Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened over the last 96 hours in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Wednesday: Which Olympic sports are doing to die? The association of summer-sport federations issued a report which identifies the key issue for every one of them, and what they have to do to maintain their positions. But with about half of the IFs receiving a quarter or more of their annual revenue from their share of IOC television revenue, some are sure to drop off the map … but how soon?
Friday: For the IAAF, change has come. Faced with a required 16% reduction in the number of athletes at the Olympic Games, a new system of qualification has been instituted for 2020. At the heart of the program is the new “World Rankings” program, which has some significant flaws that penalize U.S., Jamaican, Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. And the IAAF also decided that the 5,000 m is no longer of interest to television viewers.
THE BIG PICTURE
Thursday: Russia is still at the center of World Anti-Doping Agency’s work as its Annual Symposium concludes this week. WADA chief Craig Reedie (GBR) defends the Executive Committee’s decision to reinstate, while an alliance of national anti-doping organization insists Russian dopers must be pursued, no matter how long it takes.
ALPINE SKIING
Thursday: Another Crystal Globe for American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, whose fourth-place finish in Soldeu (AND) clinched the seasonal title in the Super-G, her first speed-race title. Swiss Beat Feuz defended his men’s Downhill title and Italian Dominik Paris won his first-ever season title, in the men’s Super-G.
ATHLETICS
Tuesday: The IAAF Council votes to revamp the Diamond League for 2020, but keeps Russia on suspension, with two more conditions to be met.
BOBSLED & SKELETON
Monday: Germany’s Francesco Friedrich completes a two-year double-double that hasn’t been done in 58 years! Plus more history in Skeleton as the German women complete the first medals sweep ever and Latvia’s Martins Dukurs wins his sixth world title.
GYMNASTICS
Wednesday: European fans are on fire as Simone Biles makes a rare appearance in an FIG World Cup, this time in Stuttgart for the German Cup!
SHOOTING
Monday: U.S. Spring Selection Matches for Shotgun select a powerful team for the World Championships and ISSF World Cups, including World and Olympic medalists including Vince Hancock, Ashley Carroll and Kim Rhode.
PREVIEWS
● Badminton: Two iconic Olympic champs in men’s Singles face off this week in Basel
● Beach Volleyball: Men’s-only four-star tournament on this week in Qatar!
● Cross Country Skiing: World Cup seasonal races are too close to call!
● Curling: Is Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg the favorite at the Women’s World Champs?
● Cycling: Five past champs line up for prestigious women’s Ronde van Drenthe race
● Cycling: Historic Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico races on this week
● Fencing: U.S.’s Race Imboden headlines Foil Grand Prix in Anaheim
● Freestyle Skiing: Season titles on the line in Big Air and Ski Cross this week
● Judo: IJF World Tour visits Russia for Ekaterinberg Grand Slam
● Nordic Combined: Season concludes this week, with Norway’s Riiber the star
● Shooting: Strong fields at the Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco, including Kim Rhode.
● Ski Jumping: Kobayashi clinches men’s season title as the Raw Air Tourney continues…
● Snowboard: Big Air and SnowCross globes to be decided this weekend
● Wrestling: The U.S. tries to defend its 2018 men’s Freestyle World Cup title in Yakutsk!
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Figure Skating: The 2019 World Championships start in Japan.
● Cross Country Skiing: The World Cup Final in Quebec City.
● Curling: The Women’s World Championship concludes in Denmark.
And a look ahead at a busy IOC Executive Board meeting starting on 24 March.
