TSX REPORT: Check out our exclusive 718-event calendar of events for 2019-20; IOC wants to move marathons & walks to Sapporo & a USA Gymnastics legal update

≡ TSX REPORT ~ 17 October 2019 ≡

| 1. |  LANE ONE: A big year ahead, as shown by 718 events in our new Stat Pack calendar for 2019-20 

The coming year will be a busy one in international sport, with the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo and all of the build-up to it. Add in the non-stop schedule of winter events and trying to keep track of everything going on is almost impossible.

That’s why it was time to compile a new edition of our International Sports Calendar for 2019-20 with 718 events listed from 15 October of this year through the end of 2020.

There will be many more events added, but this is a start for those looking ahead. Among those events of special interest to U.S. fans ahead of the Games:

● February: U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
● April: U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials
● June: U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials
● June: U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
● June: U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials

A look ahead at these events and some others worth noting here. You can download the complete calendar here.

| 2. | ATHLETICS: IOC plans to move Tokyo 2020 marathons and walks to Sapporo

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee announced a plan to reduce athlete exposure to the heat in Tokyo during the 2020 Olympic Games by moving the marathon and walking events to Sapporo in northern Japan.

There are five events involved – men’s and women’s marathons, men’s 20 km and 50 km walks and the women’s 20 km walk – all of which are unticketed, so no refunds will be required from the existing ticket sales program.

Sapporo was the host of the 1972 Olympic Winter Games and wants to bid again in 2030. A review of the historical temperatures averages shows the daily lows to be about 11 degrees (F) lower in Sapporo – in the far north of Japan – than in Tokyo. More here.

| 3. | FIGURE SKATING: Skate America opens ISU Grand Prix in Las Vegas this weekend

World Champion Nathan Chen of the U.S. (pictured) is the headliner in the first ISU Grand Prix event of the 2019-2020 season, Skate America.

Held this year at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time, the event is the highest invitational series held by the International Skating Union.

Two-time World Champion Chen leads the entry list and is the favorite in the men’s Singles competition. The women’s division is expected to be a battle between last year’s women’s Worlds silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi of Japan and 2015 World Champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS).

The Ice Dance should be a showcase for two-time Worlds medalists Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the U.S.

Various NBC channels have excellent coverage of the event on all three days and there is prize money of $18,000-13,000-9,000-3,000-2,000 for the top five placers! More here.

| 4. | GYMNASTICS: Legal marathon for USA Gymnastics continues in Nassar affair clean-up

USA Gymnastics asked for and was granted a third extension by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana to file its reorganization plan pursuant to its voluntary filing under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The federation’s request explained that it has not yet been able to complete its actions/negotiations with three of its insurers who are disputing their liability under policies issued to USAG during the time that convicted sex-abuser Larry Nassar was committing crimes against gymnasts.

In view of this, the mediation program with the abuse survivors has been stalled since no one knows how much money will be available to the claimants. The USAG filing states that the federation has more than 500 total creditors; the case-management Web site for the filing of abuse claims shows a total of 359 claimants. The USAG balance sheet shows an expectation of $75 million in insurance proceeds under its policies. More here.

| 5. | SWIMMING: Hot water again the question at World Beach Games

The ANOC World Beach Games in Doha (QAT) that ended on Wednesday drew very little notice outside the tight circle of contestants and Olympic Family insiders who follow the movement closely.

But the swimming community was engaged, based on the withdrawals of American stars Haley Anderson and Ashley Twichell and the entire Canadian open-water team over the water temperature off Katara Beach in Doha.

According to a post on SwimmingWorldMagazine.com, the open-water 5 km races were held in temperatures reported to be as high as 32.8 C (~91 F), above the limit of 31.0 C (~88 F) in the FINA rules. The story included this: “one world-class open water swimmer claimed: ‘The water temperature was 30.9C at 4am but by 6am it was somewhere between 31 and 32.’”

The races were won by Italy’s Marcello Guidi for the men and Brazilian star Ana Marcela Cunha for the women. Said Cunha of her training for 2020, “We are trying to compete in races in hot water. We know that it is going to be hot in Japan.”

In view of the heat-inspired plan to move the marathons and walks from Tokyo to Sapporo by the International Olympic Committee, will the open-water swim races be next?

| 6. | THIS WEEK: UCI World Tour ends in China; Speed title on the line in Climbing and Taekwondo in Sofia

The UCI World Tour, which began in Australia way back in January, ends with the GREE-Tour of Guangxi in Japan, now underway. The six stages are mostly flat, with some hills in the final four routes. Most of the top names are not racing, but Colombia’s Egan Bernal – the Tour de France winner – has already won the first stage and is the obvious favorite. He’s raced there previously, winning four stages but finishing 50th overall in 2017.

In Xiamen (CHN), the final IFSC World Cup in Speed will be held this weekend. China’s YiLing Song in the lead with 400 points to 320 for defending champ Anouck Jaubert (FRA) in the women’s division and should win, while the men’s race is close between defender Bassa Mawem (FRA: 300), Russia’s Vladislav Deudin (271), teammate Dmitrii Timofeev (260) and Indonesia’s Alfian Muhammad (253).

Four no. 1-ranked fighters are entered in the first World Taekwondo Grand Prix to ever be held in Bulgaria, specifically in Sofia. More here.