Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this week in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Tuesday: The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board is meeting in Lausanne and confirmed on Tuesday that thanks to its energetic anti-doping program and a tough 2020 qualification program that penalizes countries with past doping positives, weightlifting is now fully part of the 2024 Olympic program. But it has to stay vigilant. And there was more from the Executive Board.
Thursday: The IOC’s focus is changing, from putting on the greatest sports spectacle in the world, to being engaged with the public with the aim of greater involvement in sport. IOC President Thomas Bach’s news conference in Lausanne confirmed it again and again, but is this idea even possible?
Friday: The IOC heard a report about its inquiry into the International Boxing Association (AIBA), but did nothing else, sending the AIBA office into a tizzy. Then an offer reportedly came from Russia to pay all of AIBA’s back debt if boxing would be maintained in the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Now what will the IOC do? At least we know when it will decide.
THE BIG PICTURE
Tuesday: The International Boxing Association (AIBA) accepted the resignation of its controversial president and nominated a Moroccan doctor to take his place. But the IOC also submitted more questions, and there are doubts about the AIBA finances.
Wednesday: The International Boxing Association (AIBA) released an interim financial report that essentially says that if it does not continue as the IOC’s federation for boxing, it will die.
ATHLETICS
Thursday: Saturday is the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, this time in Denmark, with Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworer trying for his third men’s title in a row. But he will have some stiff competition, from fellow Kenyans, Ethiopians and others!
CURLING
Thursday: The 2019 Men’s World Championships get started this weekend in Lethbridge (CAN) with Olympic champ John Shuster (USA) facing reigning World Champion Niklas Edin (SWE) and two-time World Champion Kevin Koe (CAN).
CYCLING
Wednesday: Third win of the season for Belgium’s Dylan Gronewegen in the Drie Daagse Brugge-De Panne and three more “cobbled classic” World Tour races coming this weekend in Belgium!
FOOTBALL
Tuesday: The U.S. men’s national team got an early goal from Christian Pulisic, but Chile equalized a few minutes later. Pulisic had to leave with an injury and the game ended in a tie, 1-1.
SHOOTING
Thursday: Rifle stars Tim Sherry and Alison Weisz booked their tickets to the Pan American Games in Lima by winning the USA Shooting Spring Selection Matches at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
WATER POLO
Tuesday: The U.S. women are going for their fifth straight Intercontinental Cup title, in order to qualify for the SuperFinal later this year.
MORE PREVIEWS
Artistic Swimming: USA Synchro National Champs on in San Antonio
Badminton: Six former champs competing in Yonex Sunrise India Open in New Delhi
Biathlon: North American and U.S. Biathlon Champs in Canada and Vermont.
Cycling: Volta Ciclista de Catalunya – the Tour of Catalonia – in Spain.
Freestyle Skiing: Seasonal Slopestyle titles up for grabs in World Cup finale
Judo: IJF World Tour Tbilisi Open hosts judoka from 52 countries in Georgia
Table Tennis: Excellent field assembled for the Platinum-level Qatar Open in Doha
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Cycling: Famed Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders – comes on 7 April.
● Football: Crucial test for the U.S. women’s national team, taking on Australia in Colorado.
● Rugby: The U.S. Eagles will try to stay in first place in the Sevens Series in Hong Kong!
And a look at how the International Olympic Committee is signaling the way it will change in the future through subtle actions undertaken this week!
