Games were successfully held in Krakow-Malopolska (POL) last year, but no successor host has been named.

● Alpine Skiing ● When money is tight, is it better to show some of a competition, or none?

That’s the dilemma that the French skiing federation found itself in for the recent World Junior Championships in alpine skiing. But it didn’t turn out well per the FIS statement:

“After the recently concluded Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in France, several athletes and fans commented on the lack of gender balance in the available livestreams offered as only the men’s slalom and giant slalom were broadcast, while the women’s events from the same disciplines were not aired.

“FIS acknowledges that livestreaming only the men’s slalom and giant slalom at the Alpine Junior World Ski Championships is not in line with the FIS values of equal opportunity and gender equality. FIS should have insisted on the same broadcast exposure for the women’s competitions, and we are taking the feedback we have received to heart. We will focus on promoting all FIS competitions and FIS athletes equally in the future to avoid any kind of similar situation in the future.”

The French federation statement explained that the events were held at different sites and there was insufficient funds to cover broadcasting of all of the events.

Observed: There are questions raised by all this: where was FIS in all of this, since it was their championship? Is it better not to show anything? And, the wisdom of holding events in as few venues as possible – in order to save money – continues to be a winning concept for sporting events of all kinds.

● Weightlifting ● North Korea is dominating the Asian Championships in Tashkent (UZB), winning the first eight classes in a row and setting world records along the way. But without the possibility to go to Paris this summer.

Having re-entered competition too late in the qualifying cycle to reach Olympic qualification, the PRK lifters are re-writing the record books instead. In Tashkent so far, three new women’s world marks for total weight lifted:

Women/45 kg: 192 kg total, Hyon-sim Won (PRK)
Women/49 kg: 220 kg total, Song-gum Ri (PRK)
Women/55 kg: 227 kg total, Hyon-gyong Kang (PRK)

The competition continues through the 10th.

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TSX REPORT: Italy confirms Cortina sliding center build; Valieva decision may not be published; why did NBC keep Kara Goucher quiet?

Olympic Speed Skating gold medalist Erin Jackson of the U.S. (Photo: International Skating Union)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Contract signed to build Cortina sliding track
2. RUSADA to ask for Valieva decision to stay confidential
3. Marathon Trials a success, but why did NBC silence Goucher?
4. New Zealand case authorizes athlete collective bargaining
5. Doping-encouraged event gets billionaire backing

● Against the advice of the International Olympic Committee, the Italian government confirmed the nearly-$88 million contract to build a sliding track in Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The national finance minister suggested putting up a countdown clock to remind everyone of the tight timeline.

● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency announced that it may not allow publication of the actual decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel in the Kamila Valieva doping case. That’s their right under the Court of Arbitration rules; however, an appeal may also be made to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

● The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials were a success in Orlando on Saturday, with the area expecting a $12-15 million tourism boost. The races were dramatic, but NBC’s sound engineers did no favors for analyst Kara Goucher, whose voice was drowned out again and again by inflated crowd noise. What’s that about? Men’s third-placer Leonard Korir looks good for eventual Paris qualification, but that won’t be settled until May.

● In New Zealand, an athlete collective of cyclists and rowers formed a “union” under national law and demanded collective bargaining with High Performance Sport New Zealand for better funding and conditions. An Employment Relations Authority judge agreed that collective bargaining should be allowed, but with no requirement that any agreement be made. The ruling may be appealed.

● The doping-encouraged “Enhanced Games” idea has received some funding, and is still in the planning stages for mid-2025 at a U.S. location. It has been called dangerous, but the founder says it’s simply a way to free up science.

World Championships: Aquatics (2: China 1-2 in women 10 m diving, and sweeps two in artistic) ●

Panorama: Alpine Skiing (Italian star Goggia crashes, has surgery) = Archery (Ellison, Kroppen win World Indoor Series in Vegas) = Athletics (world leaders by McRae, Pinnock, Alfred) = Basketball (USA Basketball named women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament team) = Cricket (men’s ICC U-19 World Cup proceeding without more protest as South Africa reaches semis) = Ice Hockey (Hockey Canada suspends entire 2018 men’s World Junior team over assault allegations against five) = Modern Pentathlon (French federation loses €600,000 in bank cyber-assault) = Ski Mountaineering (France’s Harrop sweeps women’s World Cup races) = Speed Skating (Jackson wins ISU World Cup 500 m title) ●

1.
Contract signed to build Cortina sliding track

The Italian governmental agency responsible for the construction related to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games – the Societa Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 SpA – known as SIMICO, confirmed the contract with Para-based construction Impresa Pizzarotti & C. on Friday (3).

Now the race begins to get the track built in Cortina d’Ampezzo, replacing the dismantled Eugenio Monti track built for the 1956 Winter Games. The Italian news agency ANSA reported (computer translation from the original Italian):

“[A]ccording to the contract, Pizzarotti will have 685 days to complete the work, therefore counting Saturdays and Sundays the construction should be completed by early January 2026, practically one month from the opening ceremony of Milan-Cortina. But in terms of construction times for the casing, however, there is another date with a red circle on the calendar: 15 March 2025. By that day the track must be ready for a first test, the one in which bobsleighs and sleds evaluate the dangerousness of the curves to then put any corrections into practice.”

The contract is for €81.6 million, or about $87.8 million U.S., with work to start on 19 February.

The International Olympic Committee has remained opposed to the project, preferring since the bid phase an existing track; its statement noted:

“The timelines set by the International Federations of these sports to homologate and run test events on any new or renovated track have to be respected.

“With this in mind, the IOC has strong concerns about the delivery of this project by the required deadline of March 2025, which is necessary to validate and homologate the track, as no sliding track has ever been completed in such a short timeframe. This concern is shared by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation and the International Luge Federation.

“Therefore, the IOC has asked the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee to prepare a plan B as contingency in case of any delays, to ensure bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions can be held during the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

“The new project for the sliding track in Cortina does not address these issues as the planned design does not include any viable sustainable use or legacy following the Games and does not deliver a venue that meets all technical requirements, increasing significantly cost and complexity for the organizing committee that will have to make up for the gaps.”

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation is also worried:

“[T]he IBSF raised its serious concerns on the tight construction timeline given the fact that the homologation of the sliding track has to take place in March 2025. As an international federation, the safety of athletes, officials and spectators has the highest priority, followed by a sustainable legacy plan for the use of the sliding center after the Olympic Winter Games. …

“The IBSF fully supports the IOC´s request to the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee to prepare a plan B as a contingency in case of any delays. Therefore, it appreciates the decision of the Board of Directors of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation Board, to give the CEO of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee the mandate to continue the work of negotiating a possible plan B.”

And there is worry in Italy, too, with national Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti joking – he said he was joking – that:

“The Olympics don’t come every two years, they’re coming in 2026 and then they won’t come again, and I’m beginning to regret backing it, because I feel the responsibility.”

He added, more seriously:

“I want to put a nice electronic board at the entrance to Valtellina that indicates how many days are left to realize the sense of urgency needed.

“I read about the bobsled track, little by little things are moving. The date is that it can’t be moved, you have to run more and recover.”

2.
RUSADA to ask for Valieva decision to stay confidential

“RUSADA respects athletes’ rights and in this case we resorted to all possible means to protect confidential information regarding our client.

“We have received the reasoning behind the [Court of Arbitration for Sport] decision and our lawyers are already examining it. It is very likely that we will ask CAS to keep confidential this decision’s reasoning section.”

That statement from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency on Friday signals that the detailed, written decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Kamila Valieva doping appeal case, decided in favor of the World Anti-Doping Agency, will not be publicly released for some time, if ever.

Following the announcement of the CAS arbitration decision on 29 January, the Court of Arbitration explained the process for release of the written opinion:

“The Arbitral Award issued by the CAS Panel is currently subject to a confidentiality review meaning that the parties might request that the Arbitral Award, or certain information contained in it, remain confidential.

“For this reason, the Arbitral Award was not immediately published on the CAS website.

“The review will take a few days to complete but it is possible that the award, either redacted or in its entirety, might be published by the end of next week.”

One issue in the release of the decision is that Valieva was 15 at the time of the doping incident, on 21 December 2021, and is still a minor, aged 17. The World Anti-Doping Code has protections for minors as to the release of information about doping incidents, but no restrictions on possible penalties, as Valieva was given a four-year ban for the use of Trimetazidine, which showed up in her December 2021 test.

Further, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not a formal court in the governmental sense, but an arbitration program between the involved parties, all of which can ask for some or all of a decision not to be released. That appears to be the situation now, but the decision could be released at a later time if the objecting party relents.

And there is a possible appeal. French attorney Andrea Pinna said in a statement:

“I confirm that my law firm is representing Kamila Valieva. We are not commenting at this time; the athlete’s legal team is reviewing the decision, which is over 130 pages long, before commenting and deciding on further action, which may indeed include challenging its validity in the Swiss Federal Court.”

3.
Marathon Trials a success, but why did NBC silence Goucher?

The coverage was all about the race and that’s the way it should be for a signature event like Saturday’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida.

The skies were sunny, the weather was temperate enough not to be an overriding factor and the loop course – a short, 2.2-mile opener and then three loops of eight miles each – made it possible for athletes to gauge the race and for the crowds around the finish to cheer as the race progressed.

There weren’t many spectators outside of the finishing straight on Rosalind Avenue, and the aerial shots of the race on NBC leads to an educated guess of perhaps 25,000 spectators out to see the Trials on Saturday morning.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer predicted a $12-15 million economic impact from not only the runners, but families, fans, news media and officials coming into town for the race, served by 1,500 race volunteers.

This was a success for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the Track Shack race directors, and after the tug-of-war on the starting time was settled, for USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee for its lack of drama away from the race itself.

For those watching NBC’s race coverage and wanting more, the second-screen Trials online leaderboard and race statistics presentation was superb: mile-by-mile splits, constant updates and clear, easy-to-read graphics. The only thing missing was a live blog – World Athletics has perfected this – for added comments such as drop-outs during the race, or updated weather. Maybe next time.

The television planning was excellent and there were all of the expected aerial shots – especially on Rosalind Avenue – and the on-course cameras and audio worked most of the time.

There was one major glitch, which seems to have spread like a virus on live sports coverage across all networks. Drowning out the announcers with potted-up crowd noise.

Except for the finish area, there wasn’t that much noise from fans on most of the eight-mile loop. And while play-by-play host Leigh Diffey (AUS) could be heard clearly, analyst – and 2007 Worlds 10,000 m silver medalist – Kara Goucher could not.

Goucher has a soft voice and was consistently muffled by amped-up crowd noise to the point where many of her comments were unintelligible. Maybe they were interesting, maybe they weren’t important, but who could tell? If Goucher’s comments couldn’t be heard, why was she on the broadcast to begin with?

Why can’t NBC give her more respect?

And the same thing happened on Sunday at the New Balance Grand Prix indoor meet, especially with Lewis Johnson trying to do interviews against the very loud public address system at The Track at New Balance. But in one interview, the sound engineer was on it and potted down the background noise to allow Johnson to get a few words out of Ethiopian star Gudaf Tsegay after the women’s 1,500 m. It is possible.

The races were great, and there was good coverage where possible of some of the drop-outs, with Diffey also adding information as he got it. Marathon debutante Paul Chelimo, the twice Olympic medalist at 5,000 m, did not finish; neither did Scott Fauble, expected to contend for the Olympic team, or Abdi Abdirahman, the five-time Olympian and oldest in the field at 47.

On the women’s side, debutante Jenny Simpson did not finish. Neither did defending champ Aliphine Tuliamuk, and contenders Keira D’Amato and Betsy Saina. Des Linden, 40, running in her fifth Olympic Trials, finished 11th, after 13th in 2008, then second, second and fourth in 2012-16-20. Sara Hall, also 40, was competing in her eighth Olympic Trials – her third marathon to go with five track Trials – finished a very creditable fifth.

One of the remaining mysteries following the Trials was what will happen to third–placer Leonard Korir, 37, who moved up from fourth in 2020, but is not yet confirmed for Paris. His 2:09:57 time helped his cause and ranks about 68th on the World Athletics Olympic protocol list for Paris qualification, with 80 runners (but not more than three per country) to be finally confirmed in early May.

4.
New Zealand case authorizes athlete collective bargaining

An interesting administrative labor ruling in New Zealand has held that an athlete “union” as defined under New Zealand law, has the right to ask for collective bargaining talks with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ).

An action was brought in 2022 by an athlete group of New Zealand cyclists and rowers, calling themselves The Athletes Cooperative, Inc. (TAC) and asking for collective bargaining with High Performance Sport NZ, which leads the country’s elite-performance programs for international competition.

HPSNZ refused to enter into collective bargaining with The Athletes Cooperative, noting that such efforts were done with unions on behalf of employees, and the athletes were individual contractors and not employees. The matter was escalated to the Employment Relations Authority, which heard the matter over the past year, with an opinion issued by Authority member Rowan Anderson on 26 January 2024.

It’s important to note that the decision was made strictly based on New Zealand law, and may well be appealed by HPSNZ. Anderson’s review of the situation and application of the Employment Relations Act 2000 showed an expansive view of the law and a willingness to stretch a bit beyond its written outlines.

Essentially, The Athletes Cooperative insisted that as a group of individuals which are involved with the HPSNZ for funding and support, it has the right to come together and under New Zealand law, can ask for collective bargaining, even though none of them are HPSNZ employees. HPSNZ said no.

Anderson noted very specifically that there is a wide chasm between the initiation of collective bargaining talks and an agreement that could be offered to union members for ratification. In fact, he pointed out that even if the “union members” do not want to have the union engage in collective bargaining, the union itself can still enter talks, and anything they come up with can be refuted later in an attempt at ratification.

He also saw no problem with a “union” which had no employees going ahead with talks with a prospective employer. However, he also explained that simply starting collective bargaining talks does not mean there would be any agreement:

“Section 33(1) of the Act, for example, requires the parties to conclude a collective agreement unless there is a genuine reason, based on reasonable grounds, not to. Here, there may well objectively be a genuine reason, based on reasonable grounds, why the parties might not conclude a collective agreement. However, that does not in my view suggest that bargaining cannot be commenced. …

“Here, the issue is squarely in relation to employment rather than independent contracting. TAC is seeking to bargain for a collective agreement. Such bargaining clearly applies to employment, as opposed independent contracting arrangements. That does not in my view preclude a union seeking to initiate bargaining in relation to a collective agreement that, if concluded, would set terms and conditions of employment for potential future employees.”

Anderson’s liberal view of the law is likely to be challenged by HPSNZ, and is grounded specifically in New Zealand law. But the case is a fascinating milestone for those who think that collective bargaining by athletes will somehow settle questions such as where the money for athlete demands is supposed to come from.

5.
Doping-encouraged event gets billionaire backing

The “Enhanced Games” is a doping-friendly concept in which amped-up athletes on whatever drugs they can get compete to break world records in events people are supposed to care about.

Australian attorney Aron D’Souza led the fight by German-born PayPal founder Peter Thiel against Gawker Media in the Hulk Hogan defamation matter, and D’Souza confirmed last week that Thiel and other investors are supporting his “Enhanced Games” concept slated to debut in mid-2025.

In an interview with the European-business-focused Sifted Magazine, D’Souza explained:

“‘The Olympic Games are this ancient model reinvented by a colonialist aristocrat in 1896 for the Victorian world,’ he tells Sifted. ‘We need to design a Games for social media and broadcast television.”

“That means dispensing with the events people ‘aren’t interested in,’ like badminton, curling and long distance running. Team sports, which require more competitors and more ‘complex’ logistics, are also out.

“Instead, the Enhanced Games will focus on a limited number of single-person events in the areas of track and field, swimming, gymnastics, combat and weightlifting.

“‘Our core focus is breaking world records,’ says D’Souza. ‘We only want athletes who have the potential to break world records in sports that actually matter. And so by having a much narrower set [of events], we can deliver much more cost effectively.’”

The event would be held annually in the U.S., with qualifying events in Australia, Britain and India.

Crazy? Dangerous? Probably, but it appears D’Souza may get enough money to be able to try out his vision at least once.

It’s another headache-in-the-making for the Olympic Movement.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● At the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT), Chinese power was on display in the women’s 10 m Platform final with a 1-2 finish as Hongchan Quan and Yuxi Chen both finished more than 50 points ahead of the bronze medalist.

Quan came in as the Tokyo 2020 gold medalist and had won 2022 and 2023 Worlds golds in the 10 m Synchro event. This time, she moved up from individual silvers in 2022 and 2023 and won by improving in each round, finishing at 436.25 to win in the final.

Three-time defending champ Chen, the Tokyo silver winner and 2022-23 Worlds winner, led the prelims (435.20) and semis (421.85) and managed 427.80 points in the final, but had to settle for her first Worlds silver after five golds across the last three Worlds.

Third was Britain’s Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix at 377.10. Katrina Young was the top American, in 20th, and did not advance to the semifinals.

In Artistic Swimming, China won the women’s Duet Technical with 266.084 points to 259.5601 for Great Britain and 258.0333 for Spain, and China’s Shuncheng Yang took the men’s Solo Technical at 246.4766 over veteran duets star Giorgio Minisini (ITA: 245.3166) and Colombian Gustavo Sanchez (231.0000). American Kenneth Gaudet was seventh (215.4333).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● Another major star crashes out, as Italy’s Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic Downhill gold medalist, broke two bones in her right leg Monday during a Giant Slalom training run in Ponte di Legno, Italy and was taken to a Milan hospital for immediate surgery.

Goggia had won two FIS World Cup races this season and was leading the Downhill discipline, but is now out for the rest of the season. She had a metal rod attached with seven screws to begin repairing her tibia and malleolus bones. “I’ll come back this time, too,” she said before the operation.

This is only the latest crash for Goggia, who has suffered significant injuries to both legs, knees and a hand and arm since 2010, but has come back each time.

This latest injury follows a series of crashes by skiing stars this season, including American star Mikaela Shiffrin, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR), Petra Vlhova (SVK), Alexis Pinturault (FRA) and Swiss Corinne Suter and Wendy Holdener.

● Archery ● Americans made the finals in the Recurve section of the Indoor World Series Final at the Vegas Shoot on Saturday, but Brady Ellison was the one to strike gold. The three-time Olympic medalist defeated Brazil’s 2021 Worlds runner-up, Marcus D’Almeida, 6-2 in the final.

Tokyo Team bronze winner Michelle Kroppen (GER) took the women’s final with a 6-4 win against American Casey Kaufhold, the 2021 Worlds silver winner. The winners received prize money of CHF 5,000, with CHF 2,500 for second.

● Athletics ● A world-leading mark in the men’s 400 m from Alabama senior Khaleb McRae, at 45.02 at the high altitude of Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday. It’s a lifetime best, indoor or out, for the SEC sixth-placer in 2023.

Wayne Pinnock (JAM), the 2023 Worlds silver medalist, claimed the men’s long jump world lead jumping for Arkansas, at 8.34 m (27-4 1/2).

Also at the New Mexico Classic were world-leading sprints for St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred at 7.04 for 60 m (equals world lead) and 22.16 for the 200 m.

● Basketball ● USA Basketball announced its Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament roster for the 8-11 February tournament in Belgium, including seven prior Olympians:

● Ariel Atkins (2020)
● Napheesa Collier (2020)
● Jewell Loyd (2020)
● Kelsey Plum (2020-3×3)
● Breanna Stewart (2016-20)
● Diana Taurasi (2004-08-12-16-20)
● Jackie Young (2020-3×3)

In addition, Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas from the gold-medalist 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup squad are on the team. Among those not chosen was Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2016 and 2020.

The Olympic Team roster for Paris, however, has yet to be finalized.

● Cricket ● Protests against the South African team and former captain David Teeger for his pro-Israel comments last October have cooled at the ICC men’s U-19 World Cup being played in South Africa.

Teeger and his RSA team won two of their three group games and moved on to the second “Super 6″ round, defeating Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka to make it to the semis. The only notable protest was in their opener. They will face undefeated India (5-0) in the first semi on Tuesday while Australia (4-0) and Pakistan (5-0) will play Thursday, with the final on Sunday.

Cricket (T20) will be included in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

● Ice Hockey ● A major scandal over sexual assault charges has erupted in Canada, with all 22 members of the Canadian team at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships suspended by Hockey Canada on Monday:

“Pending the completion of the appeal process, all players from the 2018 National Junior Team remain suspended by Hockey Canada, and are ineligible to play, coach, officiate or volunteer with Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.”

Five players from that team – Carter Hart, now of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames and former NHL player Alex Formenton – were charged with sexual assault over a 19 June 2018 incident alleged to have taken place in London, Ontario.

According to the CBC:

“The initial police investigation began shortly after the June 2018 complaint and ended without charges in 2019. It was reopened in 2022 by [London Police Chief Thai] Truong‘s predecessor, then Chief Steve Williams, in response to public outrage following a lawsuit that Hockey Canada settled for $3.5 million.”

The four current NHL players are on paid leave from their teams. Truong explained that the re-opening of the case came from a review:

“This review involved re-examining initial investigative steps, gathering additional evidence and obtaining new information. As a result, we have found sufficient steps to charge five adult males with sexual assault.”

Det. Sgt. Katherine Dann added:

“Additional witnesses were spoken to and we collected more evidence. Some of this information was not available when the investigation concluded in 2018. This was one investigation, not two.”

The Hockey Canada statement further explained:

“In November 2023, it was announced that a notice of appeal was filed in response to the final adjudicative report by an independent panel that held a hearing with a view to determine whether certain members of the 2018 National Junior Team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, and if so, what sanctions should be imposed against those players.”

Hockey Canada President Katherine Henderson offered an apology:

“Hockey Canada recognizes that in the past we have been too slow to act and that in order to deliver the meaningful change that Canadians expect of us, we must work diligently and urgently to ensure that we are putting in place the necessary measures to regain their trust, and provide all participants with a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment on and off the ice.”

● Modern Pentathlon ● Bad news for the French Modern Pentathlon federation, which had €600,000 stolen (~$644,571 U.S.) in a hacking attack in December. Said federation head Joel Bouzou, a 1984 Olympic Team bronze medalist:

“It was about the reserves accumulated and which went up in smoke, it is unacceptable. This poses a huge problem for us.”

He told the French all-sport newspaper L’Equipe:

“We hope to recover money following this investigation and that those responsible will be arrested and tried. …

“And we have a problem with this bank, that’s clear. We are in intense discussion with this bank, which is being pushed a little to recognize that it is not well-protected… An investigation is underway. But this will not be resolved in a polite manner.”

Bouzou indicated that the stolen funds were primarily for future development, not for the preparation athletes for Paris 2024:

“We wanted to use this money to purchase obstacles for the new discipline which will replace the riding event in the pentathlon during the future Olympiad. This rather impacts our long-term development since we no longer have these bottom lines.”

● Ski Mountaineering ● French star Emily Harrop had a weekend to remember at the fourth ISMF World Cup of the season, in Villars-sur-Ollon (SUI), taking both the Sprint and the Individual race wins.

Thought of as a Sprint star until a breakthrough Individual Race win in April 2023, Harrop won Friday’s Sprint in 3:21.3, ahead of Marianne Fatton (SUI: 3:09.8) and French teammate Celia Perillat-Pessey (3:26.6). Then Harrop returned on Sunday for her 14th career World Cup gold and third in an Individual Race in 1:25:23.0, beating Italy’s Alba de Silvestro (1:26:19.9) and reigning World Champion Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (FRA: 1:27:31.5).

Switzerland swept the men’s races, with 21-year-old Robin Bussard winning his first World Cup gold in the Sprint (2:31.3) over France’s 2023 Worlds silver winner Thibault Anselmet (2:34.0), and World Champion Remi Bonnet taking the Individual Race in 1:10:11.8, with Anselmet second again, in 1:12:32.8.

● Speed Skating ● With the close of the sixth and final ISU World Cup on Sunday in Quebec City, the seasonal titles were decided, at 500-1,000-1,500-Distances and Mass Start.

Men:
The 500 m went to Wataru Morishige (JPN: 483), with four wins in 10 races, over Laurent Debreuil (CAN: 466), with American Jordan Stolz fourth. Zhongyan Ning (CHN: 319) scored points in all seven 1,000 m races to win over Stolz (316 in six races) and in all six races to win the 1,500 m title (292) over Stolz (288 in five races).

The Distance title was a clear win for Davide Ghiotto (ITA: 324) ahead of Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN: 291), and teammate Andrea Giovannini won the tight Mass Start race, 274-269 vs. Korean Jae-won Chung.

The U.S. won two of three races to take the Team Pursuit title (168 points).

Women:
American Olympic champ Erin Jackson scored in all 10 events and won the 500 m crown at 522 points to 514 for Min-sun Kim (KOR). Teammate Kimi Goetz had a career year and finished fourth (382), despite skipping the last event in Quebec.

At 1,000 m, Japanese star Miho Takagi won four races out of seven and was second twice for 348 points, ahead of Americans Goetz (307) and Brittany Bowe (297). Takagi also won the 1,500 m seasonal title at 300, winning the five races she entered; Bowe finished fifth and Goetz was 10th.

Norway’s Ragne Wiklund won three of the six Distance races and won with 300 points, with Czech star Marina Sabilkova second at 260. Canada’s Valerie Maltais won the Mass Start title at 263, just ahead of teammate Ivanie Blondin (257), with American Mia Manganello fourth (248). Japan won the Team Pursuit title (174), with the U.S. fourth.

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TSX REPORT: Mantz, Young, O’Keeffe star at marathon trials; 2026 FIFA World Cup to start in Mexico, end in Jersey; NHL in for 2026 Winter Games

Ukraine's list of Russians and Belarusians who have supported the war against Ukraine (Screenshot of the computer translation from Ukrainian).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Mantz and Young, O’Keeffe dominate U.S. marathon trials
2. FIFA World Cup 2026 to open in Mexico, finish in New Jersey
3. NHL players will return to Olympic Winter Games in 2026
4. Paris 2024 starts quick ticket releases to finish sales
5. Ukraine posts own list of “non-neutral” Russian athletes

● A compelling U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando went to form in the men’s race, with time leaders Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finish 1-2 and qualifying for Paris 2024. The women’s race was a shocker as first-time marathoner Fiona O’Keeffe ran away with the race in a Trials record of 2:22:10, ahead of time leader Emily Sisson, a clear second and then surprise third-placer Dakotah Lindwurm.

● FIFA announced the match schedule for the massive, expanded 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., to begin at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and finish at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Dallas’s AT&T Stadium will host the most matches with nine and will host one semifinal; Atlanta will have the other semi and Miami will host the third-place match.

● The National Hockey League, NHL Players Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation announced that an agreement was reached for NHL player participation in the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Winter Games, with the IIHF underwriting the major costs. NHL players did not play at the 2018 or 2022 Winter Games.

● Paris 2024 announced the first of a series of new ticket releases, this time to start on 8 February, in all sports, with some only offering a few new tickets. The statement noted that about eight of the 10 million Olympic tickets available have been sold so far.

● The Ukrainian government posted a massive list of Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches and officials which it claims are not “neutrals” by the definition of the International Olympic Committee. Each name comes with a description of offenses; it’s a new element for the IOC’s “neutrality” authenticators to consider in advance of Paris 2024.

World Championships: Aquatics (3: Doha Worlds begin, as stars van Rouwendaal and Rasovszky take open-water titles) = Sailing (Israel’s Kantor and Italy’s Renna pull IQFoil upsets) ●

Panorama: Alpine Skiing (Yule posts historic worst-to-first win in Chamonix) = Athletics (3: 10 world leads at New Balance Grand Prix; Bol opens at 49.69 in Metz; Saruni hit for doping by ADAK) = Badminton (two for the home team at Thailand Masters) = Bobsled & Skeleton (Germans go four-for-four in Sigulda) = Curling (Shuster and Peterson repeat as U.S. champs) = Cycling (Wollaston wins three, Babic two at Track Nations Cup I) = Figure Skating (Kagiyama and Chiba wins highlight Four Continents in Shanghai) = Freestyle Skiing (3: Ferreira and Fraser win weather-shortened Halfpipes; Kingsbury and Horishima, Giaccio and Anthony takes Moguls wins; Mobaerg and Thompson star in Ski Cross) = Judo (host France shines in Paris Grand Slam with six golds) = Luge (Germany wins Singles in Altenberg World Cup) = Nordic Combined (Norwegian sweeps all at Seefeld as Riiber gets career medals record) = Ski Jumping (Forfang, Seifriedsberger and Opseth surprise in Willingen) = Snowboard (2: Totsuka and Ono win weather-shortened Mammoth Halfpipes; Grondin wins twice in SnowCross) = Speed Skating (U.S.’s Stolz wins four in last World Cup stage) ●

1.
Mantz and Young, O’Keeffe dominate U.S. marathon trials

At long last, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was held in Orlando, Florida, under sunny conditions with starting temperatures just under 60 degrees when the men took off at 10:10 a.m.

In the end, the men’s race followed the script with the two favorites – Conner Mantz and Clayton Young – running comfortably to the finish, but women’s winner Fiona O’Keeffe stealing her race in a stunner.

A big men’s pack moved together through the first six miles, with Zach Panning in the lead, then shrank to 14 by the 8-mile mark, with all of the favorites comfortably situated. Panning, in his fourth career marathon with a 2:09:28 best from 2022 and 13th at the 2023 Worlds, was in the lead through the half in 1:04:07, with Teshome Mekonen beside and 10 now in contention.

Ethiopian-born Mekonen took over at 14 miles; he became eligible to run for the U.S. in December 2022 and was in his fifth career marathon, having finished 24th in Berlin last October. Panning took over again at 15 miles, with Mekonen and U.S. qualifying leader Mantz right with him and 10 still running together.

Now the grinding started. Four-time Olympian and Rio 2016 marathon bronze winner Galen Rupp fell off the pace at 17 miles as the lead group shrunk to seven. Mekonen fell off the back at 18 miles and 13-time U.S. national distance champ Leonard Korir was showing signs of struggle to stay with the five in front of him.

Now came the break. Panning led at 19 miles, after miles of 4:44, 4:52 and 4:53, that broke everyone except Mantz and training partner and no. 2 time qualifier Young. Elkanah Kibet and Andrew Colley were five and six seconds back, and if Panning could keep this pace, he would run faster than the Olympic qualifying time of 2:08:10 (which Mantz and Young had already done).

So the racing on the street and against the clock was set. Panning clocked 4:51 to mile 20, on 2:07:38 pace. The three leaders slowed to 4:59 to mile 21, but were now 16 seconds clear of the field. They slowed significantly at 22 miles, at 5:07, with Mantz taking over and then to 5:06 for Panning at 23, which would have him finish beyond the 2:08:10 qualifying mark.

Young and Mantz moved ahead at 24, with a 5:09 mile and Panning dropped to third, now 19 seconds back. He was still third by 24 seconds, but his shot at an Olympic qualifying time was gone.

The two favorites coming in – Mantz and Young – picked up the pace to 5:03 at 25 miles, with Panning third (a 5:28 mile), but losing ground rapidly to Kibet, now three seconds behind him. Young and Mantz cruised past 26 miles at 5:16, with Korir and Kibet now 3-4.

Mantz won at 2:09:05 with Young one second back, and finish-line temps right at 70 degrees (F). Those are the nos. 2-3 performances ever in a men’s Olympic Trials marathon.

Korir out-sprinted Kibet for third in 2:09:57 to 2:10:02, but well short of the Olympic qualifying time, although there are possibilities for later inclusion. Korir’s time is the ninth-fastest in Trials history.

Manta and Young were the clear favorites going in and they showed their class and earned their ticket to Paris.

The women’s race began at 10:20 a.m., and 14 were together through the first six miles, with 40-year-old Sara Hall, the Worlds fifth-placer from 2022, and former American Record holder Keira D’Amato taking turns in the lead. By eight miles, there were 13 in the lead pack and defending Trials champ Aliphine Tuliamuk had dropped to 24 seconds behind the leaders.

Marathon debutante O’Keeffe, the 2022 U.S. 10 Mile champ, took over at 10 miles, with the top 13 still bunched. Then Dakotah Lindwurm – in her 13th career marathon – grabbed the lead at 12 miles, and D’Amato edged to the front at 13. At the half, D’Amato, Lindwurm, O’Keeffe, Hall and Emily Durgin all crossed in 1:11:43 as temperatures were now in the mid-60s.

O’Keeffe popped back into the lead at 14, with the lead pack at 12. She remained there through mile 16, but suddenly D’Amato had dropped back, four seconds behind the lead pack of nine. Betsy Saina, 35, a Kenyan 10,000 m Olympian in 2016, but who transferred to the U.S. in 2021, was right in contention in her 11th career marathon. Lindwurm dropped back by the 17-mile mark, leaving seven in the lead group, on pace for a 2:23:13 finish.

Only five remained in contention by 18 miles, with O’Keeffe, American Record holder Emily Sisson, Hall, Saina and Durgin running together. Then Durgin dropped off the back at 19 as O’Keeffe – hardly a favorite to make the team – threw in a 5:22 mile to take a five-second lead at 19 miles.

And there was no let up. O’Keeffe hammered out a 5:20 mile and Sisson ran 5:25 to reach mile 20 in 1:48:57 and 1:49:07. Saina and Hall were at 1:49:20 and Durgin had caught up to them and now had a chance to make the team.

O’Keeffe kept pushing: 5:27 at mile 21, with now a 16-second lead in Sisson, and chaos behind them. Saina, Hall and Durgan all slowed to 5:47 miles and Caroline Rotich (5:36) and Lindwurm (5:39) moved in places 3-4! At 22 miles, O’Keeffe finished another 5:27 mile and had a 21-second lead on Sisson (5:32), with Lindwurm and 2015 Boston Marathon champ Rotich, 39, together, 35 seconds back and Hall chasing both, another nine seconds behind.

O’Keeffe stayed on the gas, running 5:21 to reach 23 miles with a 31-second lead on Sisson and looking unbeatable. Lindwurm and Rotich – who gained a U.S. affiliation only in October 2023 – were together at 3-4 and Hall was another 15 seconds down; Saina dropped out. O’Keeffe timed 5:23 to 24 miles, with Sisson cruising in second and Lindwurm and Rotich still together. Hall’s hopes had faded, now 28 seconds behind them.

Both O’Keeffe and Sisson punched hard to mile 25, running 5:09 and 5:10 and O’Keeffe maintained a 40-second lead in the race of her life. Lindwurm broke free of Rotich, running a 5:44 mile as Rotich faded to 5:55, and looked to be a solid third.

Sisson pressed, running a 5:15 miles to 5:22 for O’Keeffe to narrow the gap to 14 seconds by 26 miles, but O’Keeffe won going away in 2:22:10, moving her no. 10 all-time U.S. in her first race at the distance. It’s by far the fastest U.S. Olympic trials marathon ever, blasting Shalane Flanagan’s 2:25:38 from 2012.

Sisson was second at 2:22:42, her third-fastest ever, and Lindwurm, at 28, got third at 2:25:31, her third-fastest ever to get a trip to Paris. Jessica McClain passed the fading Rotich and Hall and got fourth (2:25:46), with Hall fifth at 2:26:06 and Rotich sixth at 2:26:10.

The top three times were the three-fastest in U.S. marathon trials history and this race now has seven of the all-time top 10.

There was $600,000 in prize money in this race, with the top 10 places receiving $80,000, $65,000, $55,000, $25,000, $20,000, $15,000, $13,000, $11,000, $9,000 and $7,000.

Much more to unpack from this race, but it was a considerable success for Mantz, Young and the stunning O’Keeffe, and after all the worries about weather, appeared to run smoothly with finish temperatures just about 70 at the end.

2.
FIFA World Cup 2026 to open in Mexico, finish in New Jersey

FIFA announced the playing schedule for the mammoth, 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday, distributing the 104 matches between the host countries Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The matches were distributed among the 16 stadia:

Canada (13 matches):
● 6: Toronto (BMO Field): 5 group stage, Round of 32
● 7: Vancouver (BC Place): 5 group stage, R32, R16

Mexico (13 matches):
● 4: Guadalajara (Estadio Akron/Zapopan): 4 group stage
● 5: Mexico City (Estadio Azteca): 3 group stage, R32, R16
● 4: Monterrey (Estadio BBVA/Guadalupe): 3 group stage, R32

U.S. (78 matches):
● 8: Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium): 5 group stage, R32, R16, SF
● 7: Boston (Gillette Stadium/Foxborough): 5 group stage, R32, QF
● 9: Dallas (AT&T Stadium/Arlington): 5 group stage, R32x2, R16, SF
● 7: Houston (NRG Stadium): 5 group stage, R32, R16
● 6: Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium): 4 group stage, R32, QF
● 8: Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium/Inglewood): 5 group stage, R32x2, QF
● 7: Miami (Hard Rock Stadium/Miami Gardens): 4 group stage, R32, QF, 3rd
● 8: New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium/E. Rutherford): 5 group, R32, R16, Final
● 6: Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field): 5 group stage, R16
● 6: San Francisco area (Levi’s Stadium/Santa Clara): 5 group stage, R32
● 6: Seattle (Lumen Field): 4 group stage, R32, R16

The opening match will be played in Mexico City, with the climax of the tournament all in U.S. stadia:

Quarterfinals: Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami
Semifinals: Atlanta, Dallas
Third-place: Miami
Final: New York/New Jersey

Dallas’s AT&T Stadium received the most matches at nine; MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was assigned eight matches, but has a gap of 13 days between a Round of 16 match and the final for preparation.

FIFA noted in its announcement:

“The tournament’s innovative match schedule will serve to minimise travel for teams and fans alike, while the number of rest days between fixtures will be maximised. Having been drawn up in consultation with key stakeholders, including national-team coaches and technical directors, the schedule will also increase the prospect of matches being played in the best possible conditions and ensure that fans have shorter travel times when following their teams.”

As an example, the U.S. team was assigned its group-stage matches in Los Angeles (2) and Seattle (1) to minimize cross-country travel.

Who plays where won’t be known for some time as the qualifying process continues. FIFA noted that the draw is likely to be held towards the end of 2025.

3.
NHL players will return to Olympic Winter Games in 2026

“There is a recognition of how important this is to the players, and in the spirit of cooperation – particularly the work that we did together during COVID – everybody felt on our side that it was the right thing to do.

“This really came down to doing something because the players really wanted it.”

That was NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (USA) on Friday, announcing that the league and its Players Association had agreed with the International Ice Hockey Federation in terms to allow participation in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina and for 2030, expected to held in the French Alps. Bettman wanted to make sure everyone understood the deal:

“Let me just add one thing, particularly for the NHL owners that are listening.

“The fact of the matter is, our agreement is we’re not responsible for any of the major costs, the big-ticket items. How the IIHF raises the funds, whether it’s from the IIHF or the organizing committee or the IOC for ’30, that will be their issue, not ours, and I want to be clear about that.”

This includes insurance to protect the NHL’s clubs from the risks of injuries, travel and family support. While the 2030 Winter Games have not been officially awarded yet, the French Alps bid is in “targeted dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee and is expected to be confirmed this summer, with the ice hockey venue in Nice.

In addition, a new, “Four Nations Face-Off” tournament will be held in 2025, featuring national teams from Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland, to be held next February at two sites in Canada and the U.S. Said Bettman:

“We know how important international competition is to our players. We know how much they love and want to represent the countries from which they’re from, and we think this is great stage for the best on best in what obviously we all believe is the best sport.”

NHL players first participated in 1998 and then in 2002-06-10-14, but skipped PyeongChang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. IIHF chief Luc Tardif (FRA) was overjoyed:

“This decision represents a turning point for ice hockey at the global level and marks the great return of the NHL players to the Olympic Games. The IIHF was able to gather all related stakeholders at the same table to find a long-lasting and sustainable consensus, which is the backbone of what we intend to do as sports organizations.

“As prime hockey fans, the IIHF is obviously thrilled and excited about this unprecedented agreement, we are already looking forward to witnessing the best of ice hockey at these upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Milano and in 2030.”

Bettman also commented on the under-construction arena in Milan scheduled to host the 2026 tournament:

“There’s a lot of construction that remains to be done on that building. I think they only recently started. But we’re being told by everybody not to worry. But I like to worry, so we’ll see.”

4.
Paris 2024 starts quick ticket releases to finish sales

“There will be a series of ticket releases at regular intervals over the next few weeks and up to Games time, offering many opportunities to buy tickets for this exceptional event.

“These surprise releases by the Paris 2024 ticket office (which will be announced only a few days in advance) will give you the chance to buy tickets for all the sports of the Games!”

Last week’s announcement began the latest ticket push from the Paris 2024 organizers, with the newest batch of tickets coming to market on Thursday, 8 February at 10 a.m. local time:

● Tickets for all sports will be offered, but some with just a few tickets available
● New tickets for all four Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies will be available.
● 45% of the tickets will be priced at €100 or less (€1 = $1.08)

The statement noted, “Of the 10 million tickets available for the Olympic Games, just under 8 million have already been taken up.”

A quick check of the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 26 July showed only the top category – €2,700 only – offered as available.

Often asked: why are these tickets suddenly available now? The answer is, essentially, timing. As the plans for the Games are finalized – really finalized – for details such as placement of scoring, television and security equipment, ticketed spaces held in reserve can be freed. Same for tickets (and spaces) reserved for sponsors, officials, media, National Olympic Committees, International Federations and other groups; as the quotas for each are finalized, tickets become available for the public.

This process will go on right through the Games. For now, Paris 2024 is making available these freed-up spaces for sale as soon as it can.

5.
Ukraine posts own list of “non-neutral” Russian athletes

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine posted Saturday a massive list of more than 1,000 Russian athletes, coaches and officials which it says are “Russian and Belarusian athletes who support the war in Ukraine.

The list has 52 categories, with 51 for various sports and one for sports officials. Each category is a separate page, with a list on each of individuals, then with details for each upon clicking the name. Some are current athletes who might qualify for Paris 2024, but many are also former athletes, coaches or officials.

Boxing alone has 161 names listed, including International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev (RUS). His file entry includes:

“Evidence has come to light, exposing Kremlev’s possession of a map of Russia displayed prominently in his office, which includes the illegally annexed region of Crimea as part of Russian territory. This overt display of support for the occupation has sparked condemnation from athletes, boxing enthusiasts, and human rights activists, who vehemently oppose the violation of international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine.”

The entry – under Fencing – for Russian Olympic Committee chief Stanislav Pozdnyakov notes in part:

“Pozdnyakov’s active participation in mass gatherings and public statements endorsing the Russian armed forces, along with his statement suggesting that Russian athletes should be honored to fight in the war in Ukraine following Vladimir Putin’s order for a partial mobilization of troops, has faced significant criticism.

“Many argue that as the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Pozdnyakov has a responsibility to prioritize peace, diplomacy, and fair competition, which are fundamental principles of the Olympic Games. His statements advocating for athletes’ involvement in war are seen as contradictory to the spirit of sportsmanship and global unity that the Olympic movement aims to foster.”

In just the summer Olympic sports in which Russians or Belarusian could participate in Paris – which excludes all team sports – the lists identify 583 individuals as suspect:

● 161: Boxing
● 94: Wrestling (Freestyle)
● 84: Cycling
● 45: Gymnastics (Artistic)
● 37: Judo
● 29: Cycling (Mountain Bike)
● 22: Tennis
● 19: Wrestling (Greco-Roman)
● 12: Diving
● 10: Cycling (BMX)
● 10: Swimming
● 10: Taekwondo
● 9: Weightlifting
● 8: Athletics
● 8: Archery
● 6: Triathlon
● 5: Gymnastics (Rhythmic)
● 4: Fencing
● 2: Modern Pentathlon
● 2: Sport Climbing
● 2: Swimming (Artistic)
● 1: Rowing
● 1: Sailing
● 1: Table Tennis
● 1: Shooting

There are further lists for team sports, winter sports (29 figure skaters, 28 biathletes, 13 Freestyle skiers, 18 ice hockey players and so on). For athletes, this entry is typical:

“Two-time Olympic swimming champion Yevgeny Rylov has publicly expressed support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has participated in mass events aimed at justifying Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

“The swimmer attended a concert in honor of the illegal annexation of Crimea and support for the war in Ukraine. During the concert at the Luzhniki Stadium, Rylov wore the letter ‘Z’ on his attire. The letter is associated with the ‘Zhogolev’ movement, a pro-Russian group that advocates for the annexation of Ukrainian territories.”

For judo, the top entry cites “The Russian national judo team (all are military personnel)”; this is especially interesting since the International Judo Federation has approved as “neutrals” many Russian athletes now competing in IJF World Tour events.

It’s an enormous effort, but one which coincides with the International Olympic Committee’s promise to check the “neutrality” of possible Russian or Belarusian entry for Paris itself, with its own contractor. It underlines the importance to Ukraine of the propaganda value of any Russian or Belarusian participation in Paris this summer.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● The first World Aquatics Championships to be held in an Olympic year opened in Doha (QAT), with some familiar stars at the top of the podium already:

In open-water swimming, the Rio 2016 Olympic champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) came from behind to pass Maria de Valdes (ESP) on the final lap of the 10 km final and touched first to win her second Worlds gold in 1:57:26.8 to 1:57:26.9. Portugal’s Angelica Andre was a little further back in third (1:57:28.2), with Mariah Denigan the top American in a tie for fifth (1:57:31.1).

Fellow American Katie Grimes was 15th in 1:57:39.4. It’s the first Worlds medal for both de Vales and Andre.

On Sunday, Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky won his first World title in the men’s 10 km, out-lasting Britain’s Hector Pardoe on the final lap and winning in 1:48:21.2. He had previously won the Worlds 5 km gold in 2019. France’s Marc-Antoine Olivier came hard at the finish to pass Pardoe and win the silver, 1:48:23.6 to 1:48:29.2, Olivier’s second Worlds silver in the event (also in 2019).

Ivan Puskovitch of the U.S. was 14th in 1:48:54.4 and teammate Michael Brinegar was 19th (1:49.18.8).

As China did not send several of its top divers to Doha, the competition was wide open for the first time in recent memory. China did win the Mixed 19 m Platform final, with 13-year-old Jianjie Huang and Jiaqi Zhang (19) scoring a near-50 point win at 353.82 over North Korea and Mexico.

Two Chinese stars who did come to Doha included Olympic men’s 3 m Synchro champs Daoyi Long and Zongyuan Wang, the two-time defending World Champions. They won their third in a row with ease, scoring 442.41 against Lorenzo Marsaglia and Giovanni Tocci (ITA: 384.24) and Adrian Abadia and Nicolas Garcia (ESP: 383.28). The U.S. pair of Andrew Capobianco and Quentin Henninger finished ninth (351.18).

Great Britain won the Mixed Team event at 421.65, ahead of Mexico (412.80) and Australia (385.35) and Mexico’s Osmar Olvera took the men’s 1 m Springboard title at 431.75 over Shixin Li (AUS: 395.70) and Ross Haslam (GBR: 393.10). Lyle Yost was ninth for the U.S. (347.25). Olvera moved up from silver at the Fukuoka Worlds in 2023.

The women’s 1 m Springboard went to Alysha Koloi (AUS: 260.50) for her first Worlds medal, ahead of Grace Reid (GBR: 257.25) and Maha Eissa (EGY: 257.15). It was Reid’s first individual Worlds medal. Americans Hailey Hernandez and Alison Gibson finished 6-7 at 249.60 and 249.35.

In Artistic Swimming, Greece’s Evangelia Platanioti moved up from bronze in 2022 to win the women’s Solo Technical event at 272.9633, trailed by Canada’s Jacqueline Simoneau (269.2767) and China’s Huiyan Xu (262.3700). It was the first Worlds medals for Simoneau and Xu.

In the Mixed Duet Technical final, Nargiza Bolatova and Eduard Kim (KAZ) won at 228.0050, ahead of Wentao Cheng and Haoyu Shi (CHN: 223.3166) and Miranda Barrera and Diago Villalobos (MEX: 217.5192).

China won the Mixed Team Acrobatic Routine, scoring 244.167 to edge Ukraine (243.3167) and the U.S. got third at 242.2300. Bill May, 45, a pioneer men’s artistic performer, won his sixth Worlds medal (1-2-3).

The championships continue through the 18th.

● Sailing ● The IQFoil class will debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but held its 2024 World Championships at Lanzarote (ESP), finishing on Saturday, with upsets in both the men’s and women’s Grand Final.

Britain’s Emma Wilson had dominated the racing, winning 15 of 20 races and advanced directly to the Grand Final. She was joined by two Israelis, Sharon Kantor, who had five in her groups, and Katy Spychakov (four wins). And Wilson, who won a Tokyo Olympic silver in 2021 in the RS:X class (being replaced by IQFoil), took the lead quickly in the final, but was passed by the 20-year-old Kantor for an upset gold. It’s Kantor’s first World title, up from seventh at the 2023 World Sailing Champs in the same event; she was the Paris 2024 test event winner as well. Spychakov finished third for the bronze.

Defending men’s champion Luuc van Opzeeland (NED) – winner of bronze, silver and gold in his last three Worlds – was also the big winner during the tournament, taking 10 of 20 races and advancing to the Grand Final. But World Sailing Champs bronze winner Nicolo Renna (ITA: 4 wins) was waiting and when van Opzeeland and Pawel Tarnowski (POL) pulled ahead and went left, he went right and sailed home the winner, with Tarnowski second and van Opzeeland third. Renna had moved up from 23rd in his first IQFoil Worlds to sixth to third, to gold.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● History in Chamonix (FRA) on Sunday in the only FIS Alpine World Cup race to be held on the weekend due to bad weather, as Swiss Daniel Yule became the first skier to ever go from worst to first in a single race.

He almost skied off the course on his first run and expected to be eliminated, but placed 30th (49.02) as the final qualifier. That means he went first in the final run and blazed to a 47.22 timing that turned out to be so fast that he won the race! His combined time of 1:36.24 was 0.18 faster than first-run leader Clement Noel (FRA: 1:36.42), who dropped to third as fellow Swiss Loic Meillard finished at 1:36.40 to grab the silver. Crazy.

Jett Seymour was the top American in 28th (1:37.26). “Absolutely incredible,” said Yule. “I’ve got to say I got really lucky staying 30th after the first run, but then I managed to ski an amazing second run.” It’s Yule’s seventh career World Cup win, all in Slaloms.

● Athletics ● The first heavyweight indoor meet in the U.S. in 2024 was the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at The Track at New Balance in Boston, and it was hot, with world-leading marks in a fabulous 10 events:

Men/60 m: 6.44, Noah Lyles (USA)
Men/1,000 m: 2:14.74, Marco Arop (CAN)
Men/1,500 m: 3:33.66, Hobbs Kessler (USA)
Men/3,000 m: 7:29.09, Lamecha Girma (ETH)
Men/60 m hurdles: 7.37 (heats), Grant Holloway (USA)
Men/60 m hurdles: 7.35, Grant Holloway (USA)

Women/300 m: 35.75, Gabby Thomas (USA)
Women/1,500 m: 3:58.11, Gudaf Tsegay (ETH)
Women/3,000 m: 8:24.93, Jessica Hull (AUS)
Women/60 m hurdles: 7.72, Tia Jones (USA)
Women/Long Jump: 6.86 m (22-6 1/4), Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA)

Lots of excitement in the men’s 60 m, with 2022 World 100 m champ Fred Kerley and 2023 winner Noah Lyles in the field. In the final, Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake got out well and Lyles had work to do to catch up, but he got there with a stride left and crossed first in 6.44, the world leader and now equal-10th all-time. Blake was second at 6.45, Ronnie Baker (USA) was an encouraging third (6.54) and Kerley fourth (6.55) in his first indoor 60 m ever.

The men’s 1,000 m almost produced a world record. Canada’s World 800 m champ Marco Arop took off at the gun and had a 40 m lead at the bell, and stormed home in a sensational 2:14.74, the no. 2 performance of all-time. Americans Bryce Hoppel and Sam Ellis were 2-3, but far behind, in 2:16.91 and 2:17.10.

The men’s 1,500 m settled into a 1v1 duel over the final lap between 20-year-old Hobbs Kessler of the U.S., the 2023 World Road Mile gold medalist and 2022 World 1,500 m champ Jake Wightman (GBR). Kessler stayed strong and although Wightman was closing, he ran out of room as Kessler took the world lead at 3:33.66 with Wightman at 3:34.06, his best-ever indoors. Americans Craig Engels and Sam Prakel were 3-4 at 3:37.04 and 3:37.24.

Ethiopian Steeple star Lamecha Girma, the world indoor 3,000 m record man, made a hard run at his own mark, shredding the field with seven laps to go and then pushing hard to finish in 7:29.09, the world leader, but short of his 7:23.81 mark from 2023. Kenyan Edwin Kurgat was a distant second in 7:39.38.

World 60 m hurdles record holder Grant Holloway of the U.S. took the world lead in the 60 m hurdles heats at 7.37 and then blew away an excellent field by the third hurdle if the final and won going away in another world-leading mark of 7.35, the equal-8th performance all-time. Fellow Americans (and Worlds medal winners) Trey Cunningham (7.49), Daniel Roberts (7.49) were 2-3. It’s the fifth time Holloway has run 7.35 and he owns nine of the top 12 times in history.

Home favorite – and former Harvard star – Gabby Thomas felt a bit ill, but had plenty coming off the final turn to win the women’s 300 m in a very fast 35.75, a world leader and no. 8 performance of all time. Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was game, but second in 35.99.

World-record holder Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) headlined the women’s 1,500 m field, and she and countrywoman Birke Haylom, 18, ran away from the field with 3 1/2 laps to go and Tsegay maintained a solid pace and won in a world-leading 3:58.11, the no. 11 performance ever. Haylom was never far behind, but could not get close and clocked 3:58.43, no. 5 ever. American Emily MacKay was a distant third in 4:05.04.

Elle St. Pierre, the Tokyo 1,500 Olympian, returned from maternity in the women’s 3,000 m and broke away with Australian Jessica Hull with five laps left. St. Pierre led until the final turn, when Hull finally managed to get by and raced to the line first in a national indoor record and world-leading mark of 8:24.93, and now no. 6 all-time. St. Pierre ran 8:25.25, moving her to no. 2 all-time U.S.

American Tia Jones got a great start in the women’s 60 m hurdles and got to the line in a world-leading 7.72, beating Nigeria’s outdoor world-record holder Tobi Amusan (7.75) and prior world leader Devynne Charlton (BAH: 7.76). Jones is now equal-fifth all-time and equal-third all-time U.S.

Tara Davis-Woodhall, the 2022 Worlds long jump runner-up, took the world lead on her first try at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4), and backed it up at 6.83 m (22-5) in rounds three and six. Fellow American Quanesha Burks was second at 6.64 m (21-9 1/2).

Although not world-leaders, there are multiple other strong performances.

In the men’s 400 m, 2023 Worlds fourth-placer Vernon Norwood took the lead coming into the first home straight and held strong to win in 45.76, now no. 5 on the world list for 2024. South Africa’s Zak Nene was second in 46.15.

The 2022 World Indoor runner-up Mikiah Brisco of the U.S. got the lead by 20 m in the women’s 60 m and held it to the end, winning in 7.10, to 7.15 for fellow American Celera Barnes.

Kendall Ellis got cut off by Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield trying to make the lead in the women’s 400 m after a lap, but stayed cool and zoomed past everyone off the final turn to win in 52.77, ahead of Raevyn Rogers (USA: 53.00) and Helena Ponette (BEL: 53.43).

Impressive start to the indoor season for Dutch star Femke Bol, the Worlds 400 m hurdles gold medalist in 2023, winning the 400 m at the Meeting Metz Moselle in Metz (FRA) in a world-leading 49.69. It’s her third-fastest time ever in the event, notably behind her World Indoor Record of 49.26 in 2023. She also won the 200 m in Metz on Saturday in 22.64, a lifetime best and a Dutch indoor record!

Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha, the 2023 Worlds Indoor 1,500 bronze winner, won the women’s 3,000 m in a world-leading 8:28.46, a lifetime best, and now no. 13 all-time.

Another notable doping sanction in Kenya, this time of 1:43.25 800 m runner Michael Saruni, 28, banned for four years to 30 August 2027 for “Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection.” He lasted competed in 2022

The ruling came from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), which has been bolstered by government funding to root out epidemic doping, especially in athletics. It’s their 13th suspension of a Kenya athlete that took effect in 2023 alone.

● Badminton ● The home team got to the finals in four of five events at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok, and came away with two wins, both in Doubles.

In the women’s final, Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard (THA) fought off Yi Jing Li and Xu Min Luo (CHN) in a thriller, 21-13, 17-21, 27-25, while top-seeded Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) took the Mixed Doubles title by 21-12, 21-18 over Tang Jie Chen and Ee Wei Toh (MAS).

The women’s Singles final had three-seed Aya Ohori (JPN) taking down fourth-seed Supanida Katethong (THA) by 18-21, 21017, 21013. And China’s Ji Ting He and Xiang Yu Ren came from behind to win the men’s Doubles, 16-21, 21-14, 21-13, over Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (THA).

A mild upset in the men’s Singles had no. 5 seed Tien Chen Chou (TPE) win over second-seeded Kean Yew Loh (INA), 21-16, 6-21, 21-16.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Germany continued its winning ways at the IBSF World Cup in Sigulda (LAT), but with surprises.

In the Two-Man, a German sled won for the fourth time in five events, but it was the first win of the season for Adam Ammour, previously third twice. He and Benedikt Hertel had the fastest times on both runs and finished at 1:39.33, ahead of Swiss Michael Vogt and Sandro Michel (1:39.45) and twice Olympic champ Francesco Friedrich (1:39.48). Frank Del Duca and Hakeen Abdul-Saboor had the fastest American sled in eighth (1:40.34).

The first of two Two-Woman races saw 2023 World Champs Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig (GER) lead a sweep and win their second straight World Cup in 1:41.53, ahead of Olympic champs Laura Nolte and Claudia Schussler (1:41.57) and Lisa Buckwitz and Vanessa Mark (1:41.65). Americans Elana Meyers Taylor and Sydney Milani tied for seventh (1:42.49).

The second races, on Sunday, had Nolte and Neele Schuten winning in 1:41.53, with Kalicki and Anabel Galander second (1:41.82) and Swiss Melanie Hauser and Mara Morell (1:42.06) third. Meyers Taylor and Azaria Hill finished fifth (1:42.41).

Buckwitz, the 2018 Olympic Two-Women champ, took the Monobob in 1:47.46, ahead of Andreea Grecu (ROU: 1:47.73) and Nolte and Meyers Taylor tied for third (1:47.87). American Kaysha Love was fifth (1:48.23).

China’s Yin Zheng won his first Skeleton medal of the season at 1:40.82, followed by Britain’s Marcus Wyatt (1:41.00) and 2023 World Champion Matt Weston (1:41.16). American Austin Florian was fifth (1:41.37).

The 2023 Worlds bronze medalist, Mirela Rahneva (CAN) took the women’s Skeleton title – her first gold of the season – in 1:43.10, beating Kim Meylemans (BEL: 1:43.38) and 2022 Olympic winner Hannah Niese (GER: 1:43.41). Veteran Katie Uhlaender was the top American, in 12th (1:44.18).

● Curling ● The evergreen John Shuster led his rink to yet another title at the USA Curling National Championships in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday.

Shuster, now 41, who led his team to the 2018 Olympic gold, lost to Korey Dropkin’s rink by 9-5 in their play-off opener, moving Shuster to a semifinal against Daniel Casper. Shuster’s squad had a 6-2 lead into the ninth end, but Casper closed to 6-5, then a score in the 10th made the final 7-5.

That put Shuster and Dropkin into the final. In a see-saw match, Dropkin took a 3-0 lead in the second, with Shuster tying by the fifth, Dropkin up 4-3 after six ends and then Shuster exploding for five points in the seventh for an 8-5 lead. Dropkin got one back in the eight, but Shuster scored three more in the ninth for the 11-6 final.

Shuster had familiar help from Chris Plys and Matt Hamilton, plus Colin Hufman this time. It’s Shuster’s seventh U.S. title and fourth in the last five tournaments.

Defending women’s champion Tabitha Peterson also defended her title, defeating Sarah Anderson in their play-in game, 7-4. Anderson’s rink eliminated Delaney Strouse’s squad by 11-7 and earned a championship rematch. But six points in the fourth and fifth ends gave Peterson a 7-2 lead and led to the 10-5 final.

Peterson’s squad once again included Cory Thiesse, sister Tara Peterson and Becca Hamilton for the second straight year. It’s Tabitha Peterson’s third national title all-time and all in the last three years.

● Cycling ● The first UCI Track Nations Cup was held in Adelaide (AUS), with interesting results from lesser-known stars to open the season.

Japanese sprinter Kaiya Ota won the men’s Sprint over home favorite Matthew Richardson, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, and followed up with a silver in the Team Sprint (won by Australia) and then a bronze in the Elimination Race, taken by Malaysia’s Mohd Azizul Awang, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Keirin runner-up.

Canada’s Dylan Bibic, 20, the 2022 World Scratch Race champ, beat Italian veteran Elia Viviani in the Omnium and won the Elimination Race as well. New Zealand’s Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart, last year’s Worlds bronzers, took the Madison race.

New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston, who won a Worlds silver in 2023 in the Team Pursuit, won two individual women’s golds, in the Elimination Race (over American star Jennifer Valente) and in the Omnium, beating Britain’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Archibald and Tokyo Olympic Omnium champ Valente.

Archibald and Elinor Barker teamed up to win the Madison over 2023 Worlds runners-up Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly (AUS) and Valente and Lily Williams of the U.S.

Wollaston won a third gold in the Team Pursuit for New Zealand, with Archibald and Barker leading Britain to the silver and Baker and Manly helping Australia to the bronze.

In the Sprints, Germany’s eight-time Worlds gold medalist Emma Hinze won the women’s Sprint over Japan’s two-time Worlds Keirin runner-up Mina Sato, but Sato took the Keirin for herself.

Next: round two comes in Hong Kong from 15-17 March.

● Figure Skating ● Japan and Canada won two events each at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Shanghai (CHN).

Beijing 2022 runner-up Yuma Kagiyama took the men’s title with his no. 2 score ever of 307.58, dominating the field, with countryman Shun Sato (274.59) second and Jun-hwan Cha (KOR: 272.95) in third. Andrew Torgashev of the U.S. was eighth (237.20).

Eighteen-year-old Mone Chiba from up from third in this event in 2023 to take the women’s title, scoring 214.98 to 204.68 for Chae-yeon Kim (KOR) and 2:02.17 for Rinka Watanabe (JPN). Ava Marie Ziegler (USA), 17, was fourth at 201.19. Chiba won both the Short Program and the Free Skate.

Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dedek and Maxime Deschamps took the Pairs title, with winning both segments, at 198.80, well ahead of Rika Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN: 190.77) and Americans Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea (187.28). Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps also moved up from the 2023 bronze.

Two-time Worlds bronze winners Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier forged a clear lead in the Rhythm Dance and won the Free Dance to win their first Four Continents gold at 214.36, ahead of teammates Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN: 207.54, their second straight silver) and American pairs Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (194.14) and Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (193.07).

The 2024 ISU Worlds come next, from 18-24 March in Montreal (CAN).

● Freestyle Skiing ● Two-time Olympic medal winner Alex Ferreira came to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix (and FIS World Cup) Halfpipe in Mammoth Mountain, California having won the first two World Cups of the season. He won the third, too, but not in the way he expected.

Heavy weather canceled the finals, so the Tuesday qualification results ended up standing as final. And Ferreira led at 87.00, followed by fellow Americans Hunter Hess (86.50) and three-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper (86.00).

Canadian Amy Fraser got her first World Cup gold at 85.50, followed by Olympic champ Eileen Gu (CHN: 83.50) and Zoe Atkin (GBR: 82.50).

Saturday’s Slopestyle final was held, with a U.S. 1-2 for Beijing Olympic champ Alex Hall (86.66) and 2021 Worlds runner-up Colby Stevenson (84.88) with 2021 World Champion Andri Ragettli (SUI: 83.45) in third.

Swiss star Mathilde Gremaud won the first two Slopestyles of the season and won again at Mammoth at 66.30, beating Americans Eleanor Andrews (61.20) and transgender Jay Riccomini (53.38).

The Moguls skiers were in Deer Valley, Utah, with some familiar outcomes, as Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury won his record 85th career World Cup gold in the Moguls final over 2017 World Champion Ikuma Horishima (JPN), 82.17 to 79.15.

Horishima took the Dual Moguls gold, beating France’s two-time Worlds silver winner Benjamin Cavet in the final, with American Dylan Marcellini winning the bronze race.

There was a shock in the women’s Moguls final, as Australian star Jakara Anthony, who had won all six events so far, was eliminated in the first finals run and Beijing Olympian Olivia Giaccio of the U.S. led a 1-2 with Beijing 2022 runner-up Jaelin Kauf at 75.42 and 70.87. It was Kauf’s fourth silver this season, out of seven events!

Anthony got back on track in the Dual Moguls, defeating Kauf in the final, with Giaccio winning the bronze race. In Dual Moguls this season, Anthony has five wins, Kauf has three straight silvers and Giaccio has three straight thirds. Between the three, they have won 15 of the 18 medals awarded!

In Aerials, Canadian Alexandre Duchaine, 19, scored 102.57 to win his first-ever World Cup medal – a gold – over Connor Curran, 19, of the U.S. (102.22), with two-time Worlds winner Guangpu Qi (CHN: 100.81) third. American Winter Vinecki won her second straight World Cup at 77.90, beating Australia’s three-time Worlds medalist Danielle Scott (77.90) on a tie-breaker and Abbey Willcox (AUS: 76.85).

Two FIS World Cup SkiCross races were held in Allegre (ITA), with two-time Worlds medalist Erik Mobaerg (SWE) winning the first men’s race over 2021 World Champion Alex Fiva (SUI), and Reece Howden (CAN) won his second race of the season over Worlds runner-up Florian Wilmsmann (GER).

The women’s winners were India Sherret (CAN), the 2015 World Junior champ over Saskja Lack (SUI), and 2014 Olympic champ Marielle Thompson (CAN) won the second event, ahead of 2018 Olympic silver winner Brittany Phelan (CAN).

● Judo ● Lots of interest in the IJF World Tour’s Paris Grand Slam, a dress rehearsal for the Olympic tournament to come this summer, with 621 judoka from 107 nations on hand, including superstar (and 11-time World Champion) Teddy Riner.

And the French were on fire in front of their home crowd, winning six golds and 12 medals overall to dominate this tournament. They started by winning four classes on Saturday, with victories for Tokyo bronze winner Luka Mkheidze in the men’s 60 kg class, World silver medalist Shirine Boukli in the women’s 48 kg, Faiza Mokdar at 57 kg and Tokyo Olympic champ Clarisse Agbegnenou at 63 kg.

On Sunday, 2022 World women’s +78 kg champ Romane Dicko won her class and then Riner thrilled the crowd with another victory in the men’s +100 kg class, over Korea’s Min-jong Kim.

Japan also sent a strong team, with wins by Takeshi Takeoka in the men’s 66 kg, Tatsuki Ishihara at 73 kg and Tokyo 2020 gold winner Aaron Wolf in the men’s 100 kg final, beating Spain’s 2021 World Champion Nikoloz Sherazadishvili.

Tokyo Olympic champ Distria Krasniqi (KOS) in the women’s 52 kg division, and the 2021 women’s World Champion at 78 kg, German Anna-Maria Wagner, won her class over 2018 World Junior Champion Alice Bellandi (ITA).

● Luge ● Following the World Championships, the FIL World Cup circuit resumed in Altenberg (GER), where the Worlds took place the week before!

Max Langenhan, the 2024 World Champion, took the men’s Singles in 1:51.162 for his fourth win of the season, edging David Gleirscher (AUT: 1:51.283) and Latvian Kristers Aparjods (1:51.289). Tucker West of the U.S. finished seventh in 1:51.559 as the top American.

Austria’s Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schopf and Beijing 2022 bronzers Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl were 1-2 at the 2024 Worlds men’s Doubles, and were 1-2 here, in 1:24.911 and 1:24.999, with Italy’s Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner third (1:25.116). American Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike had the top American sled and finished sixth 1:25.362.

German Julia Taubitz, the 2021 World Champion, won her second World Cup Singles of the season in the Sunday women’s race, in 1:47.971, beating Latvian home favorite Elina Vitola (1:48.120) and Lisa Schulte (AUT: 1:48.268). Emily Sweeney was the top American in fifth (1:48.322) and Summer Britcher was 10th (1:48.478).

Three-time Worlds women’s Doubles medalist Andrea Votter (ITA) teamed with Marion Oberhofer to win their first World Cup of the season in 1:25.337, ahead of Latvia’s Anda Upite and Kitija Bogdanova (1:25.538). Germany’s 2018 Olympic runner-up, Dajana Eitberger, and Saskia Schirmer finished third (1:25.548), just ahead of Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby (1:25.552).

In the Team Relay, Latvia crowned a great World Cup with the victory, with Vitola, Martins Bots and Roberts Plume, Aparjods and Upite and Bogdanova clocking 3:14.445, ahead of the U.S. squad of Sweeney, Kellogg and Ike, West and Forgan and Kirkby (1:15.448). Romania was third (3:16.301).

● Nordic Combined ● The Norwegian steamroller continued through the FIS World Cup stop in Seefeld (AUT) for the 11th Seefeld Triple for the men, and two more wins for Norway in the women’s competitions.

Norway’s Jarl Magnus Riiber had already won the Seefeld Triple twice and was rolling in with four straight World Cup wins. He won all three events in Seefeld, taking the jumping lead off the 109 m hill and winning the 7.5 km race in 18:40.6, with teammate Joergen Graabak second in 19:18.7 and 2023 World Cup winner Johannes Lamparter (AUT) third (19:29.1). On Saturday, it was a Norwegian sweep over 10.0 km with Riiber winning in 25:19.2, followed by Graabak (25:41.9) and Jens Oftebro (25:42.6). Sunday saw high winds, so the Thursday jumping results were used, with the 12.5 km race, with Riiber winning at 34:39.8, Graabak second at 35:02.9 and Stefan Rettenegger (AUT: 35:17.4) third.

With the three wins, Riiber also claimed the record for the most career World Cup medals with 93 in all.

But Norway’s wins didn’t stop there. Norwegian women had won all eight events coming into Seefeld and 2022 World Cup seasonal runner-up Ida Marie Hagen made it 10 straight with two wins.

She took Friday’s 109 m hill/5 km Gundersen win in 14:42.5, ahead of fellow Norwegian Mari Leinan Lund (15:41.9) and German Nathalie Armbruster (15:55.8), then won on Saturday in 14:35.0, passing teammate Gyda Westvold Hansen (15:37.7) with Armbruster third again (15:41.0). It’s Hagen’s fifth win of the season, in 10 events and she has won a medal in all 10 (5-5-0).

● Ski Jumping ● Some surprises at the FIS World Cup off the 147 m hill in Willingen (GER), starting with Norway’s Johann-Andre Forfang. An Olympic gold and silver winner in 2018 in PyeongChang, he hadn’t won a World Cup event since December of 2018 … until Saturday.

He had the best jump in the second round to vault to the top of the podium with 252.7, beating Japanese star Ryoyu Kobayashi (221.7), who came from 15th with the no. 2 jump in the final round. Norwegian teammate Kristoffer Sundal got third at 219.9.

On Sunday, a more familiar winner emerged in PyeongChang 2018 winner Andreas Wellinger (GER), who was only seventh after the first jump, but had the best second jump to win with 237.6. Kobayashi was second again, coming from sixth to second in the last round (235.6).

The first women’s event saw Austria’s Jacqueline Seifriedsberger, 33, claim her second career World Cup individual gold and first since February 2013! She scored 161.4 to edge Japan’s four-time World Cup seasonal winner Sara Takanashi (157.3) – who won her first World Cup medal in a year – and Katharina Schmid (GER: 152.8).

Norway’s Silje Opseth, a three-time Worlds team medal winner, scored her first medal of this World Cup season and first win since March 2023 with 229.8 points, besting 18-year-old Nika Prevc (SLO: 221.7), who came from sixth to second in the second round. Japan’s Yuki Ito got her fourth medal of the season in third (215.5).

● Snowboard ● Weather shortened the program at Mammoth Mountain, California at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, cancelling the Slopestyle events, but the Halfpipe competitions on Saturday were held.

Japan’s 2021 World Champion Yuto Totsuka got his second medal of the season and his first win, scoring 94.75, ahead of countryman Ruka Hirano (91.75) and Kaishu Hirano (89.25). American two-time Olympian Chase Josey was fourth (82.50).

Mitsuki Ono, the 2023 Worlds bronzer, completed the Japanese sweep in the women’s event, winning at 95.50, with teammate and Beijing 2022 bronze winner Sena Tomita second, scoring 88.50. American Maddie Mastro, a two-time Worlds medalist, was third for the third time in four events this season, at 83.00.

At the SnowCross World Cup in Gudauri (GEO), Canada’s Olympic runner-up Eliot Grondin scored his second and third wins in a row and now four in five events this season, beating Cameron Bolton (AUS) on both Saturday and Sunday. Beijing 2022 gold medalist Alessandro Hammerle (AUT) was third on Saturday and Beijing bronze winner Omar Visintin (ITA) was third on Sunday.

France’s two-time Olympic medalist Chloe Trespeuch won Saturday’s race and maintained her seasonal lead, with Czech star Eva Adamczykova second, then the 2021 women’s World Champion, Charlotte Bankes, got her first medal of the season with a win over Trespeuch (FRA) on Sunday. Australia’s Belle Brockhoff claimed her third medal of the season (0-1-2) in third.

● Speed Skating ● The sixth and final ISU World Cup of the season was in Quebec (CAN), and a showcase for 19-year-old triple World Champion Jordan Stolz of the U.S., who swept the men’s races at 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m:

Friday: Stolz opened with a win in the 1,000 m in 1:07.96, ahead of Japan’s 2020 World Sprint Champion Tatsuya Shinhama (1:08.34).

Saturday: Two wins, first in the 1,500 m in 1:44.01, beating China’s Zhongyan Ning (1:44.79) and Canada’s Connor Howe (1:45.73). Then he took the 500 m in 34.51, ahead of Canada’s Olympic 1,000 m silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (34.59).

Sunday: Stolz won the 500 m again, this time with a track record of 34.36, ahead of Poles Marek Kania (34.69) and Piotr Michalski (34.72).

Wow. Stolz won the 500-1,000-1,500 m Worlds golds in 2023, and appears to getting better, not older.

Ted-Jan Bloemen (CAN), the 2018 Olympic 10,000 m winner, took the 5,000 m from Beijing Olympic 10,000 m bronzer Davide Ghiotto (ITA), 6:13.87 to 6:17.18, and Shomu Sasaki (JPN) won the Mass Start in 7:56.06.

Wins by Dutch stars Femke Kok (second 500 m), Joy Beune (1,500 m) and triple Olympic champ Irene Schouten (3,000 m) highlighted the women’s races. However, Japan’s Beijing Olympic 1,000 m winner Miho Takagi (JPN) won the 1,000 m again over Kok, 1:14.19 to 1:15.07, with American Brittany Bowe fourth (1:16.16).

Korea’s Min-sun Kim defeated Kok in the first 500 m race, 37.69 to 37.70, with Olympic gold winner Erin Jackson of the U.S. fifth in 38.36. Jackson was also third in the second 500 m, behind Kok and Kim. Sandrine Tas (BEL) won the Mass Start in 8:27.59.

Next are the World Single Distances Championships from 15-18 February, in Calgary (CAN).

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TSX BULLETIN: Mantz and Young, O’Keeffe dominate U.S. marathon trials

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At long last, the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials was held in Orlando, Florida, under sunny conditions with starting temperatures just under 60 degrees when the men took off at 10:10 a.m.

In the end, the men’s race followed the script with the two favorites – Conner Mantz and Clayton Young – running comfortably to the finish, but women’s winner Fiona O’Keeffe stealing her race in a stunner.

A big pack moved together through the first six miles, with Zach Panning in the lead, then shrank to 14 by the 8-mile mark, with all of the favorites comfortably situated. Panning, in his fourth career marathon with a 2:09:28 best from 2022 and 13th at the 2023 Worlds, was in the lead through the half in 1:04:07, with Teshome Mekonen beside and 10 now in contention.

Ethiopian-born Mekonen took over at 14 miles; he became eligible to run for the U.S. in December 2022 and was in his fifth career marathon, having finished 24th in Berlin last October. Panning took over again at 15 miles, with Mekonen and U.S. qualifying leader Mantz right with him and 10 still running together.

Now the grinding started. Four-time Olympian and Rio 2016 marathon bronze winner Galen Rupp fell off the pace at 17 miles as the lead group shrunk to seven. Mekonen fell off the back at 18 miles and 13-time U.S. national distance champ Leonard Korir was showing signs of struggle to stay with the five in front of him.

Now came the break. Panning led at 19 miles, after miles of 4:44, 4:52 and 4:53, that broke everyone except Mantz and training partner and no. 2 time qualifier Young. Elkanah Kibet and Andrew Colley were five and six seconds back, and if Panning could keep this pace, he would run faster than the Olympic qualifying time of 2:08:10 (which Mantz and Young had already done).

So the racing on the street and against the clock was set. Panning clocked 4:51 to mile 20, on 2:07:38 pace. The three leaders slowed to 4:59 to mile 21, but were now 16 seconds clear of the field. They slowed significantly at 22 miles, at 5:07, with Mantz taking over and then to 5:06 for Panning at 23, which would have him finish beyond the 2:08:10 qualifying mark.

Young and Mantz moved ahead at 24, with a 5:09 mile and Panning dropped to third, now 19 seconds back. He was still third by 24 seconds, but his shot at an Olympic qualifying time was gone.

The two favorites coming in – Mantz and Young – picked up the pace to 5:03 at 25 miles, with Panning third (a 5:28 mile), but losing ground rapidly to Kibet, now three seconds behind him. Young and Mantz cruised past 26 miles at 5:16, with Korir and Kibet now 3-4.

Mantz won at 2:09:05 with Young one second back, and finish-line temps right at 70 degrees (F). Those are the nos. 2-3 performances ever in a men’s Olympic Trials marathon.

Korir out-sprinted Kibet for third in 2:09:57 to 2:10:02, but well short of the Olympic qualifying time, although there are possibilities for later inclusion. Korir’s time is the ninth-fastest in Trials history.

Manta and Young were the clear favorites going in and they showed their class and earned their ticket to Paris.

The women’s race began at 10:20 a.m., and 14 were together through the first six miles, with 40-year-old Sara Hall, the Worlds fifth-placer from 2022, and former American Record holder Keira D’Amato taking turns in the lead. By eight miles, there were 13 in the lead pack and defending Trials champ Aliphine Tuliamuk had dropped to 24 seconds behind the leaders.

Marathon debutante O’Keeffe, the 2022 U.S. 10 Mile champ, took over at 10 miles, with the top 13 still bunched. Then Dakotah Lindwurm – in her 13th career marathon – grabbed the lead at 12 miles, and D’Amato edged to the front at 13. At the half, D’Amato, Lindwurm, O’Keeffe, Hall and Emily Durgin all crossed in 1:11:43 as temperatures were now in the mid-60s.

O’Keeffe popped back into the lead at 14, with the lead pack at 12. She remained there through mile 16, but suddenly D’Amato had dropped back, four seconds behind the lead pack of nine. Betsy Saina, 35, a Kenyan 10,000 m Olympian in 2016, but who transferred to the U.S. in 2021, was right in contention in her 11th career marathon. Lindwurm dropped back by the 17-mile mark, leaving seven in the lead group, on pace for a 2:23:13 finish,

Only five remained in contention by 18 miles, with O’Keeffe, American Record holder Emily Sisson, Hall, Saina and Durgin running together. Then Durgin dropped off the back at 19 as O’Keeffe – hardly a favorite to make the team – threw in a 5:22 mile to take a five-second lead at 19 miles.

And there was no let up. O’Keeffe hammered out a 5:20 mile and Sisson ran 5:25 to reach mile 20 in 1:48:57 and 1:49:07. Saina and Hall were at 1:49:20 and Durgin had caught up to them and now had a chance to make the team.

O’Keeffe kept pushing: 5:27 at mile 21, with now a 16-second lead in Sisson, and chaos behind them. Saina, Hall and Durgan all slowed to 5:47 miles and Caroline Rotich (5:36) and Lindwurm (5:39) moved in places 3-4! At 22 miles, O’Keeffe finished another 5:27 mile and had a 21-second lead on Sisson (5:32), with Lindwurm and 2015 Boston Marathon champ Rotich, 39, together, 35 seconds back and Hall chasing both, another nine seconds behind.

O’Keeffe stayed on the gas, running 5:21 to reach 23 miles with a 31-second lead on Sission and looking unbeatable. Lindwurm and Rotich – who gained a U.S. affiliation only in October 2023 – were together at 3-4 and Hall was another 15 seconds down. O’Keeffe timed 5:23 to 24 miles, with Sisson cruising in second and Lindwurm and Rotich still together. Hall’s hopes had faded, now 28 seconds behind them.

Both O’Keeffe and Sisson punched hard to mile 25, running 5:09 and 5:10 and O’Keeffe maintained a 40-second lead in the race of her life. Lindwurm broke free of Rotich, running a 5:44 mile as Rotich faded to 5:55 and looked to be a solid third.

Sisson pressed, running a 5:15 mile to 5:22 for O’Keeffe to narrow the gap to 14 seconds by 26 miles, but O’Keeffe won going away in 2:22:10, moving her no. 10 all-time U.S. in her first race at the distance. It’s by far the fastest U.S. Olympic trials marathon ever, blasting Shalane Flanagan’s 2:25:38 from 2012.

Sisson was second at 2:22:42, her third-fastest ever, and Lindwurm, at 28, got third at 2:25:31, her third-fastest ever, to get a trip to Paris. Jessica McClain passed the fading Rotich and Hall and got fourth (2:25:46), with Hall fifth at 2:26:06 and Rotich sixth at 2:26:10.

The top three times were the three-fastest in U.S. marathon trials history and this race now has seven of the all-time top 10.

There was $600,000 in prize money in this race, with 10 places receiving $80,000, $65,000, $55,000, $25,000, $20,000, $15,000, $13,000, $11,000, $9,000 and $7,000.

Much more to unpack from this race, but it was a considerable success for Mantz, Young and the stunning O’Keeffe, and after all the worries about weather, appeared to run smoothly with finish temperatures just about 70 at the end.

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TSX REPORT: Asuncion and Lima bid for 2027 Pan Ams; U.S. marathon trials on Saturday; Beamon’s 1968 gold goes for $441,000!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Asuncion and Lima bid for 2027 Pan American Games
2. U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials comes Saturday
3. Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games conclude in Korea
4. Beamon’s ‘68 long jump brings $441,000 at auction
5. Cricket tops BCW federation social-media rankings

● Two bids were received by Panam Sports for the 2027 Pan American Games, removed from Barranquilla (COL) on 3 January. Asuncion, Paraguay and Lima, Peru (which hosted in 2019) are confirmed candidates with the choice to be made on 3 March.

● The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials will be held in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, with reasonable weather expected and the top three women finishers to go to Paris. The U.S. has two men’s spots assured, with a third possible with a fast time.

● The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games concluded in Gangwon, Korea with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach calling the event “a brilliant success.” The U.S. led the medal table with 21 total.

● Bob Beamon’s 1968 Olympic gold in the long jump – at which he set a staggering world record of 29-2 ½ – was auctioned in New York and drew a final price of $441,000.

● The annual social-media rankings by communications giant BCW showed the International Cricket Council a solid no. 1 again in 2023 across a combined total from seven platforms. FIFA was a clear second, but was far ahead of all other federations.

Panorama: Beijing 2022 (Bach asks for more sanctions on entourage) = Winter Games 2034 (Salt Lake City has contracted 21,000 rooms) = World Games (Moscoso wins Athlete of the Year for 2023) = Russia (Latvia passes law prohibiting matches against Russia or Belarus) = USOPC (Xfinity launches “Making Team USA” promo platform) = Alpine Skiing (Kilde says athlete schedule is too crowded) = Athletics (French distance star Jazy passes at 87) = Swimming (2: Worlds odds posted on open-water races; Trials warm-up pools headed to Caymans) ●

1.
Asuncion and Lima bid for 2027 Pan American Games

As expected, two bids were received to host the 2027 Pan American Games by the deadline of 31 January, from Asuncion (PAR) and Lima (PER).

This follows the 3 January announcement by Panam Sports that it had revoked the hosting rights of Barranquilla (COL), after multiple breaches of contract, including missing a $4 million rights fee payment at the end of 2023.

Whispers about difficulties with Barranquilla had been circulating for some time, with Asuncion rumored to be ready to step in. Paraguay has never hosted the Pan American Games, which had 6,909 athletes from 41 countries competing in 425 events across 39 sports last October in Santiago (CHI).

Lima, on the other hand, hosted the 2019 Pan Am Games (and Parapan American Games) quite successfully in 2019 and has the advantage of existing venues and other infrastructure at its disposal.

Possible bids from Sao Paulo (BRA) and the Nuevo Leon state of Mexico did not materialize. It is possible that Panam Sports could award both the 2027 and 2031 Pan Ams to Asuncion and Lima in some order to take advantage of their interest. However, for now, the process is limited to 2027:

“To determine the next host city, the Panam Sports Executive Committee has organized an Extraordinary General Assembly to be held virtually on March 12.

“During the Assembly, each of the candidate cities must make a 40-minute presentation, and then proceed to the voting of the member countries, and thus choose the next city that will host the most important sporting event on the continent in 2027.”

2.
U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials comes Saturday

After controversies over selection and starting times, the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon is finally here and will start just after 10 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday in downtown Orlando, Florida.

The original start time of noon was bitterly fought by the USA Track & Field Athletes Commission and a compromise of 10 a.m. was agreed, with the weather forecast now showing:

10:00 a.m.: Sunny, 59 F, wind of 4 miles per hour
11:00 a.m.: Sunny, 64 F, wind of 6 miles per hour
12:00 p.m.: Sunny, 67 F, winds of 6 miles per hour
1:00 p.m.: Sunny, 70 F, winds of 6 miles per hour

So, the start of the race will be accommodating, but the finish will be in warming temperatures, which could be significant. The men’s race will start at 10:10 a.m. and the women’s race at 10:20 a.m., with everyone running an opening 2.2-mile loop and then three loops of eight miles each.

The two races will be quite different, with the top three in the women’s race expected to be selected for Paris as the U.S. has three spots in the 80-athlete Olympic field already confirmed. For the men, however, only two have run under the 2:08:10 Olympic standard and so only two spots in Paris are confirmed; if a third athlete besides Conner Mantz and Clayton Young runs faster than 2:08:10, a third spot would be confirmed. If not, there is a World Athletics World Rankings protocol which might let a third U.S. man into the field, but that will not be finalized on 5 May.

In terms of the top entries, looking at the 2022-23 qualifying years (the qualifying period began in November 2022):

Men:
(215 entries: 206 marathon qualifiers, seven in half-marathon and two Tokyo Olympians)
● 2:07:47, Conner Mantz (2023 Chicago)
● 2:08:00, Clayton Young (2023 Chicago)
● 2:08:48, Galen Rupp (2023 Chicago)
● 2:08:50, Sam Chelanga (2023 Chicago)
● 2:08:52, Scott Fauble (2022 Boston)
● 2:09:07, Elkaneh Kibet (2022 Boston)
● 2:09:28, Zach Panning (2022 Chicago)
● 2:09:31, Leonard Korir (2023 Paris)
● 2:09:40, Futsum Zienasellassie (2023 Rotterdam)
● 2:09:46, Brian Shader (2023 Chicago)

Rupp, of course, was the Olympic 10,000 m silver winner in 2012 and the marathon bronze winner in 2016. He won the 2020 Olympic Trials at Atlanta in 2:09:20 and is fully capable – if healthy – of running the Olympic standard and winning in Orlando. But he hasn’t finished in the top three in his last five races – in 2022-23-24 – and not since the 2021 Chicago Marathon.

Mantz’s sixth-place finish in Chicago last year got the U.S. a qualifying mark and he was second in the USATF 20 km Championship last September. Training partner Young won the USATF road 10 km title and the 20 km title (over Mantz) and was right behind Mantz (2:08:00) at Chicago. Those two are at the head of the form chart.

Great interest will be paid to first-time marathoner Paul Chelimo, the Rio 2016 5,000 m silver winner and who got the 5,000 m bronze at Tokyo 2020. Five-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, now 47, will become the oldest man to run in the Olympic Marathon Trials ever; he made the Tokyo 2020 team with a Trials third.

The rest? The weather may have an impact and the smartest runner may be the one who finished third … but may not make it to the Games.

Women:
(165 entries: 153 marathon qualifiers; 12 in half-marathon)
● 2:18:29, Emily Sisson (2022 Chicago)
● 2:19:12, Keira D’Amato (2022 Houston)
● 2:21:40, Betsy Saina (2023 Tokyo)
● 2:22:10, Sara Hall (2022 Worlds)
● 2:23:07, Molly Seidel (2023 Chicago)
● 2:23:24, Sara Vaughn (2023 Chicago)
● 2:24:35, Gabriella Rooker (2023 Chicago)
● 2:24:37, Aliphine Tuliamuk (2023 Boston)
● 2:24:40, Dakotah Lindwurm (2023 Chicago)
● 2:24:43, Lindsay Flanagan (2022 Gold Coast)

This is an outstanding field, with 21 who have run faster than the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:27:30. Tuliamuk won the Tokyo 2020 Trials, ahead of Molly Seidel and Sally Kipyego; Seidel won the Tokyo Olympic bronze, but withdrew from Orlando due to a knee injury. Emma Bates, who ran 2:22:10 at Boston in 2023, also was unable to achieve the fitness she wanted and won’t run.

Sisson is the American record holder, breaking D’Amato’s mark from earlier in 2022 and was great in 2023, winning national titles at 15 km and 20 km and finishing seventh at the Chicago Marathon. Sara Hall, Bates and D’Amato finished 5-7-8 at the 2022 Worlds, the only country to place three in the top 10.

The women’s field includes 47-year-old Dot McMahon, a five-time Trials qualifier, but there will be a lot of interest in debut marathoner Jenny Simpson, the 2011 World 1,500 m champ and Olympic 1,500 m bronze winner in 2016, who qualified with a 70:35 at the Houston half in 2023. Two-time Olympian Molly Huddle, a 5,000-10,000 m star, is in the field, and Des Linden, already a two-time Olympian, will try to move up one spot from her fourth in 2020; she finished 2-2-4 at the 2012-16-20 Trials.

The races will be shown live on the Peacock subscription service, and then on NBC beginning at noon Eastern. Real-time results should be available here.

3.
Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games conclude in Korea

“You see here a very happy IOC President, and a very happy Chair of the Coordination Commission, because these Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 have been a brilliant success. …

“These Winter Youth Olympic Games have been a great demonstration of Olympic legacy, the hard legacy and the soft legacy of the very successful Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. We saw state-of-the-art facilities, and the athletes enjoying to compete in these state-of-the-art facilities , Olympic facilities, because six years ago, they were glued to their TV screen and saw their then-Olympic idols winning gold medals. …

“But we also saw and this may be, in the long term, even more important, is the soft legacy. I met many volunteers who had been volunteers in 2018. …They really deserve a special mention.”

That was International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER), at a wrap-up news conference prior to the closing of the 2024 Winter YOG in Gangwon.

The event, which finished on Thursday evening, had 1,801 athletes from 78 countries, and a heavy dose of K-pop music throughout. The U.S. was the top medal winner, with 21 in total (5-11-5), nearly double the 11 (2-3-6) won at Lausanne in 2020, and more than the 16 (10-6-0) in 2016 and eight in 2012 (2-3-3). Germany won 20 medals (9-5-6) and Italy had the most golds with 11 and was one of three countries with 18 in all.

Three athletes won four medals: biathlete Antonin Guy (FRA: 3-1-0), speed skater Angel Daleman (NED: 3-0-1) and short track star Xinzhe Zhang (CHN: 2-0-2). In addition to Guy and Daleman, Finn Sonnekalb (GER: speed skating) and Maja Waroschitz (AUT: alpine skiing) also won three golds.

Bach was thrilled with the interest in the Winter YOG, not only in Korea, but also in the U.S., noting there were about a million viewers of NBC’s coverage. Worldwide, the social-media traffic was impressive; said Bach:

“By tomorrow, there will be 250 million engagements on the Olympic social-media handles alone. This is something unprecedented, and in particular, unprecedented for any junior event.

“Here, to have over 250 million engagements is really overwhelming success, which we greatly, greatly appreciate.”

He added that the IOC had contributed $25 million to the organizing committee and spent another $12 million on travel, food, preparation and qualifications for the participating National Olympic Committees.

No host for a 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games has been chosen yet; Bach expects a site to be named later this year or in early 2025.

4.
Beamon’s ‘68 long jump brings $441,000 at auction

The Mexico City 1968 Olympic long jump gold medal won by American Bob Beamon with his historic 8.90 m (29-2 1/2) leap was auctioned on Thursday by Christie’s New York.

Part of the 40-lot The Exceptional Sale, the medal was estimated to sell for $400-600,00 and was sold for $441,000, the third-highest price realized during the sale.

Beamon made history on his first jump of the final and was overwhelmed by his world-record effort; he took one more jump and then skipped his remaining four attempts. Now 77, he decided to sell the medal in order to support his children.

It sold for $350,000, and $441,000 after auction house fees were added on. Said Beamon, “it’s time for me to pass it on.” Christie’s did not identify the buyer.

5.
Cricket tops BCW federation social-media rankings

There’s no doubt about the passion of cricket followers, underscored once again by the BCW International Sports Federation Social Media Rankings for 2023.

The International Cricket Council led all federations by a wide margin, with 106.519 million total followers across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, YouTube and X (ex-Twitter); the top five:

● 106,519,541: Cricket (ICC)
● 56,836,902: Football (FIFA)
● 21,869,824: Basketball (FIBA)
● 15,825,447: Volleyball (FIVB)
● 11,983,040: Athletics (World Athletics)

These top five remained unchanged in their overall ranking from 2022 and were the only federations with more than 10 million combined followers. FIBA, which held its men’s World Cup in 2023, saw a 41% increase in total followers in 2023.

In terms of the Olympic-sport federations, the numbers go down rapidly after World Athletics, with World Rugby fifth (9.709 million) down to World Aquatics in 10th (3.172 million).

The individual platform leaders:

Facebook: 41.014 million: Cricket (ICC)
Instagram: 29.905 million: Cricket (ICC)
LinkedIn: 401,020: Football (FIFA)
Threads: 1.829 million: Cricket (ICC)
TikTok: 4.900 million: Basketball (FIBA)
YouTube: 20.200 million: Football (FIFA)
X: 27.125 million Football (FIFA)

The study noted that despite 2023 being just a year beyond the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, no winter-sport federation made the top-10 list among any of the platforms.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● IOC President Bach was asked during his Gangwon news conference the IOC’s view of the Kamila Valieva doping decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He made special note of the issues with coaches, physicians and others who surround athletes:

“This case overall is another confirmation of our determination and our request which we have been making repeatedly, that in doping cases, it cannot only be a matter for the athletes concerned, but that the entourage of the athletes have to be inquired more and better and deeper and have also to be sanctioned.

“And this is even more true when it comes to minors, and so I cannot only call on all the organizations responsible there for the fight against doping, and all the agencies to really look into the entourage, and to make sure that also with regard to a member of the entourage, we have deterrent sanctions, and again, even tougher sanctions whenever a minor is involved.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2034 ● The march toward selection for the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Olympic Games continues with an announcement that 21,000 of the 24,000 rooms required by the IOC have been secured:

“The Utah bid has now contracted lodging in 11 Utah counties plus Wyoming. The coverage includes Utah’s Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Juab, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties, along with Uintah (Evanston) county in Wyoming.”

The bid file must be submitted later this month, with a site visit likely coming in April.

● World Games ● The International World Games Association announced that Bolivian racquetball star Conrrado Moscoso won the World Games Athlete of the Year award for 2023. He polled 75,389 votes to 55,834 for Italy’s Luisa Rizzo (Air Sports).

German’s Latin Dance duo of Marius-Andrei Balan and Khrystyna Moshenska finished third, with 43,560.

● Russia ● Latvian state media reported:

“Latvia’s team sports national teams are prohibited from playing against the national teams of Russia and Belarus, according to the amendments to the Sports Law adopted in the Saeima [legislature] on Thursday, February 1. The ban will also apply if athletes from the aggressor countries participate in the competition in a neutral status. …

“The amendments to the law also provide for a ban on organizing team sports national team competitions in Latvia, where the national teams of Russia or Belarus participate under their flag or in a neutral status. The ban applies to both adult, youth and junior competitions both in Latvia and abroad.

“The main goal of the adopted amendments to the law is to re-emphasize Latvia’s solidarity with Ukraine and to fundamentally block any Russian efforts to legitimize its war crimes through the sports industry, the press service of the Saeima informed. In the Russian foreign policy doctrine, one of the directions of spreading its values is the so-called ‘soft power’ in building relations with foreign countries, and sports is one of the ways of its use.”

Russian response was immediate and shrill, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova telling Sport Express:

“This is a manifestation of racism: hatred on national grounds. Nazism in its purest form.”

Former Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov called for sanctions from the IOC:

“We have many precedents in international sports policy when this is interpreted as government intervention in the affairs of public organizations … any interference and prohibitions of this kind are called government interference in the affairs of public organizations.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● “Making Team USA presented by Xfinity aims to tell the untold qualification journey story, inclusive of all sports and athletes, and consisting of live events and competitions, including notable NBCU Trials coverage, athlete-led storytelling, behind-the-scenes content, gamification and other first-of-its-kind digital experiences on the newly launched TeamUSA.com to learn more about each athlete.”

Thursday’s announcement of this new promotional platform from the NBCUniversal family – Xfinity is owned by Comcast Corporation, also the parent of NBCU – creates a new opportunity for fans to track the U.S. team prior to Paris. There is also an Xfinity gift for U.S. Olympians-to-be:

“Xfinity will roll out its Xfinity Athlete Connections program ahead of Paris 2024, which will provide a ‘connections credit’ to each athlete who qualifies for the 2024 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams to help support their access to the Internet at home or on the go via their mobile device.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Injured Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde said on Thursday that a better system for managing athlete time is needed to prevent more injuries.

This has been a tough year for crashes, with stars such as Alexis Pinturault (FRA), Petra Vlhova (SVK), Wendy Holdener (SUI), Marco Schwarz (AUT), Kilde and partner Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) – all Olympic medal winners – either out for the season or for a significant portion.

An Associated Press story explained:

“Currently, a top skier’s day can start before sunrise and include inspecting the hill, racing, post-race ceremonies and media work at the course. Later, there is a televised evening event typically in a town square for another trophy presentation, media interviews and presenting start bibs for the next day’s race.”

Said Kilde: “It’s super important that we look at something that’s more sustainable,” referring to the heavy January schedule, where canceled races from November and December were rescheduled, resulting in 13 men’s races across five venues in three countries. The women had 12 races at six venues across four countries. Kilde was injured on his third straight day of racing, in Wengen (SUI) on 13 January, and added:

“We have to sit down with the people involved with this and see what we can do better for the upcoming years. We don’t have any room to lose anybody.”

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) commented, “It is a balancing act to minimize the athletes’ time obligations while still giving World Cup competitions proper promotion both on site and for television.”

● Athletics ● Sad news that Michel Jazy, France’s middle-distance star of the 1960s, has passed at age 87 on Thursday.

The 1960 Olympic silver medalist in the 1,500 m, he set nine world records and was most famous for his mile mark of 3:53.6 in 1965 and the 2,000 m record of 4:56.2 – that stood for 10 years – in 1966.

● Swimming ● Caesars Sportsbook has posted odds on the open-water races at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT) that opens on Friday:

Men/5 km: Germany’s defending champion Florian Wellbrock is favored to repeat at 2.62:1, trailed by Italians Gregorio Paltrinieri (4:1, the 2023 silver winner) and Domenico Azcerenza (4.5:1, 2023 bronze).

Men/10 km: Wellbrock, who won this race last year as well, is 3.75:1 as the favorite, ahead of Azcerenza (4.50:1) and Paltrinieri (8:1).

Women/5 km: Katie Grimes of the U.S. is the favorite at 3.75:1, ahead of defending champ Leonie Beck (GER: 5.50:1) and 2023 Worlds runner-up Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED: 7:1) and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha (7:1), the 2023 bronze winner.

Women/10 km: Beck, the defending champ here too, is favored at 4:1, with Grimes – who won bronze in this race last year – at 6.5:1, along with van Rouwendaal (6.5:1).

Paltrinieri has apparently withdrawn in the 10 km race, so look for new odds soon.

Myrtha Pools announced that the warm-up pools for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials – 50 m and 25 m – have been purchased (ahead of time) by the Cayman Islands’ Ministry of Youth, Sports and Heritage. Both will be re-installed at the new Cayman Islands Aquatic Center.

It’s the first Myrtha pool from a U.S. Olympic Trials to be used afterwards outside the U.S.; the company has been providing temporary pools for the Trials since 2008.

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TSX REPORT: Paris 2024 opening ceremony crowd to be 300,000; Putin says ROC and Sports Ministry will decide if Russians go to Paris

The Paris 2024 concept for the Opening Ceremony on the Seine (Image: Paris 2024)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Paris 2024 opening to host 300,000-plus spectators
2. Paris 2024 details “Marathon Pour Tous” for 40,048 during Games
3. IOC knocks Italian plan for Cortina sliding center
4. Putin says ROC and Sports Ministry will decide on Paris
5. Tokyo 2020 bribery defendant Takahashi begins defense at trial

● The French Interior Minister said that the crowd for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on the Seine will be about 300,000, down from the once-projected 600,000 for security and transport reasons.

● The Paris 2024 “Marathon Pour Tous” program will welcome more than 40,000 runners on the Olympic marathon course on the same day as the men’s event will be held. Both a full marathon and a 10 km race will be held.

● The International Olympic Committee once again panned the Italian plan to rush ahead with the building of a new sliding track for bob, luge and skeleton in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2026. But the issue is now political in Italy; the organizers will keep back-up plans in place.

● Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the decision on what to do about participation at Paris as “neutrals” is up to the Russian Olympic Committee and the Sports Ministry. Questions are also being asked about who gave skater Kamila Valieva the Trimetazidine that caused her doping positive; no one knows.

● The man at the center of the Tokyo 2020 sponsorship pay-to-play scandal, Haruyuki Takahashi, appeared in court in Tokyo for the first time on Wednesday. His lawyers insisted that the money he received was for legitimate consulting work. Meanwhile, a dozen others have admitted guilt and have received suspended sentences.

Panorama: Vox Populi (Sobering essay on conflict and Olympic hopes from Prof. Helmut Digel) = Los Angeles 2028 (L.A. City report says LA28 funding has increased sports participation) = World Anti-Doping Agency (Olympic Council of Asia confirmed compliant) = Athletics (big opener for World Champ Mahuchikh in Cottbus!) = Boxing (USA Boxing confirms Olympians, named Olympic qualifier entries) = Fencing (U.S. wins three bronzes at Qatar Epee Grand Prix) = Shooting (Simonton takes Skeet title at ISSF Grand Prix in Egypt) ●

1.
Paris 2024 opening to host 300,000-plus spectators

Finally, an actual number for the spectators who will be watching the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremonies along the Seine River in Paris: “around 300,000.”

That’s from French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin, from a television interview on Wednesday, ending months of speculation on what the finalized limit will be. The logistical plan remains the same:

● About 100,000 spectators will be seated close to the water, on the lower quays; these tickets are being sold by the Paris 2024 organizers.

● Another 200,000 or so will be able to watch the ceremony from the upper quays; they will be required to obtain tickets, which will be free and distributed by the government.

● There will be no restrictions on watching the event from home for those who live along the route.

The 300,000 figure is half what was originally projected as the capacity for the ceremony, with the same 100,000 close to the water, but as many as 500,000 on the upper banks. But this total was seriously opposed by public transportation officials as far more than it could handle.

Darmanin did not explain when or how the final figure was arrived at, but transport and security concerns have been paramount, and a plan by the Paris police to remove hundreds of the river-side second-hand bookseller boxes has been fiercely opposed by the booksellers and their allies.

Darmanin was optimistic, if also realistic about the risks involved:

“I know that we have the best security forces in the world and that we will succeed in showing not only that we can win medals [at the Games] but that we can play host to the world without any problems.”

Ile-de-France regional President Valerie Pecresse, also in charge of the transport authority, welcomed the lower figure:

“It seems to us to be a much more reasonable level that provides security and safety for spectators as well as for travellers on public transport.”

Darmanin acknowledged that “The terror risk is extremely strong,” and the organizers have said that they have contingency plans in development that will maintain the ceremony on the water, but could modify the show to protect athletes and performers in case of a security alert.

The Paris 2024 organizers said that the exact numbers are still to be worked out:

“As the French government has indicated, the final decision on the size of the stadium will be taken at the end of the consultation process in spring 2024.

“When it comes to security, the Minister of the Interior is in the best position to take the right decisions. As you know, it is the State that is responsible for security and for welcoming the spectators who will attend the opening ceremony free of charge on the upper quays.

“Paris 2024 has been working for many months in close collaboration with the public authorities to calibrate the capacity, for which we are taking many parameters into account. Consultations are still underway, under the authority of the chief of police.”

2.
Paris 2024 details “Marathon Pour Tous” for
40,048 during Games

One of the true innovations of the Paris 2024 organizing plan is to offer an opportunity for non-elite runners to be part of the road-running experience on the same day as the men’s Olympic marathon: the “Marathon Pour Tous.”

On 10 August, the men’s marathon will begin at 8 a.m. with an expected field of 80. But in the evening, more than 40,000 runners will take over all or part of the course:

9:00 p.m.: The same marathon course will be open to 20,024 runners – half men, half women – who will run the full distance, beginning at the Hotel de Ville and finishing at the famed Esplanade des Invalides.

11:30 p.m.: Another 20,024 runners will run in a 10 km race, also starting and finishing in the same locations as the marathon, but with a much shorter route in between.

Some 35,000 entries were allocated out of the 40,048 total to the public, with the right to run won by varying events across France, and registrations from outside the country. In all, entries will come from 110 countries, with the highest registration numbers from France (of course), the U.S., Belgium, Great Britain and Germany.

The marathon entries range from 20-85 years, with a quarter trying the distance for the first time. The 10 km starters range from 16-95.

This is a first-time concept and could become of the signature legacies of the Paris 2024 Games, especially with the nighttime program and a planned showcase of multiple landmarks lit up as the runners pass them during their run.

3.
IOC knocks Italian plan for Cortina sliding center

“The IOC firmly believes that the existing number of sliding centers, globally, is sufficient for the current number of athletes and competitions in the sports of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton.

“[Only] existing and already operating tracks should be considered due to the very tight timeline remaining.”

The Associated Press reported the International Olympic Committee’s statement on Wednesday, continuing to insist that an existing venue should be used for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The IOC’s statement also noted that it has been “unequivocal that no permanent venue should be built without a clear and viable legacy plan.”

Confidence in the Italian plan to build a sliding venue in about a year is tempered by the reality that the Cesara Pariol venue for the 2006 Turin Winter Games closed in 2012 as it was too expensive to operate and had drawn little tourism interest.

But the building of a site in Cortina to replace the famed Eugenio Monti track used for the 1956 Winter Games – in Cortina – had become a national political issue, as expressed by Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani on Tuesday on X (ex-Twitter):

“Today the Council of Ministers will approve regulations on the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is not acceptable for the bobsled races to take place outside Italy. The choice is forced: either Cortina or Cesana. We will do everything to achieve the goal. I support Italy!”

After attracting no bids at all for the project last summer, one bidder has come forward, the Parma-based Impresa Pizzarotti & C., at €81.6 million ($88.27 million U.S.), and would be contracted by the Italian government’s infrastructure authority, known as SIMICO. The track has to be completed in a year in order to be tested and certified in the season prior to the 2026 Winter Games.

Just in case the track cannot be finished in time, the Milan Cortina organizers are maintaining contacts with four other possible sites for bob, luge and skeleton: Innsbruck (AUT), Koenigssee (GER), St. Moritz (SUI) and Lake Placid in the U.S.

4.
Putin says ROC and Sports Ministry will decide on Paris

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped into the Olympic controversies surrounding Russia, placing the responsibility of deciding whether any Russian athletes will compete in Paris on others. Speaking at a campaign event, he explained:

“I understand everything that is connected with participation or non-participation, discrimination of our high-achieving athletes in international competitions.

“Now, it seems to me, there is no need to talk about this. It is our Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports that must finally decide what to do and what not to do in this regard.”

He added:

“Today’s major international competitions within the framework of the Olympic movement, of course, are becoming flawed. In some sports, without our athletes, competitions become uninteresting. It’s just that our athletes are leaders in many areas.”

And he insisted that “respected individuals in this sphere, athletes, realize what is really going on and regret the current developments.”

Of course, Putin did not say that he would not be discussing the issue with both the Sports Ministry and the Russian Olympic Committee.

As for sports today:

“International sport is a sport of high achievements – it is very commercialized. Everything there, every step, depends on advertisers, on sponsors. Sponsors, in turn – these are large companies – depend on the political elites of their states. So the circle is closed, and so everything, all problems stem from this, around this.”

In the wake of the Court of Arbitration for Sport holding that Russian skater Kamila Valieva was doping based on her positive test on 25 December 2021, calls have come quickly for further inquiries into who provided her with the prohibited substance Trimetazidine.

The question of investigations into her “entourage” was noted by Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) head Veronika Loginova, who said her agency will not pursue it:

“We have investigated the athlete’s entourage within the authority that RUSADA possesses in line with Russian law and the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“We believe that the authority of anti-doping organizations is not always sufficient to prove the involvement of an athlete’s entourage in doping cases.

“RUSADA has no power of law enforcement bodies to resort to operative investigative measures. We have repeatedly stated this. Unfortunately, in most cases our investigative activities are limited to voluntary participation and subsequent analysis of the gathered information.

“WADA stated that the investigation could be resumed after the agency studied the reasoned text of the CAS verdict. We are ready to provide them with all the necessary assistance within the framework of our authority and powers.”

Loginova said she would like to find the person responsible for Valieva’s doping positive:

“If there is a person who acted as an accomplice or even the initiator of taking a prohibited substance to Kamila, who at that time was only 15 years old, then this ‘criminal’ – there is no other way to call him, must be punished, including criminal liability for inducing a minor athlete to violate anti-doping rules. In Russia, unlike most, even the most advanced in this area of countries, criminal liability for this was introduced in 2016.”

The Times (London) reported that while all three arbitrators in the Valieva case agreed that a sanction was called for, two were in favor of the four-year ban that was imposed and one preferred two years.

5.
Tokyo 2020 bribery defendant Takahashi begins defense at trial

Former Dentsu senior director and Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizing committee board member Haruyuki Takahashi appeared in a Tokyo District Court on Wednesday, with his attorneys claiming that the funds he received from sponsors and ad agencies were for legitimate consulting work.

Takahashi, 79, has been at the center of the pay-to-play sponsorship bribery scandal disclosed after the Games were concluded, with 15 people indicted in all and about 12 already entering guilty pleas and receiving suspended sentences. They admitted that their payments to Takahashi were intended as bribes to assure that they would be selected as Tokyo 2020 sponsors or licensees.

Prosecutors say that he received payments – either directly or through third parties – to help arrange for Olympic sponsor, supplier and licensee designations for various businesses, as well as to recommend ad agencies to work with sponsors. The total payments are alleged at ¥196 million, or about $1.33 million U.S. today.

Takahashi, a Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member, is said to have made arrangements to assist Official Supporters Aoki Holdings (¥51 million payment total) and Kadokawa Corp. (¥76 million), licensee Sun Arrow, Inc. (¥7 million) and ad agencies ADK Holdings (¥47 million) and Daiko Advertising (¥26 million). He was assisted by two consulting firms through which the monies were routed.

Takahashi’s attorneys told the Court that the payments were for legitimate consulting work, and that Takahashi could not have had so much authority over sponsor marketing since the solicitation of sponsors was outsourced to ad giant Dentsu. The prosecution contends that as a former Dentsu senior director, he had a central role in the selection of sponsors and suppliers.

The trial is to be continued on 22 February.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Vox Populi ● A very sobering guest essay on conflicts in today’s world and a possible contribution to the idea of peace by the Olympic Movement by Prof. Helmut Digel, the long-time former World Athletics Council member and head of the German track & field federation.

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● A good report from the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, filed last week, that despite lingering Covid issues, participation was well ahead of the pre-pandemic baseline totals.

The fiscal year 2022-23 plan showed a projected total of 145,991 participants in the myriad of programs funded by LA28 organizing committee monies advanced by the IOC. Instead, the total enrollment was 176,596, a 21% increase. Even better: the budget of $17.53 million was underspent by 23%, at $13.55 million.

The heaviest users by age were children from 5-13, although the program reached down to a few as young as one, and as old as 17. Compared to the baseline participation total at the start of the program – 148,274 from 2018-19 – the project’s participation was up by 19% for 2022-23. Funding by LA28 will continue through the middle of 2028.

Also noteworthy was support for this project provided by other organizations such as the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Los Angeles Clippers Foundation, Angel City FC, Kaiser Permanente, the LA84 Foundation, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Nike.

The PlayLA report was actually completed in September, but not forwarded to the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games until now.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● WADA confirmed that the Olympic Council of Asia paid its $500,000 fine for allowing the North Korean flag to be used at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN).

North Korea was deemed compliant in the last week, but was not compliant during the Asian Games; both matters are concluded, at least for now.

● Athletics ● A big seasonal opener for Ukraine’s women’s high jump World Champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh in Cottbus (GER) at the annual Internationales Springer-Meeting, winning with a world-leading 2.04 m (6-8 1/4).

She cleared on her second try, but did not attempt a higher height. It ties her third-best performance ever, and is her second-best mark indoors.

● Boxing ● Following the end of the USA Boxing selection camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Boxing confirmed five Olympians-to-be already qualified and identified seven fighters who will compete at the 29 February-12 March World Qualification Tournament I in Busto Arsizio (ITA).

The five already going to Paris, thanks to their performance at the 2023 Pan American Games, include Jahmal Harvey (57 kg) and Joshua Edwards (+92 kg) in the men’s classes and Jarjaira Gonzalez (60 kg), Morelle McCane (66 kg) and Jennifer Lozano (50 kg) for the women.

Selections for the Worlds qualifier include 2021 World Champion Robby Gonzales (80 kg), 2021 Worlds runner-up Omari Jones (71 kg) and 2022 Americas confederation champions Jamar Talley (92 kg) and Roscoe Hill (51 kg).

Naomi Graham, the 2018 Worlds bronze medalist (75 kg) and national tournament champions Alyssa Mendoza (57 kg) and Shera Mae Patricio (54 kg) will compete for spots in Paris for the women.

● Fencing ● A surprise win for Israel and three bronze medals for the U.S. at the FIE Grand Prix in Epee in Doha (QAT) for men and women.

The men’s final was won by Yuval Freilich of Israel, who had previously taken one World Cup medal in his career, back in 2016. But he overcame 2018 World Champion Yannick Borel (FRA) in the quarters (15-9) and dispatched Federico Vismara of Italy in the final, also by 15-9. Americans Yeisser Ramirez and Sam Imrek took the bronzes.

The women’s title was the second career Grand Prix gold for top-ranked Man Wai Vivian Kong (HKG), who outlasted Guilia Rizzi (ITA) in the final by 14-13. Two-time Worlds bronze winner Kong has – at 29 – won 13 career Grand Prix or World Cup medals. Hadley Husisian of the U.S. lost to Kong in the semis, 15-14, and shared the bronze medals with Darja Varfolonyeyeva (UKR).

All three Americans won their first major international medals!

● Shooting ● American Sam Simonton, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist in women’s Skeet, won the ISSF World Cup in Cairo (EGY) for the only U.S. medal of the competition. She defeated Italy’s Martina Maruzzo, 50-47, for the gold.

Eleven different countries won events across the Olympic event program, with Greece’s 2016 Olympic 25 m Pistol winner Anna Korakaki taking the women’s 10 m Air Pistol gold, and the silver at 25 m, losing to 2023 World Champion Doreen Vennekamp (GER), 39-37, in the final.

Worlds bronze winner Azmy Mehelba (EGY) won for the home team in men’s Skeet, and India led the overall medal count with six.

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TSX REPORT: ISU re-scores Beijing Team Event, but gives Russia the bronze, ignoring its own rules; U.S. skater Chock wants medal ceremony in Paris!

Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates on their way to an Ice Dance gold at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in 2023 (Photo: ISU)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. ISU gives Beijing Team Event medals to U.S., Japan and Russia
2. ISU’s re-scoring appears to have ignored its own rules
3. Chock and Bates thrilled with gold, hope for medals in Paris!
4. Milan Cortina 2026 sliding track to be in Cortina (maybe)
5. French police promised up to €1,900 in Olympic bonuses

● The International Skating Union declared Tuesday that with the disqualification of Russian skater Kamila Valieva for doping, the U.S. is the gold medalist in the figure skating Team Event at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Japan was moved up to silver, but Russia was curiously given the bronze over Canada.

● A look at the ISU’s own rules on the scoring of disqualifications indicates that the federation ignored its own Rule 353, which states that in the case of disqualifications, the placers behind the disqualified athlete should be moved up. This was not done and Canada is preparing to appeal.

● U.S. skaters Madison Chock and Evan Bates spoke with reporters on Tuesday and Chock said her dream would be to receive the Team Event gold medals during the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief exec Sarah Hirshland hinted at something earlier and with the U.S. team alone. Bates spoke of the decision as a victory for clean athletes.

● The board of the Milan Cortina 2026 organizing committee approved the building of a new sliding track in Cortina by the Italian government, but will continue to plan for an out-of-country solution if the project is not completed by March of 2025.

● The French Interior Ministry announced bonus payments for police serving extra time during the Olympic period this summer, after protests demanding added pay during the summer, when many would be on vacation.

Panorama: International Olympic Committee (Bach says Esports Games in 2025 or 2026) = Russia (2: Valieva get almost 50,000 comments in 30 minutes on Monday post; Russian Embassy in D.C. says U.S. using sport as part of war against Russia) = Alpine Skiing (Gut-Behrami wins fifth this season in Kronplatz) = Aquatics (Doha Worlds entries largest ever) = Athletics (world leads for Nader, Klaver, Hailu in Ostrava) = Tennis (Hsieh wins twice in Doubles at Australian Open) ●

1.
ISU gives Beijing Team Event medals to U.S., Japan and Russia

The International Skating Union did not wait for its 7 February Council meeting, but posted a notice on Tuesday that re-scored the Team Event from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and showed the United States as the winner, followed by Japan and the Russian Olympic Committee:

● 1. 65, United States
● 2. 63, Japan
● 3. 54, Russia
● 4. 53, Canada

The change from the original scoring, which had Russia with 74 points as the winner, was simply to remove the 20 points scored by Kamila Valieva – confirmed to have committed a doping violation and now suspended during the time of the 2022 Winter Games by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday – and not to change the scoring of any of the other places in either the women’s Short Program or Free Skate.

This leaves Canada in fourth place and China (50) in fifth, and Valieva was disqualified from her fourth-place finish in the women’s Singles competition.

Further, Valieva’s win at the European Championships in January of 2022 in Estonia was also vaporized, with Russian Anna Shcherbakova advanced to first place, ahead of teammate Alexandra Trusova and Belgian Loena Hendrickx.

The ISU statement also noted:

“The ISU welcomes the decision of CAS and firmly maintains its position that the protection of clean athletes and the fight against doping are of the highest priority and will persist in the ongoing effort to uphold the integrity of fair competition and the well-being of athletes.

“The ISU is in close contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the relevant ISU Member Federations in regard to the implementation of this decision.”

The statement does not reference any need for confirmation of this action by the ISU Council at its 7 February meeting, and the statement in unsigned.

It should be noted that the CAS decision from Monday can be appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on narrow procedural grounds, and any such appeal is unlikely to overturn the finding against Valieva. But it may delay the ultimate confirmation of the final results of the Team Event, which concluded on 7 February 2022.

2.
ISU’s re-scoring appears to have ignored its own rules

The International Skating Union’s Tuesday announcement of re-stated results for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games Team Event was odd in that it removed only the points scored by Russian star Valieva and did not change any other scores in the women’s Short Program or Free Skate.

The ISU statement referred to Article 10.10 of the ISU Anti-Doping Rules, which speaks directly to disqualifications of competitors in events subsequent to a doping violation, notes that:

“[A]ll other competitive results of the Skater obtained from the date a positive Sample was collected … or other antidoping rule violation occurred, through the commencement of any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be Disqualified with all of the resulting Consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.”

Under this section, Valieva was quite rightly disqualified and her points removed from the team scoring total (74-20 = 54). However, a deeper look at the rules makes things muddier.

● Rule 11.2.2 of the ISU Anti-Doping Rules is in a section titled “Consequences to Teams” and states:

“An anti-doping rule violation committed by a member of a team, including substitutes, occurring during or in connection with an Event may lead to Disqualification of all of the results obtained by the team in that Event with all Consequences for the team and its members, including forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes, except as provided in Article 11.2.3.”

The key phrase here is “in connection with an Event,” which in the Valieva case would indicate that her doping positive, revealed literally minutes after the Team Event finished on 7 February 2022, would appear to apply here. If so, the entire Russian team should be disqualified.

(The exception in 11.2.3 does not apply, since it lets a team continue without disqualification only if that team was not otherwise affected by the doping violation. Russia was most certainly impacted, since it would have won with a substitute for Valieva.)

● Even more important is Rule 353 of the ISU’s “Special Regulations for Technical Rules for Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance.”

In section 4, titled “Publication of Results,” the text is clear about scoring for disqualified competitors:

“Disqualified Competitors will lose their placements and be officially noted in the intermediate and final results as disqualified (DSQ). Competitors having finished the competition and who initially placed lower than the disqualified Competitor(s) will move up accordingly in their placement(s).”

This rule was in effect at the time of the Beijing Winter Games and clearly indicates that not only should Valieva’s points been deducted, but that other teams were affected:

● In the Short Program, Valieva won (10 points), but now all nine others should be advanced one place and have one point added to their totals.

● Same in the Free Skate, where Valieva won again, but the nine following skaters should all receive one more point.

This would make the final scores:

● 1. 67, United States (up from 65)
● 2. 65, Japan (up from 63)
● 3. 55, Canada (up from 53)
● 4. 54, Russia (down from 74)
● 5. 52, China (up from 50)

Canada should be the bronze-medal winner by reference to the ISU’s figure skating rules for scoring of disqualified athletes.

Have no doubt that a challenge to the ISU’s scoring – unless corrected – will come from Skate Canada on behalf of its team. The federation said so on Tuesday:

“Skate Canada is extremely disappointed with the International Skating Union’s (ISU) position on the long-awaited awarding of medals for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games Figure Skating Team Competition.

“The Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that in addition to a four-year ban from competition, the ban includes ‘the disqualification [of] all competitive results’ achieved by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva since the positive test. The ISU in its recent decision is not applying Rule 353, which states that ‘competitors having finished the competition and who initially placed lower than the disqualified competitor will move up accordingly in their placement.’

“Skate Canada strongly disagrees with the ISU’s position on this matter and will consider all options to appeal this decision.”

And Russia is planning a new appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Russian Olympic Committee declared Tuesday:

“Our lawyers have already begun preparing the necessary documents for filing an appeal.

“We proceed from the fact that, in accordance with the current, applicable ISU rules, the consequences of the decision on sanctions in relation to an individual athlete, in this case Kamila Valieva, cannot be a basis for reviewing the results of a team tournament. Our legal position is based, among other things, on existing precedents in CAS practice.”

Noting Rule 353 cited above, this appears to be fantasy, but appeals can be filed.

The Russian news agency TASS quoted a statement from the International Olympic Committee, which apparently considers the matter over:

“The IOC welcomes the fact that the CAS decision brings clarity to this matter so that the athletes competing in the team figure skating event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics can finally receive the medals they have been waiting for.

“The IOC can now award medals in accordance with the final standings, which shall be established by the International Skating Union. The IOC will contact the relevant National Olympic Committees to organize a dignified medal ceremony.”

3.
Chock and Bates thrilled with gold, hope for medals in Paris!

“Yes, we have thought about it. When all of this initially happened, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was, wow, we would love to have a true Olympic medal ceremony.

“And so, for us, that would be a medal ceremony at the Paris Games this summer. That would be the dream scenario and be able to stand atop the podium at an Olympic event and be there with our families, and just to celebrate and be surrounded by the Olympic spirit and the Olympic Movement would be our dream scenario.”

That’s U.S. Ice Dance star Madison Chock, now a member of the Olympic gold-medal-winning team from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, from a Tuesday news conference reacting to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision that disqualified Russia’s Kamila Valieva for doping, and if she had considered what a proper medal ceremony would look like.

Chock, who just won her fifth national Ice Dance title with Evan Bates – despite illness – expressed the whirlwind of the past day:

“It’s just a feeling I’ve always dreamed of and one I almost can’t believe is here. I’m still wrapping my head around the reality of everything. It’s just been a very happy 24 hours of news for us.”

Said Bates:

“It’s been quite a surreal experience. It’s been a long – almost two years now – wait for this decision to come through. We’re pleased and we’re here on behalf of the other seven skaters who we’ve bonded so tightly with through this experience. …

“We really, up until the night before, had no idea how this was going to turn out, and it’s just been an unbelievable 24 hours.”

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland explained that exactly how a medal ceremony will be done is up in the air:

“I don’t think that it is necessarily mandatory that all of the medals be awarded in the same place at the same time. So we are going to consider all the possibilities, both what will be logistically the best option for Team USA to be together with the people who are most important to them in that celebration. It doesn’t have to be a ceremony with all three of the gold-silver-bronze awarded at the same time.

“So, we’ve got a bit of flexibility to think about what’s going to be best for Team USA independent of what may be best for Japan and ultimately ROC or Canada or however that ends up playing out.

“But our goal and our focus is on Team USA and we know we have some flexibility and latitude to focus on this team independently.”

Ignoring the possible appeals that may be out there, Hirshland said it would be better to do a ceremony sooner rather than later:

“The short answer is, regardless, there is no scenario at this point in which Team USA is not the gold-medal winner, and so we’re focused on getting those gold medals awarded to Team USA and even in my conversations with the IOC last night, they are as eager as we are, and the no. 1 priority is to allow the team to really weigh in and ensure that they have the opportunity to help us craft what that celebration should look like.

“But everybody has a sense of urgency, and there’s no reason for any delay.”

Bates took special notice of what the CAS holding meant in terms of penalizing those who are doping:

“We feel very grateful that case has had due process and has reached this conclusion here, or maybe not a conclusion, but this finding, and I think there are so many clean athletes who historically not had their moment, have not had the recognition that they deserve, whether that’s because those doping didn’t get caught or because the case didn’t come to trial or what have you.

“I mean there are countless athletes in history, through the decades, that have not had the moments that we have just now had, so we’re extremely happy, we’re extremely pleased and we’re just really focusing on that, celebrating the achievement. …

“For clean athletes, for the legacy of clean sport, the integrity of the Olympic Movement, I think this is, I think, a landmark case. It’s a monumental thing. This is an unprecedented event, where 20-something clean athletes left the Olympic Games without a medal that they won – cleanly – and yesterday, in large part, the finding by CAS brought some justice to the clean-sport movement, and I think clean athletes around the world will find some joy and some solace in knowing that clean sport matters, and the fight against doping is ongoing.”

4.
Milan Cortina 2026 sliding track to be in Cortina (maybe)

The Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 board agreed Tuesday to go forward – if possible – with the construction of a new track on Cortina, to replace the historic Eugenio Monti track used for the 1956 Olympic Winter Games.

But it will be ready with an alternative in case of difficulties:

“The Board of Directors of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, which met today, listened to the report of the President Giovanni Malagó and the CEO, Andrea Varnier, and expressed optimism on the issue of the sliding center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, waiting for SIMICO (Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 SpA) to sign the contract with the contracting company.”

“[T]he Board of Directors itself, given the negative opinions received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federations, concerned by the tight deadlines that the work imposes, and also by virtue of SIMICO’s communication of last 01/03/2024 with which it was recommended to keep any alternative solutions open, decided not to interrupt the dialogue with the other existing and functioning plants, giving the CEO a mandate to continue the work of negotiating a possible plan B which, also in this case, will require a extra budget.”

Time and money are at issue. The building of the new track has been plagued with issues, and not one construction bid was received last summer for the project. The program was reduced a little and a bid for the now €81.6 million project (~$88.50 million U.S.) was received from the Parma-based Impresa Pizzarotti & C., a well-respected firm.

But the Tuesday statement by the Milan Cortina board also noted that more money will be needed to complete the project and that “the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation will initiate discussions with the competent institutions.” The Milan Cortina 2026 sponsorship efforts are now on track to reach their budgeted goals, but the sales effort has proved difficult.

The clock will be ticking, with the project facing a set, acknowledged deadline:

“The Organizing Committee of the Milan Cortina 2026 Games is in continuous contact with the IOC and the International Federations and reiterates that the pre-homologation tests cannot for any reason take place beyond the month of March 2025.”

That’s 13 months from now. The tug-of-war over the sliding venue has become a political issue inside Italy, with minister demanding that money not be sent out of the country to support the 2026 Winter Games. Proposals from Austria (Innsbruck), Germany (Koenigssee), Switzerland (St. Moritz) and the U.S. (Lake Placid) were all sent to the 2026 organizers and, apparently, the talks will continue.

5.
French police promised up to €1,900 in Olympic bonuses

After multiple protests by police units over working hours and the expected longer shifts coming during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Interior Ministry announced Tuesday that bonuses of up to €1,900 (~$2,060 U.S.) will be available.

Officers taking less than normal leave during the Olympic and Paralympic period in June, July, August and September, will receive a €1,000 bonus ($1,084 U.S.) with as much as €1,600 ($1,735) for those assigned to Olympic areas. Paris-area and airport officers will receive €300 ($325).

Other public-sector unions, in the medical and transit sectors, are also pushing for extra pay to stay on the job during the two Games, periods which are usually taken for vacations.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● Speaking to reporters at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Korea, IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) said the Olympic Esports Games is coming soon:

“I guess we could count on the first edition, offer such an Olympic Esports Games for the year 2025, or the latest 2026.”

● Russia ● Considerable sympathy for 17-year-old Kamila Valieva, who posted a skating video of herself on the ice in a red dress on Monday after being disqualified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for doping in 2021.

The post, on Telegram, received more than 49,900 visits in the first 30 minutes!

Another post on Telegram, in Russian, was from the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

“We have paid attention to the atmosphere of gloating in local journalistic and sporting circles about the Russophobic decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to disqualify our figure skater Kamila Valieva for 4 years and deprive her of her awards for allegedly using doping.

“All this fits into the framework of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against the Russian Federation. Local authorities are not a stranger to outright pressure on sports structures in order to prevent the appearance of highly competitive Russian athletes at competitions, especially under the Russian tricolor. In parallel, they are trying to disrupt a number of major events in our country, including the Games of the Future, the BRICS Sports Games and the World Friendship Games.

“America is clearly annoyed that new formats – beyond the control of the Westerners – are attracting growing interest from countries in the Global South, tired of the politicization of high-performance sports.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami continued her hot streak with another win in the Giant Slalom, this time in Kronplatz (ITA), taking control on the first run.

The Olympic Super-G champ from 2022 flew to an 0.59 edge on the first run over New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, 1:00.48 to 1:01.07, and then extended her lead on the second run with the third-fastest time, ending with a total of 2:00.64. It’s her 42nd career win on the FIS World Cup circuit.

Robinson was only 10th-fastest on the second run and ended up in a tie for second (2:01.73) with Swede Sara Hector, the Olympic Giant Slalom winner in Beijing.

Gut-Behrami, 32, has won five races this season: three Giant Slaloms and two Super-G and is now within 95 points of the seasonal lead, as Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. recovers from injuries.

● Aquatics ● The registration totals for the World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT) that start on Friday (2nd) show the largest event on record, with 2,603 athletes from 197 countries.

SwimSwam.com noted that, if that many athletes show, it will be the first Worlds with more than 2,500 entries, topping the 2,438 for Rome (ITA) in 2009 and 2,418 at Gwangju (KOR) in 2019. The 197 countries would top the 191 at Fukuoka (JPN) last year.

Olympic qualifying will not be on the line in swimming, but spots will be open in artistic swimming, diving, open-water swimming and water polo.

● Athletics ● Spirited running in Ostrava (CZE) at the Czech Indoor Gala, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet on Tuesday, with a world lead from Isaac Nader of Portugal in the men’s 1,500 m of 3:34.23.

Nader beat Swede Samuel Pihlstrom (3:35.47) for one of three world-leading marks. Dutch 400 m star Lieke Klaver, the 2022 Worlds fourth-placer, won at 50.54, best this season, and 2023 World Road Mile runner-up Freweyni Hailu (ETH) took the lead in the women’s mile by winning in 4:17.36, well ahead of countrywoman Hirut Meshesha (4:19.53), the 2022 World Indoor 1,500 bronze winner.

Hailu moved to no. 6 on the all-time indoor performers (and performances) list and passed 1,500 m in 4:01.03, also the fastest for 2024.

In addition, Olympic men’s long jump champ Miltiadis Tentoglu (GRE) won at 8.09 m (26-6 1/2), and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda, already the women’s world leader at 60 m (7.04), won in 7.07.

● Tennis ● Plenty of coverage of the Australian Open wins for Jannik Sinner (ITA) in the men’s final and Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) for the women, but not much about the Doubles finals.

Mixed-nationality teams won all three divisions, with Rohan Bopanna (IND) and Matthew Ebden (AUS) taking the men’s title over Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, 7–6 (7–0), 7–5, and Su-wei Hsieh (TPE) and Elise Mertens (BEL) winning by 6-1, 7-5 against Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT).

The Mixed Doubles saw Hsieh collect a second win in Melbourne, this time partnered with Jan Zielinski (POL) and beating Desirae Krawczyk (USA) and Neal Skupski (GBR) 6–7 (5–7), 6–4, [11–9]. Hsieh’s wins gave her eight major titles in Doubles: her two at the Australian, two French Open wins and four at Wimbledon.

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VOX POPULI: Sport has a mission for peace – An appeal on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024

/This is an essay by Professor Helmut Digel of Germany, a handball player in his youth, but well known as the President of the DLV, the German track & field federation, from 1993-2001 and was a member of the IAAF (now World Athletics) Council from 1995 to 2015. As a professor of sport sociology, he taught at universities in Frankfurt, Tubingen and Darmstadt between 1978 and 2010. He now edits the online magazine Sport Nach Gedacht, from which he offers this article. His writing offers a sobering perspective, and  his views are, of course, his alone./

As each new year dawns, it has long been customary to indulge in rhetorical debate about the weighty concept of ‘peace’. In the many annual speeches by politicians, the peace metaphor is an imperative to suit their populist interests. On television the issue of peace has its seasonal climax. News and entertainment programmes are shaped by it, musical tunes repeat year after year with peace as their refrain, and feature films are shown again and again in which a peaceful “happy ending” is celebrated.

The system of sport, which is very important for Western societies, is understandably no exception. In their speeches at the turn of the year, sports leaders politicians devote their attention to the issue of peace, fair play and the observance of human rights.

The turn of the year 2023/24 had a heightened significance compared to the change of previous years and presented a very special challenge. For more than two years, Russia’s terrorist war of aggression against Ukraine has had a lasting impact on the world’s cultural, economic and socio-political development. War results in the deaths of countless innocent people every day. In this war alone, 500,000 soldiers have already been killed. Every dead civilian and every injured combatant is one too many, and we all have to mourn the senseless deaths of countless Ukrainian and Russian fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.

A few weeks before the turn of the year, there was also the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas against innocent Jewish citizens, which has triggered an equally barbaric war between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah and resulted in almost endless suffering for many Israeli families. But it is also necessary to think of the many innocent Palestinians whose existence has been repeatedly threatened for several years by an Israeli state that even many self-critical Israeli citizens and internationally recognized Jewish political experts, philosophers and sociologists deny the status of a “democracy.”

“Artists admonish us” (Art posters from the international art park “798″ in Beijing)

If we consider that, in addition to Ukraine, Israel and the Gaza Strip, there are still currently more than 20 other armed conflicts with countless innocent victims. It must probably be stated by all of us that we are currently living in an extremely peaceless time which we could hardly have expected at the dawn of the twenty-first century. At the same time, we must recognise that viable and promising initiatives for a peaceful world and for resolving the many military conflicts around the globe are nowhere to be seen.

The very institutions of our society that tried to outdo each other in their peace during the Christmas season are characterized by a total failure in this regard. This applies to political institutions as well as to ecclesiastical and other religious ones, but also to all other relevant social institutions – including sport. No serious relevant peace efforts can be discerned. In politics, the concept of ‘diplomacy’ and wise diplomatic action seems to have become alien.

In Germany, a party that once defined itself as a “peace party” is locked with other political parties in a competition on the question of how many and with which weapons one should still support the war in Ukraine, even though everyone knows that weapons always result in the death of innocent people, that further arms deliveries will only prolong the duration of the war and that only the arms industry will be the winner – it can look forward to the increase in sales that it owes to its successful war lobbying work. Germany’s foreign policy supports the constant expansion of NATO’s sphere of influence and employs rhetorical threatening gestures that are anything but peacekeeping. And the Federal President and the Federal Government believe that their policies are resolutely countering the dangerously growing anti-Semitism in German society by not allowing a “but” in their support for the State of Israel. But because this support does not distinguish between the State of Israel and its Jewish citizens, who deserve our support, anti-Semitic tendencies in our society are reinforced rather than combated, and equal support for Jews and Muslims in a democratic state of Israel is prevented rather than promoted.

With regard to religions, one must also speak of a total failure. For two years now, the World Council of Churches of the Protestant Church has been waiting in vain for a peace policy initiative that speaks with one voice vis-à-vis international politics. Nor is there any sign of an effort on the part of international business associations to take economic action to end the conflicts. The efforts of the Catholic Church to take a peace measure against the war – together with the Orthodox Churches of the East – have not progressed beyond fruitless initiatives. At best, one can appreciate the open and clear address of Pope Francis, who in his Christmas address clearly expressed the deadly connection between weapons and war. His speech culminated in the statement that peace has never been established with the use of weapons, that guns kill, and that without guns there would be no wars. A “political ban on weapons,” which is now more urgent than ever, has never been more clearly stated.

The various institutional manifestations of Islam that can be found in the world have also failed in every way in relation to the current wars. From all other representatives of the religions of Buddhism, Hinduism and other religious communities, no significant peace initiatives can be observed either. Rather, we must speak of a total failure of the religious leaders. The same applies to the globally active economic institutions and organizations as well as to the world organizations of trade unions.

The IOC is the only international organization that adheres to its self-imposed peace mission and, in cooperation with the United Nations, is at least striving for a ‘temporary peace’ through the staging of its Olympic Games. However, its stakeholders, i.e. the international sports federations and the more than 200 National Olympic Committees, have hardly made any independent peace efforts. In fact, the opposite is often the case.

Particularly consequential is the fact that pacifism and large parts of the Christian canon of values have been overridden by the total failure of all relevant institutions. People who feel they belong to pacifism are discredited. Their peace initiatives are ridiculed in mass communication and misused as cabaret topics. Anyone who invokes the Ten Commandments as a believing Christian in connection with the war in Ukraine or in the armed conflict between Palestine and Israel is contradicted even by his own Christian institutions. In my view, the assumption that the validity of the Ten Commandments may be suspended during a war is unacceptable in every respect. There is certainly no evidence for this in the theological foundations of Christianity.

In view of this situation, it is more important than ever to remember, not least here in Germany, that there have been times when the blue dove of peace has been an almost everyday symbol of our society, that many houses in German and European villages and cities have been draped with peace flags, and that it has been no shame in the most diverse areas of our society’s life when people have been involved in peace initiatives.

This was and is especially true of the system of sport which, with its cultural significance and its concept of values, is committed to the “principle of association” [note 1] in a very special way. For modern sport, “competition” and “cooperation” are constitutional, and both must be held together by the principle of fair play. The imperative of “solidarity” is indispensable for the organisation of sporting competitions. That is why it was long overdue that the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” was supplemented by a “Communiter” (“Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”). However, IOC President Thomas Bach, who pushed through this continuation of modern Olympism on the occasion of the extremely problematic and in many ways endangered Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022, did not receive any applause for it. Neither international politics nor large parts of sports policy recognized or heeded the significance of this step.

Initiatives of sport for the sake of peace in our world, as were still widespread in Germany and Europe in the second half of the last century – demonstrations against the torture measures in Argentina on the occasion of the Football World Cup, sporting peace marches, organizational efforts under the motto “Athletes for Peace” – have now receded into the distant past. An effort on my part to launch a sporting peace initiative on the occasion of the terrible war in Ukraine was welcomed by a Protestant regional bishop, who also holds the chairmanship of the World Council of Churches of the Evangelical Church, and he had promised to present this concern to the World Council of Churches as well. However, there has been no response from him to date. Sporting peace marches would be more urgent today than ever, and it would probably be one of the most noble tasks of all responsible sports politicians of the Federal Government and the German Bundestag to make clear demands in favor of diplomatic peace efforts on the occasion of the devastating wars in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza. Unfortunately, the opposite can be observed.

The institutions of German sport are not aware of their autonomous role in relation to the peace mission and have submissively subordinated themselves to Berlin’s wrong political decisions. On the other hand, there is a ridiculous “armband culture” in rainbow colors, led by a Federal Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, with whom violations of human rights are hypocritically dealt with. What goes unnoticed is that we are guilty of a division of human rights, which must be indivisible, not only from the point of view of the United Nations, but above all from an ethical, moral and Christian point of view.

When Ukrainian athletes refuse to shake hands with their Russian opponents at award ceremonies, this gesture and deliberate decision is applauded by the German mass media, while when Muslim athletes do the same to their Jewish opponents, these actions are denounced as a violation of the unwritten rules of the principle of fair play in international sport (quite rightly so, in my opinion), and condemned. While the IOC, under the leadership of its IOC President Bach, advocates the participation of innocent Russian athletes as ‘neutral athletes’ under clearly defined conditions at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, German state policy, together with other European states, demanded the exclusion of all Russian and Belarusian athletes, without being supported by the vast majority of German sports organizations. including the athletes‘ representatives. However, I am not aware of any comparable demands for the exclusion of athletes from nations who are irresponsibly engaged in armed conflicts with other nations these days and thus continuously violate human rights.

Summer Olympics in 2024 could become a very special appeal for peace and represent a full memorial to peace. However, this would require all sports organisations to reflect on the values of the Olympic Charter, to respect the principle of the indivisibility of human rights, to actively oppose all forms of racism and discrimination, and to demonstrate and draw attention to their interest in a lasting peace with great unity. Peace congresses and peace marches and runs could be just as much a part of this as independent sporting events dedicated to the message of peace. Gestures of peace by individual athletes should also be welcome. Anyone who objects to the principle of solidarity should have to learn that they are thereby excluding themselves from the community of sport. Gestures of fraternization would be just as desirable as a committed accompaniment of all these measures through art, literature, science and music.

France’s Baron de Coubertin had a vision more than 100 years ago. In my opinion, this has by no means become obsolete. The desire for peace can be observed all over the world, and all those who have lost their loved ones in wars know what peace could have meant to them if it had been established at the right time.

All those responsible and involved in national and international sport are hereby called upon to take up the peace mission and the chance for peace before, during and after the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and to help create and preserve the peace desired by many people all over the world.

[Note 1: “Association” refers to the result of a process in which two or more cognitive elements (in this case two ideas) are brought into a constitutive connection with each other.]

Comments are welcome here and or direct to Prof. Digel here.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Send comments to Editor@TheSportsExaminer.com. We do not guarantee publication of any comment, but all comments submitted will be considered and your submission implies your agreement to publication (and light editing if needed to meet our grammatical and punctuation standards) at our sole discretion. Please include your name and hometown on any comment submitted for publication.≡]

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TSX BULLETIN: ISU re-scoring of the Beijing 2022 Team Event appears to contradict its own rules!

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The International Skating Union’s Tuesday announcement of re-stated results for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games Team Event was odd in that it removed only the points scored by Russian star Kamila Valieva and did not change any other scores in the women’s Short Program or Free Skate.

The ISU statement referred to Article 10.10 of the ISU Anti-Doping Rules, which speaks directly to disqualifications of competitors in events subsequent to a doping violation, notes that:

“[A]ll other competitive results of the Skater obtained from the date a positive Sample was collected … or other antidoping rule violation occurred, through the commencement of any Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility period, shall, unless fairness requires otherwise, be Disqualified with all of the resulting Consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.”

Under this section, Valieva was quite rightly disqualified and her points removed from the team scoring total (74-20 = 54). However, a deeper look at the rules makes things muddier.

● Rule 11.2.2 of the ISU Anti-Doping Rules is in a section titled “Consequences to Teams” and states:

“An anti-doping rule violation committed by a member of a team, including substitutes, occurring during or in connection with an Event may lead to Disqualification of all of the results obtained by the team in that Event with all Consequences for the team and its members, including forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes, except as provided in Article 11.2.3.”

The key phrase here is “in connection with an Event,” which in the Valieva case would indicate that her doping positive, revealed literally minutes after the Team Event finished on 7 February 2022, would appear to apply here. If so, the entire Russian team should be disqualified.

(The exception in 11.2.3 does not apply, since it lets a team continue without disqualification only if that team was not otherwise affected by the doping violation. Russia was most certainly impacted, since it would have won with a substitute for Valieva.)

● Even more important is Rule 353 of the ISU’s Special Regulations for Technical Rules for Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance.

In section 4, titled “Publication of Results,” the text is clear about scoring for disqualified competitors:

“Disqualified Competitors will lose their placements and be officially noted in the intermediate and final results as disqualified (DSQ). Competitors having finished the competition and who initially placed lower than the disqualified Competitor(s) will move up accordingly in their placement(s).”

This rule was in effect at the time of the Beijing Winter Games and clearly indicates that not only should Valieva’s points been deducted, but that other teams were affected:

● In the Short Program, Valieva won (10 points), but now all nine others should be advanced one place and have one point added to their totals.

● Same in the Free Skate, where Valieva won again, but the nine following skaters should all receive one more point.

This would make the final scores:

● 1. 67, United States (up from 65)
● 2. 65, Japan (up from 63)
● 3. 55, Canada (up from 53)
● 4. 54, Russia (down from 74)
● 5. 52, China (up from 50)

Canada should be the bronze-medal winner by reference to the ISU’s figure skating rules for scoring of disqualified athletes.

Have no doubt that a challenge to the ISU’s scoring – unless corrected – will come from Skate Canada on behalf of its team. The federation said so on Tuesday:

“Skate Canada is extremely disappointed with the International Skating Union’s (ISU) position on the long-awaited awarding of medals for the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games Figure Skating Team Competition.

“The Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that in addition to a four-year ban from competition, the ban includes ‘the disqualification [of] all competitive results’ achieved by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva since the positive test. The ISU in its recent decision is not applying Rule 353, which states that ‘competitors having finished the competition and who initially placed lower than the disqualified competitor will move up accordingly in their placement.’

“Skate Canada strongly disagrees with the ISU’s position on this matter and will consider all options to appeal this decision.”

And Russia is planning a new appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Russian Olympic Committee declared Tuesday:

“Our lawyers have already begun preparing the necessary documents for filing an appeal.

“We proceed from the fact that, in accordance with the current, applicable ISU rules, the consequences of the decision on sanctions in relation to an individual athlete, in this case Kamila Valieva, cannot be a basis for reviewing the results of a team tournament. Our legal position is based, among other things, on existing precedents in CAS practice.”

Noting Rule 353 cited above, this appears to be fantasy, but appeals can be filed.

The Russian news agency TASS quoted a statement from the International Olympic Committee that “the CAS decision brings clarity to this matter and the athletes competing in the team figure skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics can finally receive the medals they have been waiting for.”

Nope. Not yet.

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TSX REPORT: Valieva held to be doping at 2022 OWG; USOPC and WADA happy, Russia furious; ISU to meet on 7 February on finalizing results

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, in the middle of the final event to be decided at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games! (Photo: Ttckcv21 via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Court of Arbitration says Valieva doped, banned for four years
2. Reax: USOPC, WADA cheer Valieva decision on behalf of skaters
3. Reax: “war has been declared on Russian sports”
4. Estanguet realistic on security challenges for Paris 2024
5. Paris 2024’s Jolly on managing the unmanageable Olympic opening

● The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced the decision in the Kamila Valieva doping case from the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, finding that the Russian skater did register a doping positive and suspending her for four years – as requested by the World Anti-Doping Agency – from 25 December 2021. This opens the way for the International Skating Union to finalize the results of the Team Event from 2022, with the U.S. in line to receive the gold medals after Valieva’s results are removed.

● Reaction from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency was all positive, with WADA stating “doping of children is unforgivable” and suggesting criminal penalties in the future.

● Reaction from Russia was predictably angry, with the Kremlin calling the decision “politicized” and the Russian Olympic Committee stating “war has been declared on Russian sports, and, as we see, all means are good.”

● Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet told Reuters that security continues to be a concern, but is optimistic that the Games have “tendency to pacify relations and leave a space for dialogue.” He is fine with the International Olympic Committee deciding who can compete, instead of the organizing committee or the host country.

● Thomas Jolly, the ceremonies director for Paris 2024 explained to AFP that the opening on the Seine cannot be rehearsed all in one piece and will come together only very late in the process. But it is being assembled now, in pieces.

Panorama: Athletics (indoor world leads in France, hot 5000s in Boston) = Figure Skating (U.S. announces men’s and Pairs teams for Worlds) = Football (3: FIFA to visit 2027 Women’s World Cup candidates in the next month; quality of play was up at FIFA Women’s World Cup in ‘23; Greece implementing mobile-phone security system for matches) = Ice Hockey (Israel sweeps IIHF men’s U-20 Worlds/Division III-A in Sofia) = Modern Pentathlon (12 Belarusians approved as “neutrals”) = Swimming (Portugal’s Silva re-elected as Euro Aquatics President) ●

1.
Court of Arbitration says Valieva doped, banned for four years

At 3 p.m. Lausanne time on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued its long-awaited decision in the doping case of Russian skater Kamila Valieva, with a clear decision in favor of the World Anti-Doping Agency:

“● The decision taken by the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency No. 9/2023 on 24 January 2023 in relation to Ms Kamila Valieva is set aside.

“● Ms Valieva is found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Clause 4.1 of the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules of 24 June 2021 (the Russian ADR).

“● A period of four (4) years ineligibility is imposed on Ms Valieva, starting on 25 December 2021.

“● All competitive results of Ms Valieva from 25 December 2021 are disqualified, with all the resulting consequences (including forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, profits, prizes, and appearance money).”

The impact will be to disqualify Russia from its gold-medal performance in the Figure Skating Team Event at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (CHN), where Valieva won both the Short Program and the Free Skate.

The beneficiaries should be the U.S. team, which should be advanced to the gold medal, as well as Japan (bronze to silver) and Canada, which finished fourth and would now get the bronze medals.

The CAS statement added:

“According to Clause 4.1 of the Russian [Anti-Doping Rules], athletes are responsible for any Prohibited Substance found to be present in their samples and the presence of any prohibited substance amounts to an [adverse finding]. In this matter, a prohibited substance, Trimetazidine (TMZ), was found to be present in the sample collected from Ms Valieva on 25 December 2021 during the Russian National Championships in St Petersburg, Ms Valieva did not contest liability in that she accepted that, by reason of the presence of a TMZ in her sample, she had committed an ADRV under Clause 4.1 of the Russian ADR.”

Based on this, the three-arbitrator panel reviewed whether Valieva could establish, based on the written submittals and two sessions of oral argument, that she ingested the Trimetazidine unintentionally:

“Having carefully considered all the evidence put before it, the CAS Panel concluded that Ms Valieva was not able to establish, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of the evidence before the Panel, that she had not committed the ADRV intentionally (within the meaning of the Russian ADR).”

Valieva, then 15 and now 17, was sanctioned with four years of ineligibility from the date – 25 December 2021 – that she gave the sample that turned up positive.

This is the decision sought by the World Anti-Doping Agency (four years), with the International Skating Union and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency also part of the appeal; both would have accepted lesser penalties.

The decision is appealable to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on procedural grounds, and it can be expected that an appeal will be filed within the required 30 days, which will further delay any action on the finalization of the Beijing Team Event.

And the statement noted that the Court of Arbitration was not asked to deal with the question of the results, which will now be up to the International Skating Union and finally, the International Olympic Committee. The ISU Executive Board is next scheduled for an online meeting on 7 February.

The full decision was not published and since the arbitration rules allow for one party to maintain confidentiality if it desires, may never be. But that is in the future. For now, Valieva was found to have committed a doping violation and was ineligible to compete at Beijing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

2.
Reax: USOPC, WADA cheer Valieva decision on behalf of skaters

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland was more than thrilled by the CAS decision on Monday:

“Today is a day we have been eagerly awaiting for two years, as it is a significant win not only for Team USA athletes but also for athletes worldwide who practice fair play and advocate for clean sport.

“The incredible athletes of Team USA, including Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim [and] Vincent Zhou, have displayed remarkable fortitude. Their outstanding performances in Beijing will forever symbolize their commitment to clean competition.

“We take immense pride in the United States Figure Skating Team and their historic performance. Not only did they achieve their best-ever finish, score the highest number of points ever, and achieve firsts in three different disciplines, but they also embody the spirit and principles of the Olympic Movement.

“We now anticipate the day when we can wholeheartedly celebrate these athletes, along with their peers from around the world. Their moment is approaching, and when it arrives, it will serve as a testament to the justice and recognition they truly deserve.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency was similarly pleased:

“WADA welcomes the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to uphold its appeal and impose a four-year period of ineligibility on the Russian Olympic Committee figure skater, Kamila Valieva, as well as disqualify her results from the date of the sample collection on 25 December 2021, including all her results during the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. WADA took this appeal to CAS in the interests of fairness for athletes and clean sport and we believe that has been delivered through this decision.

“The doping of children is unforgivable. Doctors, coaches or other support personnel who are found to have provided performance-enhancing substances to minors should face the full force of the World Anti-Doping Code. Indeed, WADA encourages governments to consider passing legislation – as some have done already – making the doping of minors a criminal offence.”

3.
Reax: “war has been declared on Russian sports”

The Russian Olympic Committee was furious over the decision, posting a message which included (computer translation from the original Russian):

Unfortunately, the CAS decision is negative, but we can no longer count on the objectivity and impartiality of this international structure, and we know this from the example of those cases where the [Russian Olympic Committee] itself is involved as a party, including in the case of our suspension based on the decision of the Executive Board of the [International Olympic Committee].

“Of course, one can believe in a coincidence of circumstances when the test result was made public, immediately after the end of Russia’s victorious team figure skating tournament. As well as in pure coincidence, the ISU will make a decision on approving the medals of the Olympic tournament on February 7, the day of the 10th anniversary of the Games in Sochi. In fact, war has been declared on Russian sports, and, as we see, all means are good.

“With regard to the gold medals of our figure skaters, the Russian Olympic Committee has repeatedly emphasized that, in accordance with the applicable rules, the results of team competitions at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games do not depend on the outcome of the consideration of the individual case of Kamila Valieva, and the awards won by our team in Beijing are not legally subject to review.

“CAS did not consider the issue of team results in this process. This is the prerogative of the ISU and the IOC. The ROC will closely monitor further steps and decisions of international sports organizations and, if necessary, take appropriate measures to legally protect Russian interests.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the decision should be appealed:

“From my point of view, of course, it’s politicized.

“If there are any appeal mechanisms and so on, then, of course, they should be involved. We must protect the interests of our athletes to the end.”

The Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, Dmitry Svishchev, told the Russian news agency TASS:

“This decision was, unfortunately, expected for us. But at the same time, it is completely politicized. Valieva and her lawyers need to use all opportunities. We support Kamila, who has experienced so much pressure on herself in recent years.

“Many cases of CAS, which is largely affiliated with the International Olympic Committee, have been going on like a carbon copy lately. I think that we shouldn’t expect anything good in the case between the Russian Olympic Committee and the IOC.”

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin told TASS (computer translation here and following):

“We emphasize that not a single athlete should suffer from a biased attitude for the sake of someone’s political interests, international authorities must prioritize the protection of athletes, which, as we see today, is no longer a priority for some of them.

“The details of the CAS decision must be carefully studied from a legal point of view. The fate of the gold medal in the team event of the 2022 Olympic Games will be decided by the International Skating Union: we urge it to be independent and unbiased.”

The Russian figure skating team physician, Dr. Phillip Shevetsky told TASS:

“I was hoping for an objective and personal assessment of this whole situation, especially at a high legal level. One might assume that this is an absurd accident, but now we see a deliberately planned attack, because, despite the facts in Kamila’s favor, a decision of unprecedented cruelty has been made.

“The work to discredit Russian sports has been going on since 2006, and now they are trying to weaken us more than ever, to destroy us by all means.

“Kamila became a victim of unsportsmanlike wrestling, a bureaucratic sports machine. A unique athlete, there has never been and never will be, but this machine has done everything to destroy the most beautiful thing in sports. They erase all the best and ingenious, created by nature and great labor. And all this in order to take away the Olympic team gold from the Russians. They intend to do this in any way. If they need victory at such a price, then what kind of sport is this anyway?”

Legendary skating coach Tatyana Tarasova said:

What can I say, there is no justice. It’s a shame that such an honest, wonderful, talented person like Kamila faced such cruel injustice in her youth. Hatred of our country spread to her.”

Beyond the decision announced Monday, more questions are raised for the ISU Council ahead of its 7 February meeting on how to deal with the disqualification of Valieva:

● Via her disqualification, the entire Russian team could be disqualified.

● Valieva’s 20 points (out of 74) could be removed, leaving Russia with the bronze medal with 54 points to 53 for Canada.

● Valieva’s 20 points could be removed and the scores for other skaters in the women’s Short Program and Free Skate could be re-allocated. This would change the final scores to 67 for the United States (gold), then 65 for Japan (silver), 55 for Canada (bronze) and 54 for Russia, in fourth place.

The ISU has promised a statement on Tuesday (30th).

4.
Estanguet realistic on security challenges for Paris 2024

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet (FRA) told Reuters that security is always on the mind of the organizing committee:

“It’s hard to know six months down the line whether things are going to get worse or calmer.

“You have to stay in your place, not think that the Games are a magic wand that will solve all the problems and armed conflicts in our world, but with the deep conviction that they have a tendency to pacify relations and leave a space for dialogue and positive expression, and that each delegation, each qualified athlete must be respected.”

He has supported the IOC’s approach to the Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete as “neutrals,” subject to the IOC’s own checks, in addition to those of the relevant International Federation:

“I find it reassuring to see that, on such a complex subject, it’s not the organizing country that decides which countries can take part in an event.

“In 2014 in Russia (Sochi) and in 2022 in China (Beijing), at no time were these nations able to influence which countries could take part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I think that’s healthy.”

He also acknowledged concerns over the safety of delegations such as Israel, now deeply involved against Hamas in the Gaza Strip after its deadly attack on 7 October last year, and which was victimized by a terrorist plot at the 1972 Games:

“We are taking a very strict approach to all the delegations, with the Prefecture of Police and the State working with the intelligence services.

“I’ve been to the Games (four times as an athlete), and we know that this is a delegation that, given what happened at the Munich Games in particular, is extremely closely watched and accompanied to guarantee its security at the time of the Games.

“The threat level is regularly updated so that the police and security services can guarantee that every participant in the Games and every spectator who comes to experience the magic of the Games will be in complete safety.”

As for protests during the Games period:

“Security remains a priority at the Olympics, and we expect that there will be demonstrations and demands. We are a free country where people can put forward their ideas, but we want them to be peaceful and respectful of all those who want to enjoy the festivities.

“We will manage the situation as it arises, and we need to be able to react immediately as best we can, respecting the integrity of everyone involved, not overreacting, and guaranteeing the continuity of the Games’ operations. We want to welcome the athletes in the best possible conditions.”

5.
Paris 2024’s Jolly on managing the unmanageable Olympic opening

The Paris 2024 opening ceremony will be a first in many ways: first ever outside a stadium, first on a river, first to have more than 150,000 spectators and probably the largest ever in terms of assigned security personnel.

The show itself is being led by Thomas Jolly, 42, a renowned French theatrical director, who is literally assembling the show on the fly:

“What’s unique about this show is that you can’t rehearse it on location. Actually you can’t rehearse it even once in advance.”

He explained in an interview with Agence France Presse last week that the staged elements are being developed and perfected inside enormous hangars, while the on-the-river elements are being worked out at a sailing center.

And then there is the Seine itself:

“There’s the issue of the Seine which is not the same depth in one place as another. The bridges don’t have the same strength, nor do the banks of the river.

“The wind doesn’t blow in the same way depending on where you are. There are places where fish spawn too, because we are trying not to disturb the natural environment.”

Jolly said that the show, expected to consume about three hours in all, including the on-the-water parade of 200-plus boats over a 6 km course, will integrate the entertainment elements, parade of nations and the protocol aspects, rather than staging them in discrete segments.

He was appointed as the artistic director in September of 2022 for the opening and closing of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, responsible for four shows on 26 July, 11 August, 28 August and 8 September.

But most of the public focus now is on the Olympic opening in July. The plan was developed by last July and then presented for review to all the groups that would be involved:

“All of these reviews were done to see if we could turn our dream into reality.

“They all agreed pretty unanimously on around 90 percent, so I have around 10 percent left of the project that I need to re-adapt.

Any clues? He gave a hint:

“Around ten paintings will be spread out from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Trocadéro. They will be crossed by delegations and hosted by artists from all disciplines: circus, dance, music, performance, plastic arts … The story that we have written tells a story of what France is and what will be the France. I want each spectator to feel represented.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● The indoor season is heating up, with multiple noteworthy world-leading marks, including Spain’s Mohamed Katir with a 3:51.91 men’s mile win at Val-de-Reuil (FRA), plus Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) triple-jumping 17.15 m (56-3 1/4). Britain’s Molly Caudery won the women’s vault at 4.83 m (15-10), the best so far this year.

The top men’s vault moved up to 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) for American star Chris Nilsen in a meet in South Dakota; he missed three times at 6.10 m (20-0).

At the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University, the 5,000 m races were hot, with Kenyan Edwin Kurgat winning the first section in 12:57.52, with American 1,500 m star Yared Nuguse getting a lifetime best – indoors or out – of 13:02.09 in third, moving to no. 6 all-time U.S. indoors.

In section two, South African Adrian Wildschutt won in a tight finish over Northern Arizona junior Nico Young, 12:56.76 (world leader) to 12:57.14, a collegiate record. That makes Young no. 4 all-time U.S. indoors (and moves Nuguse down to no. 7).

Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew won the women’s 5,000 m in 14:42.94, now no. 8 all-time world indoors, ahead of countrywoman Fantaye Belayneh (14:43.25). Americans Josette Andrews and Courtney Wayment finished 5-6 in 14:46.51 and 14:49.78, moving to no. 2 all-time U.S. indoor and no. 6, respectively.

● Figure Skating ● U.S. Figure Skating announced its men’s and Pairs teams for the ISU World Championships in March in Montreal (CAN), with the top three in each event moving on.

Men’s champ Ilia Malinin, runner-up Jason Brown and bronze winner Camden Pulkinen will compete, as will Pairs winners Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, bronze medalists Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez and Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who led after the Short Program, but withdrew due to injuries. They filed a petition with the federation to be named for the team, which was accepted.

Pairs runner-ups Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov are not eligible for the Worlds this season since Efimova competed for Germany at the 2023 Worlds.

● Football ● FIFA announced its schedule for visiting the bidding countries for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands on for 30 January to 2 February; Brazil from 20-23 February and the U.S. and Mexico from 26-29 February.

The vote will be taken on 17 May at the FIFA Congress in Thailand.

FIFA released some new statistics on the 2023 Women’s World Cup, noting the increased level of play. Although the field increased from 24 to 32 and eight nations fielded teams in the Women’s World Cup for the first time, defenses were tighter than ever, across the board.

Goals-per-game were down to 2.56 per match for the entire tournament, down 9% from the 2.81 for 2015 and 2019. Amazingly, in the group stage, scoring was even tighter, down 12% from 2015 to just 2.65 a game in 2023 vs. 3.00 just eight years prior.

If you’re a Greek football fan, you better have a mobile phone. You will need one to get into a stadium.

After repeated failures to corral violence at matches, the Greek Sports Minister Yiannis Vroutsis explained to a parliamentary committee on Monday that a new system, to be implemented by 9 April, will require Greek fans to use a government-provided application to access stadiums:

“So far, we have not been able to do something that’s obvious: To identify people who are entering a stadium.

“With the help of a mobile phone, a person’s ID can be automatically cross-checked with a ticket. Anyone without a cellphone won’t get into the stadium.”

Greek stadia have been without fans since an attack on riot police on 7 December 2023 following a volleyball match that included the death of an officer after being hit by a flare. Stadia were closed to 12 February, but will reopen on 13 February.

Surveillance cameras will also be installed by 6 March, and Vroutsis said:

“From now on, when a supporter watches a soccer game, we will know his or her name, phone number, home address and assigned seat.”

The Associated Press reported additional measures will “include spot bans of supporters at stadiums following violent incidents, a national registry of members of soccer supporters’ clubs, and new rules banning stadium entry to minors under the age of 15 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.”

● Ice Hockey ● Remember the IIHF men’s World U-20 Championship in Division III-A that Israel was not supposed too attend because it was too dangerous?

The event was held in Sofia (BUL) and concluded on Sunday, with the Israelis winning the tournament with a 5-0 record, outscoring their opponents by 41-14. Mike Levin (ISR) was the top scorer in the tournament with nine goals and 17 total points. By winning, Israel is now promoted to the IIHF Division II-Group B for 2025.

Attendance at the event totaled 1,775 across 15 games, for an average of 118 each.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) announced the approval of 12 Belarusian pentathletes, plus four coaches and a therapist to participate as “neutrals” in the UIPM World Cup in Cairo (EGY) in March. None were named.

No Russians were approved and the statement did not indicate that any applied.

● Swimming ● European Aquatics re-elected Portugal’s Antonio Silva as its president with all 46 federations present in favor, at its Saturday Congress in Athens.

Silva was a controversial candidate due to allegations made against him in Portugal over ethics issues, including registering intellectual property apparently belonging to the national federation in his own name. He has suspended himself from his Portuguese Swimming Federation role, and the federation has been instructed to dismiss him by the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth.

European Aquatics was informed of the allegations in Portugal against Silva, but allowed him to stand for election again as the issues were limited to Portugal only.

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TSX BULLETIN: Court of Arbitration confirms Valieva doping, imposes four-year sanction

The Court of Arbitration for Sport

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At 3 p.m. Lausanne time on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued its long-awaited decision in the Kamila Valieva doping case, with a clear decision in favor of the World Anti-Doping Agency:

“● The decision taken by the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency No. 9/2023 on 24 January 2023 in relation to Ms Kamila Valieva is set aside.

“● Ms Valieva is found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under Clause 4.1 of the All-Russian Anti-Doping Rules of 24 June 2021 (the Russian ADR).

“● A period of four (4) years ineligibility is imposed on Ms Valieva, starting on 25 December 2021.

“● All competitive results of Ms Valieva from 25 December 2021 are disqualified, with all the resulting consequences (including forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, profits, prizes, and appearance money).”

The impact will be to disqualify Russia from its gold-medal performance in the Figure Skating Team Event at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (CHN), where Valieva won both the Short Program and the Free Skate.

The beneficiaries should be the U.S. team, which should be advanced to the gold medal, as well as Japan (bronze to silver) and Canada, which finished fourth and would now get the bronze medals.

The CAS statement added:

“According to Clause 4.1 of the Russian [Anti-Doping Rules], athletes are responsible for any Prohibited Substance found to be present in their samples and the presence of any prohibited substance amounts to an [adverse finding]. In this matter, a prohibited substance, Trimetazidine (TMZ), was found to be present in the sample collected from Ms Valieva on 25 December 2021 during the Russian National Championships in St Petersburg, Ms Valieva did not contest liability in that she accepted that, by reason of the presence of a TMZ in her sample, she had committed an ADRV under Clause 4.1 of the Russian ADR.”

Based on this, the three-arbitrator panel reviewed whether Valieva could establish, based on the written submittals and two sessions of oral argument, that she ingested the Trimetazidine unintentionally:

“Having carefully considered all the evidence put before it, the CAS Panel concluded that Ms Valieva was not able to establish, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of the evidence before the Panel, that she had not committed the ADRV intentionally (within the meaning of the Russian ADR).”

Valieva, then 15 and now 17, was sanctioned with four years of ineligibility from the date – 25 December 2021 – that she gave the sample that turned up positive.

This is the decision sought by the World Anti-Doping Agency (four years), with the International Skating Union and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency also part of the appeal; both would have accepted lesser penalties.

The decision is appealable to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on procedural grounds, and it can be expected that an appeal will be filed within the required 30 days, which will further delay any action on the finalization of the Beijing Team Event.

And the statement noted that the Court of Arbitration was not asked to deal with the question of the results, which will now be up to the International Skating Union and finally, the International Olympic Committee.

The full decision was not published and since the arbitration rules allow for one party to maintain confidentiality if it desires, may never be. But that is in the future. For now, Valieva was found to have committed a doping violation and was ineligible to compete at Beijing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

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TSX REPORT: Malinin, Chock and Bates star at U.S. Figure Skating Nationals; Shiffrin injured in Cortina crash; no Russians at LA28?

American teen star Ilia Malinin won his second U.S. title on Sunday. (Photo: ISU)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Malinin, Chock & Bates post big wins at U.S. Nationals
2. American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin injured in Cortina
3. Lia Thomas files against World Aquatics trans rules
4. Russian diving head sees no participation in 2028 Games either
5. U.S. biathlete Reid harassed for years by wax tech

● Ilia Malinin and the Ice Dance duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates starred at the U.S. Figure Skating National Championships in Ohio, with Malinin winning his second straight men’s Singles title by almost 30 points. Chock and Bates won their fifth national title, with a medal for a 12th straight year! Amber Glenn won the women’s title and Ellie Kim and Danny O’Shea won in Pairs.

● American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin crashed during Friday’s Downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy, site of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games and had to be airlifted off the mountain. Her injuries do not appear serious, so far, but she will be out of action for a while. Meanwhile, American Jacqueline Wiles surprised with her first World Cup medal – a silver – in six years in Saturday’s Downhill.

● Transgender swimmer and NCAA women’s champion Lia Thomas filed suit against the World Aquatics’ eligibility regulations at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asking them to be taken down as unfair and disproportionate.

● The head of the Russian Diving Federation said that he did not see the country competing not just at the 2024 Olympic Games at Paris, but at the 2028 Los Angeles Games!

● The Associated Press reported on abuse against U.S. biathlete Joanne Reid by a wax technician working for the American ski federation. The U.S. Center for SafeSport suspended him, but he rejected the charges.

World Championships: Luge (Austria stuns with four wins to Germany’s three!) = Ski Flying (Austria’s Kraft consistent enough to win gold) ●

Panorama: Beijing 2022 (Valieva decision coming Monday) = Winter Youth Olympic Games (Four have three golds so far) = World Anti-Doping Agency (North Korea reinstated as compliant) = Alpine Skiing (Odermatt gets ninth win this season in Garmisch) = Athletics (3: Tefera and Welteji star in Astana; Bastien and Nesbitt win USATF Indoor multi-event titles; $600,000 prize pool for marathon trials) = Badminton (China wins three at Indonesia Masters) = Bobsled & Skeleton (Love wins at IBSF World Cup, while Germans win five) = Cross Country Skiing (Diggins wins, Klaebo wins two at Goms World Cup) = Cycling (Reijnhout and Pithie win World Tour races in Australia) = Football (FIFA confirms Rubiales’ three-year suspension) = Freestyle Skiing (2: Olympic champs win Ski Cross; Anthony continues sweep of Moguls World Cup) = Judo (Russian “neutrals” win four at Portugal Grand Prix) = Nordic Combined (Norwegian sweep continues in Schoach: 4 for 4) = Rugby Sevens (Ireland and Argentina win in Perth) = Snowboard (2: Grondin and Adamczykova take SnowCross wins; Bagozza’s dream PGS season continues in Simonhohe) = Ski Jumping (Pinkelnig and Prevc dominate Ljubno) = Ski Mountaineering (France sweeps World Cup Sprints) = Speed Skating (World and American records for Stolz, U.S. Team Pursuit) ●

1.
Malinin, Chock & Bates post big wins at U.S. Nationals

What would Ilia Malinin do? That was one of the big questions coming into the U.S. Figure Skating Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and the 19-year-old delivered a spectacular victory by almost 30 points.

The defending champion in the men’s Singles, Malinin led the Short Program with a brilliant 108.57 total, way ahead of Maxim Naumov (89.72) and 2015 National Champion (and seven-time medalist) Jason Brown (89.02).

In the much-anticipated Free Skate, Malinin planned to open with a triple Axel, but completed his patented quadruple Axel, followed by three more quads. Even with a fall, he won the Free Skate with a score of 185.78 and took the overall title at 294.35.

Well back were 2015 champion Jason Brown (264.50, third in the Short and second in the Free Skate) and Camden Pulkinen (262.33, third in the Free Skate). For Brown, 29, it’s his second straight Nationals silver behind Malinin and his eighth career top-three finish (1-4-3). Pulkinen won his first Nationals medal.

Equally impressive in another way was the third straight national title for Ice Dance World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates. They steamed to the lead in the Rhythm Dance at 92.17, comfortably ahead of Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (83.19) and Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (80.91). Then, despite both falling ill, they completed the Free Dance in second place (123.75) to win with an overall total of 215.92. Carreira and Ponomarenko won the Free Dance at 126.85 and had a 210.04 total to move up from third in 2023 and win their second Nationals medal.

Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville finished third in the Free Dance (118.80) and took the bronze at 196.94, while Green and Parsons – second in 2023 – fell to fourth (193.83 total).

Chock and Bates won their fifth career U.S. title, with the first coming way back in 2015! They have also won a Nationals medal for a remarkable 12 straight years (5-6-1), starting back in 2013. Chock also won another bronze in 2011, with Greg Zuerlein, for 13 career U.S. podiums.

The women’s competition got confusing. Defending champ Isabeau Levito got off to a strong start, winning the Short Program at 75.38, trailed by Amber Glenn (74.98) and Clare Seo (67.41). But in the Free Skate, Levito was charged with four falls and scored only 125.30 even with seven triple jumps in the program, good for fourth.

Taking advantage was Glenn, who had six triple jumps, but missed on two others, but still scored 135.48 for second in the Free Skate and a 210.46 total that was good enough to win her first U.S. championship. It’s her third career U.S. medal (1-1-1), at age 24.

Levito’s total was 200.68, and she ended up third after 15-year-old Josephine Lee powered up from fifth in the Short Program to win the Free Skate (138.85) and take the silver at 204.13. She’ll be 16 on Saturday.

In Pairs, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea became the third different winner in the last three years, finishing second in both segments for a 187.76 total. They moved up from bronze in 2023 and it’s the first national title for both. Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov were fifth after the Short Program, but won the Free Skate (126.43) to take the silver at 186.91 for their first Nationals medal together (Mitrofanov won bronze with Audrey Lu in 2022). Valentin Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez took the bronze with two fourth-place finishes, at 181.03.

On Sunday, Glenn and Levito were named to the U.S. team for the World Championships, as were Ice Dance winners Chock and Bates, Carreira and Ponomarenko and Bratti and Somerville.

2.
American ski star Mikaela Shiffrin injured in Cortina

A day after praising the ski courses at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy, where the 2026 Olympic Alpine events will be held, American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin fell and had to be hospitalized during Friday’s Downhill.

But Shiffrin had noted that the speed courses – Downhill and Super-G – are more treacherous for her than her favored technical events of Giant Slalom and Slalom:

“It’s been a place where I’ve had a really good feeling on my skis, and I feel comfortable on the track. That’s really helpful because it takes a little bit less mental energy to memorize all the bits and pieces of the course.

“For me, the hardest thing with downhill and super-G – just with speed in general – is the factor of memorizing all of the terrain pieces.”

On Friday, she was the eighth skier to start and according to the FIS account:

“[T]he overall World Cup leader suffered a fall near the top of the course approaching the Tofane Schuss. Shiffrin was unable to land a small jump in a patch of soft snow and slid into the safety netting. She was attended to by medics for about 10 minutes and then stood up, but limped off gingerly using her poles, unable to exert pressure on her left leg.

“The five-time overall World Cup champion was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter and according to the U.S. Ski Team taken by ambulance to a Cortina clinic for further evaluation.”

The Beijing 2022 Olympic gold winner Corinne Suter (SUI) also failed to finish, injuring her left knee and had to stop; she was airlifted off the course and suffered a season-ending ACL tear in her left knee. Italy’s Federica Brignone, a 24-time World Cup winner, crashed as well, but appeared to be undamaged.

In all, 12 of the 52 starters failed to finish, with the race won by Austria’s Stephanie Venier in 1:33.06, her second career World Cup gold after a 2019 win in Garmisch (GER)! Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami got her eighth World Cup medal of the season in second (1:33.45) and a rare three-way tie for third among Sofia Goggia (ITA), Valerie Grenier (CAN) and Christina Ager (SUI), all in 1:33.77.

Shiffrin posted on Instagram a few hours after the crash:

“Thank you everyone for your support and well wishes. At this point I’m just taking it day by day, and I’ll share more information or updates as I know more. Very thankful it’s not worse, but I’m pretty sore at the moment.

“I won’t be skiing the rest of this weekend, and I won’t be skiing in Kronplatz. Beyond that, it’s quite hard to say right now. Need a little time to process with my team and see how everything is feeling in the coming days! Thank you all!”

U.S. team coach Paul Kristofic said that Shiffrin was in reasonably good shape: “She doesn’t fall often. But it can happen. It just goes to show you how on the limit athletes push and how the courses push them. And they have to if they want to be competitive.”

The U.S. Ski Team posted on X (ex-Twitter): “@MikaelaShiffrin was taken by ambulance to the clinic in Cortina and is being evaluated for a left leg injury. Initial analysis shows the ACL and PCL seem intact. Further details to come.”

Alpine skiing has had a rough season for injuries, with Olympic women’s Slalom champ Petra Vlhova (SVK) and two-time Worlds silver winner Wendy Holdener (SUI) both out for the season due to crashes, as well as three-time World Champion Alexis Pinturault (FRA) and Norwegian star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Shiffrin’s partner.

There were more surprised in Saturday’s Downhill, with Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel winning her fourth career World Cup gold and first ever in a Downhill at 1:33.50. She took the lead from Italian home favorite (and 2018 Olympic champ) Sofia Goggia, who timed 1:33.94. But completely unexpected was the silver winner coming from the third starting group, with American Jacqueline Wiles finishing in 1:33.85 for her third career World Cup medal, her first silver and the first since a bronze in the Cortina Downhill in 2018!

The Sunday Super-G had a more familiar ending, with Beijing Olympic champ Lara Gut-Behrami winning her fourth race of the season and 41st World Cup race of her career in 1:20.75, ahead of Venier (1:20.96) and France’s Romane Miradoli (1:21.16), with Mowinckel fourth (1:21.28). Lauren Macuga was the top American at 1:22.65 for 15th.

3.
Lia Thomas files against World Aquatics trans rules

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Friday that an action by American transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was filed in September was now registered and has commenced.

Thomas, who swam as Will Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania during the 2018-19 season, transitioned to female during the Covid-19 pandemic and went on to win the NCAA women’s 500-yard title in March of 2022, dusting U.S. Olympians Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brooke Forde in the process.

She said afterwards that she wanted to swim at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and try to make the American Olympic team for Paris.

World Aquatics adopted its “Policy on Eligibility for the Men’s and Women’s Competition Categories” at its June 2022 Congress, with tight restrictions for male-to-female transgenders that include:

“They are androgen sensitive but had male puberty suppressed beginning at Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later, and they have since continuously maintained their testosterone levels in serum (or plasma) below 2.5 nmol/L.”

This essentially shuts out all male swimmers who want to make a transition to the female category after age 12. The Court announcement noted:

“Ms Thomas submits that the Challenged Provisions are invalid and unlawful as they discriminate against her contrary to the Olympic Charter, the World Aquatics Constitution, and Swiss law including the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and that such discrimination cannot be justified as necessary, reasonable, or proportionate to achieve a legitimate sporting objective.

“In bringing the matter before CAS, Ms Thomas seeks an order from the CAS declaring that the Challenged Provisions are unlawful, invalid, and of no force and effect.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has been in this area previously, most sensationally in 2019 when it decided Semenya vs. IAAF (now World Athletics) and that federation’s restrictions for the female category. The IAAF regulations at the time barred Semenya and others with hydroandrogenism (“differences in sex development”) – testosterone levels far in excess of female norms – from competing in events from 400 m to the mile given research which showed a competitive advantage to such athletes. The Court decision upheld those regulations:

“The Panel’s task is to determine whether the DSD Regulations, which are discriminatory, are necessary, reasonable and proportionate. …

“[T]he majority of the Panel finds that the DSD Regulations are discriminatory but that on the evidence currently before the Panel such discrimination is a necessary, reason and proportionate means of achieving the aim of what is described as the integrity of female athletics and the upholding of the “protected class” of female athletes in certain events.”

The World Aquatics regulations are stronger and based on the belief – not considered in the Semenya case – that any male-to-female transgender transition after male puberty provides physical advantages to that athlete which cannot be allowed.

Thomas’s chance to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming are almost nil, as the event begins on 15 June and the case should take a lot longer than that. But it’s important, as other federations – in athletics, cycling, rowing and tennis, for example – have joined in, more or less at the same level as aquatics.

No hearing date has been set, and the Court statement did not indicate that any of the three arbitrators who will hear the case have been selected.

4.
Russian diving head sees no participation in 2028 Games either

On Thursday, Russian Diving Federation President Stanislav Druzhinin told the Russian news agency TASS that his athletes will not participate at the Paris Olympic Games as the top Russians will be barred by their connections to military and law-enforcement-affiliated sports clubs. And even if qualified:

“The question is how they will be treated there, will Do they feel like outcasts there, sitting separately from everyone and not communicating with anyone? In my understanding, this is how it will be. International competitions have turned into politics, unfriendly countries are trying to prove something, infringing on the rights of our athletes who simply want to compete equal to others.”

On Friday, he went a step further, telling TASS:

“My personal opinion is that we are unlikely to go to the Olympics in Los Angeles.

“We’ll see, but under the current conditions there can’t even be a conversation about a trip. They violate the sporting principle and are a manifestation of discrimination. There is absolutely no point in going.”

5.
U.S. biathlete Reid harassed for years by wax tech

The Associated Press reported in depth on a U.S. Center for SafeSport investigation into harassment of now-retired U.S. biathlon international Joanne Reid that began as early as 2016.

Reid, now 31, was a two-time Olympian in biathlon in 2018 and 2022, was abused and reported it at least as early as 2019, but an investigation only got going when teammate Deedra Irwin, a member of the Army National Guard in Vermont, told her superiors, who insisted on an investigation by SafeSport, in April of 2021.

According to the AP:

“Its 18-month investigation found that Petr ‘Gara’ Garabik had engaged in repeated sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact with Reid. The Czech citizen was suspended for six months and put on probation until December 2024.”

The report noted that Garabik “engaged in a pattern of sexualized behavior” with Reid, “including sexualized commentary and inappropriate sexualized touching, over the course of six years.” Reid told the AP that U.S. biathlon officials had not taken his actions seriously.

Garabik told the news agency that the allegations were “complete nonsense from the start.” He was not allowed to work with the U.S. teams in 2021.

Reid also told the AP that the SafeSport interview and investigation process was traumatic, having to relive the incidents. But she also got significant support after putting some of the details on her Facebook and Instagram pages. She last raced internationally in the 2022-23 season.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Luge ● Austria led the medal parade at the FIL World Championships in Altenberg (GER), displacing usual leader Germany, which won eight of the nine events at the 2023 Worlds.

Instead, Austria won both the women’s Singles and Doubles, with the unheralded Lisa Schulte – who hadn’t won a World Cup medal this season – taking the Singles title at 1:43.901, surprising German star Julia Taubitz, the 2021 World Champion (1:44.005) and Austrian teammate (and European champ) Madeleine Egle (1:44.076). Summer Britcher was the top American, in ninth at 1:44.581.

In Doubles, it was two-time World Cup winners Selina Egle and Lara Kipp who got the win in 1:24.761, with surprises for second and third. Latvia’s Anda Upite and Zane Kaluma finished second – also with no World Cup medals this season – in Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby got the bronze for the U.S. in 1:24.897. Forgan and Kirkby had won a Worlds bronze in 2022, in a special Worlds held only for that event, which was not on the Winter Olympic program.

In the Sprint events, Taubitz took the individual title – her second – in 37.702, ahead of Natalie Maag (SUI: 37.774) and Latvian Elina Vitola (37.813). American Ashley Farquharson finished fourth in 37.833 and Britcher was eighth in 37.923.

The Doubles Sprint belonged to Italy’s Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer (28.421), with Latvia 2-3 with Upite and Kaluma (28.438) and Marta Robezneice and Kitija Bogdanova (28.467). The U.S. was fourth again, with Maya Chen and Reannyn Weiler (28.482) and also sixth with Forgan and Kirkby (28.595).

The men’s seasonal leader, Max Langenhan (GER), last year’s runner-up, left no doubt, winning decisively at 1:47.813 to 1:48.574 for Nico Gleirscher (AUT) and 1:48.630 for Felix Loch (GER), who won his 21st career Worlds medal (14-5-2). American Tucker West finished an impressive fourth (1:48.695) and Jonny Gustafson was ninth (1:49.080).

The men’s Sprint went to Gleirscher (33.011), beating Langenhan (33.071) and Latvia’s Kristers Aparjods (33.124). West was ninth at 33.397.

Austria’s Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schoepf (1:22.924) up better-known teammates Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl (AUT: 1:22.970) to win the men’s Doubles, ahead of favored Germans Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, the three-time Olympic winners (1:23.279). Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike were ninth for the U.S. at 1:24.020.

Bots and Plume won the Doubles Sprint in 27.863 over Steu and Kindl (27.895), with Gatt and Schoepf third (27.973). Zach Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander finished 13th for the U.S. in 28.295.

In the Team event, the Germans won for the second straight time, in 3:10.869, but the U.S. got its third medal in the last six Worlds in second in 3:11.227, with Britcher, Kellogg and Ike, West and Forgan and Kirkby. Latvia was third (3:11.275).

Overall, the Austrians scored nine medals (4-3-2), with the Germans (3-2-2) and Latvians (1-2-4) both at seven. The U.S. got two medals, its best performance since 2017, when it won three!

● Ski Jumping ● Austria’s Stefan Kraft added to his sparkling career resume with his first victory at the World Ski Flying Championships, off the majestic 235 m hill at Bad Mittendorf (AUT).

Kraft had already won three World Championship golds on a Normal Hill (2017) and the Large Hill (2017, 2021), but after Ski Flying bronzes in 2016 and 2022, he got his first championship.

He did it without winning any of the three rounds, placing 2-4-2 to pile up 647.4 points, just ahead of his season-long pursuer, Andreas Wellinger (GER: 645.2).

Slovenian Timi Zajc, the 2022 silver winner in this event, looked like the winner after taking the first two rounds. But his third-round jump placed him only ninth and allowed Kraft and Wellinger to pass; Zajc ended at 642.7 points. Tate Franz was the top U.S. finisher at no. 20 (549.6).

Zajc did get a gold, however, in the Team Jumping, with Lovro Kos and brothers Peter Prevc and Domen Prevc, winning at 1,615.4, to 1,588.9 for Austria (with Kraft) and 1,549.9 for Germany (with Wellinger). It’s the second straight team win for the Slovenians and for Zajc and the Prevc brothers.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Winter Olympic Games 2022: Beijing ● USA Today’s Christine Brennan reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will deliver a decision on the Kamila Valieva doping case on Monday (29th). Stay tuned!

● Winter Youth Olympic Games ● The WYOG competition continues in the Gangwon Province in Korea, with four athletes with three golds so far: Antonin Guy (FRA: biathlon), Angel Daleman (NED: speed skating), Finn Sonnekalb (GER: speed skating) and Maja Waroschitz (AUT: alpine skiing).

Through Sunday, China had the total medals lead with 16 (5-8-3), ahead of Italy (10-2-3) and Austria (4-6-5) with 15 each. The U.S. has 13 (4-7-2), with the event continuing to 1 February.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● The World Anti-Doping Agency announced that the national anti-doping organization of North Korea was reinstated as compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. It has been non-compliant since 2021.

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency, the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation continue to be non-compliant.

● Alpine Skiing ● A surprise at Saturday’s men’s FIS World Cup Super-G in Garmisch (GER), with France’s Nils Allegre, 30, winning his first World Cup medal, with a victory in 1:11.92, over Guglielmo Bosca (ITA, 30), who got his first career medal in second (1:12.10). Swiss veteran Loic Meillard was third (1:12.17), with seasonal leader Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:12.20) in fourth.

Odermatt moved up in Sunday’s Super-G, getting his ninth win of the season in 1:10.13, ahead of Raphael Haaser (AUT: 1:10.43) and Franjo von Allmen (SUI: 1:10.74). It’s the first career World Cup medal for the 22-year-old von Allmen. River Radamus was the top American, in eighth (1:11.09).

After 23 of 39 races, Odermatt has a big lead on Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA) in the seasonal standings: 1,406 to 684.

● Athletics ● Two world-leading distance races highlighted the first World Indoor Tour Gold meeting of 2024 in Astana (KAZ), both by Ethiopian stars.

Two-time World Indoor 1,500 m champ Sam Tefera won the men’s 3,000 m in 7:33.80, beating countryman (and Steeple star) Getnet Wale (7:34.36). Diribe Welteji, the women’s World Road Mile champ from 2023, took the women’s mile in 4:23.76, a lifetime best, beating countrywoman Gela Hambese (4:24.44).

Elsewhere, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis won the men’s vault at 5.80 m (19-0 1/4), with American Cole Walsh fourth (5.60 m/18-4 1/2), and 100 m hurdles world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) won a hot 60 m hurdles duel from Nia Ali of the U.S., 7.77 to 7.89. American Demek Kemp won the men’s 60 m in 6.55.

At the USATF Indoor Combined Championships held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Tokyo Olympian Steven Bastien defended his 2023 U.S. title, scoring 5,886 to win over Jack Flood (5,665) and Jakob Tordsen (5,494).

The women’s title went to Grand Valley State’s Cheyenne Nesbitt, scoring 4,475 to win over 2020 winner Annie Kunz (4.418), with Hope Bender third (4,392).

Prize money for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, coming on 3 February, was announced, with $80,000 each for the men’s and women’s winners.

A total prize pool of $600,000 will be offered, with $80,000-65,000-55,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-13,000-11,000-9,000-7,000 awarded to the top 10 placers for men and women.

● Badminton ● China took three wins at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta, with eighth-seed Zhi Yi Wang coming through with a 21-14, 21-13 win over Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the women’s Singles, Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan taking the women’s Doubles over fellow Chinese Shu Xian Zhang and Yu Zheng in three sets (10-21, 21-19, 22-20) and top-seeded Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang taking the Mixed Doubles, 21-15, 21-16 against Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito.

Denmark’s Anders Antonsen won the men’s Singles by 18-21, 21-13, 21-18 over Canada’s Brian Yang, and the home crowd cheered on Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin to a 21-12, 20-22, 21-11 win in men’s Doubles vs. Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Brakeman-turned-driver Kaysha Love of the U.S. returned to the winner’s circle at the IBSF World Cup in Lillehammer (NOR), posting her second win of the season in the women’s Monobob race.

The 2023 Worlds two-woman bronze winner with American star Kaille Humphries, Love – a former UNLV sprinter – became a driver this season and won the opening World Cup race in La Plagne (FRA) in December. She won a silver in December and in Lillehammer, won in 1:48.52, ahead of Australia’s Breeana Walker (1:48.94) and 2018 Olympic two-woman winner Lisa Buckwitz of Germany (1:48.95). American star Elana Meyers Taylor finished 10th in 1:49.55.

In the Two-Woman racing, World Champions Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig won their first World Cup of the season in 1:43.62, ahead of teammates and Olympic champs Laura Nolte and Neele Schuten (1:43.81). Love and Azaria Hill took the bronze – their first medal this season – in 1:43.85. Taylor and Emily Renna took sixth in 1:44.36.

The Two-Man was a German sweep, led by World Champions Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer, who won their fourth race out of five on the season, in 1:40.63. Twice Olympic champs Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schueller were second (1:41.01) and teammates Adam Ammour and Benedikt Hertel got third (1:41.08). Americans Frank Del Duca and Manteo Mitchell were fifth in 1:41.77.

Friedrich, also a double Olympic winner in the Four-Man, took that race in 1:39.50, with Lochner’s sled at 1:39.72 for second and Britain’s Brad Hall (1:40.15) third.

Germany also swept the Skeleton titles, with Beijing Olympic winner Christopher Grotheer (1:42.85) leading Beijing runner-up Axel Jungk (1:42.93) and Felix Seibel (1:42.95).

Women’s Olympic champ Hannah Niese won the women’s Skeleton in 1:45.94, just ahead of American Mystique Ro (1:45.99), who got her second silver of the season. Beijing Olympic bronze winner Kimberley Bos (NED) took third in 1:46.00.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The amazing Jessie Diggins (USA), the seasonal leader, scored another FIS World Cup win with a Sunday victory in the women’s 20 km Freestyle Mass Start in Goms (SUI).

It’s her fourth win of the season, finishing at the line with just 0.6 seconds to spare on Sweden’s Frida Karlsson, 45:26.3 to 45:26.9 and Swiss Nadine Faehndrich in third in 45:28.3. American teammates Sophia Laukli (45:35.8) and Rosie Brennan (45:42.2) finished fifth (even with an early fall) and seventh!

With her 19th career World Cup win, Diggins now has a 1,771-1,488 seasonal lead on Swede Linn Svahn, who won the Saturday Freestyle sprint.

In fact, the Swedes swept the Sprint and have won six of seven Sprints during this season. Svahn won for the fifth time – all Sprints – in 3:00.67, with teammates Maja Dahlqvist (3:02.83) and Jonna Sundling (3:02.89) close behind.

In the men’s division, Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo – the two-time defending seasonal champ – had been sidelined by the flu, but came back in a big way with two wins. He took the Sprint in 2:36.42, just ahead of Lucas Chanavat (FRA: 2:36.50) and Haacard Taugnoel (NOR: 2:37.15).

Sunday’s 20 km Freestyle Mass Start was a tight race to the line between Klaebo and teammate Simen Hegstad Krueger, 39:25.2 to 39:25.9, with France’s Jules Lapierre third in 39:37.2. Gus Schumacher was the best American, in 14th (39:49.4).

● Cycling ● The UCI World Tour are now underway, with racing in Geelong, Australia for women on Saturday and men on Sunday.

The Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race of 140.8 km came down to three riders in the end, with Rosita Reijnhout taking the win in 3:53:31, beating Dominika Wlodarczyk (POL) and Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (DEN) to the line, with all three given the same time.

American Ruth Edwards was fourth, five seconds back of the leaders.

The men’s 174.3 km ride in and around Geelong for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race came down to a final sprint, with New Zealand’s Laurence Pithie winning his first UCI World Tour race in 4:17:40 over Natnel Tesfatsion (ERI) and German Georg Zimmermann, with the top 13 riders given the same time.

It’s the first win ever for a New Zealand rider in this race!

● Football ● A day after a Spanish court allowed criminal proceedings to continue against former Royal Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales, FIFA’s Appeal Committee confirmed his three-year ban from all football-related activities:

“After analysing the submissions presented to it and conducting a hearing, the Appeal Committee decided to dismiss the appeal, and to confirm the sanction imposed upon Mr Rubiales.

“Amongst other considerations, the Appeal Committee was comfortably satisfied that Mr Rubiales behaved in a manner contrary to the principles enshrined under article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during and after the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

Rubiales can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His criminal case continues in Spain.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The 2023 World Champion, Italy’s Simon Deromedis, got his first medal of the FIS World Cup season in the St. Moritz (SUI) Ski Cross final on Sunday, finishing ahead of the Beijing 2022 runner-up, Swiss Alex Fiva.

Canada’s 2014 Olympic winner, Marielle Thompson, won her first World Cup race of the season, with two-time Olympic medal winner Fanny Smith (SUI) second and seasonal leader Hannah Schmidt (CAN) taking third in the women’s final.

The FIS World Cup for Moguls and Dual Moguls was Waterville, New Hampshire, with the unstoppable Jakara Anthony – the Beijing 2022 Olympic Moguls winner – continued her romp through the schedule.

She won the women’s Moguls on Friday, scoring 81.22 to best Olympic runner-up Jaelin Kauf of the U.S. (71.71) and teammate Hannah Soar (67.93).

On Saturday, Anthony won the Dual Moguls competition over Kauf, while Olivia Giaccio won the bronze in the all-American bronze final. For Anthony, she has won 10 of 11 Moguls and Dual Moguls World Cups this season: 6/6 in Moguls and 4/5 in Dual Moguls, with only Kauf getting a win against her. Amazing.

The men’s Moguls was a third win this season for Japan’s Ikuma Horishima, the Beijing Olympic bronze winner, defeating Cooper Woods (AUS), 85.84 to 81.04. Canada’s superstar Mikael Kingsbury got third at 80.07.

Kingsbury came back to take the Dual Moguls final from Horishima; it’s Kingsbury’s 84th World Cup gold, the most ever. The all-Swedish bronze final saw Olympic champ Walter Wallberg win over Filip Gravenfors.

● Judo ● A big field of 624 judoka from 90 countries were on hand at the Portugal Grand Prix in Odivelas, with Japan taking top honors with nine medals and two wins.

Yoshito Ojo won for Japan in the men’s 81 kg class and Hikari Yoshikoka won in the women’s 48 kg division. Two other countries had two winners; Uzbekistan took golds with Dilshodbek Baratov in the men’s 60 kg class and Diyora Keldiyorova in the women’s 52kg, and Turkey grabbed wins at 90 kg for men with Mihael Zgank and in the women’s +78 kg division with Hilal Ozturk.

Absent from the medal table were four “neutral” winners – all Russian – including Yago Abuladze (66 kg), Danil Levrentev (73 kg), Matvey Kanikovskiy (100 kg) and co-World Champion Inal Tasoev (+100 kg).

A much stronger field is anticipated next week for the Paris Grand Slam, essentially a rehearsal for the 2024 Olympic Games.

● Nordic Combined ● Another sweep for Norway at the FIS World Cup in Schonach (GER), for both men and women. Eight-time Worlds gold medalist Jarl Magnus Riiber won both men’s races, giving him eight wins in 11 races this season. He took Saturday’s opener off the 100 m hill and 10 km race in 22:41.7, well ahead of Stefan Rettenegger (23:55.5) and Norway’s two-time Olympic champ Joergen Graabak (23:56.7).

On Sunday, Riiber won the 100 m/10 km race in 23:42.5, beating Graabak (24:15.7) and Rettenegger (24:36.0) for his fifth straight World Cup victory.

Norway went 1-2 in Saturday’s women’s 100 m hill/4 km race with 2021 Worlds runner-up Mari Leinan Lund winning in 10:44.6 over Ida Marie Hagen (10:57.6), with Nathalie Armbruster (GER) third (11:10.0). Annika Malachinski finished 11th for the U.S. in 12:33.0.

On Sunday, it was Hagen to the line first for her third win this season, in 22:47.2, with Leinan Lund second (23:25.0) and two-time World Champion Gyda Westvold Hansen third (23:50.3). Alexa Brabec was the top U.S. finisher, in 15th (27:12.1).

Riiber continues to lead the men’s seasonal standings with 1,070 points to 795 for Rettenegger, and Hansen and Hagen both have 560 points in the women’s competition.

● Rugby Sevens ● In Perth (AUS), Ireland scored its first podium finish of the season in the third leg of the HSBC women’s Rugby Sevens and won its first tournament with a 19-14 win over Australia in the final. Britain beat the U.S. in the women’s bronze-medal game, 24-10.

Argentina dominated the men’s final, winning 31-5 over Australia, with Ireland taking the bronze by 2-4-7 against Fiji.

The Argentines lead the men’s standings with 58 points after three stops, to 44 for Fiji and Australia. The women’s leader is Australia (also 58), with New Zealand at 46 and France at 44.

● Snowboard ● Canada’s Eliot Grondin, the Beijing 2022 Olympic runner-up, won his second SnowCross race of the season in the FIS World Cup in St. Moritz (SUI), beating Swiss home favorite Kalle Koblet and Beijing bronze medalist Omar Visintin (ITA) third.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic champ, Czech Eva Adamczykova, won her first race of the season, getting to the line ahead of Sophie Hediger (SUI) and Beijing runner-up Chloe Trespeuch (FRA).

At Simonhohe (AUT), Italy’s Daniele Bagozza came into this season with three career World Cup medals (2-1-0). He won his fourth medal of this season (!) and defeated Beijing 2022 Parallel Giant Slalom winner Benjamin Karl (AUT) in the final, and his third win! Austria’s Fabian Obmann took the bronze.

Austria’s Sabine Schoeffmann, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, finally got her first win of the season after medals in five prior races. She triumphed in the final over Zuzana Maderova (CZE) and Elisa Caffont (ITA).

● Ski Jumping ● The women’s FIS World Cup was in Ljubno (SLO), on the 94 m hill, with familiar faces on the podium. First came Austria’s 2023 Worlds runner-up Eva Pinkelnig on Saturday, winning for the third time this season, scoring 269.3 to 262.5 for Slovenia’s 18-year-old star, Nika Prevc. Canada’s Alexandria Loutitt got the bronze (258.9).

On Sunday, it was Prevc with her sixth win of this season at 276.8, ahead of Pinkelnig (271.7) and Slovenian teammate – and Beijing 2022 bronze winner – Nika Kriznar third (268.9).

With 13 of 26 events completed, Prevc has a 853-679 lead on Japan’s Yuki Ito this season, with Pinkelnig third (651).

● Ski Mountaineering ● The ISMF World Cup circuit was in Boi Taull (ESP) for a Sprint and Mixed Relay, with French stars Thibault Anselmet and Emily Harrop taking the individual titles.

Anselmet, a six-time World Championships medal winner, took the men’s Sprint decisively in 2:42.13, beating Swiss Arno Lietha (2:46.26) and Oriol Cardona Coll (ESP: 2:48.04). Harrop, a seven-time Worlds medalist, won the women’s title in 3:13.04 in a tight finish with Marianna Jagercikova (SVK: 3: 3.17) and Celia Perillat-Pessey (FRA: 3:22.82).

The Mixed Relay was a clear win for Alba de Silvesto and Michele Boscacci of Italy in 33:52.08, with Spain (33:58.10) and France (Harrop and Baptiste Ellmenreich: 33:59.15) following.

● Speed Skating ● Lots of fireworks at the ISU World Cup at the ultra-fast, altitude-aided track at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, with American star Jordan Stolz – the three-time World Champion from 2023 – grabbing the world record in the men’s 1,000 m, an American Record in the 1,500 m, and watching his teammates in the Team Pursuit regain the world mark for the U.S.

Stolz stole the show on Friday, skating to a sensational 1:05.37 world record in the seventh pair out of 10, breaking Russian Pavel Kulizhnikov’s mark of 1:05.69 from 2020, also set at the Olympic Oval. China’s Zhongyan Ning was a distant second at 1:06.97.

On Saturday, Stolz was back at it and won the 1,500 m in 1:40.87, breaking Shani Davis’s American mark and winning over Ning again (1:41.78). A couple of hours later, Stolz got his third win, in the 500 m as the only one to break 34 seconds, at 33.96, a lifetime best. Worlds silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) took silver at 34.05.

Shortly afterwards, the U.S. trio of Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran won the men’s Team Pursuit in a world record 3:33.66, re-taking the mark from Norway, which had skated 3:34.66 earlier in the season (taking the mark from the U.S., which had held it for three years).

Spectacular.

Stolz came back on Sunday to win the second 1,000 m race in 1:06.32, ahead of Tim Prins (NED: 1:06.40) for his fourth win of the weekend.

In the distances, World Champion Patrick Roest won the 5,000 m in 6:02.98, a lifetime best, ahead of World 10,000 m gold winner Davide Ghiotto (ITA: 6:04.23). Stolz competed in the 5,000 m too, finishing 15th in 6:25.58. In the Mass start, Beijing Olympic silver medalist Jae-won Chung (KOR: 7:42.35) beat Olympic winner Bart Swings (BEL: 7:42.40).

The women were busy too, with Olympic champ Erin Jackson winning again in the 500 m in 36.90, with fellow U.S. star Kimi Goetz getting second (37.08) ahead of Mi-sun Kim (KOR: 37.22).

Olympic 1,000 m champ Miho Takagi (JPN) doubled in the 1,000 m (1:12.77) and 1,500 m (1:51.60), with Goetz taking the 1,000 m silver (1:12.85), and three-time World Champion Brittany Bowe fourth in 1:14.01. World 1,500 m champ Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong was the 1,500 m runner-up in 1:52.04, with Goetz seventh and Bowe ninth.

Goetz returned for a win in the second 1,000 m in 1:13.08, beating reigning World Champion Jutta Leerdam (NED: 1:13.17), with Bowe fourth again (1:13.32).

The Dutch were 1-2 in the 3,000 m with Joy Beune (3:56.86) and Olympic champ Irene Schouten (3:58.20), and Olympic silver medalist Ivanie Blondin (CAN) winning over Schouten, 8:14.70 to 8:14.81.

In the women’s Team Pursuit, Canada won in 2:54.07, with the U.S. squad of Bowe, Mia Manganello and Giorgia Birkeland third in 2:57.66.

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TSX REPORT: Russian diving chief says his athletes would be “outcasts” in Paris; City of L.A. asked for 2028 arts funding; Rubiales headed to trial!

City of L.A.'s Department of Cultural Affairs ready to plan for 2028!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Russian diving chief: we’ll be “outcasts” in Paris
2. City of Los Angeles asked for Olympic arts funding
3. Future Commonwealth Games to be studied in New Zealand
4. Spanish judge recommends trial of ex-RFEF chief Rubiales
5. IBU to ban and fine ex-chief Besseberg

The head of the Russian Diving Federation said that 99% of the top divers in Russia can’t compete at Paris because they are affiliated with the military-related sports clubs, and believes that Russian athletes at the Games would be treated as outcasts.

● The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs asked for $237,808 in annual funding for two staff members and support costs to begin planning the City’s own cultural programs for the 2028 Olympic Games.

● There are still no bidders for the 2026 or 2030 Commonwealth Games, but New Zealand is interested in exploring a possible 2034 bid. But will there even be a Commonwealth Games by then? The event may have to be disassembled until then.

● A Spanish judge approved moving ahead with the criminal case against former Royal Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales over the unwanted kiss to gave to midfielder Jenni Hermoso at the medal ceremony of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Charges against three others can also be explored.

● The International Biathlon Union plans to sanction former President Anders Besseberg with a life ban and a hefty fine. This came out during testimony in Besseberg’s criminal trial in Norway for corruption, which is continuing.

Panorama: Deaflympics (four nations, including U.S., to skip 2024 Winter Deaflympics) = Figure Skating (ISU to propose less-demanding skating?) = Football (UEFA’s head of football resigns over Ceferin bid for a fourth term) = Snowboard (Olympic champ Miki takes first World Cup win of the season at Rogla) ●

1.
Russian diving chief: we’ll be “outcasts” in Paris

The stream of reasons why Russian athletes will not – or should not – go to Paris for this summer’s Olympic Games continues, with the latest explanation from Russian Diving Federation chief Stanislav Druzhinen.

He told the Russian news agency TASS (edited computer translation from the original Russian):

“The athletes who took first place at the Russian Championship last year were selected for the World Aquatics Championships. At the same time, the eligibility criteria proposed by the International Olympic Committee and the International Federation say that only athletes who are not members of the Dynamo and CSKA societies and other organizations affiliated with security agencies can go to the competition.

“We have 99% of the athletes who could go to the World Championships in a neutral status who are members of those societies. And it makes no sense to send there people who took fifth or sixth place, because in this way we would violate the sports principle, and such a decision will not be understand by the guys who [should be] selected by right.”

Druzhinen also expressed concern over the way Russian athletes would be treated if they did quality and go to Paris, notably since the Russian Diving Federation would not be there to support them:

“In addition, we do not fully know the conditions of admission, because athletes have to go there individually. Will they need to sign any papers, how to send doctors, masseurs with them?

“The question is how they will be treated there: will they feel like outcasts, sitting apart from everyone and not communicating with anyone? In my understanding, they will.

“International competitions have turned into politics, unfriendly countries are trying to prove something, infringing on the rights of our athletes, who just want to perform on equal terms with others.”

A very small number of Russian athletes have qualified for Paris through various world championships, but even these will be re-checked for “neutrality” credentials by the International Olympic Committee. It is also possible that the Russian government will simply ban all Russian athletes from attending the Games; as the Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended for its takeover of Ukrainian sports organizations in the area invaded since February 2022, invitations would come from the International Federations directly to the athlete.

2.
City of Los Angeles asked for Olympic arts funding

“DCA is committed to executing a program which builds upon the City’s Olympic and Paralympic Games planning to support creative-sector jobs, free community programs, and youth arts and education opportunities that advance equity, inclusion, and readiness through the development of local artists, cultural producers, and vendors.”

That’s from a six-page memorandum filed by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), asking for annual funding of $237,808 to begin the planning and execution of the City’s participation in the cultural program of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

This is not a request by the LA28 organizing committee, which has the responsibility to mount a cultural program during the Olympic Games, but from the City’s Cultural Affairs Department to begin organizing the City’s own programs:

● “DCA’s efforts for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games are an opportunity to support the arts and cultural sector during three time periods: during the four year time period leading up to the Games from the torch handoff; during the Games; and the development of a long-standing legacy for the sector subsequent to the completion of the Games.”

● “As the City looks ahead over the next four years, leading up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, there will be many options and models to consider with regard to the provision of the Cultural Olympiad.

“A thematic Cultural Olympiad or Olympic Arts Festival is a community expectation, and DCA looks forward to exploring options of festivals and planning under a selected theme with the possibility of 28, 56, or 84 signature-activities which will meet popular enthusiasm to showcase LA as a highly talented, innovative, and multi-cultural arts community.

“Additionally, this will be an opportunity to explore numerous initiatives spanning the four years, including partnerships with City Departments and government agencies, opportunities for artists with disabilities, increased youth arts education, and collaboration with other local municipalities.”

The request noted that the DCA’s efforts on the cultural aspects of the 2028 Games have been in motion since 2020, in talks with past Olympic cities on their cultural programs, a visit to Paris to see the preparations for 2024 and 10 round-table discussions with local artists and organizations about 2028 programming. The goal:

“We all look to the Cultural Olympiad and related arts festivals and activities as opportunities to uplift the diversity of the region, build greater cultural equity and inclusion, stimulate cultural exchange, grow opportunities for youth arts education, and support capacity and legacy building in the arts that will last post-Olympic Games.”

And direct cooperation with the City of Paris is already underway:

“DCA is currently partnering with Paris on several arts projects, including the design and installation of a joint mural, a poetry relay, an Olympic poster contest between Los Angeles and Paris graphic design students, and participation in one of Paris’ largest festivals: Nuit Blanche.”

The memo further contends that the City is essentially obligated to cultural programming related to the Games:

“A thematic Cultural Olympiad or Olympic Arts Festival is a community expectation, and DCA looks forward to exploring options of festivals and planning under a selected theme with the possibility of 28, 56, or 84 signature-activities which will meet popular enthusiasm to showcase LA as a highly talented, innovative, and multi-cultural arts community.”

The LA28 organizing committee will be invited to attend the development sessions “to provide an overview of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

To get going, the DCA is requesting the hiring of two staff managers directly related to the City’s own 2028 programming ($137,808) and support funding of another $100,000.

The first step will be an as-yet unscheduled discussion with the City’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

3.
Future Commonwealth Games to be studied in New Zealand

With the withdrawal of Australia’s Victoria state from the hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Games last July, no new host has come forward, leaving the event in limbo. No bidders have come up for 2030, either, which would be the centennial of the event that began as the British Empire Games in 1930.

New Zealand looked like a possibility this week, with the 50th anniversary of the highly-successful Christchurch Games in 1974 being remembered, and current Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger asking for a review as to whether a 2030 bid might be worthwhile:

“I’m just floating it out there … what I’m asking for is a report from our guys to say ‘Phil, you’re dreaming’ or ‘no, you’re not’.”

At a meeting of the Christchurch City Council on Wednesday, Mauger underlined that he was interested in a study of the concept, not a bid:

“This could be a great opportunity for our city, so we need independent advice to consider it properly. That advice might say it’s a fizzer, but at least we’ve looked at it, and have the information in front of us. If we don’t ask, we don’t know.”

The motion passed by 10-7, but for a “future Games,” and not necessarily for 2030. There was a heavy debate on the idea, including heckling from the audience, with about 20 protestors objecting to the possible costs, environmental impact and the need for attention to other issues.

New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicols said it had “entered a formal dialogue with the Commonwealth Games Federation regarding a 2034 nationwide bid.

“This timeframe provides sufficient runway to engage government and other relevant agencies to develop an innovative and bold proposal for a potential 2034 bid, including undertaking a formal feasibility study.”

But that doesn’t help the Commonwealth Games for 2026 or 2030, and in December, The Times (London) reported that the Games could be disassembled into single-sport championships until a bidder for a comprehensive, multi-sport Games could be found, or the 2026 edition could be delayed until 2027 if a bidder is available.

In Christchurch, the City Council staff will undertake the feasibility study and report back.

Observed: The Commonwealth Games is in deep trouble, and it is worthwhile to ask if a bid for 2034 might be irrelevant if the event is not held in 2026 or 2030. Like so many regional events, the question is why is it important and/or relevant? That’s an increasingly difficult question to answer, especially if public funding is required, as it seems to be for almost everything outside of the Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup.

4.
Spanish judge recommends trial of ex-RFEF chief Rubiales

The fallout from former Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales and his forcible kiss of midfield star Jenni Hermoso during the medal presentations following last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup reached a critical stage on Thursday.

A lengthy statement from the Audencia Nacional (National Court) included (computer translation from the original Spanish):

“The judge of the National Court Francisco de Jorge has proposed judging the former president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis [Rubiales] for the non-consensual kiss of the Spanish national team player Jennifer [Hermoso] after the final of the last World Cup, held on August 20 in Sydney (Australia).

“The magistrate also proposes trying the sports director of the men’s team, Albert [Luque], the former coach of the women’s team Jorge [Vilda] and the former marketing manager of the Federation Rubén [Rivera] for the subsequent pressure to which the player was subjected to to agree to hold a public demonstration stating that the kiss had been consensual.”

The facts of the incident are by now well known. Rubiales forcibly kissed Hermoso on the lips during the awards presentation, then apologized in a video, then said he did nothing wrong. Hermoso said she was pressured to support Rubiales, but did not, and under growing pressure from Spain’s national women’s team, other women’s football players and administrators worldwide, player’s unions and significant public comment, finally resigned. The situation has been in the hands of the Spanish prosecutors, who are now in a position to proceed.

The statement added considerable detail to the impact of the ruling:

● “In the order to move to an abbreviated procedure, in which the investigation is concluded considering that all the pertinent procedures have been carried out, the judge concludes that the kiss on the player ‘was not consensual and was a unilateral and surprising initiative’ of the investigated.

● “The magistrate adds that the erotic purpose or not, or the state of euphoria and agitation experienced as a consequence of the extraordinary sporting triumph are elements whose consequence and legal consequences must be assessed in the oral trial before the body in charge of the prosecution.”

● “The judge explains that at this procedural moment his function is limited to appreciating that there is sufficient evidence of the commission of the events narrated in his record and that these events are criminally relevant, making an accusation perfectly sustainable.”

The efforts by Vilda, Luque and Rivera to get Hermoso to exonerate Rubiales in a video “could constitute a criminal offense.”

The next step:

“The resolution agrees to notify the Prosecutor’s Office and the accused persons so that they may request, within a period of ten days, the opening of an oral trial, formulating a document of accusation or, where appropriate, the dismissal of the case.”

CNN reported that “Defense lawyers for Rubiales and the other three men under investigation now have three days to try to halt an eventual trial by appealing to a different section of the court.”

If the criminal trial proceeds, Rubiales could be liable for a fine, or could be imprisoned for as many as four years.

5.
IBU to ban and fine ex-chief Besseberg

The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported Wednesday that the International Biathlon Union will seek to ban former President Anders Besseberg (NOR) for life and fine him NOK 1.1 million (about $108,415 U.S. today).

Biathlon Integrity Unit head Greg McKenna (GBR) stated in court testimony Wednesday:

“We have concluded that he should be banned for life from office and activities and receive a fine of up to 100,000 euros. We have also filed a motion for reprimand.”

Besseberg, now 77 and the President of the IBU from 1992 to 2018, resigned under pressure, with accusations of favoritism toward Russia and acceptance of favors, including gifts, travel and prostitutes. He is now on trial, facing Norwegian state charges of gross corruption.

An early witness was the now-Secretary General of the IBU, American Max Cobb. According to the Verdens Gang story, he was asked if he saw prostitutes at IBU events, and replied:

“It is very difficult to say whether those you see are prostitutes or not, since we never saw them in action, but I can say as much as that over several decades there were rumors about the behavior of Besseberg at the international competitions. This included prostitutes who he is said to have been offered by various event committees. This is information that persisted and came from many sources. …

“This was in the early 2000s. I was not a leader in the USA and I was not on the IBU board either. The entire biathlon community was familiar with the rumors surrounding hunting trips and prostitutes. So it wasn’t something that needed to be brought up.”

Asked about Besseberg’s leadership, Cobb explained, “He ruled in a strong way. It was almost dictatorial.”

Earlier in the trial, a police wiretap of a phone call by then-IBU Secretary-General Nicole Resch (GER) included her comments:

“He’s so crazy pro-Russia that I’m a little scared now. He no longer communicates neutrally at all. … Really a shame. He doesn’t want sanctions against Russia, he doesn’t want to do anything in principle.”

Besseberg said he did not agree with Resch’s characterization. The trial is continuing.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Deaflympics ● The 20th Winter Deaflympics is coming in March (2-12) in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum, with about 1,000 athletes from 40 countries expected to participate. However, it was reported Thursday that the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland will not come, citing security concerns in the region.

Erzurum Governor Mustafa Ciftci said Wednesday that the USA Deaf Sports Federation referred to security issues – notably the Israel-Hamas war – but believes the decision is political. That’s unlikely, given that the USADSF is not affiliated with the U.S. government.

In fact, the USADSF stated back in November that it would not attend, noting in part:

“The persistent lack of timely and reliable information in accordance with the Deaflympics Regulations have created significant financial, logistical, and security challenges that could no longer be tolerated. These factors have led USADSF and our National Sport Organizations to make difficult decisions about how much risk we are willing to carry and how much security – financial and otherwise – we are willing to compromise. Thus, based on the information available to us, the USADSF has determined that the United States will not participate in the 20th Winter Deaflympics.”

● Figure Skating ● A Thursday post by the Russian news agency TASS has the figure skating community talking (computer translation from the original Russian):

“The Technical Committee of the International Skating Union (ISU) is discussing proposals to simplify the rules in single and pair skating for the next congress of the organization, a source told TASS.

“In particular, there were proposals to reduce the number of mandatory jumps in the free skating program from seven to six, to allow the repetition of one jump three times – previously it was possible no more than twice, the number of cascades and combinations is proposed to be reduced from three to two, one rotation is replaced by a choreographic rotation. In pairs, it is proposed to reduce the number of supports with levels from three to two, and remove the solo jump.”

The matter is to be discussed at the 59th ISU Congress from 10-14 June in Las Vegas (USA).

This provoked a heated reaction from famed Russian coach Tatyana Tarasova:

“I’m surprised, of course, because in any kind of activity now the bar is only rising, and suddenly in a sport like figure skating it is lowered; utter stupidity.

“With such proposals, the ISU is trying to preserve the appearance, give the weak an opportunity to participate and win. They don’t care what it turns into, and what to do next, they will think later.

“More or less capable skaters will compete with those who can do everything. But perfection cannot be undone, no matter how much they love us. I think it’s a temporary measure of the stupidity they’re doing. Stupidity and unprofessionalism.”

And Tarasova, now 76, whose athletes have won 41 European and World Championships golds, said Russian skaters will continue to pursue the highest standards, alone if necessary:

“We will still learn something new, we will not stop. But within the limits of these rules. But we can host competitions according to our own [ideas]; this is our business, our question.”

No formal agenda for the June Congress has been posted as yet.

● Football ● More politics within the European Football Union (UEFA), as the organization’s Chief of Football, Zvonmir Boban (CRO) departed “by mutual agreement.”

Boban, 55, resigned in protest against a procedural move supported by UEFA’s Slovenian President, Aleksander Ceferin, which would allow Ceferin to run for a fourth term in 2027, after elections in 2016-19-23, holding that Ceferin’s first election, to a partial term, does not count against the term limits he introduced in 2017!

In an open letter, Boban wrote: “After expressing my deepest concern and complete disagreement with the proposal itself, the president answered that he sees no legal or moral-ethical problem in it – and that he will, without any doubt, proceed with this idea that I find fatal.”

The proposal to allow Ceferin to run again will be considered by the UEFA Congress in February.

● Snowboard ● Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom World Champion Tsubaki Miki of Japan was in a slump, heading into Thursday’s one-day competition in Rogla (SLO). She’d won medals in four of the seven races held so far this season … all bronzes.

But she rebounded on Thursday and won the second World Cup gold of her career, taking down Dutch rider Michelle Dekker in the final by just 0.03, as Dekker won her fifth career World cup medal. Austria’s Sabine Schoeffmann won the bronze – her fifth medal of the season – over seasonal leader Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) by 0.05.

The men’s PGS winner was seasonal leader – and Beijing 2022 gold medalist – Benjamin Karl (AUT), who won by just 0.02 against Italy’s 2023 Worlds Mixed Team champ Aaron March, with countryman Mirko Felicetti taking the bronze. It’s Karl’s third win of the season in eight races, heading home for Saturday’s Parallel Giant Slalom in Simonhohe (AUT).

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TSX REPORT: Cloud computing, A.I., changing Olympic broadcasts; WADA worries over doping in minors; 41 stars on U.S. men’s basketball list!

Olympic Broadcasting Services chief Yiannis Exarchos at Wednesday's news briefing from Korea (Photo: Screenshot of IOC video feed).

The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Cloud computing, artificial intel changing Olympic broadcasting
2. WADA concerned over youth doping and reactions
3. USA Basketball announces 41 in men’s Olympic player pool
4. ROC chief: path back for Russia is through Asia
5. Sailing allows Russian, Belarus for Last Chance Qualifier

● Olympic Broadcasting Services chief Yiannis Exarchos explained the changes coming to broadcasting at the Paris Games, some of which are being tried at the ongoing Winter Youth Olympic Games in Korea. Technologies already in use are cutting the number of people required and could offer federations spectacular new options to show their own events.

● The World Anti-Doping Agency published a report on doping and youth, noting that while the number of positives is not large, the impact on youngsters of a positive test can be very hurtful. From 2012-23, there were 1,518 positive tests from 1,416 athletes, with the largest number of positives in athletes from Russia, India and China.

● A spectacular roster of 41 star NBA players was named by USA Basketball as candidates for the 2024 men’s Olympic Team. The list include 13 Olympians, all 12 members of the U.S. World Cup team from 2023 and 25 NBA All-Stars. Only 12 will make the team. Wow.

● The head of the Russian Olympic Committee praised a youth competition in eastern Russia, and said the future of Russia’s re-entry into international competitions will go through Asia, and via youth events to begin with.

● World Sailing, following the directions of the IOC, agreed to allow Russian and Belarusian entries – subject to as-yet unpublished “neutrality” criteria – at the final Olympic qualifier, and if qualified, at the Paris Games. But nowhere else.

Panorama: Alpine Skiing (Strasser wins second straight World Cup Slalom) = Athletics (3: Lasitskene can’t believe she’s out of Paris; USATF Foundation to pay $100,000 to hammer throwers; Mexico’s Gonzalez gets another four-year doping ban) = Cricket (no protest for second South Africa match at U-19 World Cup) = Figure Skating (Russian team doctor wins defamation suit in Moscow vs. Germany’s ARD) = Football (2: four more Udinese fans sanctioned for racist chants; match in Cyprus called off for fans throwing flares on the field) = Sailing (World Sailing to allow Russians, Belarusians in last-chance qualifier) = Surfing (8x World Champion Stephanie Gilmore takes a year off) ●

1.
Cloud computing, artificial intel changing Olympic broadcasting

A fascinating – and somewhat scary – look into the future of Olympic broadcasting was shared at an online round-table session with Olympic Broadcasting Services chief Yiannis Exarchos (GRE) from the Winter Youth Olympic Games in the Gangwon Province of Korea on Wednesday.

Exarchos, the head of OBS since 2012, explained that a revolution in television production is underway, with more and more broadcasters adopting the “Olympic Cloud” technology used in Tokyo in 2021 (via Olympic sponsor Alibaba) to allow them to create their Olympic broadcasts at home instead of having to bring hundreds of staff to the site of the Games. They are being employed now:

“Many traditional fundamentals that we would have in the host city like the master control of the Games, distribution to broadcasters, creating graphics, creating and editing stories and so on, all these are not done in Gangwon. They are done back in the headquarters of OBS, in Madrid, where we have our technical facilities.

“This obviously leads into very significant savings, and also very significant help for the local organizers. We have less people on the ground, they need less support, less logistics, less transport, less accommodation, and this is the way to the future.”

Exarchos said 44.5% of the OBS production effort is remote in Gangwon, and that requests for remote distribution for Paris from right-holding broadcasters is up 279% from Tokyo in 2021. Moreover, the use of cloud technology for Games broadcasting is allowing a smaller footprint in the venues, replacing the familiar production van with servers and distribution links through cloud computing.

Already, systems of this type are proving themselves in Gangwon for curling and ice hockey. The same concept will be used in Paris for judo, shooting, tennis and wrestling. Exarchos: “It’s far more efficient and far more sustainable.”

The OBS chief also explained at length the impact of artificial intelligence (A.I.) on the broadcast process, already a major part of the OBS plan for Paris. He pointed to the 11,000 hours of content that OBS will produce in Paris:

“It’s a huge amount of content, and obviously to manage and create highlights out of it, customized highlights for different countries, different athletes, different sports, for different platforms, for social media for vertical videos and so on, this does require a huge capacity.

“And A.I. has started very credibly producing this capacity for us. So this scaling is giving us and our rights-holding broadcasters a lot of capacity and a lot of capabilities. …

“We will be using automated highlights for 14 different sports in Paris. … The difficulty for us is to create credible systems for many sports that are not, let’s say, so popular.”

A.I.-generated highlights will be created in Paris for athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, football, artistic gymnastics, handball, skateboarding, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

He also discussed a fascinating project, to use A.I. for live production, using a multi-lens concept:

“This technology is not yet mature for the complexity that we have in the Olympic Games but I think that in a very short period of time, it will be quite mature for lower-level coverage, for simpler coverage, and will be extremely cost effective, and also very, very sustainable.

“So we will keep on testing these systems and see how we can actually use them at some point in the Games.”

This is an exciting concept, especially for smaller sports federations, to be able to better offer streaming coverage of their own events, on their own sites and others.

But Exarchos was also concerned about the danger side of A.I.:

“Risks around the protection of private identity and the privacy, risks around the protection of minors, risks around the protection of [intellectual property], risks around the protection of what is real and what is fake. I belong to the ones who believe that very, very fast the world should start reacting and putting a structure of regulation around several elements of A.I. and for us, all these things are a consideration.”

The IOC’s head of digital, Leandro Larrosa (ARG), noted that these technologies are allowing the IOC to feed its social-media channels – 40 of them, in nine languages – faster than ever. The organization’s total social audience grew from 90 million in 2022 to 115 million in 2023, despite not having an Olympic Games in that year.

Observed: Although Exarchos noted it, the impact of the cloud-computing elements on Olympic television production will have an enormous impact on the future staging of the Olympic Games. The substantially-reduced need for space, people, hotel rooms, food, transportation and everything else will reduce organizing committee costs significantly and make available resources for officials, media, sponsors and, yes, even fans, more abundant and at lower cost.

And as he signaled, while there are dangers, these technologies will only accelerate in the future.

2.
WADA concerned over youth doping and reactions

The World Anti-Doping Agency circulated a 29-page report showing concern over the impacts of a positive doping test on younger athletes, especially minors.

Prompted in 2021 by increasing reports of doping among minors, the WADA Intelligence & Investigations Department began a survey of the issue to find possible patterns and remedies. What they found was that while doping was hardly widespread, it could be devastating, especially in seven key areas:

Trauma: “One of the major themes to emerge from the interviews was the deep trauma felt by Minors following a Positive Test and sanction. The Minors described the trauma they or a loved one felt when being removed from their sport and rejected by friends or family members, and how this rejection led to a significant psychological impact.”

Isolation: “Another theme to emerge was a sense of isolation, which is not surprising given many had been part of a sports community for the better part of their childhood. The separation from their sporting community took such a toll that many exhibited signs of depression (e.g., difficulty getting out of bed, conducting normal activities, attending school).”

Impact: “The interview of family members provided a unique perspective and highlighted the frustration and trauma felt by those within the Minor’s closest support network. Parents and siblings expressed a feeling of being victimized by rumors and innuendo regarding their alleged complicity in the violation. Some had been accused by other parents of being implicated in their child’s Positive Test, and this led to a sense of betrayal and further isolation. In one instance the impact was so significant that a parent considered removing their youngest child from the sport for fear that they would be stigmatized for being the sibling of a Minor who had tested positive.”

Pressure to Succeed: “All Minors that were interviewed spoke about the immense pressure of competition and how this pressure impacted them before, during, and after their sanction. The pressure to continuously achieve better results also directly and indirectly influenced the decision of some to use banned substances or methods.”

Pressure from Coaches: “One disturbing account came from a female Minor who recalled the extreme pressure she and other female athletes felt from the male coaches to keep their weight down. This pressure included an impossible expectation to slow down the effects of puberty because puberty would supposedly negatively impact their ability to compete.”

Ignorance: “The lack of anti-doping knowledge and education was another theme present in the interviews. One Minor described being unaware that a recovery method they had been prescribed was a Prohibited Method. Consequently, when the Minor was notified of their doping violation, the shock triggered a mental health condition which left them scrambling and unable to mount a proper defense to the violation.”

Abandonment: “A telling aspect from the interviews was the sense of abandonment felt by Minors following the Positive Test and eventual sanction. Some felt forgotten and were disappointed by the lack of communication and support they claimed to have received from their [anti-doping organizations].”

The study – “Operation Refuge” – collected data over 10 years and found that in-competition testing accounted for 60% of all tests, and the most tests being taken in China, Russia, France, South Korea, Germany, and Kazakhstan. The youngest subject was eight years old.

From 2012-23, there were 1,518 positive tests from 1,416 athletes. No data on the total number tested was given, but the study noted that “Minors produce a slightly less percentage of Positive Tests than the general population of other athletes.” For comparison, WADA’s 2020 doping violations report showed by sports group:

Summer Olympic: 114,840 samples, 592 positives (0.005%), 418 violations
Winter Olympic: 13,817 tests, 31 positives (0.002%), 19 violations

So, while the numbers are low, the individual impact can be quite high.

The most common prohibited drugs found in the tests were Furosemide (a diuretic), the stimulant Methylphenidate, and an anabolic steroid, Metandienone. The sports most impacted were weightlifting, athletics and aquatics, and the countries with the largest number of positives were Russia, India and China (no statistics provided).

The report notes that the best immediate solution is more education, but called for a “better, more unified coordination is required within the anti-doping community to improve the experience and protection of Minors within the anti-doping process.”

3.
USA Basketball announces 41 in men’s Olympic player pool

An enormous list of 41 players was announced by USA Basketball as candidates for the American Olympic Team this summer in Paris, which will include just 12 men.

USAB Men’s National Team Managing Director Grant Hill headed the selection process for the long list of star players, which includes 25 NBA All-Stars, 22 FIBA World Cup participants and 13 Olympians:

● Bam Adebayo (2020)
● Devin Booker (2020)
● Jimmy Butler (2016)
● Anthony Davis (2012)
● Kevin Durant (2012-16-20)
● Paul George (2016)
● James Harden (2012)
● Jrue Holiday (2016)
● Kyrie Irving (2016)
● LeBron James (2004-08-12)
● Damian Lillard (2020)
● Chris Paul (2008-12)
● Jayson Tatum (2020)

The player pool also includes standouts such as Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and others who have not been on a U.S. Olympic Team yet. All 12 members of the 2023 FIBA World Cup team, which placed fourth, are on the list.

In a complete understatement, Hill noted:

“Assuming everyone stays healthy and everyone’s interest level continues as it is, we have a chance to have a very special group, a team that has a lot of star power, but also a team that just has a lot of balance, a lot of versatility and will give us an opportunity of winning a gold medal in Paris.”

One player not on the roster is two-time Olympic gold winner Draymond Green, who has been suspended for violence twice already during the NBA season. Hill told The Associated Press:

“We all understand and certainly have great respect and sensitivity to this particular period in his career and he’s working through some things both on and off the court.

“We at USA Basketball, we want to support him on his journey. We just didn’t feel that playing over the summer gives him the best opportunity to do what he needs to do.”

The team will be coached by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga), Ty Lue (Clippers) and and Erik Spoelstra (Heat). Three exhibition games are on the schedule prior to Paris, on 10 July vs. Canada (in Las Vegas); 20 July vs. South Sudan (London) and vs. 2023 World Cup champs Germany on 22 July, also in London.

The American men will be trying for their fifth Olympic gold in a row and have an all-time Olympic record of 143-6.

4.
ROC chief: path back for Russia is through Asia

The Primosky Territory is at the far eastern end of Russia, opposite the northern Japanese islands, and according to Russian Olympic Committee chief Stanislav Pozdnyakov, will be the entry point for the return of Russian athletes to international competition:

“The projects that the Primorsky Territory is implementing are iconic, significant sporting events. The Children of Asia Games were a great success, they became the standard for holding this kind of international sporting events. Today we are at the finish line of the Children of Primorye project which will connect the closest countries in the Far East. The path for the return of Russian sports to the international arena lies through these countries, through Asia.

“The return of Russian sports will take place through children’s and youth sports. And this project fully corresponds to these tasks. This is the basis of the future Olympic Movement.”

Pozdnyakov spoke Wednesday at a presentation on the Children of Primorye program. The inaugural “Children of Primorye” winter-sports event will be held from 18-23 February, with athletes from Russia, Belarus, North Korea, China and some others.

Pozdnyakov also criticized the International Olympic Committee for its promise to independently check the “neutrality” credentials of athletes who could compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, saying “This shows the level of mistrust in the international sports federations, which allowed our athletes in a neutral status.”

No kidding.

5.
Sailing allows Russian, Belarus for Last Chance Qualifier

World Sailing announced Wednesday that “Those who meet the necessary eligibility criteria will be permitted to participate as AINs in competition for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, starting with the Last Chance Regatta qualifying event, to be held as part of the Semaine Olympique Francaise, 20-27 April, and finishing with the Olympic regatta in Marseille.”

No participation in any other events will be allowed, and Russian and Belarusian sailors who wish to compete must apply to World Sailing for approval, with the specific process still to be provided.

The announced policy follows the IOC’s recommendations, and the continuing ban on all other competitions for Russians and Belarusians will be re-examined at quarterly intervals, with the next review by the World Sailing Council on 22 February.

If any Russian or Belarusian sailors do manage to qualify for Paris, they will be subject to the IOC’s own review for “neutrality.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● From 2014 to 2022, German Slalom specialist Linus Strasser won three World Cup races. He’s now won two in four days after his gold-medal performance at the FIS World Cup Slalom at Schladming (AUT)!

It was a rainy Wednesday on the slopes and 19 of the 73 starters failed to both the two-race set, but Strasser was in front after the first run at 50.46, trailed by Timon Haugen (NOR: 50.56). On the second run, France’s Clement Noel took the overall lead from the third-to-last position, with a combined total of 1:46.22.

But Haugen was faster yet at 1:45.48 and then Strasser capped his best week ever with a seventh-place second run that sealed a 1:45.20 win. It was Haugen’s third career individual World Cup medal, all of which have been silvers!

Now second in the seasonal World Cup Slalom standings, Strasser said afterwards, “I keep the momentum up and try to continue, but first of all, I’m going to celebrate tonight.”

● Athletics ● Tokyo Olympic champ and three-time World Champion in the women’s high jump, Russian Mariya Lasitskene has been clear about the emotional impact of the war sanctions that have kept her sidelined since Tokyo:

“It’s impossible to come to terms with this, I still can’t understand my condition regarding the Olympic Games.

“I’m a sober person and I understand the impossibility of my trip to Paris this year. But I didn’t let go of this situation, no matter how stupid it looks. I have disbelief that this could happen, although we already went through this [ban on competing] in 2016 at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.”

She won a meet in Moscow on Tuesday at a modest 1.90 m (6-2 3/4), telling reporters afterwards that domestic meets like this cannot compare with international competitions:

“But competitive practice is not the same now, no matter how hard the girls and I try to compete, it doesn’t give me those goosebumps, those experiences. And again, technically, physically, it’s not yet This is my level, I don’t need to bury myself even stronger and deeper now with worries that I only jumped 1.90 today.”

“You have to be grateful for this result, be grateful that I competed, that I finally pulled myself together on the second attempt at 1.83 meters [6-0]. I could have already started to get angry and nervous, but I still pulled myself together. It’s funny for me to say about the height of 1.87 [6-1 1/2], when there is a height of another level of 2 meters [6-6 3/4]. But now it is necessary to accept that now I am fighting with myself and with the bar at a height of 1.87-1.90, no matter how offensive and unpleasant it may be for me; this is a fact.”

The USA Track & Field Foundation announced a new grant of $100,000 to “Operation Hammer Sweep” to fund the top U.S. throwers in advance of the 2024 season:

“The initiative is designed to provide immediate additional support to the top 3 finishers at the ’23 USATF Outdoor Championships in the men and women’s events as well as those who placed in the 4-6 positions – a move aimed at deepening the field of contenders. The funds will be advanced to the athletes immediately to support their training toward Paris ’24.

Brooke Anderson [sic], DeAnna Price, Janee’ Kassanavoid, Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, and Alex Young will each receive immediate grants of $10,000. Brock Eager, Jordan Geist, Justin Stafford, Jillian Shippee, Annette Echikunwoke and Erin Reese will each receive immediate grants of $5,000.

“Under the OHSP24 framework, additional grants of $5,000 will be awarded to the top 3 finishers at the 2024 Olympic Trials.”

Kassanavoid and Price won the 2023 Worlds silver and bronze medals and Andersen and Kassanavoid went 1-3 in 2022. However, the U.S. has never won a women’s Olympic hammer medal and hasn’t won a men’s Olympic hammer medal since Lance Deal’s silver in 1996.

The Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed a doping ban for Rio 2016 women’s 20 km Walk silver winner Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez (MEX) for “tampering.” Now 35, she had been suspended from 2018-22 for use of a prohibited steroid, and admitted in 2020 that she lied when she claimed that she had consumed contaminated meat as the source of the positive test in October 2018, the last year in which she competed.

Gonzalez appealed the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but lost, and imposed a ban from 16 November 2022 to 15 November 2026. Moreover, it imposed costs on her of CHF 1,000 for the court and CHF 6,000 to World Athletics “toward its legal fees and expenses incurred.” (CHF 1 = $1.16 U.S.)

● Cricket ● No protests at the second match for South Africa at the ICC men’s U-19 World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Tuesday; however, a rain-and-lightning-delayed match saw England (2-0) win by 34 runs over host South Africa (1-1).

The first South African match had been protested by a contingent of pro-Palestinian supporters, against South African player David Teeger, who had been demoted as captain by Cricket South Africa over fears of a wider incident. Cricket will be a medal sport at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

● Figure Skating ● A lawsuit filed in Russia by the team physician for the Russian figure skating squad at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games alleging defamation was decided in his favor against a German broadcaster.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that Dr. Phillip Shvetsky filed the action against ARD investigative reporter Hajo Seppelt (GER) in July, with a decision from a Moscow District Court issued in his favor on Wednesday.

The suit alleged that Seppelt, in a television program, defamed Shvetsky by suggesting his possible involvement in the December 2021 doping positive by Kamila Valieva, a case which is due to be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the coming weeks. Said Shvetsky:

“It was enough for us to refute five conjectures both in the video material published on the TV channel and in printed information that spread not only in Germany but throughout the world, accusing me of doping, presenting me as a representative of the doping system, a doping repeat offender and guilty of Kamila Valieva’s doping case at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

“The court ordered Mr. Hajo Seppelt to refute his facts in the same manner, which he spoke about on television and in the press, and to collect one ruble from him. After I receive an extract of the court decision and translate it into German, and how he will receive it, he will have a month to appeal.”

● Football ● Four additional Udinese fans were identified and sanctioned on Wednesday for racial abuse hurled at AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan (FRA) at their Serie A match in Udine on Saturday (20th).

All four – three men and a woman – were banned from attending any sporting event in Italy for five years, which is the maximum sentence available under Italian law. The Associated Press reported that “Ranging in age from 32 to 45, they were identified from the stadium’s security camera footage.”

Udinese will also be required to play its next home match – on 3 February against Monza – with an empty stadium.

The “fan” identified on Monday was banned for life by the Udinese club, which promised to do the same to others upon a review.

In Limassol, Cyprus, a match between Apollon and AEL was cancelled on Wednesday as some “fans” ran onto the field and threw flares at each other. Riot police were called in to help and the referee closed the match before it could start as safety could not be guaranteed.

● Surfing ● First, Olympic champ and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (USA) said she would take some time off from competitive surfing. Now, Australian surfing star Stephanie Gilmore wrote on her Instagram page on Tuesday:

“I am planning to take this tour season off as a refresh for myself physically, mentally, and to enjoy following swells and free surfing in new places.

“I have some projects and trips I want to do, which haven’t been possible while traveling for the tour season. I am still passionate and dedicated to competing, and I have goals and dreams that I am still chasing – I’m excited for something fresh this year and I look forward to returning to competition in 2025.”

Now 35, Gilmore – a Tokyo Olympian – is considered the greatest women’s surfer ever with eight world titles in 2007-08-09-10-12-14-18-22 and racked up 34 victories on the World Surfing League Championship Tour. And, following her off-year, she may be back for more.

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TSX REPORT: French President Macron wants a top-5 medal finish for France in Paris; new stats show that’s quite possible!

If history holds, France will have a lot to cheer about this summer! (Image: Paris 2024)

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Panorama: Paris 2024 (security “bubble” planned for Olympic Torch Relay) = Los Angeles 2028 (Equestrian Eventing inclusion depends on venue choice) = French Alps 2030 (Dubi: venue decisions must have local backing) = Television (NFL’s online playoff game viewing shows age split on streaming) = Russia (three more LIMS weightlifting suspensions) = Alpine Skiing (2: Odermatt comes from 11th to 1st in Schladming; good audience for NBC highlights show) = Football (2: Udinese penalized a game without fans for racist fan chants; modest audience for USA-SLO friendly) ●

≡ LANE ONE ≡

“Our Olympic top five target is more achievable than ever according to the latest forecasts, which show that France could have its best Games since 1900.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure, but it’s sound, healthy pressure.”

That’s French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, speaking to French judoka at the national training center in Paris, and looking forward to a possible top-five finish.

They might get it.

In fact, if history is a good guide, the French will set a record for its most medals in an Olympic Games since it hosted the second Games of the Olympiad way back in 1900.

An exclusive compilation by The Sports Examiner shows that, on average, host nations over the last nine Olympic Games have increased their medal totals from the prior Games by an average of 12.8 medals!

We have to start with the Games of the XXIV Olympiad in Seoul (KOR), since it was the first since 1972 not to have significant boycotts, although there were a handful of countries which did not attend. Starting with Seoul, host-nation medals have increased in every Games except one:

1988: +14 for host Korea (+6 more golds)
1992: +18 for host Spain (+12 golds)
1996: –7 for host U.S. (+7 golds)
2000: +17 for host Australia (+7 golds)
2004: +3 for host Greece (+2 golds)
2008: +37 for host China (+10 golds)
2012: +14 for host Great Britain (+10 golds)
2016: +2 for host Brazil (+4 golds)
2020: +17 for host Japan (+15 golds)

The average increase in total medals across the nine Games was 12.8 and the average increase in gold medals was 8.1. Six of the nine hosts increased their medal count by 10 or more.

What does this mean for France?

First off, the French will benefit from the sanctions against Russia, as its athlete total will be very small and its medal total will likely be the worst ever in any Olympic Games it has attended.

Second, French performance at the Games has improved since 1988, moving from just 16 in Seoul to 29 in Barcelona and 37 in Atlanta in 1996. The French enjoyed their all-time high in medals – excepting the 1900 Games in which France dominated in participation and won 102 medals – in 2008 in Beijing with 43, followed in Rio in 2016 with 42.

That total ebbed to 33 in Tokyo in 2021, but if the historical averages hold, the French can look forward – as hosts – to 46 medals in Paris this summer (33 + 13), and 18 golds, which would be – by far – its best ever since the 1900 Games.

At 46 medals, the French will be in the hunt for fifth place in total medals; discounting Russia, Australia was fifth with 46 medals in Tokyo, and France and Germany had 42 in Rio in 2016 (again, ignoring Russia). Looking at the last Games held in Europe – in London in 2012 – fifth place, with Russia included, was 44 medals for Germany (France had 35).

In terms of golds, France’s historical projection of 18 golds would have ranked fifth in Tokyo if Russia is excluded, fifth at Rio 2016 even with Russia and would have tied the Russians for fourth at London 2012.

And with the Russians to be mostly absent, look for the French – with swim star Leon Marchand a possible triple gold medal winner – to possibly exceed the averages and get close to 50 medals, likely good enough for fourth behind the U.S., China and Great Britain.

One more note, however. The French may be great in Paris in 2024, but expect a letdown in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032. Over the last nine Games, host-country medal counts recede by 5.3 medals on average in the next Games, and by 9.7 medals in the following Games.

But for now, all looks good.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● A security “bubble” of as many as 100 security personnel will surround the Olympic Torch on its procession through France and its overseas departments from 8 May to 26 July. Moreover, 18 plainclothes agents will be assigned to security oversight of the relay and anti-drone technology will be employed to keep the route safe.

French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin noted that 13 initially-assigned torchbearers had been removed from the relay: 10 for having “significant criminal records” and three for concerns over ties to radical Islamist groups and the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● A further report, from the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), indicated that the push for changes for Eventing in 2028 came from the International Olympic Committee and its owned-subsidiary, Olympic Broadcasting Services:

“The objective was to make Eventing more attractive to fans and new audiences, and increase the media value by capitalising on the Cross Country phase which was a unique draw for the discipline. President [Ingmar] De Vos [BEL] clarified that Eventing’s place on the programme for LA28 was subject to having a single venue for all the equestrian disciplines, something he was very confident about, but that the focus on cost and venue optimisation by the IOC, along with proposed changes to the format were essential for the FEI and the future of Eventing at the Olympic Games.”

The Saturday seminar had participants from 36 member federations. The starting point for further discussions was specified:

“A proposal by OBS, which is favoured by the FEI Eventing Committee as in line with Olympic principles, sees the team competition run on the short format (Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country) with team medals awarded after the Cross Country while the Individual competition remains on the long format, as per previous Olympic Games, with the Jumping round held the day after the Cross Country to award the Individual medals. This would entail two medal days, with Team Medals awarded on Day Three after the Cross Country followed by Individual Medals on Day Four after the Final Individual Jumping Round.”

A plan is due back to the IOC by 1 March.

Olympic stat star Hilary Evans (GBR) adds to yesterday’s story that “cross-country is always the second phase and the competition always culminates with show jumping.” This is preserved in the current proposal by OBS.

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● Responding to a FrancsJeux.com question about whether the famed ski resort Val d’Isere will be reinstated to the venue list for the 2030 Winter Games plan, the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi (SUI) explained:

“Our wish to see the French file reduce the number of sites was motivated by operational, budgetary reasons and linked to the experience of the athletes, who demand a real mix of sports at the Games.

“I understand the problem of the French Alps, it is the same as Switzerland for the Games in 2038. We have developed a principle, according to which fewer sites simplify the organization and reduce costs. But it is not up to the IOC to decide. The answer must be local. And it is clear that it is not possible to organize the Olympic Games despite local elected officials.”

● Television ● Fascinating data from the NFL’s Wild Card playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs on 13 January, which was shown only on NBC’s Peacock subscription channel.

The game drew an audience of 22.86 million viewers, including home-city over-the-air showings in Miami and Kansas City. The Peacock-only audience was 21.5 million, an increase over the 2023 Wild Card game in the same time slot on NBC, but with 12% less households watching; that indicates fans went to out-of-home locations (bars, restaurants) to watch.

But for those who did watch online, the analysis from SportsMediaWatch.com was enormously informative:

“Notably, the Peacock game averaged 892,000 viewers in the demographic of kids and teens 12-17 — up more than three-fourths from last year (502K) and behind only Packers-Cowboys on FOX Sunday (1.03M) as the highest of any Wild Card Game the past two years, per a source. While the demographic accounted for just 3.9% of the audience, that is still considerably higher than last year (2.4%).

“The flip side of the growth in younger viewers is that the older audience dropped off by double-digits. The Peacock game averaged 10.47 million among adults 50+, down 14% from last year (12.21M). The 50+ demo, which accounted for a solid 60% of the audience last year, made up 46% this year.”

This is a lesson for all sports, demonstrating the strong interest in online viewing for younger folks is paired with much less viewing by those 50+. But while there were segment gains in the 12-17, 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 age groups, the total audience decreased because of the large base of older viewers in the U.S.

At least for now, on-the-air and cable still needs to be available if possible, as streaming is not yet the stand-alone answer.

● Russia ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that three more former Russia weightlifters were banned by the International Testing Agency based on data recovered from the RUSADA Moscow Laboratory in 2019.

They include 2010 European Championship 69 kg silver medalist Mikhail Gobeev, 2012 European Youth 69 kg Championship winner Armen Alekyan and 2013 Russian Cup 60 kg winner Dmitry Chaly, all banned for four years.

● Alpine Skiing ● Swiss Marco Odermatt, the two-time defending World Cup overall champion, looked dead after finishing 11th after the first run of Tuesday’s FIS World Cup Giant Slalom in Schladming (AUT).

Austrian home favorite Manuel Feller, a five-time World Cup winner in the Slalom, led the field at 1:05.01, almost a second (0.98) up on Odermatt, with Swiss Loic Meillard second (1:05.11).

But Odermatt was not deterred and flew down the Planai course and beat the rest of the field by almost half-a-second on the second run and barely out-lasted Feller with a 2:10.03 to 2:10.08 win for his eighth World Cup Giant Slalom win in a row (over two seasons)!

According to FIS, Odermatt has won 17 of his last 22 Giant Slaloms and has been in the top three in every one. There is a reason why he is the reigning Olympic and World Champion in the event.

Feller got second, his first Giant Slalom medal since December of 2022 and the sixth of his career. Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec, the 2022 Olympic runner-up, took the bronze at 2:10.32. River Radamus was the top American, in 23rd (2:12.89).

The Schladming World Cup will close with a Slalom on Wednesday.

Encouraging viewing audience for NBC’s delayed coverage of the FIS Alpine World Cup men’s Downhill from Kitzbuehel (AUT) on Saturday (20th) at 5 p.m. Eastern – up against NFL playoff football – of 550,000!

Most of the coverage was on the Peacock subscription channel.

● Football ● Reverberations continue from the racist chants aimed by Udinese supporters at AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan (FRA) on Saturday (20th). Maignan, who is Black, posted on X (ex-Twitter; computer translation from the original French):

“It was not the player who was attacked. It’s the man. He’s the father of the family. This isn’t the first time this has happened to me. And I’m not the first this has happened to.

“We issued press releases, advertising campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed.

“Today, an entire system must take responsibility:
“– The perpetrators of these acts, because it is easy to act in a group, in the anonymity of a platform.
“– The spectators who were in the stand, who saw everything, who heard everything but who chose to remain silent, you are complicit.
“– The Udinese club, which only spoke of an interruption of the match, as if nothing had happened, you are complicit.
“– The authorities and the prosecutor, with everything that is happening, if you do nothing, YOU WILL ALSO BE COMPLICIT.

“I have already told you and if it bears repeating: I am not a VICTIM. And I want to say thank you to my club AC Milan, to my teammates, to the referee, to the Udinese players and to everyone who sent me messages, who called me, who supported privately and publicly. I can’t answer everyone but I see you and we are TOGETHER.

“It is a difficult fight, which will take time and courage. But it’s a fight we will win.”

Maignan and his teammates walked off the field briefly after the insults continued in the first half, but returned and won the game, 3-2.

The Udinese club has been ordered to play its next Serie A match without spectators, by a league judge, who noted that the club found one of the fans involved and banned him for life. The Associated Press reported:

“League judge Gerardo Mastrandrea noted that despite two announcements inside the stadium asking fans to stop the abuse, there were no reports of other supporters disassociating themselves from the racist chants. However, since Udinese cooperated with authorities and acted quickly to find the fans responsible for the abuse, the least severe sanction was applied.”

The sanction will be carried out for the 3 February match against Monza.

Modest television audience for the U.S. men’s National Team’s 1-0 loss to Slovenia in a friendly last Saturday (20th), with 291,000 watching on TNT at 3 p.m. Eastern, going up against the NFL pre-game shows and then the Baltimore vs. Houston divisional playoff that drew a combined 32.3 million on ABC and ESPN.

The Spanish-language broadcast of the match drew 240,000 for a combined audience of 531,000.

The TNT pre-game show 2:30 p.m. Eastern drew 191,000.

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TSX REPORT: Beamon’s ‘68 long jump gold on auction; equestrian federation asked for 2028 Eventing revamp; Australia opts for A/C in Paris

Bob Beamon's 1968 Olympic long jump gold medal (Photo: Christie's)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Beamon’s 1968 Olympic gold up for auction on 1 February
2. FEI told to revamp Cross Country for LA28 Games by 1 March
3. Australia to install optional air conditioners in Paris Village
4. USA Basketball names 11 Olympians to women’s training camp
5. World Aquatics approves eight “neutral” swimmers for Worlds

● World-record long jump star Bob Beamon is auctioning off his historic 1968 Olympic gold medal in February during a live auction at Christie’s New York. Will it approach the prices paid for Jesse Owens’ Berlin 1936 golds?

● The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has been instructed by the International Olympic Committee to re-format its Eventing discipline by 1 March, to reduce its costs and complex for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

● Although the Paris 2024 Olympic Village was designed without air conditioning for environmental reasons, the Australian Olympic Committee is ready to pay A$100,000 to add it for their athletes to ensure maximal performance.

● USA Basketball named 18 star players to a training camp, from which 12 will be selected to play in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February (even though the Americans have already qualified for Paris 2024). On the roster are 11 Olympians and four more who played on the 2022 FIBA World Cup championship team. Wow!

● The World Aquatics Integrity Unit has approved nine “neutral” swimmers – eight from Belarus – to compete at the upcoming World Aquatics Championships in Qatar, plus one Belarusian artistic swimmer, but that does not mean they will compete there.

Panorama: Paris 2024 (IOC releases athlete “expression” guidelines) = IOC (Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad conviction confirmed by Swiss court) = Russia (3: Friendship Games to have five sports in Belarus; WADA sets 2024 Russian dues; national flag deemed crucial for ROC chief) = Athletics (2: two more Kenyan doping positives; Christie and Melville win USATF Marathon Walk Relay) = Canoe-Kayak (ICF celebrates 100-year anniversary) = Lacrosse (ITA reports three doping positives from 2023 Worlds) = Rowing (Serbian federation suspended over debts) = Table Tennis (Ly and Takahashi take Pan Am Cup titles) ●

1.
Bob Beamon’s 1968 Olympic long jump gold up for auction
on 1 February

Bob Beamon’s astonishing world-record long jump of 8.90 m (29-2 1/2) at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games is one of the world’s iconic individual performances in sport.

A medal favorite, Beamon qualified second to fellow American Ralph Boston, the 1960 Olympic Champion, who set an Olympic Record of 8.27 m (27-1 3/4), with Beamon at 8.19 m (26-10 1/2).

In the final – 18 October 1968 – Beamon was fourth in the order and after the first three jumpers all fouled, Beamon unleashed a mammoth jump that was so far, the optical measuring device installed for the Games could not be used. The jump was manually measured and was posted at 8.90 m, which Beamon did not immediately understand. When told by Boston that he had jumped 29-2 1/2, Beamon collapsed in astonishment.

At the start of the day, the world record had been 8.35 m (27–4 3/4) by Boston (1965) and Soviet Igor Ter-Ovanesyan, in Mexico City in 1967. Beamon crushed that mark and the competition was over. He did jump in the second round, reaching 8.04 m (26-4 1/2) and then retired.

It took 23 years for his mark to be surpassed, with Mike Powell of the U.S. winning an epic duel with Carl Lewis at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, reaching 8.95 m (29-4 1/2) to win.

Beamon, now 77, worked with youth in sports for many years in Miami and in art and music and is now selling that 1968 Olympic gold in a 1 February auction by Christie’s in New York City.

Called The Exceptional Sale, the 40-item program includes iconic furniture, tapestries and works of art, plus Beamon’s gold medal, an Elvis Presley guitar and a gold vest owned by Janis Joplin.

The Christie’s estimate is that the medal could bring from $400-600,000, which would be one of the highest prices ever paid for an Olympic medal.

Olympic writer and board member of the multi-national Olympin Collectors Club Karen Rosen (USA) notes that the highest prices known to have been paid for Olympic medals are both for Berlin 1936 gold medals won by American sprint icon Jesse Owens.

An Owens gold sold for an all-time record of $1,466,574 on 8 December 2013, and a second Owens gold went for $615,000 on 7 December 2019.

The Beamon ‘68 gold will be sold in a live auction by Christie’s on 1 February, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern time. It’s lot no. 11.

2.
FEI told to revamp Cross Country for LA28 Games by 1 March

The respected British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound reported that the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has been asked to reconfigure its competition program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

At issue is what to do about the high-profile Eventing discipline, which often has the Cross Country segment held apart from the arena-style setting for Dressage and Jumping. Per the report:

● “The [Eventing] discipline is not yet confirmed for the 2028 Games, although leading figures have ‘confidence’ it will be.”

● “In a pre-recorded video message, FEI president Ingmar de Vos [BEL] told the 2024 FEI online eventing seminar today (20 January) that eventing being included in the 2028 programme is subject to finding a venue that accommodates all equestrian disciplines on one site, including the cross-country phase.”

The IOC’s instructions to the FEI apparently came in the last half of December, with a proposal due by 1 March. The Eventing format – formerly known as the “Three-Day Event” – usually features Dressage first, then Jumping and finishes with the Cross Country test on the third day, with the final phase over a lengthy course. For Tokyo 2020, the Cross Country segment was planned for a 5,700 m course (~3.54 miles).

The course length often places the Cross Country aspect at a separate venue, which increases costs significantly and requires the horses to be transported. For 2028, the proposed equestrian venue is a temporary facility in the “Valley Sports Park” at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Dressage and Jumping events were held in a specially-arranged arena at Santa Anita Park, but the Cross Country program was accommodated 115 miles south at Fairbank Ranch near San Diego, to ensure cooler weather for the horses.

The story noted that both the IOC and its Olympic Broadcasting Services subsidiary would prefer to have the Cross Country element as the final event in the Eventing program, with the medals awarded after the finish of that competition.

Observed: This is a normal part of the Olympic planning process and venues are always moved around for cost and convenience reasons. For 2028, the LA28 Web site still shows the bid plan from 2017, but the rowing and flatwater canoeing events are already known to be moved from Lake Perris in Riverside County (east of Los Angeles) to the Long Beach Marine Stadium, site of the 1932 rowing events.

Further moves – beyond equestrian – are expected, and venues have yet to be announced for Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing, as well as the five newly-added sports of baseball-Softball, Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse and Squash.

3.
Australia to install optional air conditioners in Paris Village

“We understand and support the idea of not having air conditioning because of the carbon footprint.

“But there is no question of sacrificing performance. At the [Australian Olympic Committee], we requested the services of a heat specialist to find out at what temperature sleep is best. As we explained to [the organizing committee], athletes must sleep during the day, as their events often take place in the evening. The daytime will be the hottest time.

“This is why we decided to install temporary air conditioners and fans in the athletes’ rooms. It’s an expense, but we can afford it.”

That’s Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll in an interview with The Telegraph (Australia), explaining why the AOC is following through on its decision from last November to add air conditioning to its athlete rooms at the Paris 2024 Olympic Village.

The cost is expected to be about A$100,000 or so (about $65,700 U.S.). The Paris Olympic Village was designed with flow-through cooling architecture so that air conditioning would not be added to each unit for environmental reasons, but the Paris organizers have said that temporary air-conditioning units could be added – at additional cost – for delegations that wished to have them.

It will be fascinating to see how many delegations decide to add air conditioning now that Australia has committed to it.

4.
USA Basketball names 11 Olympians to women’s training camp

The most dominant team in Olympic sport today has to be the U.S. women’s basketball team, which is on a 55-game Olympic win streak and has won seven Olympic golds in a row.

A lot of familiar faces are lining up to be on the 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic team, as USA Basketball announced an 18-woman training camp squad, with 12 to be selected for the 8-11 February FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp (BEL).

The U.S. women are already qualified for Paris, but are in the Qualifying Tournament to get ready for Paris. The squad that head coach Cheryl Reeve will have to choose from is an embarrassment of riches. USA Basketball noted the 11 Olympians in its announcement:

5 Golds (1): Diana Taurasi (2004-08-12-16-20)

2 Golds (2): Brittney Griner (2016-20), Breanna Stewart (2016-20)

1 Gold (8): Ariel Atkins (2020), Napheesa Collier (2020), Chelsea Gray (2020), Jewell Loyd (2020), and A’ja Wilson (2020), plus 3×3 Olympic champs Allisha Gray (2020), Kelsey Plum (2020) and Jackie Young (2020).

Further, four more players – Kahleah Cooper, Sabrina Ionescu, Betnijah Laney and Alyssa Thomas – were on the gold-medal-winning 2022 FIBA World Cup team (8-0), along with Atkins, Chelsea Gray, Plum, Stewart and Wilson.

The U.S. women will play Belgium, Nigeria and Senegal in their qualifier; there are also qualifying tournaments in X’ian (CHN), Belem (BRA) and Sopron (HUN).

The qualifying tournament team is not the team that will compete in Paris this summer. That process is a continuing evaluation and will undoubtedly add some other players to the mix such as collegiate stars like Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Angel Reese (LSU), Paige Bueckers (Connecticut) and others.

5.
World Aquatics approves eight “neutral” swimmers for Worlds

The 2024 World Aquatics Championships are coming to Doha (QAT) beginning on 2 February and the World Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) has approved eight swimmers and one artistic swimmer to compete under its “neutrality” rules.

Seven of the eight swimmers are from Belarus, including Ilya Shymanovich, the world short-course (25 m) record holder in the 100 m Breaststroke and gold medalist at the 2021 World Short-Course Championships. He was eighth in the Tokyo Olympic final in the 100 m Breast, but ranked no. 3 worldwide in the event in 2023 (58.41).

Tokyo Olympians Anastasiya Shkurdai (Fly) and Alina Zmushka (Breast) were also on the “neutrals” list. The one Russian swimmer was Ivan Girev, a Tokyo gold medalist in the 4×200 m Free relay.

World Aquatics told SwimSwam.com that four swimmers and one artistic swimmer have registered for Doha, all from Belarus. Vasilina Khandoshka is the artistic swimmer, the 2021 European Championships bronze winner in the Solo Technical.

As far as qualification for Paris is concerned, even if athletes are certified by an International Federation, the IOC will also verify their “neutrality” as regards supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The International Olympic Committee released its “Guidelines on Athlete Expression” for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the same core requirements as for the Tokyo Games in 2021:

“Expressions are not permitted in the following instances:

o During official ceremonies (including Olympic medal ceremonies, opening and closing ceremonies)

o During competition on the field of play

o In the Olympic Village”

The exception for near-the-field gestures introduced in Tokyo was continued for Paris, allowing for an “expression” or “gesture” when leaving the call room or being introduced, that is considered non-threatening, targeted at a specific group or disruptive. Specifically prohibited are the unfurling of a flag or banner, interfering with another athlete’s introduction and any physical harm to people or to property.

● International Olympic Committee ● Suspended IOC member Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, now the former Kuwaiti Defense Minister, had his Swiss forgery conviction confirmed in a December opinion that was published Monday.

The former Olympic Council of Asia chief was convicted in a Swiss court of forgery in September 2021 and given a suspended sentence of 30 months. On appeal in Geneva, his conviction and those of those associates was affirmed, but his sentence was revised from 14 months in prison and 15 months suspended, to a suspended sentence of two years and three years probation. Sheikh Ahmad, as he is known, has promised to appeal the finding to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

He was suspended for three years last July by the IOC for election interference at the Olympic Council of Asia, trying to get his brother elected as president. Although his brother did win, the election was nullified.

● Russia ● Long rumored, but not explicit until now: five sports at the World Friendship Games this September will take place in Belarus.

Most of the sports will be contested in Moscow and Yekaterinburg in Russia, but First Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism of Belarus, Alexander Dorokhovich, said in a television interview:

“From September 15 to 29, the Friendship Games will be held in 25 sports in which we plan to take part. The Russian Federation has also contacted us so that five sports will take place in Belarus. These are rowing, kayaking and canoeing, modern pentathlon, track cycling and trampoline.

“We are considering the proposal, and are ready to participate and cheer for the outstanding performances of our athletes.”

The IOC has warned against participation in the BRICS Games and the World Friendship Games in September, calling the events “clearly politically motivated sports events in Russia.”

Russia has not paid its 2022 dues to the World Anti-Doping Agency of $1.27 million and there is a WADA working groups studying both the difficulty for financial transactions due to sanctions on Russia and the country’s disagreement with the amount.

But the dues for 2023 have been established by WADA at $1,335,860. If Russia does not pay, it could be another grounds to continue WADA sanctions.

Perspective: the comments of Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov – a four-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing – to the Russian news agency TASS about the importance of national symbols (flag, anthem, uniform) for Russian athletes:

“The most important factor that unites all athletes is the unification around the flag.

“Every athlete dreams of achieving outstanding results representing their country. Athletes are the most patriotic part of our compatriots; they train and prepare all their lives to perform under the national flag of his country and, in case of victory, hear its anthem.

“I am sure that this is and will be the case in the future, because it is impossible to imagine that an athlete performs individually at some competitions, then he will perform as a single person, he will not feel behind them is the support of their country. And those who perform with the flag and anthem feel it and will pass it on to their children.

“This is love for one’s country and patriotism. Patriotism is love for one’s country, we demonstrate that Russia is not just the place where we were born, but a country that we want to make better, richer and pass all this on to future generations. Perhaps I am saying this from the perspective of a 50-year-old man, but nevertheless, the main line runs from the very beginning, when a person begins to play sports and dream of victories on the international stage.”

● Athletics ● The hits just keep on coming. Two more Kenyan doping suspensions announced by the Athletics Integrity Unit: Hosea Kisorio, a 2:17:01 marathoner in 2023, for erythropoietin (EPO) with a three-year suspension, and Ayub Kiptum, a 60:34 half-marathoner, banned for three years for Testosterone.

U.S. walk stars Miranda Melville and Nick Christie combined to win the USATF Marathon Walk Mixed Relay in cold, rainy conditions on Sunday in Santee, California.

This race is now contested by World Athletics at its Race Walking Team Championships to be held in Antalya (TUR) on 21 April, and at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The format has the male walker taking the first 12.195 km, then the woman taking the next 10 km, and then the male and female finishing with 10 km each for the 42.195 km total.

Melville, a six-time national champion and Rio Olympian, and Christie, a Tokyo Olympian and 16-time nationals winner, were easy victors in 3:13:27. Emmanuel Corvera and Celine Lepe finished second overall in 3:26:41 and Jordan Crawford and Jessica Heiser-Whatley were third (3:17:17).

The race essentially functioned as the U.S. Olympic Trials, with the actual qualification for Paris significantly depending on finishes at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships.

The top individual finishers were Christie (1:33:13), Crawford (1:41.54) and Corvera (1:42.46) for the men, with Robyn Stevens getting the fastest women’s time at 1:39:27, followed by Melville (1:40:15) and Lepe (1:43:43).

● Canoe-Kayak ● Happy Birthday to the International Canoe Federation (ICF), founded on 19 January 1924 in Copenhagen (DEN), with representatives from Denmark, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

Flatwater canoeing – now known as Canoe Sprint – was a demonstration sport at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris (FRA) and became a medal sport in 1936.

From the four federations that founded it, the original “Internationale Repräsentantenschaft für Kanusport” (IRK) has grown to 171 national members.

● Lacrosse ● The International Testing Agency published sanctions against three players on Monday, including two from the Haudenosaunee Nationals.

Austin Staats (CAN) was suspended for three months for “an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the prohibited substances carboxy-THC, cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine.” The substances were consumed out-of-competition and not used for competitive advantage, hence the reduced sanction period.

Oakley Thomas (CAN) was sanctioned for the same substances and for the same period. Both tested positive during the 2023 World Championship in San Diego, California on 1 July.

Peruvian player James Alexander Burleson-Porras was sanctioned for three months for a positive test for cocaine from 26 June 2023.

Lacrosse was added to the 2028 Olympic Games program for Los Angeles last October.

● Rowing ● World Rowing has suspended the Serbian Rowing Federation for debt:

● “This decision comes over significant financial debts being owed to World Rowing and various event suppliers by the Serbian Rowing Federation and relevant Serbian authorities serving as guarantors of the 2022 World Rowing Cup I and 2023 World Rowing Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.”

“Legal proceedings against the Serbian Rowing Federation and official guarantors are also being launched.”

The suspension means, among other things, that Serbian entries for the 2024 Olympic Games and World Rowing Championships are not allowed. Ouch. For reference, Serbian rowers did not win a medal at the 2022 or 2023 World Rowing Championships.

● Table Tennis ● At the Pan American Cup in Corpus Christi (USA), Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the 2023 Pan American Games runner-up, defeated the top two American women in the semis and finals to win her first Pan Am Cup gold.

Takahashi had won the 2018 bronze in this competition, but came from two sets down to get by Lily Zhang of the U.S. by 4-3 in the semis (11-8, 10-12, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8) and then won a see-saw battle with Amy Wang by 4-3 (11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9) in the final.

Canada’s Edward Ly, 20, won the men’s title by 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8) against Chile’s Nicolas Burgos and took 16 of the 17 games he played in the tournament!

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TSX BULLETIN: FEI told to revamp Cross Country for LA28 Games by 1 March

Questions for equestrian for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

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≡ LOS ANGELES 2028

The respected British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound reported that the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has been asked to reconfigure its competition program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

At issue is what to do about the high-profile Eventing discipline, which often has the Cross Country segment held apart from the arena-style setting for Dressage and Jumping. Per the report:

● “The [Eventing] discipline is not yet confirmed for the 2028 Games, although leading figures have ‘confidence’ it will be.”

● “In a pre-recorded video message, FEI president Ingmar de Vos [BEL] told the 2024 FEI online eventing seminar today (20 January) that eventing being included in the 2028 programme is subject to finding a venue that accommodates all equestrian disciplines on one site, including the cross-country phase.”

The IOC’s instructions to the FEI apparently came in the last half of December, with a proposal due by 1 March. The Eventing format – formerly known as the “Three-Day Event” – usually features Dressage first, then Jumping and finishes with the Cross Country test on the third day, with the final phase over a lengthy course. For Tokyo 2020, the Cross Country segment was planned for a 5,700 m course (~3.54 miles).

The course length often places the Cross Country aspect at a separate venue, which increases costs significantly and requires the horses to be transported. For 2028, the proposed equestrian venue is a temporary facility in the “Valley Sports Park” at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Dressage and Jumping events were held in a specially-arranged arena at Santa Anita Park, but the Cross Country program was accommodated 115 miles south at Fairbank Ranch near San Diego, to ensure cooler weather for the horses.

The story noted that both the IOC and its Olympic Broadcasting Services subsidiary would prefer to have the Cross Country element as the final event in the Eventing program, with the medals awarded after the finish of that competition.

Observed: This is a normal part of the Olympic planning process and venues are always moved around for cost and convenience reasons. For 2028, the LA28 Web site still shows the bid plan from 2017, but the rowing and flatwater canoeing events are already known to be moved from Lake Perris in Riverside County (east of Los Angeles) to the Long Beach Marine Stadium, site of the 1932 rowing events.

Further moves – beyond equestrian – are expected, and venues have yet to be announced for Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing, as well as the five newly-added sports of Baseball-Softball, Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse and Squash.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our new, 920-event International Sports Calendar for 2024 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX BULLETIN: Bob Beamon’s 1968 Olympic long jump gold up for auction on 1 February

Bob Beamon's 1968 Olympic long jump gold medal will be auctioned on 1 February at Christie's New York. (Photo: Christie's)

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≡ MEMORABILIA ≡

Bob Beamon’s astonishing world-record long jump of 8.90 m (29-2 1/2) at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games is one of the world’s iconic individual performances in sport.

A medal favorite, Beamon qualified second to fellow American Ralph Boston, the 1960 Olympic Champion, who set an Olympic Record of 8.27 m (27-1 3/4), with Beamon at 8.19 m (26-10 1/2).

In the final – 18 October 1968 – Beamon was fourth in the order and after the first three jumpers all fouled, Beamon unleashed a mammoth jump that was so far, the optical measuring device installed for the Games could not be used. The jump was manually measured and was posted at 8.90 m, which Beamon did not immediately understand. When told by Boston that he had jumped 29-2 1/2, Beamon collapsed in astonishment.

At the start of the day, the world record had been 8.35 m (27–4 3/4) by Boston (1965) and Soviet Igor Ter-Ovanesyan, in Mexico City in 1967. Beamon crushed that mark and the competition was over. He did jump in the second round, reaching 8.04 m (26-4 1/2) and then retired.

It took 23 years for his mark to be surpassed, with Mike Powell of the U.S. winning an epic duel with Carl Lewis at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, reaching 8.95 m (29-4 1/2) to win.

Beamon, now 77, worked with youth in sports for many years in Miami and in art and music and is now selling that 1968 Olympic gold in a 1 February auction by Christie’s in New York City.

Called The Exceptional Sale, the 40-lot program includes iconic furniture, tapestries and works of art, plus Beamon’s gold medal, an Elvis Presley guitar and a gold vest owned by Janis Joplin.

The Christie’s estimate is that the medal could bring from $400-600,000, which would be one of the highest prices ever paid for an Olympic medal.

Olympic writer and board member of the multi-national Olympin Collectors Club Karen Rosen (USA) notes that the two highest prices known to have been paid for Olympic medals are both for Berlin 1936 gold medals won by American sprint icon Jesse Owens.

An Owens gold sold for an all-time record of $1,466,574 on 8 December 2013, and a second Owens gold went for $615,000 on 7 December 2019.

The Beamon ‘68 gold will be sold in a live auction by Christie’s on 1 February, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern time. It’s lot no. 11.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

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TSX REPORT: Athens 1896 winner’s medal sells for $111,960; Infantino asks for match forfeits for racism; 95th World Cup win for Shiffrin!

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino (SUI): racism requires match forfeits!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Auction: $111,960 for Athens 1896 medal, $1,282,911 total!
2. Paris booksellers appealing Olympic removals
3. Warm temps for Orlando Marathon Trials on 3 February
4. Russia: Paralympic participation issues, 5,000 aths at BRICS?
5. LA28 progress on community initiatives confirmed

● The RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia closed with $1.28 million in sales, led by a $111,960 sale of a winner’s medal (in silver) from the 1896 Athens Olympic Games.

● The continuing tussle between the Paris Police and the second-hand booksellers along the Seine continues, with the police lowering the number to be removed for the Olympic opening and the booksellers headed to court.

● Early forecasts for the 3 February U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando show daily highs in the 70s, but morning temperatures in the 60s, reasonable for running. But wind could be a factor and more detail is needed.

● The Russian Paralympic Committee continues to fend off challenges in qualifying, now saying that it will not accept cycling requirements to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, about 5,000 athletes from 60 countries are expected for the BRICS Games in June, Russia’s WADA dues have not been paid and a weightlifter is now a three-time doping loser.

● A City of Los Angeles report states that the LA28 organizers have kept to their schedule of working group consultations on hiring, procurement and sustainability, with final recommendations due in early 2025.

Spotlight: Football (Infantino asking for match forfeits for racist fan behavior) ●

Panorama: Winter Youth Olympic Games (Pietschmann wins first gold) = Pan American Games (Lima bids for 2019) = Alpine Skiing (3: Sarrazin wins two more Downhills; Vlhova injured at Jasna as Shiffrin wins 95th; Mayer arrested at Kitzburhel) = Archery (Dror surprises Wijler in Nimes) = Athletics (2: Kelati and Teare win USATF Cross Country; 6 m for KC Lightfoot) = Badminton (Shi and Tai star with wins at India Open) = Biathlon (Norway sweeps men’s event, another French women’s 1-2 in Italy) = Cricket (modest protest at South Africa U-19 World Cup) = Cross Country Skiing (Valnes, Svahn and Karlsson win in Oberhof) = Curling (Mouat and Homan grab Canadian Open titles) = Cycling (Williams takes Santos Tour Down Under) = Football (2: U.S. men lose to Slovenia, 1-0; Sam Mewis retires) = Freestyle Skiing (3: Canada’s Schmidt sweeps Ski Cross at Nakiska; Wallberg, Kingsbury and Anthony sweep Moguls; Gremaud beats Gu again in Slopestyle) = Hockey (2: Belgium and Germany win men’s and women’s Olympic qualifiers) = Ski Jumping (2: Kraft wins in PolSKI finale; teen Prevc takes Zao gold) = Ski Mountaineering (Bonnet wins twice in Arinsal World Cup) = Snowboard (2: James and Ono win Halfpipe openers; Ledecka sweeps Parallel Slaloms) = Speed Skating (Canada, Japan and U.S. dominate Four Continents) = Surfing (Olympic champ Moore retires, for now) = Swimming (Australian star Horton retires) ●

1.
Auction: $111,960 for Athens 1896 medal, $1,282,911 total!

A winner’s medal from the Athens 1896 Olympic Games – the first of the modern era – sold for $111,960 at the 437-lot RR Auction that finished on Thursday.

The 1896 medal, in excellent condition, was made of silver, as gold medals were not introduced until the 1900 Games in Paris and for all events in 1904 in St. Louis. It had been expected to sell for $100,000, but exceeded that with the buyer’s premium (the amount paid to the auction house).

But that was not the only significant sale in a program that drew a total of $1,282,911, as 14 more items sold for $25,000 or more (with the buyer’s premium):

● $83,188: London 2012 gold medal in boxing
● $67,759: Tokyo 1964 gold medal in football
● $56,250: Lake Placid 1980 Winter torch
● $55,000: Athens 1896 bronze medal, in original box
● $46,926: Oslo 1952 Winter silver medal
● $46,279: Paris 1924 gold medal in original case
● $43,161: Berlin 1936 gold medal in swimming
● $37,500: Lillehammer 1994 Winter torch
● $34,534: London 1948 gold medal in original case
● $29,198: Tokyo 1964 Torch Relay safety lantern

● $26,575: Atlanta 1996 gold medal in baseball
● $25,944: Los Angeles 1932 gold medal
● $25,005: Innsbruck 1964 Winter gold medal in ice hockey
● $25,000: Mexico City 1968 medal set in presentation box

The London gold that went for $83,188 was for the gold win by Cuban star Roniel Iglesias, who won at Light Welterweight in London and again in Tokyo in 2021 at Welterweight. The Tokyo ‘64 gold – and the competitor’s badge – was from Hungarian defender Kalman Ihasz.

Another unusual sale was for the exceptionally rare participation medal from the 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games, its original box, in copper, that sold for $24,065. In contrast, a similar medal from Paris 2024 went for $4,520.

There were some unusual collectibles on sale as well, with a group of 13 stuffed-toy mascots – including six of “Misha” from Moscow 1980 – going for $405, and special medals presented by the City of New York to returning U.S. Olympians from 1912 and 1920, that sold for $309 and $1,059, respectively.

2.
Paris booksellers appealing Olympic removals

The tug-of-war over the removal – or not – of some of the open-air, second-hand book stalls along the Seine River in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games continues with a compromise offered last week by the Paris Police and a decision by the booksellers to challenge the action in court.

Last week, the Paris Police agreed to remove 428 stalls instead of 604 planned as an accommodation, although it will reduce the areas available to watch the Olympic opening on the Seine. There are 932 boxes in all, with those targeted to be taken for a short period that “does not exceed a few days for removal and a few days for the rest,” with the City of Paris responsible for the actual operations.

On Friday, the Cultural Association of Booksellers of Paris voted to challenge the plan in court, as noted on a post on X (ex-Twitter):

“#AG decision taken unanimously #JO2024 : booksellers challenge the dismantling of their boxes in court”

The head of the booksellers group, Jerome Callais, indicated a willingness to accept the compromise, which was rejected by his association. The removal would take place from 14-17 July and replacement beginning 29 July, three days after the Games opening. There were open questions on compensation and damages

Callais believes the police will, in its court response, revert back to its preferred plan of removing 604 stalls along the original dates, which would not see the boxes returned until 5 August.

3.
Warm temps for Orlando Marathon Trials on 3 February

The long-range weather forecasts for Orlando, Florida and the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Saturday, 3 February are coming in, with reasonable conditions expected, but warming toward the finish.

Great concern was voiced about the original noon start time, but a compromise start at 10 a.m. was reached, with hopes for moderate conditions. The current forecasts:

Accuweather.com: Low of 55 (F), high of 72, under cloudy skies, with a 25% chance of rain and light winds at 4 miles per hour.

Weather.com: A little more severe, with a morning low of 59 F with clouds, rising to 75 F during the day, with 68% humidity and a 24% chance of rain. Winds are predicted at 10-15 miles per hour, which would impact the race. The evening low is projected at 60 F, with less wind and a 58% chance of rain.

Sunrise will be at 7:12 a.m.

The cooler the better, but these are far from oppressive conditions, especially with cloudy skies projected. While the U.S. has three qualifying positions clinched for the women’s race, allowing the top three finishers to be selected as the 2024 Olympic Team, U.S. men have two positions confirmed and better conditions would help to potentially get a third American under the automatic qualifying standard of 2:08:10. A third U.S. man could qualify on the basis of the World Athletics world rankings in the event, and rule changes by USA Track & Field allow it to select someone who does not finish in the top three in the Trials race if they are otherwise qualified to run in Paris.

4.
Russia: Paralympic participation issues, 5,000 aths at BRICS?

Pavel Rozkhov, the head of the Russian Paralympic Committee, said that some federations have added demands for “neutrality” status beyond those of the International Paralympic Committee:

“The demands that the IPC places on us regarding the non-sporting part of participation in competitions are quite correct, but some federations allow certain excesses, in particular the International Cycling Federation.

“The conditions that they put forward regarding the condemnation of [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine] are unacceptable for us, and until the criteria are changed, we will not participate in qualifying competitions. In sports such as wheelchair tennis and table tennis, the requirements are acceptable, but it is important where the tournaments will be held, because difficulties may arise in European countries.”

He added that the uniform style for Russian participants as “neutrals” is being negotiated:

“We were given demands that there should be a neutral uniform. Before the New Year, we sent sketches of the uniform. In swimming, shooting, powerlifting and athletics, we have already received approval, the rest are reacting more slowly.

“We will have a turquoise uniform, but this is only for now for the qualifying tournaments.”

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said Friday that about 5,000 athletes from 60 countries are expected to participate in the BRICS Games in Kazan from 12-23 June, in 29 sports:

“[W]e provide equal opportunities for athletes from all countries to freely participate in the tournament without sanctions and restrictions under flag of their country and with the singing of the anthem of the winning country.”

(“BRICS” countries include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.)

The IOC has warned against the BRICS Games and the World Friendship Games in September as “clearly politically motivated sports events in Russia.” Matytsin expects that none of the athletes competing in Paris would be present for the BRICS Games.

The World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed that the Russian contribution of $1.267 million for 2023 has not been received. Money transfer issues out of Russia have been blamed, but the Russians have contested the amount of their dues, as the amount was calculated from their membership in the Council of Europe, which it left in March 2022, after it began its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia, already held non-compliant because of differences in its legal system vis-a-vis the World Anti-Doping Code, can also be considered non-compliant because of its failure to pay dues. WADA formed a working group to consider this issue last November.

Weightlifter Egor Ivanov became a three-time loser with another suspension from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. He won a silver medal in the +105 kg class at the 2014 European Weightlifting Championships, then was disqualified for eight months in 2013. He then refused to take a doping test and was sanctioned for eight years in 2015 and now was hit again for three years and four months.

Now 29, the new sanction was from information recovered from the infamous Moscow Laboratory data recovered by the World Anti-Doping Agency in January 2019.

5.
LA28 progress on community initiatives confirmed

The LA28 organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games made an extensive set of promises in its Games Agreement with the City of Los Angeles, notably in the formation of working groups on sustainability and local hiring.

In a Friday report, the City’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst confirmed that the organizing committee had met its obligations and is continuing its development of hiring and working plans.

There are three specific groups which LA28 is now working with:

● Community Business and Procurement Working Group (14 members)
● Local Hire Working Group (16 members)
● Sustainability Working Group (13 members)

The goals are to establish specific goals for hiring and procurement and adopt a “Sustainability Plan” for the 2028 Games.

Beyond the formal meetings of the working groups, LA28 noted that it has been working directly with labor unions, specifying that it has:

“Hosted regular meetings throughout the year with the LA County Federation of Labor and its affiliates including, SEIU Local 721; LA/OC Counties Building and Construction Trades Council; IBEW Local 11; and Teamsters Local 396.”

The target date for the groups to complete their recommendations is 31 March 2025. The City report that three more working groups are also engaged:

“[T]he City and LA28 are currently collaborating to further advance and develop the following planning groups: the 2028 Games Mobility Executives, Public Safety Cooperative, and Games Energy Council.”

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Football ● Another set of racist incidents has the FIFA President asking for match forfeits:

“The events that took place in Udine and Sheffield Wednesday are totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable. There is no place for racism or any form of discrimination, either in football or in society. The players affected by Saturday’s events have my full support.

“In addition to the three-step process [match stopped, match stopped again and match abandoned], we need to enforce automatic defeat for the team whose fans committed racism and caused the match to be abandoned, as well as worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for racists.”

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino (SUI) made the remarks on Saturday, after AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan (FRA) – who is Black – left the field after racist yells from fans in Udine during the first half of Milan’s 3-2 win in Serie A on Saturday. He talked to the referee, then walked off the field, followed by his teammates, for a few moments, then returned. Maignan said later:

“They made monkey noises and it’s not the first time it’s happened to me. They must hand out very strong sanctions, because talking no longer does anything.

“We have to say that what they are doing is wrong. It is not the whole crowd, most fans want to cheer on their team and jeer you, that’s normal, but not this.”

Also on Saturday, Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer (JAM) said he was verbally abused by fans in Sheffield during a 2-1 win in an EPL Championship league match. He wrote later on X (ex-Twitter): “Couple fans doing monkey chants don’t define a fan base — I appreciate all the love and support I’ve received.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Winter Youth Olympic Games ● The Winter YOG in the Gangwon Province in Korea opened on Friday evening, with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) telling the athletes:

“Dear young athletes: this is your moment.

“You are following in the footsteps of sporting icons who made Olympic history right here at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

“Now it is your turn.

“Give it your best at your first Olympic competition. Make new friends. Live the Olympic values. Respect yourself. Respect your competitors. Respect the rules. Enjoy your Olympic experience!

“This is your time – to grow together – and to shine forever!”

The ceremony had 4,500 fans in attendance at the Gangneung Oval – plus teams and officials to fill the 8,000-seat facility – and 4,300 at the PyeongChang Dome. Freestyle skier Jeong-min Lee lit the Youth Olympic cauldron, while another cauldron was “digitally” lit by IOC’s sponsor Alibaba in the Gangneung Olympic Park.

The IOC noted the fourth Winter YOG in numbers:

“The Winter YOG are set to welcome 1,802 athletes from 78 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), taking part in 15 disciplines across 7 sports, as well as 1,734 team officials. … In total there will be 20,000 accredited people attending Gangwon 2024, including 627 media and 289 broadcast personnel, showing the strong interest in the event locally and globally.”

German Antonia Pietschmann won the first gold medal of the event, taking the women’s Singles in Luge over Alexandra Oberstolz of Italy. The Games will conclude on 1 February.

● Pan American Games ● Peruvian President Dina Boluarte confirmed Friday that she has sent a letter to Panam Sports, endorsing Lima’s bid for the 2027 Pan American Games, removed from Colombia on 3 January.

Boluarte said during a celebration in Lima, that the government is ready to “guarantee the financing of all costs related to the Pan American Games project.”

Asuncion (PAR) has already signaled its interest, and Lima successfully hosted the 2019 Pan Ams and can re-use those facilities. Letters of intent to Panam Sports on the 2027 event are due by the end of the month.

● Alpine Skiing ● France’s Cyprien Sarrazin continued his dream season at the FIS World Cup at Kitzbuehel (AUT), steaming to his third and fourth wins of the year in the Downhills on Friday and Saturday.

He had won one World Cup race before this season, but won no. 3 on Friday in 1:55.75, beating Florian Schieder (ITA: 1:55.80) and reigning World Cup champ and seasonal leader Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:56.09). American Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished fourth in 1:56.01, 0.01 from the bronze medal.

Sarrazin kept up the pressure on Saturday, winning in 1:52.96, beating Odermatt (1:53.87) and Italy’s 22-time World Cup winner Dominik Paris (1:54.40). Cochran-Siegle was 16th.

Sunday’s Slalom saw Germany’s Linus Strasser get his first World Cup win in two years, coming from fourth on the second run to post a total of 1:40.36, enough to edge Kristoffer Jakobsen (SWE: 1:40.50) and Swiss Daniel Yule (1:40.56). It’s Strasser’s fourth career World Cup gold.

Tragedy at the women’s skiing in Jasna (SVK) as home hero Petra Vlhova, the Olympic Slalom champ from 2022, suffered a crash and a torn right knee ligament, ending her season after skiing out on her first run during Saturday’s Giant Slalom.

Vlhova was second overall in the seasonal World Cup standings, but will now be concentrating on her comeback at the end of the year.

The race was won by Sweden’s Olympic champ Sara Hector, who had the fastest times on both runs for a total time of 2:17.80. American star Mikaela Shiffrin, the overall World Cup leader, was second on both for silver (2:19.32), with the bronze going to Alice Robinson (NZL: 2:20.51). American A.J. Hurt finished seventh (2:22.40).

Sunday’s Slalom was another showcase for Shiffrin, who took her record 95th career World Cup win by taking an 0.52-second lead after the first run and finishing at 1:48.21 to best Croatia’s 19-year-old Zrinka Ljutic (1:48.35), who won her second career World Cup medal. Swede Anna Swenn Larsson was third (1:49.02); Paula Moltzan finished 18th in 1:51.60.

Retired Austrian star Matthias Mayer, 33, was arrested in Kitzbuehel on Thursday after “inappropriate behavior,” and was later released by Austrian authorities. The Austrian ski federation said in a statement, “Today we regret to note that Matthias Mayer has not yet overcome the health problems he has been struggling with for a long time.”

Mayer won the 2014 Olympic Downhill in Sochi and the Super-G in 2018 and 2022, plus a 2022 bronze in the Downhill; he retied in December 2022.

● Archery ● More than 1,100 archers stepped to the line for the Indoor World Series in Nimes (FRA), with surprises coming in the finals.

In the men’s Recurve gold-medal match, 18-year-old Roy Dror (ISR) surprised Tokyo Olympic Mixed Team silver winner Steve Wijler (NED), 6-4. Dror moved up after winning the U-21 title in Nimes in 2023.

Two-time Worlds medal winner Marcus D’Almeida (BRA) took the bronze, 7-3, over Britain’s Patrick Huston.

The women’s title went to Spain’s Elia Canales, the 2023 European Games runner-up, who won a shoot-off with German Charline Schwarz, 6-5, after a 10-9 win in the extra arrow. Michelle Kroppen, an Olympic Team bronze winner, took the bronze in Nimes with a 7-3 win over Victoria Sebastian (FRA).

● Athletics ● On a cold day, Weini Kelati followed up her American Record half marathon last week in Houston with a 32:58.6 win at the USATF Cross Country Championships in Mechanicsville, Virginia on Saturday.

It was her first national cross-country title and fourth career USATF national title, moving to the lead decisively after 4 km of the 10 km course and winning going away, with Emma Grace Hurley second in 33:35.9, Katie Camarena third in 33:40.3 and Allie Ostrander coming back to prominence in fourth in 33:52.5.

The top six men and women qualified for the U.S. team for the World Cross Country Championships on 30 March in Belgrade (SRB).

The men’s race was decided late, with nine in contention after 7 km, but triathlete Morgan Pearson – already qualified for Paris – and 1,500-5,000 m star Cooper Teare ahead of the field by the 8 km mark. Teare took over for the final kilometer and sailed to the win in 29:06.2, with Pearson dropping to fourth (29:15.5). Anthony Rotich came up for second (29:11.3) and Ahmed Muhamad got third (29:12.3). Defending champ Emmanuel Bor was firth in 29:26.5.

American Record man KC Lightfoot scored the first 6.00 m vault of the season (19-8 1/4) with a win at the indoor Alsup Open in Maryville, Missouri (USA). He made his first three heights on his first attempt, then 5.91 m (19-4 3/4) on his third try and 6.00 m also on his third.

● Badminton ● China placed four finalists in five divisions at the India Open in New Delhi, but no nation won more than once.

China got its lone win of the tournament in men’s Singles, as 2018 Worlds runner-up Yu Qi Shi (CHN) swept past Cheuk Yiu Lee (HKG), 23-21, 21-17. The Tokyo Olympic runner-up, Tzu Ying Tai (TPE), won the women’s title, defeating second-seeded Yu Fei Chen (CHN), 21-16, 21-12.

Koreans Min Hyuk Kang and Seung Jae Seo won the men’s Doubles over home favorites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (IND), 15-21, 21-11, 21-18, and Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara swept Shu Xian Zhang and Yu Zheng (CHN), 21-12, 21-13.

Sixth-seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) won the Mixed Doubles over fifth-seeded Zhen Bang Jiang and Ya Xin Wei (CHN), 21-16, 21-16.

● Biathlon ● Norway continued its domination of the FIS men’s World Cup with the fourth win of the season for seasonal leader Johannes Thingnes Boe in Saturday’s 15 km Short Individual race in Antholz-Anterselva (ITA).

Boe dominated, beating older brother Tarjei Boe, 37:28.0 (0 penalties) to 39:04.1 (2), with German Johannes Kuehn (GER: 39:12.0/2) in third.

Sunday’s 15 km Mass Start was a Norwegian sweep, this time with Vetle Christiansen winning in 35:51.4 (1), ahead of Johannes Dale-Skjevdal (36:01.1/2) and Vebjoern Soerum (36:05.4/1). It’s Christiansen’s second win of the season and the ninth for Norway in 15 men’s races so far.

The women’s 12.5 km Short race was the first career World Cup win for Swiss Lena Hacki-Gross, finishing in 36:49.0 (0) to best French stars Julia Simon (37:09.2/2) and Lou Jeanmonnot (37:20.4/1).

France won its eighth race win of the season – out of 14 so far – with a second win for Simon in 34:2.5 (1), just ahead of teammate Jeanmonnot (34:51.4/0). It’s the third French 1-2 this season. Hacki-Gross got the bronze in 35:03.2 (1).

In the mixed relays, Germany won the Single Mixed Relay (6 km + 7.5 km) over Norway and Austria, and Norway took the mixed 4×6 km race over Italy and Sweden.

● Cricket ● The controversial ICC men’s U-19 World Cup opened Friday in South Africa without significant incident, but with a protest at the site of the South Africa vs. West Indies match at Potchefstroom.

The South African team opened with a 285-254 win over West Indies, led by Dewan Marais with 65 runs, Juan James with 47 and David Teeger with 44. Teeger – who is Jewish – had been the team captain, but was demoted by Cricket South Africa because he supports Israel’s response to the Hamas invasion of 7 October 2023, and the federation feared protests at South Africa’s matches. The match attendance was not large, but Teegar was applauded when he came up to bat.

There was a protest at Friday’s match of a few pro-Palestinian supporters carrying anti-Zionist signs, that swelled to more than a hundred for a prayer meeting at the site. The situation was peaceful and the match was not reported to be disturbed, with law and traffic enforcement on site.

South Africa will play England in its second match on Tuesday.

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norway’s Erik Valnes had a week to remember in Oberhof (GER), winning both the Sprint and the 20 km Mass Start, leading a Norwegian sweep in both events!

Valnes won his third event of the season in the Classical Sprint on Friday in 2:42.75, ahead of teammates Ansgar Evenson (2:43.15) and Even Northug (2:46.06), with American Ben Ogden in sixth (2:50.97).

In the 20 km Classical Mass Start, Valnes barely got to the line ahead of Martin Nyenget, 46:03.0 to 46:03.9, with Paal Golberg – the Worlds 50 km Classical winner in 2023 – third in 46:04.6. Valnes now has five career World Cup victories.

Sweden dominated the women’s racing, with a sweep of the Classical Sprint, led by Linn Svahn (3:04.05), followed by Frida Karlsson (3:04.38) and Jonna Sundling (3:06.11). It was Svahn’s fourth win of the season, three of which have come in the Sprint.

Karlsson, a 10-time World Championships medal winner, won her first World Cup race of the season in the 20 km Classical Mass Start in 51:33.6, just ahead of Katharina Hennig (GER: 51:35.9) and Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen (51:37.4). American Jessie Diggins, the seasonal leader, finished sixth in 51:43.1 and has a 1,579 to 1,300 lead on Svahn after 19 of 34 races.

In the relays, Norway won the men’s 4×7.5 km over Italy, while Sweden – with Svahn and Karlsson on the first two legs, took the women’s 4×7.5 km ahead of Germany and Finland.

● Curling ● The fourth stage of six in the Grand Slam of Curling was the Canadian Open in Red Deer, Alberta, with Scotland’s Bruce Mouat taking the men’s title with a 6-5 final win over Canadian Brendan Bottcher’s rink.

The 2022 Beijing Olympic silver winners, Mouat’s rink won their sixth Grand Slam of Curling title and ran out to a 4-2 lead after four ends and 6-3 after six and cruised home. It’s Mouat’s sixth career Grand Slam victory and first in the Canadian Open.

The women’s final matched Worlds winners in Canada’s Rachel Homan, the 2017 World Champion against Swiss Silvana Tirinzoni, skip of the four-time defending Worlds gold medalists.

This was a closely-matched battle, with Homan getting a single point in the second end and the Swiss tying it in the third. Homan edged ahead again in the fifth, 2-1, but Tirinzoni scored two in the sixth to grab a 3-2 lead. The Swiss added another score in the seventh (4-2), but Homan came back with a pair in the eighth to tie it at 4-4 and head to extras.

And Homan got the score in the ninth to win it, 5-4, and grab her 15th career Grand Slam victory and a third career Canadian Open title.

● Cycling ● The UCI World Tour season began with the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, with a tight finish that went to the final stage on Saturday.

Australia’s Sam Welsford had the lead after the first of the six stages, winning the hilly opening race, but Italy’s Isaac del Toro grabbed the lead with a win in stage two and held it through stage four despite Welsford winning again in stages 3 and 4.

Britain’s Stephen Williams moved into a tie for the lead with countryman Oscar Onley after stage five – with Del Toro falling to fourth – so it came down to the final, 128.2 km ride from Unley to Mount Lofty, east of Adelaide.

The modest uphill finish was decided in a final sprint of four riders, with Williams taking the stage and the race title over Jhonaton Narvaez (ECU), Del Toro and Bart Lemmen (NED) in 3:05:26. Williams took the overall title by just 0:09 over Narvaez, 11 over Del Toro and 20 seconds ahead of Onley. It’s the first win for Williams, 27, in a World Tour multi-stage race.

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team lost to Slovenia in a Saturday friendly, 1-0, in San Antonio, Texas. Both teams used a lot of new players: 11 for the U.S. (seven starters) and 13 for Slovenia, and the only goal was from debutante striker Nejc Gradisar, who scored in the 26th minute from the left side of the box for the only score.

After a turnover by U.S. midfielder Bernard Kamungo, forward Danijel Sturm passed the ball ahead to Gradisar, who sent a shot past the charging U.S. keeper Patrick Schulte for the goal. The U.S. had chances, with 68% of possession and 15 shots to nine for the visitors, but could not beat keeper Igor Vekic.

U.S. midfield star Sam Mewis has retired. In a statement published by U.S. Soccer, she explained:

“Unfortunately, my knee can no longer tolerate the impact that elite soccer requires.

“Though this isn’t what I wanted, this is the only path forward for me. I want to thank everyone who has been on my team throughout this journey. Soccer has put so many wonderful things in my life, but the most wonderful thing has been the people. To all my family, friends, teammates, and fans, I truly feel that we did this together and I’m extremely grateful.”

Now 31, Mewis was a member of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners and scored twice during the tournament, and won an Olympic bronze with the U.S. in Tokyo in 2021. She was an NCAA champion with UCLA in 2013 and during her national team career, scored 24 goals in 83 appearances.

She will join the Men in Blazers Media Network as the editor of its new project, “The Women’s Game.’

● Freestyle Skiing ● The fourth stop on the FIS World Cup Ski Cross tour was in Nakiska (CAN) for racing on Saturday and Sunday, and the home team scoring wins right away.

In the men’s Saturday final, Canadian Olympian Reece Howden won his first race and second medal of the year, beating France’s Terence Tchiknavorian and 2021 World Champion Alex Fiva (SUI).

On Sunday, Swiss Jonas Lenherr got his sixth career World Cup win, crossing ahead of 2023 Worlds runner-up Florian Wilmsmann (GER) and Youri Duplessis Kergomard (FRA).

The first women’s race was another Canadian win for Hannah Schmidt, her second of the season, leading a 1-2 finish with 2014 Olympic champ Marielle Thompson, with two-time Olympic bronze winner Fanny Smith (SUI) in third.

Schmidt doubled her pleasure on Sunday, winning her third gold this season, over France’s Marielle Berger Sabbatel – her fifth medal this season – with fellow Canadian Brittany Phelan third.

The Moguls and Dual Moguls skiers were also in Canada, at Val St. Come, with Olympic men’s champs Walter Wallberg and Mikael Kingsbury taking home the men’s trophies.

Wallberg, who won the Beijing 2022 Moguls title, won Friday’s Moguls contest, scoring 84.92 points to 82.37 for Canada’s Elliot Vaillancourt and 77.70 for Filip Gravenfors (SWE). It’s Wallberg’s first Moguls win of the season.

The Dual Moguls went to the 2018 Olympic Moguls gold medalist Kingsbury, the greatest World Cup winner in the discipline, who took his 83rd career gold by beating Gravenfors in the final. Australia’s PyeongChang runner-up Matt Graham took the bronze over two-time Worlds silver winner Benjamin Cavet (FRA).

The question in the women’s races was whether anyone could stop Australia’s Jakara Anthony, the Beijing 2022 winner and winner of all four Moguls races this season (and two of three Dual Moguls events)?

Nope.

Anthony won Friday’s Moguls by beating Beijing 2022 runner-up Jaelin Kauf of the U.S., 82.01 to 74.87, with Hinako Tomitaka (JPN) third with 74.19 points. Alli Macuga, Hannah Soar, Olivia Giaccio and Tess Johnson finished 4-5-6-7 for the U.S.

Anthony then beat Kauf in the Dual Moguls final to give her eight wins in nine events this season. Giaccio won the bronze over Rino Yanagimoto (JPN). Anthony, 25, now owns 16 career World Cup wins.

The second of five Slopestyle legs in the 2023-24 FIS World Cup was in Laax (SUI), with 2023 World Champion Birk Ruud (NOR) taking the win at 87.01 in the second round after leading everyone in round one at 85.76. American Mac Forehand got second for the second straight event, scoring 86.28 on his second-round effort. Canadian Max Moffatt (85.91) was third and Beijing Olympic champ Alex Hall of the U.S. was fourth (84.30).

The women’s competition was epic, with Beijing 2022 Slopestyle winner Mathilde Gremaud hitting an 86.00 on her first run and that was enough to hold off Beijing Big Air and Halfpipe winner (and Slopestyle runner-up) Eileen Gu (CHN: 78.13), with 19-year-old American transgender Jay Riccomini third at 60.46.

Gremaud has now won both events this season.

● Hockey ● The FIH Olympic qualifying tournaments for men concluded in Oman and Spain, with Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Spain qualifying for Paris.

In Muscat (OMA), Germany edged Great Britain in the final by 1-0 on a Martin Zwicker goal in the 56th minute. New Zealand won the crucial third-place game to also qualify for Paris with a 3-2 win over Pakistan.

In Valencia (ESP), Belgium and Spain were 1-1 until the final moments, with each scored a goal in the 58th and then Nelson Onana (BEL) scored off a penalty corner for the 3-2 winner. Ireland won the bronze with a 4-3 victory over South Korea.

The women’s qualifiers were held in Ranchi (IND) and Valencia, with Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Spain and the United States moving on to Paris.

The Ranchi final saw Germany score the first goals on the U.S. in the tournament and won, 2-0, on scores by Jette Fleschutz in the third minute and Sonja Zimmermann in the 20th. Japan beat India, 1-0, to get the bronze and also advance.

In Valencia, Belgium trailed Spain by 1-0 late in the match, but got goals from Louise Versavel and Charlotte Engelbert in the 56th minute to win, 2-1. Great Britain took a 2-0 lead on Ireland and won, 2-1, to qualify for Paris.

● Ski Jumping ● The final stop of the men’s POLSki Tour was in Zakopane, jumping off the 140 m hill on Sunday, with Austria’s three-time Worlds winner Stefan Kraft getting his seventh individual win of the season.

Kraft scored 332.3 to edge Andreas Wellinger (GER: 327.8) and Anze Lanisek (SLO: 327.3). Kraft now has a seasonal lead of 1,089 to 837 over Wellinger.

Saturday’s team competition was won by Austria, anchored by seasonal leader Kraft (1,146.6), over Slovenia (1,095.5) and Germany (1,062.8).

The final of two stops in Japan for the women’s World Cup tour was in Zao, jumping off the 102 m hill. Seasonal leader Nika Prevc (SLO) – still just 18 – won her fifth event of the year on Friday, scoring 235.2 to 223.1 for home favorite Yuki Ito (JPN). Canada’s Alexandria Toutitt was third (216.7) for her fourth medal of the season.

Sunday’s competition was canceled due to heavy weather. Slovenia won the team event on Saturday at 722.7, over Canada (709.7) and Austria (697.0).

● Ski Mountaineering ● Reigning World Champion Remi Bonnet (SUI) swept to victory at the ISMF World Cup at Arinsal (AND), taking both the Individual and the Vertical races.

Bonnet, 28, and a four-time career Worlds gold medalist, took the Individual on Saturday in 1:30:15.17, comfortably ahead of four-time Worlds medal winner Thibault Anselmet (FRA: 1:30:40.86) and teammate Xavier Gachet (FRA: 1:31:49.95).

Bonnet doubled on Sunday in the Vertical Race, winning in 26:07.47, trailed by 2019 World Champion Werner Marti (SUI: 26:57.80) and Anselmet (27:08.10). American Cameron Smith was seventh in 27:28.01.

France’s Emily Harrop won her 11th career World Cup gold in the women’s Individual race at 1:33:15.33, more than a minute-and-a-half ahead of Alba de Silvestro (ITA: 1:34:35.72) and more than three minutes up on Ceila Perillat-Pessey (FRA: 1:36:41.86).

De Silvestro came back to win the Vertical Race in 32:23.03, almost 10 seconds up on Harrop (32:32.60), followed by Marta Garcia (ESP: 32:49.83). It’s de Silvestro’s fourth career World Cup victory.

● Snowboard ● Three-time World Champion Scotty James (AUS) took his second win in three events in the FIS World Cup Halfpipe event in Laax (SUI) with his first-round effort at 94.00, head of teammate Valentino Guseli (92.25 in round two) and Ruka Hirano (JPN: 90.00). American Chase Blackwell got fourth at 88.00 in the second round.

Japan’s Mitsuki Ono, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, got her first win of the season, outscoring 16-year-old American newcomer Bea Kim, 81.75-77.50, as Kim won her first career World Cup medal. Japanese teammate Ruki Tomita got the bronze at 60.50, with American Chloe Kim, the Olympic gold medalist, a surprise fourth at 23.50. It was Kim’s first World Cup appearance in two seasons, and she had trouble on both runs.

Also at Laax were the opening Slopestyle events of the FIS World Cup season, starting with the first-ever World Cup win for Canada’s Liam Brearley, scoring 89.93 to beat Japan’s Ryoma Kimata (85.31) and Canadian teammate Cameron Spalding (83.90), who got his second career World Cup medal.

The women’s Slopestyle title went to American Julia Marino, 26, who took her fourth straight World Cup dating back to last season at 83.08 in her second run. Annika Morgan (GER: 80.75) claimed second and Austrian star Anna Gasser, the two-time Olympic Big Air gold winner, got third at 75.93.

Marino now owns nine World Cup goals all-time, with six in Slopestyle and three in Big Air.

The Parallel skiing crowd was in a new venue, Pamporovo (BUL), for Slalom racing on Saturday and Sunday. The all-Italian men’s final on Saturday saw Daniele Bagozza edge Edwin Coratti in the final by 0.62, while home favorite Radoslav Yankov took the bronze over Sang-ho Lee (KOR), the 2018 Olympic Parallel Giant Slalom runner-up. It was Bagozza’s second win this season.

Lee won Sunday’s race, besting Austria’s reigning World Champion Andreas Prommegger by just 0.08! Fellow Austrian Fabian Obmann won the bronze over American Cody Winters, who did not finish.

The women’s Saturday winner was Czech star Ester Ledecka, the two-time Olympic Parallel Giant Slalom gold medalist. It was the first event of the year for Ledecka, 28, beating two-time Worlds Slalom medalist Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER), who did not finish. Japan’s Tsubaki Miki took the bronze.

Ledecka doubled up on Sunday, this time crossing first ahead of 2023 Worlds bronze winner Sabine Schoeffmann (AUT), while Miki took the bronze again, this time over Cheyenne Loch (GER). It’s Ledecka’s 23rd career World Cup win.

● Speed Skating ● The ISU Four Continents Championships were held at the ultra-fast Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah (USA), with Canada, Japan and the U.S. dominating the action as expected.

Japan’s Olympic women’s 1,000 m gold medalist Miho Takagi was the only two-event winner, taking the women’s 1,500 m in 1:52.37, ahead of Mia Manganello (USA: 1:55.11) and fellow American Greta Myers (1:55.86). Takagi took the 1,000 m in 1:12.35, this time beating American Kimi Goetz (1:12.65) with four-time World Champion Brittany Bowe of the U.S. fourth in 1:14.26.

Takagi also helped Japan to the Team Sprint title – for her third win – in 1:24.32, just ahead of the American trio of Sarah Warren, Olympic 500 m champ Erin Jackson and Bowe, second in 1:25.00.

Jackson won the women’s 500 m in 36.82, with Goetz second in 36.93. Canada’s Valerie Maltais defended her Four Continents title in the 3,000 m (4:01.71), ahead of teammate Isabelle Weidemann (4:02.67) and American Manganello (4:02.85). Olympic Mass Start runner-up Ivanie Blondin (CAN) won her specialty by daylight in 8:42.56, beating Giorgia Birkeland of the U.S. (8:44.65).

Maltais also led the Canadians to the Team Pursuit title in 2:54.02, easily ahead of Japan (2:57.54) and the U.S. (3:04.32).

Canada got multiple men’s wins, starting with 2021 World Champion Laurent Dubreuil in the 500 m in 34.19, defending his Four Continents title from 2023. Japan grabbed the other medals with Olympic bronze winner Wataru Morishige in second (34.23) and Tatsuya Shinhama third (34.28). Connor Howe a two-time Worlds Team Pursuit silver winner, took the men’s 1,500 m in 1:43.19, ahead of Emery Lehman of the U.S. (1:44.03). Canada also won the Team Sprint.

But the U.S. was also busy, with triple World Champion Jordan Stolz winning the 1,000 m in a lifetime best of 1:06.27 (now no. 4 all-time), ahead of Taiyo Nonomura (JPN: 1:06.88) and Shinhama (1:07.04). Casey Dawson won the 5,000 m in 6:14.14, beating Canada’s Graeme Fish (6:14.16) and 2018 Olympic 10,000 m gold winner Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:14.22). Olympic silver winner Jae-won Chung (KOR) won the Mass Start – the only one to break up the Canada-Japan-USA wins – in 8:16.33, with Shomu Sasaki (JPN: 8:16.43) second.

The U.S. squad of Ethan Cepuran, Lehman and Dawson won the Team Pursuit (3:36.80) by a whisker over the Canadians (3:36.84).

● Surfing ● Five-time World Champion and the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore (USA) will step back from competition, and might retire. A Friday post on Instagram read:

“Surfing is a part of who I am, and it always will be. This is by no means the end. I’d like to think of this instead as an evolution, the start of the next chapter, a new beginning. – Riss”

Her agent told NBC Sports that she will compete in the World Surf League event in Hawaii at the Banzai Pipeline at the end of January and at the Olympic Games in Tahiti this summer, trying to defend her Tokyo Olympic gold from 2021.

Moore, 31, was born in Hawaii and spoke about starting a family, but possibly coming back to try for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She’s a five-time World Champion from 2011-13-15-19-21 and considered one of the best surfers ever.

● Swimming ●I dearly wanted to swim in Paris but the hunger wasn’t there.

“I always want to give my all and I am not someone who just wants to make up the numbers, so this is the right time to step away.”

That’s Australian star Mack Horton, 27, announcing his retirement on Sunday, ending a career that included the 2016 Olympic gold in the men’s 400 m Freestyle and six medals at the World Championships, including a 4×200 m Free relay gold in 2019 and 400 m Free silvers in 2017 and 2019.

Horton refused to stand on the podium with Chinese winner Yang Sun at the 2019 Worlds, after Sun had been suspended from doping in 2014 and Horton believed him to be doping.

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