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PANORAMA: Lehmann exits as FIS CEO as elections come Thursday; activist org Global Athlete asks $25,000 Olympic athlete payment

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Skiing ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) confirmed that Urs Lehmann (SUI) has left as chief executive, less than a year after moving to FIS in August 2015, from his role as the head of the Swiss skiing federation.

This comes in advance of Thursday’s FIS Congress elections in Belgrade (SRB), where incumbent President Johan Eliasch, declared as a candidate from Georgia, is being challenged by GB Snowsport chief executive Victoria Gosling and FIS Council member Alexander Ospelt (LIE).

FIS Council members Dexter Paine of the U.S. and Anna Harboe Falkenburg (DEN) withdrew as Presidential candidates on 26 May. A 5 May 2026 joint letter from the federations of Austria, Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. urged delegates to vote for anyone but Eliasch.

Lehmann ran against Eliasch, then a British candidate, in the 2021 FIS elections and received the second-highest vote total of 29, with Eliasch at 65. It was reported that Lehmann decided to leave FIS over the organization’s finances and the direction that Eliasch prefers.

It had been hoped that Lehmann’s appointment as chief executive would create a calmer attitude within FIS between the large federations which have opposed Eliasch and the FIS leadership, but this appears to have ended with impactful timing so close to the FIS Congress.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games ● The athlete activist organization Global Athlete published a proposal on Sunday to pay athletes participating in the Olympic Games an honorarium of $25,000 and asks to eliminate regulations related to athlete communications in Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter.

The proposal is an interesting move away from the drumbeat of stars for prize money for the Games to a broad-based approach. This is only an interim approach for Global Athlete, which has demanded “a collective bargaining agreement that includes fair revenue sharing and athlete representation.”

Observed: The Sports Examiner has suggested this approach starting back in July 2025, and expanded on it last week. However, Global Athlete does not mention the root of the problem for many financially-challenged athletes: their sports are commercially irrelevant and the only event they are involved in that makes serious money is the once-in-four-years Olympic Games.

● Football ● A FIFA World Cup 2026 referee from Somalia has been denied entry into the U.S., with U.S. Customs and Border Protection stating Monday:

“During processing, the traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility.

“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”

The Associated Press identified the traveler as Omar Artan, the only Somali official involved in the tournament.

Former French soccer star Michel Platini, the former elected head of UEFA from 2007-16, filed a complaint in France against current FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI), his former Secretary General at UEFA.

The filing is against a total of six Swiss football and legal officials over claims of false accusations that kept him from being elected FIFA President. A suit against FIFA is also expected.

Platini resigned amid accusations of fraud regarding payments from FIFA during the time Sepp Blatter (SUI) was President, and was twice acquitted in Swiss courts.

● Ice Hockey ● The International Ice Hockey Federation announced the preliminary-round groups for the 16-team 2027 men’s World Championship in Germany, with 2026 finalists Finland and Switzerland in Group A and the U.S. and Canada in Group B.

Not listed is Russia, which the IIHF is now determining eligibility on an “event-by-event” basis after its Disciplinary Tribunal threw out the federation’s blanket ban on Russian participation.

● Swimming ● World-leading performances at the Australian Trials for the Commonwealth Games and Pan-Pacific Championships, with distance ace Sam Short winning the men’s 400 m Freestyle in 3:40.67, a lifetime best by 0.01 and the 10th performance all-time. He remains the no. 5 performer in history.

Double-double Olympic Backstroke champ Kaylee McKeown lowered her own world-leading time in the women’s 50 m Back at 27.13, ahead of teammate Mollie O’Callaghan (27.19, world no. 2).

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FOOTBALL: April poll shows 33% of Americans will follow FIFA World Cup; ticket data shows 54 of 104 matches all sold or very close

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 ≡

An April poll released last week showed 33% of Americans are interested in the FIFA World Cup and plan to watch highlights or full games, read about the tournament or attend matches in person.

The Sharkey Institute of the Seton Hall Stillman School of Business sports poll of 1,601 adults from 2-9 April reported further than 40% do not intend to follow the tournament and 27% did not know or had no opinion. The results are an increase from the same question posted before the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where 27% of Americans said they were interested. The good news was that 50% of those polled in the ages 18-34 said they would be following the 2026 event.

Interestingly, the poll showed a drop in interest in the U.S. over time, with 38% excited to follow it in April 2025, but down to 31% in October 2025 and 27% now. Seton Hall Associate Marketing Professor Daniel Ladik, who oversees the poll, said:

“The closer this FIFA World Cup gets, the worse it looks to American fans. Even the most avid World Cup fan is separating their support for their favorite national team from the unusually high costs and difficult logistics related to getting to some of the venues.

“It is clear that FIFA views the three-nation North American World Cup as a rare opportunity to maximize revenue generation for its programs. One wonders whether their strategy in implementing the process matches any of the 48 contestant teams’ preparation for the World Cup itself.”

The polling showed 59% of Americans said they were sports fans, with 30% of Americans saying they have interest in soccer.

A parallel poll in March concerning the World Baseball Classic showed 35% of Americans interested and the tournament had its best ratings in the U.S. ever. A February poll showed 64% of Americans were interested in the Olympic Winter Games in Italy, which also drew enormous ratings for NBC, averaging at least 23.5 million viewers across its afternoon and primetime windows daily.

After a significant removal of unsold tickets from FIFA’s official sales site(s) on or about 30 May – which has led to reports of a movement of thousands of tickets on unofficial resale sites – TicketData.com tracking on Monday showed perhaps 18,000 tickets remaining for sale by FIFA itself.

A total of 34 matches showed little or no ticket availability on the FIFA sale and resales sites, and 22 more with less than 100 available.

Of the remaining 50 matches, the highest “get-in” prices were for:

● $2,383: 14 July semifinal in Arlington, Texas
● $1,300: 05 July round-of-16 match in East Rutherford, New jersey
● $928: 06 July for round-of-16 match in Seattle, Washington
● $927: 07 July for round-of-16 in match in Atlanta, Georgia
● $910: 06 July for round-of-16 match in Arlington, Texas

The least-expensive match was the 24 June in Seattle for Qatar vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina at $216. Nine other group-stage matches had tickets listed for under $300, most with a few hundred tickets left.

FIFA posted a list of official “FIFA Fan Festival” sites in 13 of the 16 host cities, including the three Mexican host cities, the two Canadian hosts and eight of the 11 U.S. hosts, excluding official events in New York-New Jersey, Santa Clara and Seattle, which will have smaller events.

The fan festival concept goes back to public viewing sites during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and FIFA formalized the program at 12 sites for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The size and duration of the 2026 fan events varies by city, with some open during the entire tournament and many in the U.S. for shorter periods.

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ATHLETICS: Lutkenhaus thrilled with first Diamond League win in Stockholm; Duplantis sorry to lose, but is “lucky in love” instead

By
Rich Perelman
-
American sprint star Kenny Bednarek on the way to his 2026 Diamond League 200 m win in Stockholm (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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

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≡ SAID IN STOCKHOLM ≡

“I feel great.”

That’s from 17-year-old American star Cooper Lutkenhaus, who won the Stockholm Diamond League men’s 800 m in a fast 1:42.70, beating Canada’s 2023 World Champion Marco Arop. The teen said afterwards:

“It was my first 800 m race of the season, so to come away with the victory with athletes like that in the race I am really happy. The race went exactly to plan, I put myself in a good position with 200 m to go, having slowly moved up in the field.

“I focused on myself throughout the race and did not worry too much about anyone else. Time wise, I am pleased but mostly I just wanted the win today and now I need to recover quickly for Oslo on Wednesday.”

Arop was impressed, saying, “It was my first race against Cooper; I was excited about it, and he showed how strong he is today. He is going to be a special talent.”

Kenny Bednarek won his second straight Diamond League 200 in 19.87, but the run was not without some drama:

“I came for the win and took the win, so I am happy with that but maybe some parts of the race I can definitely work on. The false start was a bit disconcerting, but I can deal with this and we prepare for these things, so it is fine.

“I have plenty to work on now as I go back to the U.S. for a month now before more Diamond Leagues and the Ultimate Champs. Overall, a good day at the office, but plenty more to do.”

Paris Olympic 1,500 m bronze winner Yared Nuguse was similar happy with his 3:30.11 in the final meters:

“I wanted first place today and I wanted to run fast but the wind unfortunately was too bad on the back straight. I waited and bided my time, and trusted I had another gear in the final meters.

“After running well in Rabat, it’s great to put in another good performance, it shows I’ve recovered well. I’m enjoying it this so-called free year with no major champs, as it’s exciting to really go for the faster times now.

“Oslo is next and I’m looking forward to running the mile. 2026 is all about me getting my reputation back and showing everyone and proving to myself that I’m still a threat.”

Not everyone was happy. American record holder Chase Jackson was second in the women’s shot at 19.91 m (65-4) and explained:

“I’m pretty upset and really disappointed to be honest, I’ve been throwing much further in training all year really but it’s just not clicking right for me at the moment for one reason or another. The body isn’t responding well at all to the different time zones, it’s killing me right now.

“I threw a season’s best in Turku [FIN] the other day [20.66 m/67-9 1/2] and now, I’ll re-focus on Oslo next week. I really hope I can hit it right over there, I need to.”

For the Stockholm fans, the meet had a major disappointment with hometown world-record vaulter Mondo Duplantis losing for the first time after 40 wins in a row over three years. But he was philosophical:

“I felt a bit unfocused today and I really did not want to lose here in front of my family and fans. I have not lost in what, three years? But hats off to Kurtis today who beat me fair and square, and I have no excuses.

“I am not angry and I will continue enjoying my time here in Stockholm with my family. I am also getting married soon, so unlucky in sports, lucky in love, if that’s a saying?”

Duplantis legally wed Desire Inglander on 7 March but the formal ceremonies will be in Cannes (FRA). Australia’s Kurtis Marschall cleared 5.90 m (19-4 1/4) to 5.80 m (19-0 1/4) for Duplantis for the epic victory. He was more than gracious in victory:

“I did not mean to spoil the show but I am so delighted with the win. It has taken a long while to get my first Diamond League victory and I really thought it would never come with Mondo here.

“This stadium is fantastic and the crowd were amazing despite their support for Mondo. We know he will be back as he won´t like being beaten but he told me he was chuffed [pleased] it was me!

“I will build on this. I wanted to go higher today but the wind was tough at times. At 5.90, I think I got lucky with the wind out there. I shall go to Oslo now but the conditions there do not look promising just now so we will see. Track and field would not be where it is without Mondo so we are so lucky to have him in our sport.”

The Diamond League moves on to the Bislett Games in Oslo on Wednesday (10th).

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PANORAMA: FIFA reported dumping slow-selling World Cup tix on outside sale sites; Simone Biles almost died? U.S. women win 3×3 World Cup!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The amazing, incomparable Simone Biles (Photo: Panam Sports)

★ 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 ≡

● Athletics ● The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Friday that Marvin Bracy-Williams, 32, the 2022 Worlds men’s 100 m silver medalist, has been banned for 12 years for a third doping violation, in this case three “whereabouts” failures over a 12-month period.

The last failure was on 1 April 2026 and on 5 June, “Bracy-Williams notified USADA of his intent to retire.” He was already serving a 45-month suspension from 5 February 2024 for a positive test and tampering with the process.

This is likely the end of Bracy-Williams’ career in World Athletics competitions; he has a best of 9.85 from 2021. He competed in the Enhanced Games in May, running 10.39 in the 100 m.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association induction ceremony for 12 stars to the Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Hall of Fame was at a Sunday ceremony at the University of Oregon. The inductees are one of the most impressive groups ever:

“The Class of 2026 includes Arkansas State’s Earl Bell, San Jose State’s John Carlos, UCLA’s Gail Devers, Virginia’s Paul Ereng, UCLA’s John Godina, Houston’s Carol Lewis, Southern California’s Earl McCollouch, Villanova’s Dave Patrick, Florida’s Candice Scott, LSU’s Dawn Sowell, Tennessee’s Delisa Walton, and Oregon’s Leann Warren.”

These stars won 44 national collegiate titles, set 37 collegiate records, won five Olympic and/or World Championships medals, and set seven world records while in college, and Carlos, especially has become an icon of the sport.

● Cycling ● The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale amended its regulations concerning Belarusian and Russian athletes in line with the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations. Restrictions on Belarusians were lifted altogether.

Russian junior riders are not required to apply to be “neutral” athletes, but must still meet neutrality standards and compete without national symbols, flag or anthem. Russian teams are now allowed to compete as “neutrals.”

● Football ● Newsweek reported that as many as 14,000 tickets to unattractive FIFA World Cup 2026 matches were dumped onto resale sites not affiliated with the federation:

“Reports emerged that there had been an increase in tickets at lower prices across resale platforms like SeatGeek and StubHub, with some speculating that this was a deliberate strategy by the organization to clear unsold inventory for lower-demand games, and to avoid compensation claims from fans who had previously bought tickets from FIFA at face value.

“According to analysis by a source familiar with the figures who spoke to Newsweek, the number of tickets which disappeared in late May closely matches the volume that has since appeared on resale marketplaces, indicating that they were transferred in bulk from FIFA’s official ticketing system.

“The transfer does not confirm that this was an official strategy by FIFA to influence demand or pricing.”

FIFA amended its policy on water bottles on Friday after changing its rules on Wednesday to not allow “empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles” of one-liter capacity to be brought into World Cup stadiums. Now:

“All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada.

“As FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi [AUT], explains, fans will not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons.”

FIFA has not confirmed that water refill stations will be available at the stadiums.

It was reported that the U.S. Department of State has refused visas to some members of the Iranian football squad coaching staff and that the Iranian team must enter the U.S. for its matches on the date of the match only and depart within 24 hours. A total of 12 officials were said to have been refused visas.

Iran will play two group-stage matches in Inglewood, California and one in Seattle, Washington; its training base is in Tijuana, Mexico.

The Unite Here 11 labor union voted to strike against SoFi Stadium concessionaire Legends Global, demanding higher wages and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff will not be involved at the matches.

Discussions are expected to continue on Monday.

● Gymnastics ● American icon Simone Biles wrote on her Instagram page on Saturday (6th):

“I’m not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today’s age.

“[B]ut almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week.”

She did not specify the nature of the danger but called it “one of, if not the scariest experience of my life,” but said she is resting now.

● Swimming ● Australian sprint ace Bronte Campbell, the 2015 World Champion in the women’s 50 m and 100 m Freestyle, announced her retirement at 32. She competed in four Olympic Games in 2012-16-20-24, winning three golds in the women’s 4×100 m Free and a bronze in the Tokyo 2020 4×100 m Medley relay, usually teaming with older sister Cate Campbell, the 2013 World women’s 100 m Free gold medalist and a four-time Olympic relay gold winner, who retired in 2024.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● The annual USA Archery Field National Championships were held in Yankton, South Dakota, with Olympic star Brady Ellison winning the men’s Recurve title and ready to defend his 2024 World Archery Field gold – his third – in September. He scored 748 points to win over Matthew Nofel (648).

Olympic medalist Casey Kaufhold won the women’s title at 674 points, ahead of Alexandria Zuleta-Visser (636). In the Compound division, James Lutz won the men’s event (805) and Paige Pearce was the women’s champion (808).

In the World Championships Team Trials round, Ellison won over Nofel by 59-58 and Kaufhold out-shot Nicole Rasor, 62-55. The men’s Compound final was a 69-all tie between Eli Hughes and Gaius Carter, and Pearce won the women’s Trials, 70-68, over Cassidy Cox.

● Athletics ● Ahmed Muhumed won his third national road title at the USA Track & Field 4-Mile Championships in Peoria, Illinois, breaking away from a pack of 10 after three miles and scored a 17:57 to 18:00 win over Reid Buchanan. Graydon Morris was third in 18:05.

The women’s title went to first-time national champion Kasandra Parker, who broke away in the second mile, had a 16-second lead on Allie Ostrander after three miles and won by 20:16 to 20:23 over Rachel Rudel. Ostrander was third in 20:24.

● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour Indonesia Open in Jakarta, rising Canadian star Victor Lai, 21, got his first World Tour title, defeating home favorite Jonatan Christie (INA), 21-19, 21-8.

Olympic champion Se Young An (KOR) won her 38th career World Tour gold over three-time World Champion Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), 23-21, 21-12.

Malaysia won the men’s Doubles; Japan won in women’s Doubles and Denmark won in Mixed Doubles.

● Basketball ● The U.S. women won their fourth FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw (POL), with the team of Joyce Edwards, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams and Sahara Williams finished 7-0 and edged Australia, 21-20, in the final on a Mikaylah Williams two-pointer as time expired!

The American women had won previously in 2012, 2014 and 2023. Netherlands won the bronze over Azerbaijan, 21-14.

The men’s tournament went to Latvia, a 20-15 winner over Germany. The Latvians lost to the U.S. in group play, but got past New Zealand, Lithuania and Serbia to get to the final. The Serbians won the bronze, 20-19, against France. The U.S. – Henry Caruso, Mitch Hahn, James Parrott, Dylan Travis – was ousted by the French in the quarterfinals, 14-11. It was the first title for the Latvians.

● Canoe-Kayak ● Triple Olympic gold medalist Jessica Fox (AUS) returned to the winner’s circle in a big way at the ICF Slalom World Cup in Prague (CZE). Completing her comeback from kidney tumor surgery in 2025, she won the K-1 women’s final in 108.84 seconds (0 penalties) over Poland’s 2025 World K-1 Champion Klaudia Zwolinska (111.30/0), then took the C-1 gold in 121.01 (4) in front of Martina Satkova (CZE: 121.28/0) and Paris 2024 K-1 bronzer Kimberley Woods (GBR: 123.02/6).

The two victories give Fox a career total – at 31 – 57 career ICF World Cup wins. France’s Worlds silver winner Camille Prigent took the women’s Kayak Cross win, over Zwolinska, with American two-time World Junior champ Evy Leibfarth fourth.

The men’s races saw Czech home favorite – and 2025 Worlds runner-up – Jakub Krejci win the K-1 at 98.10 (0), ahead of Britain’s 2016 Olympic champ Joseph Clarke (99.87/2). World Champion Nicolas Gestin (FRA) took the C-1 final in 107.84 (4) with Marko Mirgorodsky (SVK: 108.64/2) in second. Krejci came back on Sunday to win the men’s Kayak Cross in a 1-2 Czech finish with Vit Prindis, the 2022 World K-1 champ.

● Cycling ● At the 37th women’s Giro d’Italia, Italian sprinter Elisa Balsamo won the first three stages, but Dutch veteran Anna van der Breggen– a four-time winner of this race – won the fourth-stage Individual Time Trial and took the race lead. Dutch star Demi Vollering won the fifth and eighth stages and Balsamo took the sixth. But van der Breggen stayed close – second in stage 5 and fourth in the eighth – and entered the final day with a 49-second lead on Vollering.

Sunday’s 145 km route in and around Saluzzo had a major early climb but finished downhill. Vollering and van der Breggen were caught two minutes down after the climb, but Vollering worked her way back to the three leaders and was fourth, just three seconds back of stage winner – and two-time defending champ – Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA: 3:45:09).

Van der Breggen was sixth, but 2:23 behind the leader, so Vollering won the overall title at 29:54:19 with German Antonia Niedermaier passing van der Breggen for second, +0:30 to +1:37. Longo Borghini moved up to fourth (+2:44).

The UCI BMX World Cup series opened in Sarrians (FRA), with Dutch rider Jaymio Brink winning the first men’s race in 31.707, just ahead of five-time Pan Am champ Diego Arboleda (COL: 31.745), Sylvain Andre (FRA: 32.111) and American Cameron Wood, the 2022 seasonal runner-up. Arboleda won on Sunday in 31.310, beating Eddy Clerte (FRA: 31.563) and Wood (31.671).

Canada’s 2023 Pan Am silver medalist Molly Simpson took the first women’s race in 34.363 over Malene Kejlstrup (DEN: 34.471) and Paris Olympic champ Saya Sakakibara (AUS: 34.677). Sakakibara came back to win on Sunday, 33.770 to 34.607 for Simpson.

● Gymnastics ● At the Pan American Rhythmic Championships in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), home favorite Barbara Domingos, the 2023 All-Around winner, took home a second title, scoring 111.700 points to top Americans Megan Chu (110.350) and Natalie de la Rosa (109.900).

On Hoop, Geovanna Santos (BRA: 28.950) won over Domingos (28.600) with Cho and de la Rosa 3-4. Chu won the Ball final, scoring 27.500; Domingos won on Clubs (29.000) with Chu third, and Santos and Chu were 1-2 on Ribbon, 28.400 to 28.350.

Brazil won a close team title battle over the U.S., 220.400 to 220.250.

● Rugby Sevens ● The third and final stage of the HSBC Sevens Series World Championships was in Bordeaux (FRA), with the U.S., New Zealand and Australia all perfect in pool play at 3-0.

On Sunday, Australia got past the Americans, 21-7, in their semi and the Aussies won the final, 26-19 over New Zealand, The U.S. lost to Canada, 21-19, in the bronze-medal match. Australia edged New Zealand for the overall seasonal title, 58-54, with Canada third (44) and the U.S. in fourth (also 44).

The men’s pools had Fiji, the U.S. and New Zealand as the 3-0 pool winners. But in the final were France and the Kiwis, with the French winning a defensive battle, 14-5. Spain romped past South Africa, 40-14, for the bronze. The Americans ended up fifth, beating Fiji.

All together, South Africa won the seasonal title across the three-stage finals, with 52 total points to 44 for New Zealand and 42 for Spain. The U.S. was eighth with 17.

● Sport Climbing ● Japanese World Champion Sorato Anrako continued his  dominance at the World Climbing Series in Prague (CZE), scoring his fourth win in a row in the men’s Boulder final at 55.0, just ahead of two-time Worlds boulder medalist Do-hyun Lee (KOR: 54.8) and France’s two-time Worlds silver winner Mejdi Schalck (54.7).

Indonesia’s Putra Tri Ramadani won the Lead final, 43-39, over Neo Suzuki (JPN) with Austria’s four-time World Champion Jakob Schubert third (37).

The women’s Boulder final saw American Annie Sanders with the gold, scoring 84.3 to edge Britain’s Erin McNeice (84.1). It’s the fifth career World Cup title for Sanders.

In Lead, Sanders won again, scoring 37 in the final against 35 for 2021 World Champion Chae-hyun Seo (KOR) and 31+ for Zelia Avezou (FRA).

● Taekwondo ● Brazil and Russia scored two wins each at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome (ITA), which celebrated a popular victory by home favorite – and Tokyo 2020 men’s 58 kg gold medalist – Vito Dell’Aquila.

Brazilian wins came from 2025 World Champion Henrique Marques Fernandes in the men’s 80 kg final and from World Champion Maria Pacheco in the women’s 57 kg class. Russia’s Rafail Aiukaev won the men’s +80 kg class and Alisa Angelova won the women’s 49 kg final.

Turkey’s Berkay Erer won the men’s 68 kg final and 2024 Olympic champ Viviana Marton (HUN) was supreme in the women’s 58 kg category. Worlds silver medalist Kimi Ossin (CIV) took the win in the women’s +67 kg final.

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ATHLETICS: Stunning 800 m wins for Lutkenhaus (1:42.70) and Werro (1:53.98) at Stockholm Diamond League, as Duplantis’ win-streak ends!

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Cooper Lutkenhaus with a win at the 2026 Stockholm Diamond League 800 m (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ STOCKHOLM DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

The meet now known as the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm (SWE) started in 1967, but the anticipation was never greater than when hometown hero Mondo Duplantis is on the vault runaway, possibly looking for another world record on a cool and cloudy afternoon.

He set a world record here in 2025 (6.28 m/20-7 1/4), but he actually missed his opening jump at 5.60 m (18-4 1/2), then cleared on his second try. He jumped into the lead at 5.80 m (19-0 1/4), with four others also clearing, and the bar moved to 5.90 m (19-4 1/4). Duplantis passed and only Australia’s two-time Worlds bronzer Kurtis Marschall could clear – on his third try – and moved into the lead.

At 6.00 (19-8 1/4), Duplantis missed twice, to the dismay of the crowd and then passed to 6.05 m (19-10 1/4). There, he missed and had to settle for second, ending a streak of 40 straight wins, dating back to 2023! Marschall was the unexpected winner, after missing twice at 6.05 and then retiring to celebrate his miracle victory.

U.S. indoor champion Zach Bradford was fifth at 5.80 m; two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S. cleared 5.60 m and finished eighth.

Beyond the vault, the meet featured two sensational, world-leading runs in the 800 m:

● Men/800 m: 1:42.70, Cooper Lutkenhaus (USA)
● Women/800 m: 1:53.98, Audrey Werro (SUI)

U.S. wunderkind Lutkenhaus – the World Indoor champ at 17 – was in a star-studded 800 m and was third beyond Canada’s 2023 World Champion Marco Arop at the bell and then moved up to second with 300 m left. Arop stayed in the lead and was in front into the straight, but Lutkenhaus had more in reserve and flew by to win in 1:42.70, fastest in the world outdoors this season, to 1:43.11 for Arop. It’s Lutkenhaus’ second-fastest 800 ever and the no. 6 performance all-time among juniors. Algeria’s Slimane Moula got third (1:43.41) and American Bryce Hoppel was eighth in 1:44.66.

The women’s 800 m had Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) and Rabat Diamond League winner – and world leader – Werro (SUI) facing off and they both knew who to focus on. They settled in behind the pacer, and then Werro took over with 300 m to go. Hodgkinson grabbed the lead into the turn and had the edge coming into the straight, but Werro shot past and won in a sensational 1:53.98, the fastest time since 1983!

It’s the no. 3 performance all-time and Hodgkinson was second in 1:54.33, the no. 6 performer and sixth-fastest performance in history! American Roisin Willis got a lifetime best with a charge down the straight to grab third in 1:57.56, ahead of Anais Bourgoin (FRA: 1:57.68). Fellow Americans Raevyn Rogers (1:57.94) and Sage Hurta-Klecker (1:58.26) finished 7-8.

The U.S. enjoyed four more wins on Sunday:

● Two false starts delayed the men’s 200 m, but it didn’t bother two-time Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. He and countryman Courtney Lindsey were out best, with Bednarek slightly in the lead in lane seven off the turn. He was best on the straight and won in 19.87 (wind: +1.0 m/s), to follow up on his 19.69 win in Rabat. Lindsey was passed in the final 30 m by Senisipho Dambile (RSA), 20.10 to 20.24.

● The men’s 1,500 m turned into a showdown between world leader Cam Myers (AUS) and Paris Olympic bronzer Yared Nuguse of the U.S., the Rabat winner. Myers had the lead at 1,000 m and into the final straight, but Nuguse charged past in the final meters and got to the line first in 3:30.11, to 3:30.32 for Myers and 3:30.67 for 2019 World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN). American Vince Ciattei charged down the straight to get fourth in 3:31.63; Hobbs Kessler fell back to sixth (3:31.76).

It’s Nuguse’s sixth-fastest 1,500 m ever.

● World women’s 100 m champ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was second to Julien Alfred (LCA) in Rome at 200 m, but was fast out of the blocks in the women’s 100 m and stormed to a stirring win in 10.84 (+0.8 m/s) in her first 100 of the season. Britain’s Amy Hunt got a lifetime best of 10.97 in second and Patrizia van der Weken (LUX) was at 11.05 for third. Jefferson-Wooden moves to no. 4 on the 2026 world list.

● It did not take long for Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion of the U.S. to grab hold of the women’s discus, reaching 68.37 m (224-3) on her opening toss, then 68.60 m (2251) on her second throw. That proved to be the winner, ahead of Worlds silver winner Jorinde van Klinken (NED: 66.57 m/218-5) and 2023 World Champion Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. (65.89 m (216-2).

And there was a lot more:

South Africa’s two-time Olympian Zakithi Nene surprised from lane nine, taking the lead in the men’s 400 m by halfway and holding off a late charge from U.S. champ Jacory Patterson to win, 44.48 to 44.69. Jereem Richards (TTO: 44.87) got third and American Khaleb McRae of the was fourth in 44.94.

World and Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) and world-record holder Lamecha Girma (ETH) were in the men’s Steeple, but Kenyan Tokyo Olympian Leonard Bett and American Matthew Wilkinson were in front at 2,000 m. El Bakkali, who had moved up slowly through the pack, took over with 600 m to go, took the bell and ran away from the field to win in 8:10.40.

Kenya’s Worlds bronzer Edmund Serem passed countryman Abraham Kibiwott, the Paris Olympic bronze winner, for second, 8:12.27 to 8:12.75 and World Champion Geordie Beamish (NZL: 8:13.11) came up for fifth. Wilkinson was eighth in 8:14.27; Carson Williams was 15th (8:25.55) and Paris silver medalist Kenneth Rooks finished 18th (8:29.00).

World leader Alison dos Santos (BRA) led from the second hurdle on and cruised to a 47.12 win in the men’s 400 m hurdles, ahead of fast-closing countryman Matheus Lima’s lifetime best of 47.37, now equal-third in 2026! German Emil Agyekum got a lifetime best of 47.72 in third.

Sweden’s Olympic and World Champion Daniel Stahl thrilled the crowd with a big second throw of 69.60 m (228-4) in the men’s discus, ahead of Australia’s Paris Olympic bronze medalist Matt Denny (69.02 m/226-5). It was Stahl’s only fair throw of the day, but enough to win! Denny stayed second and 2022 World Champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO: 67.67 m/222-0) was third. American recordman Sam Mattis was fifth at 66.03 m (216-7).

Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom – the world leader – was in front by 800 m and won the non-Diamond League women’s 1,500 m in 4:00.68, just ahead of Canadian Lucia Stafford (4:01.93); American Margot Appleton was fifth at 4:04.92.

Marwa Bouzayani (TUN), the 2025 Worlds fourth-placer, got out to a big lead in the women’s Steeple and simply ran away from the field to win in 8:59.28, just off her 8:58.09 best at the Shaoxing Diamond League, where she was fourth. It’s her third race of the season and third under nine minutes! Elise Thorner (GBR) moved into second with 600 m to go and stayed there, in 9:11.01, followed by Gabi Jennings of the U.S. (9:12.02). Americans Lexy Halladay and Grace Hyde went 8-9 in 9:19.02 and 9:24.19.

World Indoor runner-up Larissa Iapichino (ITA) reached a wind-aided 6.84 m (22-5 1/4) to take the lead in the women’s long jump, but was passed by Worlds fourth-placer Hilary Kpatcha (FRA) in round three with a windy 6.85 m (22-5 3/4). And that’s how it ended! Jamaican Nia Robinson for third at 6.80 m (22-3 3/4) and Monae Nichols of the U.S. was fourth at 6.74 m (22-1 1/2).

American Claire Bryant, the 2025 World Indoor champ, was seventh at 6,69 m (21-11 1/2); world no. 2 Lex Brown finished ninth at 6.62 m (21-8 3/4).

World leader Jessica Schilder (NED) led the women’s shot with her first-round throw of 20.33 m (66-8 1/2) and was never headed. No one else could reach 20 m, but Schilder got out even further on her final try to 20.89 m (68-6 1/2), a distance no one else has reached this season. World Indoor champ Chase Jackson of the U.S. was a clear second with her 19.91 m (65-4) toss in the second round. Americans Abria Smith (18.50 m/60-8 1/2), Maggie Ewen (17.93 m/58-10) and Jaida Ross (17.80 m/58-4 3/4) finished 7–8-9.

Next up on the Diamond League schedule is the famed Bislett Games in Oslo (NOR) on Wednesday, 10 June.

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FOOTBALL: U.S. men lose final World Cup warm-up to Germany, 2-1; U.S. women lose Brazil friendly in Sao Paulo, also 2-1

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ U.S. DOUBLEHEADER ≡

The U.S. men’s national team finished their World Cup warm-up matches against no. 10 Germany in Chicago, Illinois, in front of a raucous crowd on a warm and humid day at Soldier Field. And the Germans took charge immediately off of a free kick in the second minute by defender Joshua Kimmich that found striker Kai Havertz streaking forward for a header that beat American keeper Matt Freese in front of the net.

The U.S. was undeterred and shared possession and chances with the Germans. Then, off a corner that curved into the box and was headed out by German defender Jonathan Tah, American defender Antonee Robinson came up to hit a fabulous left-footed rocket from just beyond the box to just under the top of the net in the 37th to tie the game, 1-1.

U.S. forward Sergino Dest dribbled in for another chance in the 42nd, but his shot went wide as the American pressure continued. The half ended 1-1 and while Germany had 52% of possession, the U.S. had an 11-4 shots edge and owned most of the last 15 minutes.

The second half saw the U.S. on offense, but the Germans took the lead on a Leroy Sane goal in the 57th, taking a pass from Havertsz and moving in the center of the box for a left-footed shot to the far corner past Freese for a 2-1 edge. Both teams started substituting after the hour mark and the U.S. had a couple of good chances from Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah, but could not score.

Before a good crowd of 63,636, the U.S. ended with 52% of possession and a 16-12 shots edge, but lost its final match before Friday’s World Cup opener in Inglewood, California. It was the ninth straight loss for the U.S. against a European (UEFA) team.

In Sao Paulo (BRA), the U.S. women played the first of two matches against the Brazilians as warm-ups for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to be held there, and took the lead in the second minute when Sophia Wilson found open space at the top of the Brazilian box, dribbled left and sent a left-footed laser into the far left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

But the home team, with plenty of crowd support, got even in the 11th on a cross-field pass from near the sideline from defender Isabela Chagas to forward Taina Maranhao, who pounded a shot to her left that found the U.S. net easily for the 1-1 tie.

Just three minutes later, a shot in the U.S. box by striker Dudinha was deflected and came to forward Bia Zaneratto, who slammed a right-foot shot into the left corner of the American goal and past keeper Mandy McGlynn for the 2-1 lead.

That’s how the half ended, with the U.S. with 52% possession, but Brazil piling up eight shots to three for the Americans.

The U.S. applied relentless pressure in the second half as the match became more and more physical, but could not score. McGlynn saved a possible third Brazilian goal on a breakaway shot by substitute forward Giovana by tipping it and catching it at 90+1 to keep the final at 2-1. The U.S. ended with 56% of possession and both sides had 11 shots.

A second friendly comes Tuesday in Fortaleza.

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ATHLETICS: World-leading 21.70 for Gabby Thomas at USATF Lone Star Grand Prix and a prep 200 m record for Tate Taylor at 19.97!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Triple Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas of the U.S. (Photo: USATF).

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≡ LONE STAR GRAND PRIX ≡

USA Track & Field staged its first meet at Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas on Saturday with the 20-event USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in hot, 88 F conditions and 68% humidity. That meant good conditions for sprinters and one was really ready.

The women’s 200 m had Paris Olympic champ Gabby Thomas in seven, and after fellow American Cambria Sturgis started well, Thomas flew down the backstraight and won by more than 2 m in a world-leading 21.70 (wind: +0.7 m/s). U.S. nationals runner-up Kayla White moved up for second in 22.07 and Favour Ofili (NGR: 22.15) and Sturgis fourth in 22.16. It’s Thomas’ third win in the 200 m this year after two victories in Africa in April and her third-fastest ever!

The men’s 200 saw San Antonio Harlan high school star Tate Taylor run hard on the turn and take the lead into the straight, then was passed by Zimbabwe’s Maka Charamba, who won in a lifetime best of 19.88 (+0.1), equal-sixth in the world this season. Taylor stayed close in second in a lifetime best of 19.97, the first U.S. prep to break 20 seconds! Canadian veteran Aaron Brown got third (20.11); 2022 400 m World Champion Michael Norman was sixth in 20.40.

Taylor lowered his own 200 m high school record from 20.05 from April at the Tom Jones Invitational and is now equal-sixth on the all-time World Junior list.

World men’s 100 m champ Oblique Seville (JAM) was running his second dash of the year, but two-time Worlds bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell of the U.S. got to the lead by 10 m and stayed there, winning in a wind-aided 9.85 (+3.8 m/s)! Canadian star Andre De Grasse emerged for second in 9.91, with Seville also in 9.91.

Paris Olympic 400 m champ Quincy Hall of the U.S. was in lane six, but not yet fully recovered from injury and finished seventh in 45.51. Bryce Deadmon, the 2023 U.S. champ, moved well in the first 200 m, but 2025 World Indoor winner Chris Bailey rolled into the straight and broke away in the final 50 m to win in 44.35, no. 13 in the world this year. Deadmon was second in 44.74, then Elija Godwin of the U.S. in 45.00.

Jamaica’s 2023 Pan Am Games medalist Navasky Anderson took the lead in the men’s 800 m at the bell and extended his lead off the final turn and won in 1:46.33. Mexico’s Abraham Alvarado ran into second in the final 40 m at 1:46.75, ahead of American Sean Dolan (1:46.90).

A new U.S. star in the 110 m hurdles? Houston All-American Jamar Marshall ran away from the field in the final four hurdles and stormed to a big lifetime best of 13.04 (+0.5), equal-second on the 2026 world list. Fellow American De’Vion Wilson was second in 13.24 and Connor Schulman got a lifetime best of 13.29 in third.

The men’s 400 m hurdles was a brawl between 2022 Worlds bronzer Trevor Bassitt and ex-NCAA champs Caleb Dean of the U.S. and Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR), with Nathaniel coming hard to the line to win in 47.37. Bassitt also pushed hard on the run-in for second in the same time – actually, 2/1,000ths shower – and a lifetime best, and Dean was third in 47.42. They’re now 3-4-5 on the 2026 world list. Bassitt is now also no. 10 all-time U.S.

Two-time NCAA champ Romaine Beckford (JAM) was the survivor in the men’s high jump, clearing 2.25 m (7-4 1/2) to outdistance Vernon Turner of the U.S. (2.22 m/7-3 1/4).

Seven men cleared 5.60 m (18-4 1/2) in the men’s vault, and at 5.70 m (18-8 1/4), with Tokyo 2021 silver medalist Chris Nilsen and Olen Tray Oates, fifth at the 2026 U.S. Indoors, clearing on their first attempts. Cole Walsh and Clayton Sims also cleared, so the bar went to 5.80 m (19-0 1/4) and Nilsen was over on his second attempt and no one else could clear. Oates ended up second on misses and Walsh third. 

Worlds bronze winner Curtis Thompson continued his hot javelin throwing, getting out to 84.88 m (278-6) in the first round and was unchallenged. He didn’t improve, but it was his sixth best throw ever! Sindri Gudmundsson (ISL) was a decisive second at 78.31 m (256-11).

Jamaican teen Sabrina Dockery pulled away from the field late in the women’s 100 m, winning in 10.92 (+1.6) for a lifetime best. At 19, she lowered her best from 11.08 in 2025 to 10.92, now equal-8th in 2026! Canada’s Audrey Leduc moved up for second in 10.97 and Jodean Williams (JAM: 10.97 lifetime best) in third.

The girls high school 100 was fast, as Atascocita High star Mia Maxwell (Humble, Texas) ran away from the field and won easily in 11.01w (+2.6), way ahead of Sanyah Keeton (Duncanville HS: 11.39).

Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo took charge of the women’s 400 m into the final curve and ran away from Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams, 49.47 to 49.80, for a personal best and now no. 2 on the 2026 world list. American Alexis Holmes got a seasonal best of 50.42 in third.

Shafiqua Maloney (VIN) led at the bell in the women’s 800 m and was 2 m up coming into the home straight and ran alone to the line in 1:57.34, no. 5 on the 2026 world list! Jamaica’s Kelly-Ann Beckford was second in 1:58.46 (lifetime best) and Victoria Bossong (USA: 1:58.52 lifetime best).

The women’s 100 m hurdles was tight over five hurdles, then Jamaican Demisha Roswell emerged in lane two and got to the line in 12.53 (+1.3 m/s), ahead of 2025 World Indoor bronzer Ackera Nugent (12.61) and Rayniah Jones of the U.S. (12.62).

Kemi Adekoya (BRN) built a lead in the middle of the women’s 400 m hurdles and held on over the run-in to win in 53.71. Two-time World silver winner Shamier Little of the U.S. challenged on the straight, but was passed on the run-in by Ashley Miller (ZIM), 54.08 to 54.15.

Olympic women’s hammer champ – and world leader – Cam Rogers (CAN) won her specialty with a third-round toss of 79.36 m (260-4), barely ahead of world no. 2, American Rachel Richeson, who got a lifetime best of 79.33 m (260-3) in the fourth. Richeson remains no. 6 on the all-time list. China’s ‘25 Worlds silver medalist Jie Zhao was third at 76.25 m (250-2).

The amazing stadium on the Texas A&M campus opened in 2019 and seats 2,200; the stands were less than half full, so maybe 1,000 or so attended, under threatening skies.

The meet offered $210,000 in prize money with 10 “core events” paying $15,000 each: $5,000-3,000-2,000-1,400-1,200-1,000-800-600. The remaining six “added events” paid $10,000 each: $3,500-2,000-1,400-1,000-800-600-400-300. No prizes were allocated for the high school 100 m races or the Paralympic 100 m races.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: IOC Coordination Commission lavishes praise on LA28; Wasserman says Federal gov’t will give “funding we need” for City services

By
Rich Perelman
-
Left to right, LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, IOC Coordination Commission Chair Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU) and IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI) at a 4 June 2026 news conference in Los Angeles (IOC video screenshot).

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≡ IOC COORD. COMMISSION ≡

The seventh visit of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the 2028 Olympic Games was completed Thursday with a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, and things could not be better. Said Chair Nicole Hoevertsz, a 1984 Olympian herself from Aruba in synchronized swimming – as then known – told reporters:

● “We look at what has been achieved and we use that progress to shape what still lies ahead. And the progress that we have seen so far gives us – and I want to emphasize this – every confidence that the next two years will put us on course for another memorable edition of the Olympic Games.”

● “Every time we meet with LA28, we are reminded of the quality, the commitment and the professionalism of the people working behind the scenes to bring these Games to life. With each visit, more progress is visible, more detail is in place. And more of the project is moving from concept and planning into concrete operational delivery.”

● “This was the best CoComm ever. The team the two gentlemen on my right have assembled is a fabulous team. A team of very young, dynamic, very passionate, very knowledgeable, very trained people who know what they’re doing. So this Coordination Commission gives us great confidence; the team is ready, the Games are on track and the Games are in safe hands of a very qualified and very capable team.”

IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI), acknowledging the unique, 11-year ramp-up time, said the state of preparation now is “better than ever before. … At two years out, where we are today, we’ve not seen that before.”

LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, who said he has no plans to resign over years-ago contacts with the infamous Jeffrey Epstein and associates, said in prepared remarks that “The full picture of our preparation is strong and impressive.” Asked about worries from Los Angeles City Council members about ensuring that any added costs to the City related to the 2028 Games will be covered – especially for security – he replied firmly:

“We have been very clear since day one that we are operating a break-even budget, as our goal, with significant contingency built in. Those numbers have not changed. …

“We have a lot more clarity and fidelity on our revenue, which should give everybody the confidence that we will deliver against that. And the Federal government, at every step of the way, has provided us the funding we need to reimburse local security operations, transportation, all the deliverables that rely on the Federal government and so of the concerns that they may have, I don’t think those are not founded in the reality that we’ve delivered against in relation with the Federal government and the needs we have.”

LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover explained further, “Our relationship with the City is really great and we meet with them on a weekly basis … I’m not concerned about the state of our relationship with the City and they know they are a partner with us.”

He was asked about the “Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement” outlining what LA28 will pay for related to City costs. While the existing Games Agreement signed in 2021 specified this document to be completed by October 2025, Hoover was unconcerned:

“I wouldn’t characterize it as delayed. I wouldn’t characterize it as late. We are in really good conversations with the City about the ECRMA. We will reach agreement, I am very confident on that.

“I think we’re really close and I don’t think it’s anything that we’re holding up and I don’t think it’s anything the City is holding up. You know, the City’s got a lot of things going on as well beyond just the Olympics that are coming in 2028 and so we respect that. And we’re having a healthy dialogue with members of the City Council as well as our City family on it and I think you’ll see something moving pretty soon.”

Hoover also brushed aside questions about 24% fees included in the price of Olympic Games as part of contractual obligations with LA28’s suppliers and “I think our ticket fee is consistent with industry standards. We’re not hiding anything; when you check out, you see all of the fees that are applied to the particular ticket.”

For Wasserman, enjoying the IOC’s full-throated endorsement, he sees more to come, noting:

“Our metrics have been far in excess of what we expected and the interest in every line item of our business continues to be incredible and I have no doubt that’s going to continue.”

Observed: The only public aspect of the Coordination Commission meetings is the final news conference, so it’s easy to think the Games are ready to be staged now from the IOC’s glowing comments.

Not quite. Hoevertsz offered some clarity, explaining that the progress they see is in the maturation of the organizing committee:

“The discussions are no longer about ambition, about direction or broad concepts. They are now about delivery models, operational choices, priorities and timelines. They are about turning plans into solutions that are realistic, integrated and deliverable. In simple terms, it is about bringing planning to a level where it can be tested properly, so that teams are ready when the time comes in 2028.”

So, there is a long way to go. But at present, the IOC is (publicly) happy. So, LA28 is happy (publicly) too.

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ATHLETICS: Cunningham goes sub-13, Lyles wins in 9.88 at Rome Diamond League, with fab 303-10 javelin from Pathirage!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sri Lanka’s javelin star, Rumesh Pathirage (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ ROME DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

The annual Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome was on for Thursday, with

● Men/110 m hurdles: 12.98, Trey Cunningham (USA)
● Men/Javelin: 92.62 m (303-10), Rumesh Pathirage (SRI)
● Women/5,000 m: 14:18.41, Likina Amebaw (ETH)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.58, Emma Zapletalova (SVK)

The meet exploded with the first event, as Pathirage led after the first round at 84.49 m (277-2), then reached a sensational 92.62 m (303-10) for the world lead and a national record! He didn’t throw again, he’s no. 8 all time!

Grenada’s two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) was second at 83.91 m (275-3) and then Worlds bronzer Curtis Thompson (USA: 83.89 m/275-2) a tight third. Wow.

A little later, the men’s 110 hurdles saw 2022 Worlds runner-up Cunningham got out best and he and countryman Jamal Britt dueled, with Cunningham hot all the way through. Britt, a two-time Diamond League winner this season, essentially caught up by the seventh hurdle, but in pushing for the lead after the eighth, caught the ninth hurdles and fell.

Cunningham, in his season opener, never wavered and flew across the finish in a world-leading, lifetime best of 12.98 (+0.5), the 29th man to go sub-13. He’s now no. 16 all-time U.S. Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett ended up second in 13.31; Britt did finish, in 26.75.

The women’s 5,000 m had Olympic Steeple champ Winfred Yavi (BAH) in front early, but came down to a three-way battle between Ethiopians Aleshign Baweke, Amebaw and Freweyni Hailu on the final lap and down the final straight, Baweke looked like the winner, but Amebaw came from third in the final 40 m to win at the line in a lifetime best, 14:18.41 to 14:18.54 to 14:18.94! Amebaw is now no. 15 on the all-time list.

Zapletalova beat American Olympic silver winner Anna Cockrell in Rabat and went even faster this time, taking over into the home straight and finishing in another national record of 52.58, with Cockrell second in 52.77. Rio 2016 Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad – clearly unretired – was fourth in 53.39 and Jasmine Jones was sixth in 53.92.

The advertised highlight of the meet was the men’s 100, with Paris Olympic champ Noah Lyles of the U.S., Tokyo Olympic winner Lamont Jacobs (ITA) and U.S. 60 m World Indoor winner Jordan Anthony. Plus Botswana’s Paris 200 winner Letsile Tebogo (BOT), Kenyan star Ferdinand Omanyala and South Africa’s Akani Simbine! Woah.

And the race did not disappoint. Anthony got out best and had the lead by 50 m, but Lyles got going and moved smoothly to the front and took the win in 9.88 (+0.4). Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme moved strongly in lane one and was second in the final 10 m in 9.94 (a national record). Anthony fell back a little and Tebogo passed him for third in 9.95 to 9.96. Jacobs ran 9.99 for fifth, fastest in two years.

The men’s 800 m was a tactical affair, with France’s Gabriel Tual taking over with 200 m to go and getting to the line first in 1:43.66, with Ireland’s Mark English rocketing from sixth to second in the final 100 m for second in 1:43.80. Americans Bryce Hoppel (1:44.45) and Donavan Brazier (1:44.45) were seventh and eighth.

Rising Mexican star Erick Portillo had the lead in the men’s high jump at 2.24 m (7-4 1/4), but was passed by Italy’s Matteo Sioli, who cleared 2.26 m (7-5) on his second try to take the lead. Portillo could not match and finished second, but Sioli continued to 2.28 m (7-5 3/4) on his second try. Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford cleared 2.23 m (7-3 3/4) for third; American JuVaughn Harrison was ninth at 2.16 m (7-1).

Cuban Jorge Hodelin got out to 8.18 m (26-10) in round three and had the lead in the men’s long jump, ahead of Bozhidar Saraboyukov (BUL: 8.13 m/26-8 1/4) and Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE: 8.11 m/26-7 1/4). But Tentoglou had more to give and sailed out to 8.20 m (26-11) in round five, then extended to 8.24 m (27-0 1/2) in the sixth. But on the final jump of the day, Saraboyukov launched out to 8.26 m (27-1 1/4) to steal the victory!

It took until the fifth round, but Italy’s two-time World Indoor winner Andy Diaz got a home win in the triple jump at 17.59 m (57-8 1/2), overtaking Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who then responded with a final round jump of 17.33 m (56-10 1/4). American Russell Robinson was sixth at 16.40 m (53-9 3/4).

Italian fans wanted the men’s shot to be a showcase for countryman Leonardo Fabbri, and he delivered a bomb in round three at 22.14 m (72-7 3/4) to take over. Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs of the U.S., the world leader, reached 21.87 m (71-9) for second, ahead of World and Olympic champ Ryan Crouser, at 21.50 m (70-6 1/2) from round two. American Jordan Geist was fifth at 21.30 m (69-10 3/4).

The women’s 200 m had 2024 Olympic silver winner Julien Alfred (LCA) in lane eight, with World Champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden a lane inside in her season opener. American star Jefferson-Wooden was off well, but on the straight, Alfred was too strong and won eased up in 21.93 (+1.3). Jefferson-Wooden was a clear second in 22.17, then Tokyo Olympian Anavia Battle of the U.S. (22.39).

American Aaliyah Butler led the women’s 400 m coming into the home straight, but it was Norwegian star Henriette Jaeger pushed hardest and won in 49.60. Czech Lurdes Manuel was close for second in 49.77 and Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce got third (49.80). Butler was fourth in 49.83; Britain’s 800 m hero, Kelly Hodgkinson, tried one lap and was seventh in a lifetime best o 51.14.

World Indoor champ Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) headlined the women’s 1,500 m, but it was U.S. champ Nikki Hiltz and 2024 World Indoor runner-up Jemma Reekie (GBR) at the bell. Hunter Bell moved up on bell with 300 m to go and was in the lead off the turn. She was in front right to the line in 3:58.63, with Pole Klaudia Kazimierska edging Hiltz – in her season opener – for second at the line, 3:59.24 to 3:59.26. Heather MacLean of the U.S. was 12th in 4:06.74.

In the women’s 100 m hurdles, Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds led early and held off American Keni Harrison, the former world-record holder, 12.50 to 12.54 (+0.8). Fellow American Tonea Marshall was seventh (12.76).

The women’s vault was a win for British World Indoor champ Molly Caudery, winning on misses over Australia’s Olympic champ Nina Kennedy at 4.80 m (15-9). American Sandi Morris, herself a World Indoor gold medalist, was fifth at 4.60 m (15-1).

The Diamond League heads to Stockholm (SWE) for the Bauhaus Galan on Sunday.

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PANORAMA: L.A. Mayor Bass headed to November run-off; ‘28 “Swiss House” in Santa Monica; St. Louis selected for 2028 U.S. marathon trials

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Primary nominating elections were held on Tuesday, but the slow vote counting in Los Angeles means that the outcomes are not confirmed as of Thursday. Turnout in Los Angeles County was estimated at 34%.

In the mayoral race, with a bit more than half of the votes counted, incumbent Karen Bass was leading with 34.97% of the vote, ahead of insurgent, reality-TV star Spencer Pratt (29.91%) and Council member Nithya Raman (22.81%). Without an absolute majority, Bass will face a November run-off against the second-place finisher, unusual for an incumbent mayor in Los Angeles.

Related to the 2028 Olympic Games, Measure TT, which would increase the Transient Occupancy (hotel) Tax from 14% to 16% through the end of 2028 to help fund City services was losing by 55.38% to 44.62%. If the measure does not pass, this will further increase the pressure on the City’s finances and, therefore, pressure on the LA28 organizers and the U.S. Federal government for help.

The City of Santa Monica approved applications for 2028 Games-related programs, including a rental of the famed “Camera Obscura” building on Ocean Avenue, closed since 2020, for $300,000 for the duration of the Games period to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for a “House of Switzerland.” from 14 June to 21 September 2028.

The contract is planned to allow the City to refurbish the facility and allow public use once again; some of the interior decor provided by the Swiss may be retained after the Games. If an added area of adjacent Palisades Park is used, an additional fee of $200,000 would be due.

Santa Monica also approved the use of the Annenberg Beach House to the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) for $1.55 million for its “Club France” from 30 June to 4 August 2028.

● Russia ● Plans are continuing with the expectation in Russia that it will send a full team to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev speaking at a sport forum in St. Petersburg:

“This year, 2.6 billion rubles have been allocated for a specific training program for Los Angeles. The amount each federation will receive will be announced soon. These are individual plans: the money can be spent on equipment, travel, rent, and other things. Improving the infrastructure of the bases is a state task. We’ve already renovated the base in Ruza, where weightlifters will train for the Olympic Games, using state funds.”

The RUB 2.6 billion is worth about $35.42 million U.S. at current rates. Degtyarev also had advice for Russian companies:

“The Olympic Committee has already finalized the mascot, the media sponsor [MAER], and the equipment [Bosco]. There are still some remaining options: a bank, communications, and an airline. Of course, I’m amazed at some sponsors: don’t they understand that today it will cost one ruble, and tomorrow, ten? Welcome. We’ll negotiate.”

● Athletics ● USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee selected St. Louis, Missouri as the site of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, over Phoenix, Arizona.

The race will be on 25 March 2028, organized by the St. Louis Sports Commission and GO! St. Louis, and shown live on NBC beginning at 11 a.m. local time. St. Louis previously hosted the 2004 U.S. women’s Olympic marathon trials.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● USA Bobsled & Skeleton is looking for pilots and pushers and has recruited iHeartMedia to help with recruiting in a new sponsorship deal:

“As part of the partnership, iHeartMedia will contribute significant on-air and digital marketing support to help promote USA Bobsled and Skeleton recruitment events to a broader audience nationwide and will become the title sponsor for the 2026 Recruitment Series.”

The Recruitment Series puts attendees through a series of skills test for speed, agility and power with the top performers invited to a federation training camp in Lake Placid, New York.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing announced a sponsorship agreement with the connectivity firm Cloudflare, with the idea to use its performance tools to expand the Boutcaster platform and allow fans to follow every match on every piste at USA Fencing events, regardless of the number of simultaneous steams.

The project was tested again at the April 2026 North American Cup in Richmond, Virginia. The announcement noted, “The platform was created by David Baraff, a national-level fencing referee and technology expert who worked directly with [USA Fencing chief exec Phil] Andrews and USA Fencing’s IT lead Zemi Lawrence.”

The expansion of live or on-demand streams from a single event will open significant possibilities for many sports. The next question will be how to sell sponsorships for each stream!

● Football ● A week before play begins at the 2026 World Cup, FIFA changed its policy on fans being able to bring refillable water bottles to matches on Wednesday, banning the items, according to an updated “code of conduct”:

“For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

Agence France Presse reported a FIFA statement which worried about safety:

“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff. FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

“Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.”

At the same time, there are concerns over high temperatures at open-air stadiums; FIFA’s statement insisted that misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents would be available at or near the venues.

FIFA announced a program with Bank of America and the Veteran Tickets Foundation to distribute “4,547 tickets in various categories, including the semi-final and final, to U.S. military veterans, current military personnel, first responders and their families.” The tickets, valued at $2.25 million, will be for games at U.S. venues.

As part of the offer, “250 tickets [are] being set aside for U.S. Men’s National Team matches during the tournament in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.”

It was reported that an estimate of the “carbon footprint” of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be about 7.8 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), about 2.1 times the amount for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Air travel is, as it always is, the primary generator, with spectator travel responsible for a projected 87.8% of the projected total and team travel at 0.2% for an 88.0% total. Accommodations is a distant second at 4.7%.

The methodology shown for the calculations did not appear to factor in what the differential is between a non-World Cup year and the World Cup year of 2026. Without subtracting the existing flights to the 11 U.S. venues, it’s impossible to understand what the World Cup itself adds – if anything – to the in-place travel carbon load. If not included – there was no indication of this – it’s a weakness of the study and the calculations of the “World Cup impact.”

● Skiing ● U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced its fourth annual U.S. Ski Team awards, presented by Stifel, including the athlete of the year for men and women in

● Alpine: Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Lindsey Vonn
● Cross Country: Jessie Diggins and Ben Ogden
● Freeski: Mac Forehand and Grace Henderson
● Freestyle/Aerials: Chris Lillis
● Freestyle/Moguls: Olivia Giaccio
● Nordic Combined: Alexa Brabec and Niclas Malacinski
● Ski Jumping: Annika Belshaw and Kevin Bickner
● Para Alpine: Patrick Halgren

Awards in each discipline were also made for the Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, Best Comeback and Coach.

● Tennis ● While Wimbledon will command the tennis headlines starting on 29 June, the All England Club will be promoting the tournament and the sport in New York’s Central Park from 26-29 June, with a “pop-up” grass court on the Wollman Ice Rink.

A Doubles exhibition match will be held on the 26th, fans can play on the grass court on 27-28 June via a public drawing for time slots and the opening day of Wimbledon will be shown on giant screens on the 29th. There will be lots of side activities, such as free clinics, merchandise and even the tournament’s famed strawberries and cream.

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PANORAMA: Provincial head calls loss of Nice 2030 venues “a colossal waste”; FIFA fines for homophobic Mexican fan chant of $177,842 upheld

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● A devastated Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (PACA) region, pointed the finger directly at Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti for the removal of all ice events, likely to Lyon, for the 2030 Winter Games.

In a letter sent to Ciotti dated 30 May, Muselier pointed out that the refusal to use the Allianz Riviera stadium for ice hockey – which would impact the schedule of the Nice football club – means that the athlete village facility that would have created student housing for 400 and a new Olympic Omnisports Complex for ice events will not be built.

He noted an estimate of a total economic impact loss of €800 million to €1.1 billion for Nice and for the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region. (€1=$1.16 U.S.)

In a Monday news conference, Muselier added, “History will remember that while we spent five years building this bid, Mr. Ciotti destroyed it in two months. …

“No one abandoned Nice out of convenience or as a punishment. No one. Since the election of the new mayor, the technical teams have tried everything, absolutely everything. … Despite what some may have suggested, you can’t redraw the Olympic map against the rules of the [International Olympic Committee] and the International Federations. You can’t crave the spotlight of the Games and then be surprised by the rules that make them possible. What has just happened is a colossal waste.”

The PACA region will still host events in Briancon in Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard. A technical study is underway to validate the move of all ice events to Lyon.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Seven coaches and four staff members were honored by the USOPC for 2025, including Alex Hoedlmoser (U.S. Ski & Snowboard) as Olympic Coach of the Year and Kris Mack (USA Track & Field) as Paralympic Coach of the Year.

Georgia track & field head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert was named the College Coach of the Year, USA Track & Field’s Nic Petersen as the Doc Counsilman Science & Technology Award recipient, and Rick Delia (USA Baseball) as Volunteer Coach of the Year.

U.S. Speedskating’s Li Geng was honored as Development Coach of the Year and U.S. Figure Skating’s Heidi Thibert as Coach Educator of the Year.

Staff awards recognized dieticians Carrie Aprik of the USOPC and Nuwanee Tamaki (USA Wrestling). Regan Dewhirst of U.S. Ski & Snowboard was selected as the sports medicine honoree and USOPC staff member Brandon Siakel won the strength and conditioning award.

● Athletics ● UK Athletics was fined £350,000 (about $471,440 U.S.) for the “tragic, untimely and wholly avoidable” death of UAE Paralympic shot putter Abdullah Hayayei in 2017 during a training session accident where a safety cage collapsed on him.

The sentence, at the Central London Criminal Court on Tuesday, also included a requirement for Keith Davies, now 79, then the head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, to perform 175 hours of unpaid work for his role in the tragedy.

● Cycling ● The 37th women’s Giro d’Italia is almost at halfway, with Italian star Elisa Balsamo, the 2021 World Road Champion, winning the first three stages. The first two were fairly flat sprinter’s wins and the hillier third stage saw Balsamo edge American Lily Williams at the line at the end of 156 km to Buja in another mass finish.

Tuesday’s fourth stage was an Individual Time Trial of 12.7 km, with a rise to the finish from about the halfway mark. Dutch star Anna van der Breggen, a four-time winner of this race, won in 31:38.91 and took the race lead by 1:04 over Swiss Marlen Reusser and 1:10 over fellow Dutch star Demi Vollering as Balsamo faded to 56th.

The climbing stage is on Saturday (7th) and the race finishes on Sunday (8th).

● Fencing ● To the surprise of no one, the Federation Internationale d’Escrime, whose elected president is Russian Alisher Usmanov, removed all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes for individual and team events.

The vote by the FIE Executive Committee makes fencing the sixth Olympic sports federation to re-admit Russian athletes fully.

USA Fencing announced its Hall of Fame class for 2027, headlined by Ibtihaj Muhammad, who won an Olympic women’s Sabre team bronze in 2016 and five Worlds Team medals, including a 2014 Worlds gold and four bronzes from 2011-15.

Two “Legacy” members, both Olympians, will be honored: Sally Pechinsky (1968 women’s Team Foil) and Steve Kaplan (1976 men’s Sabre). Gary Copeland, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Coach of the Year in 1999 and a national-team coach more than 20 times, will be honored as a coach.

● Football ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Tuesday a ruling on two appeals by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) against FIFA about a recurring homophobic chant by Mexican fans.

The FMF was fined CHF 60,000 for incidents at three summer 2024 matches where the chant was heard, and another CHF 80,000 fine was imposed for the chant at the October 2024 match against the U.S., and “a 15% partial closure of the stadium for their next FIFA match.” (CHF 1 = $1.27 U.S.; about $177,842 U.S.)

Per the summary of the decision, “The Panel recognises the unique nature of the FMF’s situation, who demonstrated that significant financial resources and efforts have been deployed to eradicate the offending conduct. However, they found that the prohibited conduct persists, and the preventative measures do not carry sufficient legal weight to exempt the FMF from liability.”

The fines were upheld, but the 15% fan reduction was removed. By the way, the FIFA World Cup will open in Mexico City on 11 June.

● Luge ● Two-time World Champion Jonas Mueller (AUT) has retired at age 28, ending a career which included 2026 Olympic silvers in the men’s Singles and the Team Relay, and five World Championships medals.

He won five European Championships golds and World titles in the men’s Sprint in 2019 and the men’s Singles in 2023. He finally got to the Olympic Winter Games in 2026 and “that was my driving force and my greatest goal.” He added:

“I had a wonderful time with great successes and I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. Above all, my parents, the coaching and support team, the entire squad and the federation.

“The effort required to compete at the very top is enormous. A season lasts fourteen weeks, and the preparation extends over eight months. I would need to be back in full training by now to be in a position to compete for the top results. The hunger for success has faded – it is the right time to open a new chapter away from elite sport.”

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LANE ONE: Where does the IOC spend its money, and is there enough to pay Olympians? Yes, for now

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ IOC AND ATHLETE PAY ≡

Given that she was a five-time swimming Olympian from 2000 to 2016 and Chair of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission from 2018 to 2021, IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s biggest fans should be other Olympic athletes.

But her comments to SportNationNZ commentator Alex Chapman in a 22 May post have created a firestorm, particularly:

“I don’t believe in paying athletes and I come from a small country. I came from a sport that doesn’t necessarily pay athletes very well and I still don’t believe we should be paying athletes at the Olympic Games.

“Now I do think we should find more ways to directly impact athletes and find ways to directly help them on their journey to become Olympians, while they’re Olympians and as they’re finding ways into their new career transition.”

Coventry posted a follow-up on the IOC Athlete365 Instagram page on 28 May, explaining:

“I have always said that I don’t believe in paying athletes prize money at the Olympic Games, as this would benefit only a very small number of athletes.

“I do believe our role as the IOC is to find ways to directly support a large number of athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians, at the Olympics and as they transition into life after sport.”

Multiple Olympic stars, including star swimmers Cam McEvoy (AUS) and South Africa’s Roland Schoeman both panned Coventry’s stance and demanded that Olympians be paid, including prize money.

Chapman pressed Coventry on Olympians not being paid and Coventry replied, “They get beautiful venues, they get beautiful villages, they get a beautiful experience and all of that comes from the money that we raise.”

What she’s saying in her own way, is that the IOC, with billions in revenue from television rights sales and sponsorships, spends most of its money to put on the Olympic Games, Olympic Winter Games and the Youth Olympic Games.

A check of the IOC’s financial statements will show that’s true.

To its credit, the IOC releases detailed annual financial statements, which offer a clear indication of where it spends the money it takes in. Because the one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games skews the numbers, let’s look at the eight-year period from 2017 to 2024.

● 2017: $661 million IOC revenue
● 2017: $449 million (67.9%) spent on Games support-Int’l Federations-National Olympic Committees-Olympic Solidarity (athletes, coaching, NOC support)

● 2018: $2.206 billion revenue ~ Winter Games
● 2018: $1.577 billion (71.5%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2019: $695 million revenue
● 2019: $405 million (58.3%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2020: $624 million revenue
● 2020: $425 million (68.1%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2021: $4.162 billion revenue ~ Olympic Games
● 2021: $2.895 billion (69.6%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2022: $2.363 billion revenue ~ Winter Games
● 2022: $1.702 billion (72.0%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2023: $902 million revenue
● 2023: $490 million (54.3%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 2024: $4.415 billion revenue ~ Olympic Games
● 2024: $2.976 billion (67.4%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

● 8-year totals: $11.842 billion revenue
● 8-year totals: $8.063 billion (68.1%) spent on Games-IF-NOC-Solidarity

So, to expand Coventry’s comment on venues and experiences, the IOC spent 68 cents of every dollars it took in to put on its Olympic Games, sending the money to organizing committees, International Federations (a majority of whom are deeply reliant for survival on the IOC’s payments), National Olympic Committees and on Olympic Solidarity, which paid $17.6 million to athletes via Olympic Scholarships in 2024 alone (see, the IOC does pay athletes!).

The remaining 32.9% of the IOC’s revenue go to smaller areas, such as promotion of the Olympic Movement (mostly the Olympic Channel and digital programming), special projects, grants, administration (averaging 9.1% of revenues over the eight years) and to reserves ($4.880 billion total at the end of 2024).

So, could Coventry take the IOC along the path she cleared, and pay – let’s call it an honorarium – a set fee to all Olympians, starting in 2028? Let’s run the numbers:

● About 10,500 athletes in the Olympic Games
● About 3,000 athletes in the Winter Games

● $10,000 x 13,500 athletes for Olympic appearance = $135 million
● $10,000 x 13,500 athletes for Olympics + 1 more year = $270 million
● $10,000 x 13,500 athletes for Olympics + 3 more years = $540 million

Can the IOC pay $135 million a year every year as honoraria to Olympians to (1) help with expenses and (2) help with a transition for retired athletes to go to the next step?

Such payments will pressure the IOC on its expenses in the non-Olympic years, but with NBC committed to $3 billion in broadcast rights fees for the 2034 Winter and 2036 Olympic Games, this is doable.

And it is the right time to do it. As our column back in July 2025 noted, the IOC can afford it and this expanded look at its finances shows that while 2/3rds of its revenue has to go to put on the Games, there is room to provide funding for those who make it to the Games, even for the year of the Games and for three years beyond.

In some countries, $10,000 is a lot of money. In others, not as much, but it still helps. And Coventry is the right one to do it, at least during her term in office. Beyond 2036, who knows, and as Coventry has noted, the IOC’s future health will be determined by how it navigates the brave new world of broadcasting and streaming.

In my opinion, prize money is not the answer for the IOC. What today’s athletes forget is the history of the Games, going back to ancient Greece, where the city-states sent their champions to the Games and rewarded them, just as National Olympic Committees do today.

Athletes competing in Olympic Games do so once every four years. Why aren’t they earning big money from their world championships in the years in between? Much more attention should be paid to that than to the lack of prize money in the Olympics.

Coventry has noted, quite correctly, the importance of staying relevant in today’s world. That means that people who do great things needs to be rewarded and an honorarium for Olympians will help maintain credibility for the Games and for the IOC. It’s just the way it is.

However, those who rail about how the big U.S. leagues – Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and NHL – pay around half of their revenue to the athletes forget that compared to those operations, the IOC is a pauper.

A Wikipedia list of annual league revenues in 2025 showed the NFL at $19.88 billion – for one year – followed by MLB at $11.32 billion, then the NBA at $10.61 billion and the NHL at $5.88 billion. The IOC doesn’t touch any of those numbers.

So Coventry needs to be careful, but it is time to offer some money to those who get to the Olympic and Winter Games. That will mean, by the way, cutting some more sports, disciplines and events, for which future organizing committees will thank the IOC.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: L.A. mayoral primary too close to call; trans jumper wins California State titles again; Ukraine gymnasts react to Russian anthem at Euros

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Los Angeles voters will go to the polls on Tuesday in an important primary election day that could have significant impact on the path to the 2028 Olympic Games.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, under heavy pressure since the January 2025 Palisades fire and with continuing concern over affordability, homelessness and a crumbling city infrastructure, has been leading a tight mayoral race, which will go to a run-off in November if no candidate gets 50% or more of the vote.

A 19-24 May poll showed Bass at 26%, Council member Nithya Raman at 25% and insurgent Spencer Pratt, best known as a reality-TV star, at 22% with a 3% margin of error. The top two will advance to a November run-off. Some 63% of poll respondents said the city is on the “wrong track” vs. 24% who were positive.

The 2028 Games has not been an issue on the mayoral campaign; there is a ballot initiative to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% through 2028 to raise funds for the City’s role in the Games.

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● Earthworks began in Victoria Park in Brisbane on Monday on the area to be used to build the new, 63,000-seat Olympic Stadium for the 2032 Games.

Protesters of the project were removed from the site last week, including five arrests (one later released without charge), and site fencing was installed. A small number of remaining protesters were moved outside of the fenceline on Monday.

Applications to the Australian national government to protect a significant Aboriginal site were being reviewed. Federal environment minister Murray Watt told Australian Associated Press “that cultural heritage declarations were not designed to stop the project, but instead to set out what must be done ‘to preserve or protect an area from being injured in some way or desecrated in some way.’”

● Athletics ● While a Federal lawsuit continues over transgender women competing in California high school athletics, trans jumper AB Hernandez won two more State titles in Clovis over the weekend.

Competing for Jurupa Valley High School as a senior, Hernandez won the high jump at 1.77 m (5-10), finished third in the long jump at 6.15 mw (20-2 1/4 wind-aided) and won the triple jump at 13.02 m (42-8 3/4). Hernandez repeated as winner in the high jump and triple jump.

Per a California Interscholastic Federation rule adopted in 2025, Hernandez did not displace any other athlete, so her first and third-place finishes were shared by the biological female placers who followed. Her time as a California high school athlete is done, but the case continues.

Jamaican long jump star Carey McLeod, the 2024 World Indoor bronze medalist and a two-time Olympian, was banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit “for 2 years from 28 May 2026 for Whereabouts Failures. DQ results from 1 May 2026.”

He missed a test on 30 June 2025, a filing failure on 9 August 2025, a missed test and a filing failure on 1 May 2026. He finished ninth at the World Indoors on 22 March in last meet.

UK Athletics, the governing body of track & field in Great Britain, “pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter” for a training center accident in 2017 in which UAE Paralympian shot putter Abdullah Hayayei, 36, was struck as the throwing cage around him collapsed and he eventually died.

The fine attached to the charge ranges from £180,000 up to £20 million and Richard Davies, now 79, then head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, admitted to a safety failure and will also be sentenced.

● Gymnastics ● World Gymnastics published its 2025 annual report, including a financial summary which showed that operating revenues were lower than expected at CHF 8.77 million, but operating expenses were also lower at CHF 9.96 million for an operating loss of CHF 1.20 million.

This was offset by Gymnastics Ethics Foundation funding and investment gains, for a year-end surplus of CHF 3.22 million. World Gymnastics showed a healthy CHF 65.51 million in assets, including CHF 30.87 million in reserves. (CHF 1 = $1.27 U.S.)

A positive note came from the anti-doping report, which showed a total of 716 athletes tested from 69 nations, with only one doping violation reported.

The federation’s astonishing failure to prevent or sanction Indonesia’s banning Israeli participation in the World Artistic Championships in Jakarta was noted only briefly in the opening statement by federation chief Morinari Watanabe (JPN):

“Artistic Gymnastics held its World Championships in south-east Asia for the first time, in Indonesia. This milestone event, once again marked by unprecedented participation, significantly strengthened the growth of gymnastics in the region. It was regrettable that not all national federations were able to attend. We must continue to uphold the independence of our sport from political influence, and our organisation, together with the global gymnastics family, remains committed to supporting all athletes worldwide.”

At last week’s European Rhythmic Championships in Varna (BUL), Russian Iana Zaikina won the Junior Ribbon final, with Ukraine’s Sofiia Krainska in second.

In the Junior Ball final, Kira Babkevich of Belarus won and Ukraine’s Varvara Chubarova won the bronze.

During the medal ceremonies, both Ukrainians wore headphones in their ears and covered their eyes as the Russian and Belarusian anthems were played. Commented Ukrainian skeleton racer Vyacheslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified at the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games for not being able to wear his “memory helmet” in competition:

“It is so painful to see Ukrainian female athletes in such a terrible situation, where they have to watch Russian symbols and listen to the Russian anthem, while at the same time their friends and relatives are dying at the hands of the army that fights under those very same Russian symbols.

“It is a shame that for the leadership of the International Gymnastics Federation, particularly for its president Watanabe, personal interest is more important than basic humanity.”

● Swimming ● World Aquatics introduced a rule change for its 1-6 December World Short-Course Championships in Beijing (CHN) in order to promote athlete participation in its short-course World Cup events in Asia – the “Silk Road Tour” – in October:

“A new system of wild cards will also be trialled at the Silk Road Tour, ensuring additional qualification opportunities for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m).

“Swimmers will be able to earn a wild card for themselves by attending the Silk Road Tour stops and achieving an A standard time in their event. Up to three additional wild card swimmers could represent each World Aquatics Member Federation.”

At the 2024 World Short-Course Championships, each member federation was limited to 26 men and 26 women as entries.

The announcement also noted the use of 10 lanes in the pool – instead of eight – for semifinals and finals of events at the World Short-Course meet in events at 50, 100, 200 and 400 m. Relays and longer races will remain with eight in the pool.

● Tennis ● Superstar Serena Williams, who stopped her competitive career in 2022 and is now 44, returned to the registered doping pool for the sport in February and is returning to the WTA Tour with a wild-card invitation for Doubles at the Queen’s Club tournament in London (GBR) from 8-14 June.

Williams won 73 career titles and 23 career Grand Slam titles; her partner for the Queen’s Club tournament has not been announced. Williams won Olympic Doubles titles in 2000-08-12 and the Olympic Singles gold medal in 2012.

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OLYMPIC GAMES: IOC chief Coventry slammed by fellow athletes for “no prize money” stance on Olympic Games

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ ANGRY ATHLETE REACTIONS ≡

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) said in a statement posted last Thursday on the IOC’s Athlete365 Instagram page to more fully explain her comments to SportNation NZ about not paying athletes at the Olympic Games:

“I have always said that I don’t believe in paying athletes prize money at the Olympic Games, as this would benefit only a very small number of athletes.

“I do believe our role as the IOC is to find ways to directly support a large number of athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians, at the Olympics and as they transition into life after sport.”

She had told reporter Alex Chapman, “I don’t believe in paying athletes” at the Games.

Either way, the Athlete365 post was greeted with a wall of unhappiness, notably from two star swimmers.

Australia’s Cam McEvoy, the Paris Olympic men’s 50 m Freestyle gold medalist and now world-record holder, replied:

“If every athlete who competes at the Olympics is paid $10k as an appearance fee, and every gold/silver/bronze earns 100k/60k/25k (including individuals on teams) then that would be around $180m – which is only 1.5% of the quadrennial revenue ($12 billion) the IOC generates.

“For reference the NBA has a 50% revenue share with the players. You can have prize money and pay all athletes to help those who aren’t are the absolute top and still be extremely comfortable with your boatloads of revenue.”

South African swim star Roland Schoeman, now 45, who won three World Championships golds in the 50 m Free (1) and 50 m Butterfly (2) and three Olympic medals (1-1-1) between 2001-07, ripped back with a long screed:

“@officialkirstycoventry this is exactly why so many athletes feel abandoned by the Olympic movement.

“You say prize money only benefits a small number of athletes.

“Olympic medals benefit a small number of athletes.

“World records benefit a small number of athletes.

“Scholarships benefit a small number of athletes.

“Athlete365 opportunities benefit a small number of athletes.

“So what exactly is the point you’re trying to make?

“The IOC generates billions.

“Broadcasters generate billions.

“Sponsors receive billions in value.

“Host cities spend billions.

“Everyone around the Olympic movement seems to benefit financially except the athletes themselves.

“And now we’re being told athletes should be grateful because there are “other ways” they are supported?

“Great.

“Show us.

“Show us the Athlete365 numbers.

“How many athletes applied?

“How many got accepted?

“How many got rejected?

“How much money actually reached athletes?

“How much was spent on administration?

“I’ve applied for Athlete365 programmes for years. Business. Marketing. Media. Career transition.

“Not once did I receive an opportunity.

“Maybe I wasn’t selected.

“Fine.

“Then show us the criteria.

“Show us the outcomes.

“Show us the transparency.

“What makes this so disappointing is that this isn’t coming from a lifelong bureaucrat.

“It’s coming from a former swimmer.

“Someone who received opportunities.

“Someone who received support.

“Someone who knows exactly what athletes sacrifice.

“Yet somehow today’s athletes are still being told that “the experience” should be enough.

“The Olympic movement was built by athletes.

“Today it feels like athletes are the only people not allowed to share in the value they create.

“And the most alarming part?

“The IOC has become so detached that it now says this part out loud.”

He added in a later post, “We all call for the resignation of @officialkirstycoventry and the board members of the @iocofficial @athlete365″

British sprint star C.J. Ujah, the 2017 Diamond League men’s 100 m winner, chimed in with “This response feels dishonest and out of touch. Athletes deserve transparency, fair support, and leadership that truly understands their sacrifices — and many people are starting to question whether you’re the right person for the role”

American triple jump star Will Claye, a two-time World Indoor champ added, “You call the Olympic journey a ‘career’… in what career do you not receive any compensation for your work??”

Observed: Coventry did not rule out an honorarium or other program that would pay athletes as Olympic participants. The Sports Examiner made the case for this policy in a July 2025 column.

Coventry said in her SportNationNZ interview, “I was an Olympic Solidarity scholarship holder; without that money, I’m not sure I would have been as successful. And I’m so grateful for that.”

And as Coventry noted, the IOC does pay athletes – a total of 2,150 scholarship holders in 2024 at a cost of $17.6 million – through its Olympic Solidarity program, which distributes money to support athletes and the National Olympic Committees which help send them to the Games.

The next step may be to expand that to everyone who makes it to the Games. Her recent comments have certainly raised the clamor for it.

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ATHLETICS: Happy times in Rabat for the six U.S. winners at the Diamond League, with Kovacs getting a 16th Diamond League win!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs at the 2025 Pre Classic, where he got his 13th Diamond League win! (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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

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≡ U.S. WINNERS SPEAK ≡

The Diamond League meeting in Rabat (MAR) was a good one for American athletes, with six wins on the day. Maybe the happiest was two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs, who had his best day of 2026 with a win and his longest throw in two years, a world-leading 22.58 m (74-1):

“I would love to know how many Diamond Leagues wins I have, but no, I do not know. My wife and I just built a training facility and I would love to put banners on the walls with all the special results. So maybe I should start counting them because I am pretty grateful for every one of them.

“My first Diamond League was in 2012 so it is good to start the year with a win and a healthy body. You can not just copy the things you did in the past, so this result says that I am able to adapt, that I trust my wife in training and that I do this as a proud dad.

“I think this is one of my best openers ever, it is crazy for me. It shows me that there is always more in the tank and that keeps me going for more. I was not expecting any result; I had no marks in training indicating how far I was going to throw.”

He added, “I love coming to this meet because the weather is always great and somehow the people in the corner love the shot put.”

Kovacs’ first win at a Diamond League meet was in Oslo (NOR) in 2014 and TSX research shows that Rabat was his 16th career Diamond League win! After his breakthrough in 2014, he had three in 2015, 2016 and 2022, then one each in 2023 and 2024, three in 2025 and now a first one in 2026.

Men’s 200 m winner Kenny Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver winner, was sensational with a 19.69 time in his first race at the distance this season:

“I didn´t expect to run that fast but I knew I had a good sub 20 in me. Being in China running those 100 meters felt easy to me; I was doing a few mistakes here and there, but I learned. I just came out here to my baby and executed the race.

“I will be focusing on both distances this year … Being able to go against the best, I mean I am one of the best, but I like competing so I can´t wait for another year.”

Men’s 400 m winner Jacory Patterson explained that “my main focus is the Ultimate Championship in September, and I am looking forward to do a great performance there,” telling viewers on the FloTrack Athlete’s Lounge telecast that he wants to win the Ultimate Championship so that he has an automatic entry into the 2027 World Championships!

Paris Olympic 1,500 m bronze winner Yared Nuguse won the men’s 1,500 m in 3:30.35 and was overjoyed:

“This result says that I am back. I am back where I was right before. I really wanted to show up this outdoor season and win races, do really good.”

Sprinter Cambria Sturgis powered down the straight to win the women’s 200 m in 22.21 and said after:

“I would give the performance of today a B, I came out of the curve hard and fast, and although I feel I could have been even stronger coming out of it, I stayed composed and pushed through all the way to the finish line. Overall, I am happy with the result.”

Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion won the discus at 68.75 m (225-6), improving through the rounds and setting a meet record:

“I had to really work to find my groove. Each round I threw a little better, with a meeting record here in Rabat, it´s just amazing. When I came in 2019, it was my first competition on the professional circuit and [Yaime] Perez broke the meeting record. It was the coolest thing, and now it just feels like a full circle moment.

“The women´s discus is quite competitive now. There are many women I feel that are getting momentum. Seventy meters [229-8] is always that mark I am trying to enforce, I can tell I am coming into better competition shape.

“It has been really fun to come to Africa and experience that energetic culture, so I am going to enjoy every moment of it.”

Next up is the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome (ITA), on Thursday, 4 June, followed by the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm on Sunday, 7 June.

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PANORAMA: Coventry explains no-pay comment is for prize money; Hamburg Olympic referendum fails; Nice to lose all 2030 Winter Games events!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A portion of the 28 May message on the IOC’s Athlete365 Instagram page from IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) concerning “athlete pay.”

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

★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games ● International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) posted on the IOC’s Athlete365 site a statement which more fully explains her comments to SportNation NZ about not paying athletes at the Olympic Games:

“I have always said that I don’t believe in paying athletes prize money at the Olympic Games, as this would benefit only a very small number of athletes.

“I do believe our role as the IOC is to find ways to directly support a large number of athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians, at the Olympics and as they transition into life after sport.”

● Olympic Games 1984: Los Angeles ● Bill Burke, the Commissioner of Tennis during the 1984 Games, passed away at age 87 on Friday (29th) in Los Angeles.

Burke very successfully staged the Olympic tennis tournament – a demonstration sport in 1984 – and with competition manager Marie Patrick won the right in 1985 to stage a “City of Los Angeles Marathon” as a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games.

The 1986 debut drew a record 10,787 entries for a first-time race and for several years “Marathon Sunday” was essentially a Los Angeles holiday. The race prospered as a community event, but not as an elite race and Burke and Patrick eventually sold it in 2004.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, former Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and daughters Autumn and Christine.

● Olympic Games: Germany ● Voters in the city of Hamburg voted against continuing with a bid for a future Olympic Games by 354,689 (54.9%) to 291,367 (45.1%). It ends the city’s effort to compete as a bid city for the Games, echoing a November 2015 vote, which lost by 51.6-48.4%.

This leaves three bids for the German Sports Confederation (DOSB) to choose from in September: Berlin (no referendum), Munich (referendum passed by 66.4%) and the Rhine-Ruhr region with Cologne as the major city, which also passed a referendum (66%+ average across 16 cities).

The DOSB has not yet decided on a specific Games year or years to bid on, but has asked the bid cities for support for bids for 2036, 2040 and/or 2044.

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● FrancsJeux.com reported that with the refusal of Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti to allow ice hockey events to be played in the Allianz Riviera stadium – which would impede home matches of the Nice football club – nothing will be held in Nice at all.

The International Olympic Committee prefers a single hub for the ice sports – curling, figure skating, ice hockey, short track and speed skating – so these events will likely now all be moved to Lyon. According to the organizing committee statement, “Consolidating all the ice skating events in the Lyon metropolitan area now appears to be the best solution to this situation.”

A financial and technical study is still required, but if implemented as appears likely, most of the 2030 events will be held in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) region and very little in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA).

● Football ● As the FIFA World Cup draws closer, scammers are busy as well and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued an alert on Wednesday which warned:

“[C]yber threat actors are conducting spoofing attacks against the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) website in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A spoofed website is designed to pose as a legitimate website, with branding, product listings, etc., and malicious actors use them to further illegal activity like personal information theft and facilitating monetary scams.

“Threat actors often create spoofed websites by slightly altering characteristics of legitimate website domains, with the purpose of gathering personally identifiable information (PII) entered by a user into the site, including name, home address, phone number, email address, and banking information. For example, spoofed website domains may feature alternate spellings of words or use an alternative top-level domain to impersonate a legitimate website. Members of the public could unknowingly visit spoofed websites while attempting to access FIFA’s website.”

The alert lists 36 fake domains for users to avoid, but warns there will be more.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Artistic Swimming ● Spain’s four-time Worlds gold medalist Iris Tio dominated the World Aquatics World Cup IV in Pontevedra (ESP), winning both the women’s Solo Technical (262.8650) and the Solo Free (268.7725), then teaming with Lilou Lluis to win the Duet Free final at 297.2209. Tio also won gold on Spain’s Team Technical squad for a total of four wins at the event.

In the Duet Technical, France’s Laelys Alvarez and Romane Lunel won at 291.1000 ahead of Americans Anita Alvarez and Jaime Czarkowski (290.5816). Tio and Lluis finished fourth. American Olympic Team silver medalistAlvarez finished seventh in the Solo Tech (239.4534) and 10th in the Solo Free (222.0701) and was fourth with Czarkowski in the Duet Free (260.7817).

Italian Filippo Pelati won the men’s Solo Technical at 229.7325, with American David Llorente sixth at 200.9366. Britain’s Ranjuo Tomblin (244.4588) won the men’s Solo Free. In the Mixed Technical, Tomblin and Isabelle Thorpe won at 225.9034, with Llorente and Yilian Yuan ninth (150.7724) and the British pair won the Mixed Duet Free at 259.5159. Llorente and Yuan were ninth again, at 183.4517.

● Athletics ● At the NCAA men’s East Regional in Lexington, Kentucky, Auburn junior Kayinsola Ajayi (NGR), sixth at the World Championships in 2025, won his quarterfinal in 9.84 (wind: +0.7 m/s) to take the world lead in 2026.

Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi (NGR) lowered his world lead in the 400 m to 43.82 , now no. 20 on the all-time list, ahead of Jordan Braun (Florida: 43.99). Georgia frosh Sidi Njie (USA) won his quarter in 44.24, now no.5 all-time among juniors.

At the West Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood won his quarter in the 110 m hurdles in a world-leading 13.04. Zimbabwe’s Tafadzwa Chikomba (Kansas State) won the long jump with a huge – but wind-aided – 8.75 m (28-8 1/2 + 3.2 m/s). Only seven men have ever jumped further, under any conditions.

At the women’s East Regional, Dutch discus star Alida van Daalen (Florida) moved to no. 3 on the 2026 world list at 69.31 m (227-4).

At the West Regional, USC soph Brianna Selby roared to a 100 m win in 10.83 (+1.5), no. 3 in the world for 2026 and Gambia’s Sanu Jallow-Lockhart (Alabama) just missed the collegiate record in the 800 m, winning section one in a then-world-leading 1:57.74, also a national record!

Stanford’s Alyssa Jones took the world lead in the long jump, winning in 7.09 m (23-3 1/4), a lifetime best.

A new sprint star emerged at the Music City Track Carnival in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday as 2025 NCAA Division III 100-200 m champ Sam Blaskowski flew to a stunning 9.89 win in the men’s 100 m with +1.5 m/s wind aid. He beat Americans Cameron Crump (9.99 lifetime best) and Brandon Hicklin (10.05). Blaskowski is now the 25th American to run under 9.90 with legal wind.

Two-time World Indoor Heptathlon champ Simon Ehammer (SUI) went wild at the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold Hypomeeting in Gotzis (AUT), setting a world best for a decathlon first day, scoring 4,762 points and getting a Swiss national record in the long jump at 8.51 m (27-11). The prior first-day best was 4,747 by Dan O’Brien at the 1991 U.S. nationals.

Ehammer won the 110 m hurdles to start the second day and was second in the vault and won with a world-leading 8,778 points, a lifetime best and now 21st on the all-time list. Germany’s 2025 World Champion Leo Neugebauer got close at 8,730 for second and Niklas Karl (GER) was third at 8,528. Heath Baldwin was the top American at 8,357 in eighth.

World Indoor pentathlon champ Sofie Dokter (NED) was the first-day heptathlon leader at 3,969 points, but Swiss star Annik Kalin won the long jump and surged into the lead and won with a lifetime best and world-leading 6,726, now 29th all-time. Emma Oosterwegel (NED) was second with a lifetime best of 6,705 and Dokter finished third (6,627) with a personal best. Lexie Keller was the top American, in 11th (6,249 lifetime best).

● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour Singapore Open, France’s 2025 European champ Alex Lanier disappointed the home crowd by defeating Singapore’s Kean Yew Loh in the men’s Singles final, 17-21, 21-15, 21-14. Olympic women’s champ Se Young An (KOR) won a tight battle with third-seed Akane Yamaguchi (JPN), 21-11, 17-21, 21-19.

India won the men’s Doubles, China won in women’s Doubles and Denmark took the Mixed Doubles gold.

● Beach Volleyball ● At the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Ostrava (CZE), Sweden’s Olympic champions David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig won their second tournament of the year, sweeping Ondrej Perusic and Jiri Sedlak (CZE), 21-19, 21-14.

Americans Taylor Crabb and Andrew Benesh took the bronze over Tokyo 2020 runner-ups Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan (QAT), also 2-0.

The women’s gold went to 2019 World Champions, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson (CAN) by 21-16, 21-14 over Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon (NED). Brazil’s Thamela Galil and Victoria Tosta took the bronze over Joana Mader and Leona Kernan (SUI), 21-19, 21-12.

● Canoe-Kayak ● At the ICF Slalom World Cup in Ljubljana (SLO), home favorite Eva Hocevar, a three-time Worlds Team medalist, won the women’s Kayak final over returning Olympic champ Jessica Fox (AUS), 81.61 (0 penalties) to 81.74, with American Olympic medalist Evy Leibfarth was ninth in 87.33 (2).

Hocevar won silver in the women’s Kayak final, behind Czech Tereza Kneblova, 84.27 (2) to 84.97 (0), with Leibfarth seventh (94.68/4).

Italy’s Xabier Ferrazzi won the men’s Kayak final in 72.71 (0) and Ziga Hocevar – Eva’s younger brother – won the Canoe final in 77.85 (0). Hocevar than finished with a win in the Kayak Cross on Sunday. Swiss Alena Marx took the women’s Cross final.

● Cycling ● Favored Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) won his fifth stage of the 109th Giro d’Italia on Saturday, taking the uphill-finishing 200 km ride to Piancavallo in 5:03:55. He attacked with 11 km left on the final climb and got free of the pack, winning by 1:15 over Felix Gall (AUT), Jai Hindley (AUS) and Derek Gee-West (CAN). That gave the Danish star a 5:22 lead on Gall heading into Sunday’s finale.

The 21st stage in and around Rome was a flat 131 km course, with the expected mass sprint finish, won by Italy’s Jonathan Milan in 3:05:50, ahead of Giovanni Lombardi (ITA) and Paul Penhoet (FRA). The first 112 finishers received the same time.

Vingegaard ended in 83:22:51 and won by 5:22 over Gall, to win the Giro in his first appearance, to go with his two Tour de France titles and the 2025 Vuelta a Espana title: he’s won all three of the Grand Tours, the eighth to do it. American Sepp Kuss, on Vingegaard’s team, finished 13th overall.

American Luca Shaw scored an thrilling win in the UCI Mountain Bike World Series Downhill in Loudenvielle (FRA), winning a tight race, 3:27.637 to 3:27.764 from Benoit Coulanges (FRA).

The women’s race was not as close, with four-time World Champion Valentina Hoell (AUT) crossing in 3:51.920, more than three seconds up on Gracey Hemstreet (CAN: 3:55.177).

● Gymnastics ● Italy scored three wins at the World Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Koper (SLO), all in men’s events, with Lorenzo Casali taking the Floor Exercise (13.500), Simone Speranza on Vault (13.966) and Riccardo Villa on the Horizontal Bar (13.633).

Israel scored two wins, with Ron Pyatov on the men’s Parallel Bars (13.933) and 2020 European bronze winner Lihie Raz in the women’s Floor Exercise (13.200). The home crowd cheered Teja Belak, the 2019 European Games champ, to a win on Vault at 13.533. Two-time European Vault champ Zsofia Kovacs (HUN) won her specialty, scoring 13.600.

● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Zurich (SUI), Finland won its fifth title and first since 2022 by taking down host Switzerland by 1-0 in overtime on a goal from Konsta Helenius at 10:42 into the extra period.

The Finns outshot the Swiss in three of the four periods and 28-22 overall. It was only the ninth goal given up by the Swiss during the tournament, across 10 games. Both teams finished at 9-1 and it was the third straight runner-up finish for the Swiss. In the semis, the undefeated Swiss pummeled Norway, 6-0 and the Finns scored three in the second period to take down previously undefeated Canada, 4-2.

The bronze-medal game also went to overtime, with Norway winning over Canada, 3-2.

● Rowing ● Germany and The Netherlands each had three winners in the men’s and women’s open-weight divisions at the World Rowing World Cup I in Seville (ESP). The Germans had three-time World Champion Oliver Zeidler take gold in the men’s Single Sculls in 6:47.61, and won the men’s Quadruple Sculls (5:49.84) and the women’s Quadruple Sculls (6:30.15).

The Dutch scored a men’s Double Sculls win with Paris 2024 silver medalist Melvin Twellar, now paired with Simon van Dorp (6:17.47) and wins in the men’s Eight (5:33.23) and women’s Four (6:34.92).

Britain saw wins in the men’s Four (5:54.46) and from Worlds silver winner Lauren Henry in the women’s Single Sculls (7:25.70). World champions Oliver Welch and Benjamin Taylor (NZL: 6:26.86) took the men’s Pairs and Romania’s 2024 Olympic silver winners Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis won the women’s Double Sculls (7:01.05).

● Rugby Sevens ● In the second phase of the HSBC Sevens World Championships, held in Valladolid (ESP), Australia, Argentina and Spain won the men’s pools, and the Aussies managed to take the title in the final over South Africa, by 26-19. Argentina took the bronze, defeating Fiji, 28-17.

The women’s pools were won by New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada, but Australia ripped through the playoffs and beat the U.S., 27-14, in the final. New Zealand won the bronze over Canada by 50-14.

The third and final phase of the play-off rounds will be held from 5-7 June in Bordeaux (FRA).

● Shooting ● China was the big winner at the ISSF World Cup in Munich (GER), with wins from Changhong Zhang in the men’s 10 m Air Rifle (253.7), Zifei Wang and Lihao Sheng in the Mixed 10 m Air Rifle (505.5), Lianbofan Su in the men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol, and Qianxun Yao and Ku Hai in the Mixed 10 m Air Pistol (483.9)

Su set a world record of 35/40 in the final, bettering the 32 by Oliver Geis (GER) on 9 May at the European Championships.

Norway’s World Championships medalist Jon-Hermann Hegg (NOR) won the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions final at 360.1, and Jeanette Hegg Duestad – apparently no relation – won the women’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions at 358.4 (American star Sagen Maddalena was fourth at 333.9). Hegg and Hegg Duestad teamed up for a silver in the Mixed 10 m Air Rifle (503.5).

Paris Olympian Will Hinton and 2019 World Cup Final champ Aeriel Skinner won the USA Shooting National Trap Championships in Hillsdale, Michigan. Hinton won the qualification round at 239, and was second in the Tucson Selection Match and totaled 476 points to 471 for 2008 Olympic Double Trap gold medalist Glenn Eller III and 458 for Jack Brosseau.

Skinner won the qualifying at 227, was third in the Tucson Selection Match and finished with 451 points. She got past two-time Worlds medal winner and 2024 champion Rachel Tozier (445) and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Kayle Browning (444).

● Sport Climbing ● Japanese star Sorato Anraku, the 2025 World Champion, scored his third straight win in Bouldering at the World Climbing Series in Madrid (ESP), winning with another near-perfect score of 99.3, ahead of American Worlds medalist Colin Duffy (74.7).

Britain’s Erin McNeice won her fourth career World Cup in the women’s Boulder final, scoring 99.1 to top Melody Sekikawa (JPN: 84.5) and France’s two-time Worlds silver winner Ouriane Bertone (84.4).

In the Speed finals on Sunday, American Emma Hunt, the 2023 Worlds silver winner, claimed the women’s final in a Pan American Record of 6.08, ahead of Ukraine’s Polina Khalkevych (6:39). China’s Shouhong Chu won the men’s final in 4.75, just ahead of Robby Al Hilmi (INA: 4.81).

● Triathlon ● Olympic champ Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) won her third straight World Triathlon Championship Series race Saturday in Alghero (ITA), taking over on the run phase with about 5 km left and winning in 1:53:49. She was four seconds up on 2023 World Champion Beth Potter (GBR: 1:53:53) and Germany’s 2025 World Champion, Lisa Tertsch (1:53:58). Taylor Spivey was the top American, in eighth (1:55:20). Only 23rd out of the water, Beaugrand was fourth-fastest on the bike and had the fastest run by 16 seconds at 33:26.

Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca got his second win of the season in the men’s race at 1:45:16, racing away from 2025 World Championships runner-up Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) on the run and won by 19 seconds (1:45:35). Portugal’s Ricardo Barista was third in 1:45:45.

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FOOTBALL: Pulisic scores and assists in 3-2 U.S. warm-up win over no. 14 Senegal in Charlotte

By
Rich Perelman
-
American star Christian Pulisic, in 2022 (Photo: U.S. Soccer Federation).

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≡ U.S. 3, SENEGAL 2 ≡

Having named its 2026 FIFA World Cup team during the week, the 16th-ranked U.S. men’s team met no. 14 Senegal in Charlotte, North Carolina in the first of two warm-up matches, in mid-70s weather but humid at more than 56% in front of a nice crowd of 47,382.

The U.S. was on fire from the start, with a brilliant pass by star forward Christian Pulisic from the left side of the pitch to streaming midfielder Sergino Dest, who finished with a right-footed strike for a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute!

The U.S. kept the pressure up and was playing with the ball in the Senegal end, and striker Ricardo Pepi found a streaking Pulisic inside of him on the right side, and Pulisic dribbled almost to the end line but scored from a tight angle at the near corner of the Senegal net, just beyond the reach of keeper Mory Diaw, in the 20th for a 2-0 lead.

The Senegal pressure increased after that, but it appeared that the U.S. would retain its two-goal lead into the half. But in the 44th, the U.S. lost possession and forward Habib Diarra led Senegal striker Sadio Mane in the middle of the box and he scored to the left corner of the U.S. goal, past keeper Matt Turner.

The U.S. ended the half with 55% of possession and an 8-5 edge on shots and, indicative of an aggressive defensive performance, 11-5 on fouls. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino (ARG) made 10 changes at halftime and the Senegalese made five.

Turner was subbed out for Chicago Fire keeper Chris Brady at halftime, his first national team appearance! He almost got some immediate help, as midfielder Milak Tillman won possession deep in the Senegal zone, then sent a pass to sub striker Folarin Balogin, who hit a strike that reflected off of defender Mamadou Sarr and into the Senegal goal. But instead of a 3-1 lead, the U.S. was called for offside.

And Senegal tied it in the 52nd, as a U.S. error in its own end allowed a long kick by striker Nicolas Jackson that looked like a possible goal to the far side of the American goal. The onrushing Mane bounced it into the goal ahead of a save attempt by defender Miles Robinson.

The U.S. scored again in the 61st as Balogun fought for the ball in front of the Senegal goal and Tillman came on to slam it into the net, but Balogun was called for a foul and the goal was disallowed. But on the ensuing possession, Balogun got his goal finally, with a right footed smash off a seeing-eye cross from the right side from Tim Weah, and a 3-2 lead in the 63rd.

There were more changes for Senegal in the 70th, and the U.S. had three chances to score in the 75th, but Diaw made two saves on Balogun and a third U.S. shot hit the post! The game slowed with the Americans playing defense and trying to possess the ball as much as possible and held on for the 3-2 win.

It was the fourth straight win for the U.S. and 5-0-1 in the last six against non-European opponents, stretching back to 2025. A lot of Senegal possession in the last half meant it owned 56% of possession during the game, but the U.S. finished with a 13-7 edge on shots. The Americans were called for 21 fouls to seven against Senegal.

The American men have one more warm-up match, on 6 June in Chicago against no. 10 Germany.

Mexico also had a pre-World Cup match this weekend, but at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California before 78,479, defeating Australia by 1-0 on a 28th-minute header by Johan Vasquez. Mexico ended with 60% of possession in the game.

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ATHLETICS: Kovacs grabs world shot lead at Rabat Diamond League, with more U.S. wins for Bednarek, Patterson, Nuguse, Sturgis and Sion!

By
Rich Perelman
-
American two-time World Champion shot star Joe Kovacs (Photo: Logan Hannigan-Downs for Diamond League AG).

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≡ RABAT DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

The third stop of the 2026 Diamond League circuit was in Rabat (MAR) for the Meeting International Mohammed VI, with four world leads:

● Men/800 m: 1:42.98, Max Burgin (GBR)
● Men/Steeple: 7:57.25, Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR)
● Men/Shot: 22.58 m (74-1), Joe Kovacs (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.82, Emma Zapletalova (SVK)

In the men’s 800 m, Britain’s Burgin was in the lead (behind the pacer) and taking the bell in a fast 49.78. He extended his lead into the final turn and was never headed, finishing in an outdoor world lead of 1:42.98. Kenya’s Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi came into second with 200 m to go and held on in 1:43.56, ahead of hard-charging Algerian Slimane Moula in third (1:43.73). American star Donavan Brazier finished fifth in 1:44.03.

The men’s Steeple was the final event, starring Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion El Bakkali, as well as 2025 World Champion Geordie Beamish (NZL). El Bakkali was in front with Kenyans Edmund Serem and Simon Koech after 2,000 m, and then El Bakkali took over just before the bell. He was challenged by German Fredrik Ruppert, but won in world-leading 7:57.25.

Ruppert was second in a national record 7:57.80 and then Koech was third in 7:59.44. American Matthew Wilkinson was fifth in a lifetime best of 8:09.56; Beamish was never in it and finished 13th (8:16.80).

The much-anticipated men’s shot saw two-time World Champion Kovacs of the U.S. into the lead in round two at 22.58 m (74-1) and that held up to win. Olympic and World Champion Ryan Crouser was second at 21.59 m (70-10) from round three and Jordan Geist got out to 21.56 m (70-9) for a U.S. medals sweep.

American Anna Cockrell, the Paris Olympic runner-up, had the lead by the second hurdles, but with Slovakia’s Zapletalova was close and taking the lead over the ninth hurdle and winning, 52.82 (national record!) to 53.18. Jamaica’s two-time Worlds bronzer Rushell Clayton was third (53.75).

The last two Olympic champs were in the men’s 200 m in Andre De Grasse (CAN) and Letsile Tebogo (BOT), plus medalist Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. in his 200 m season opener. Bednarek exploded out of the blocks and had a clear lead off the turn and won easily in a sensational 19.69 (+0.4), just 0.02 off the world lead. Tebogo came on in the final 40 m to get second in 19.96 and then Sinesipho Dambile (RSA: 20.03) in third. De Grasse was fifth in 20.16 and American Courtney Lindsey was seventh in 20.21.

While Paris 400 m champion Quincy Hall (USA) was back, he was not ready and finished eighth in 45.54. Hungary’s Attila Molnar was the early leader, but 2025 World Indoor bronze winner Jacory Patterson of the U.S. came on on the straight and won in 44.12, holding off Olympic silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR: 44.25) and American Khaleb McRae at 44.40 in third.

The men’s 1,500 m rolled through 800 m in 1:53.55 with the pack closely bunched and American Olympic bronze winner Yared Nuguse had the lead by 1,000 m and at the bell. France’s Azeddine Habz and 2025 World Champion Isaac Nader (POR) moved up on the turn and Nader pressed Nuguse hard in the final 50. But Nuguse held on and won in 3:30.55 with a hard lean, with Nader at 3:30.43, then Habz (3:30.68). Fellow American Vincent Ciattei was fourth in 3:30.90.

The men’s javelin saw Grenada’s Anderson Peters reach 86.08 m (282-5) in round four, overtaking Rumesh Pathirage (SRI) at 85.97 m (282-0) in round one. American Worlds bronze winner Curtis Thompson was sixth at 77.88 m (255-6).

Jamaica’s Tina Clayton exploded out of the blocks in the women’s 100 m and rolled to the finish in 10.85 (+0.3), ahead of countrywomen Lavanya Williams (10.95 lifetime best) and Jonielle Smith (11.00). McKenzie Long of the U.S. was fifth in 11.19.

In the 200, American Cambrea Sturgis, the 2021 NCAA champion, rolled on the straight and passed fellow American Kayla White and won a tight one, 22.21 to 22.28 (+1.3). Canada’s Audrey Leduc was third in 22.41; McKenzie Long of the U.S. was fifth in 22.43.

Swiss star Audrey Werro, the 2025 Diamond League Final winner, had control of the women’s 800 m, in front once the pacesetter moved away and was never challenged on the way to a 1:56.56 win. The blanket finish for second saw Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma at 1:57.24 and then Lilian Odira (KEN: 1:57.27). Sage Hurta-Klecker was the top U.S. finished in eighth (1:58.18).

Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, a two-time World Indoor gold medalist, had the lead by 800 m in the women’s 1,500 m, and she took the bell ahead of France’s Agathe Guillemot. Hailu moved away from the field with 200 m to go and won easily in 3:58.25; Ethiopian teammate Haregeweyni Kalayu – age 17 – moved into second on the final turn and got a lifetime best of 3:59.28 in second with Guillemot third (3:59.60).

In the women’s 100 m hurdles, world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) took over by the eighth hurdles and was a clear winner in 12.28 (+1.2) over faster-starting World Indoor 60 m hurdles champ Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.40) and Nadine Visser (NED: 12.47). Keni Harrison was the top American in fifth at 12.65.

The women’s high jump came down to Olympic champ Yaroslava Makuchikh (UKR) and 2022 World Champion Eleanor Patterson (AUS), both over 1.94 m (6-4 1/4) on their first tries. Serbia’s World Indoor runner-up Angelina Topic cleared on her third try for third and retired. Mahuchikh took the lead at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2) on her second try and Patterson missed all three. Mahuchikh moved to 2.00 m (6-6 3/4; missed twice) and 2.02 m (6-7 1/2: missed once), but could not go higher. American star Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.83 m (6-0) and finished ninth.

Four made it to 4.80 m (15-9) in the women’s vault, with Olympic Champion Nina Kennedy over on her first try and that was good enough to win over New Zealand’s World Indoor bronze winner Imogen Ayris, Tokyo Olympic champ Katie Moon of the U.S. and Swiss Angelica Moser, all at 4.70 m (15-5).

Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion had to wait to round two to get untracked in the women’s discus, taking the lead at 66.84 m (219-3) then extending to 68.08 m (223-4) in round five and to 68.75 m (225-6) in round six. Dutch star Jorinde van Klinken, the 2025 Worlds runner-up, took second at 66.72 m (218-11) and 2022 World Champion Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. was third at 65.94 m (216-4). American Cierra Jackson got fourth at 65.79 m (215-10).

Next up is the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome (ITA), on Thursday, 4 June, followed by the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm on Sunday, 7 June.

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PANORAMA: Police arrest Brisbane anti-stadium protesters; 2028 Artistic Swimming House revealed; music rights a major focus for U.S. Figure Skating

By
Rich Perelman
-
Souvenir TAP card designs by the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Image: Metro Board presentation).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The protest against the new Olympic Stadium construction effort slated to begin on Monday was disbursed by police on Friday, with two arrests for “obstructing and assaulting” officers.

Yagara Indigenous elder Gaja Kerry Charlton told Australian Associated Press as many as 50 officers came to site, “They all came up to my little camp, where we had about 20 tents, and they just started dismantling them and taking them away. We were just getting ready to go for lunch and then we got the phone call that the police were all arriving.”

An appeal against the use of the park for the new stadium has been filed by First Nations activists and is under review at the national level.

● Artistic Swimming ● Following up on the lead of USA Fencing, which announced its “Maison d’Escrime” at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, USA Artistic Swimming told Matt Traub’s Sports Industry Insider that it will have an “Artistic Swimming House” during its 25-29 July 2028 competition dates at the Altar Society Brewing and Coffee Company on Pine Avenue in Long Beach, California, close to the competition site.

The plan is for the House to open 30 minutes after competitions end for another six hours, including five hours of all-inclusive food and beverage service. The programming will include exclusive merchandise, screens showing live Olympic action and replays, plus music and appearances by U.S. Artistic Swimming Olympians.

It’s a ticketed program, at $300 per day, plus an $11.52 processing fee, now on sale.

● Athletics ● American Paul Askew, 46, of Orlando, Florida, pled guilty “to conspiracy to influence major international sports competitions by doping” in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Thursday (28th).

This is a prosecution under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019, under which those who provide doping materials to athletes can be convicted and sanctioned. The court records noted:

“[B]eginning on or about July 10, 2023, and continuing through to on or about January 31, 2024, Askew conspired with a professional track and field athlete and at least one other person to provide the athlete with testosterone, a banned substance, to improve the athlete’s performances at major international track and field competitions.”

The athlete was not named, of course, but was caught before trying to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

● Cycling ● Stage 19 of the 109th Giro d’Italia was another win for Team Visma-Lease A Bike, but it wasn’t race leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN). Instead, it was American Sepp Kuss, the 2023 Vuelta a Espana winner, taking his first career stage win at the Giro, finishing the six-climb, 151 km course to Alleghe in 4:28:33.

Italy’s Giulio Ciccone tried to break away on the penultimate climb, the Passo Falzarego, with about 40 km left, but he was caught and passed by Kuss on the final uphill to the finish with just 2.2 km left. Canada’s Derek Gee-West caught Ciccone for second, +0:13 to +0:36.

Vingegaard retained the race lead at 4:03 over Felix Gall (AUT) and Jai Hindley (AUS: +5:04) with two stages left.

● Figure Skating ● U.S. Figure Skating Association first-year chief executive Matt Farrell gave a detailed first “State of the Sport” address at the federation’s first “Impact Summit” with more than 750 attendees in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 23 May, saying “I just see a dynamic change in the energy of the sport.”

Beyond the three Olympic medals (2-1-0) at the 2026 Winter Games, Farrell said that two key indicators of success are a record level in sponsorship revenue and a 3% increase in total membership, through 10 May 2026. He reported the new sponsorship totals surpassed the prior record from 2022 by 30%.

As for the invitation-only “Winter House” program staged in Milan by U.S. Figure Skating, US Speedskating and USA Hockey, it drew a total of 4,200 guests during the Games.

He did identify a severe issue at the Winter Games that barely got resolved::

“Maybe I’ll join you at the hotel bar late tonight to kind of share what some of those are, but we had some real scares that were pretty downplayed during the Games.

“Music clearances are like this ‘Who’s on First’ routine (athletes: just Google that). And it’s not anybody’s particular fault, and I don’t say this in any degree of defensiveness. It’s not us. It’s not necessarily the [International Skating Union]. It’s not NBC. It’s not the world broadcasters. But it’s this largest legal game of fingerpointing of who-does-what on music rights clearances.

“It’s incredibly complicated. I don’t stand here with a solution today, but a real commitment to the path of this. We’ve started talking to libraries that we can make available for grassroots skaters, whether it be youth or adult. We’ve started talking with music labels. We’re engaging with artists directly. We’re trying to get on the front end with the athletes before they select music. …

‘So this is one of the absolute highest priorities and it’s the fundamental piece of our sport and we collectively are gatekeeping the promotion of our sport and it it just goes into the top one, two or three topics for our agenda here for the next year.”

● Football ● The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board heard Thursday about the support program for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a trial run for the larger 2028 Los Angeles Olympic & Paralympic Games.

An enhanced transit service – with an added operator team of 300 – has been developed with 12 partner transit agencies, and the new contactless payment program to take major credit card and digital wallet functions in addition to the traditional Metro TAP card is now working, with good acceptance so far.

The transit plan also includes specific support for the 11-14 June Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the 10 Fan Zones to be staged during the tournament, including at Metro’s downtown Union Station, and added activations at 16 stations.

A significant customer information effort has been made, both online and at stations, including wrapping of buses and ticket sales machines and entry gates.

Metro is also in the souvenir business, with special “FIFA” Tap cards at $20 each, country-specific TAP cards at $10 each, and a “collector’s box” at $110.

On Location, the official hospitality provider for the FIFA World Cup 2026 reported Thursday:

“Sales for the program surpassed total hospitality sales revenues for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in June 2025, a full year prior to the 2026 tournament. As of March 31, 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026 hospitality sales had more than doubled revenue obtained through any previous World Cup program. In terms of number of packages sold, the current edition has also already surpassed the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil – the most attended edition to date from a hospitality perspective.

“Hospitality packages have now been sold to fans in more than 125 countries and all 50 U.S. states, with the program currently in a peak sales period and continuing to track ahead of expectations.”

It was reported that more than 500,000 “packages” have been sold so far.

● Gymnastics ● With Russian doping a continuing concern for the International Olympic Committee and other federations, the International Testing Agency announced a three-year ban on Russian gymnast Daniil Kuzmin for testing positive for the steroid “boldenone after providing an out-of-competition on 3 February 2026.”

The positive test was not contested; the ban runs from 20 March 2026 until 19 March 2029.

● Ice Hockey ● The International Ice Hockey Federation maintained a ban on Russian teams for the 2026-27 season, but on appeal to the IIHF Disciplinary Tribunal by the Russian association, this decision was vacated on 25 May. Announced Friday:

“The Disciplinary Board determined that the previous decision could not be maintained in its current form, and as such has sent the matter back to the IIHF Council to re-analyze based on safety, security, operational, and sporting plans.

“At this time the Council will gather all relevant information and then make a decision on Russia’s eligibility in future IIHF competitions on an event-by-event basis.”

At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Switzerland, Group B winner Canada shut down the U.S., 4-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. The host Swiss defeated Sweden, 3-1; Finland handled the Czech Republic by 4-1 and Norway shut out Latvia, 2-0.

In the semifinals on Saturday, the Swiss will face Norway and Canada will play Finland. He championship match will be on Sunday.

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ATHLETICS: World Athletics Heritage Plaque presented in memory of meet promoter extraordinaire Al Franken

By
Rich Perelman
-
At the World Athletics Heritage Plaque celebration for the late meet promoter Al Franken: stars Willie Banks (l) and Eamonn Coghlan (r) and son Don Franken (Photo: Vladimir Moraru).

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≡ HONORING AL FRANKEN ≡

A group of track & field legends gathered at the top level of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a long-overdue presentation of a World Athletics Heritage Plaque to remember meet promoter Al Franken (1925-2021), who put on amazing indoor and outdoor meets in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego across six decades.

Appropriately, the event – held at the rooftop “1923 Club” at the top of the Coliseum’s south side – was hosted by World Athletics Council member Willie Banks, who was not only a former world-record holder in the event, but who competed in multiple meets that Franken produced.

Central in the presentation was Franken’s son, Don, who worked with his father over 25 years to help with such well-known meets as the Sunkist Invitational in Los Angeles and Jack in the Box Games in San Diego, and the outdoor Vons Classic held in the Coliseum in the 1970s and the later Pepsi Invitational and Jack in the Box Invitational at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.

A bevy of stars were there to remember Al Franken, including mile star Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) – the “Chairman of the Boards” for his indoor mile records in San Diego and elsewhere – sprint superstars Steve Williams and Maurice Greene, 400 m Olympic relay gold medalist Herman Frazier, 400 m hurdles Olympic silver winner Danny Harris and 1968 hurdles Olympian Geoff Vanderstock and four-time Olympic long jumper Martha Watson.

They especially remembered Franken not only as a showman who consistently drew large, loud crowds to his meets, but also someone who believed in taking care of the athletes who competed, and that meant paying them … regardless of what the rules were at the time.

Banks noted, “Al is a special guy because he understood that track & field was not just a competition, but it was entertainment. He changed the way we looked at sport. …

“What Al understood, if you’re not entertaining, if you’re not putting butts in the seats, they can’t use you. We need to have people who can entertain. He wanted fun, he wanted excitement, he tried to match people up so that when they came across the finish line, it was tight.”

This was probably showcased best at the January 1987 Sunkist indoor meet, where former UCLA star and 1984 Olympic 100 m hurdles silver medalist Greg Foster was challenged by world-record holder Renaldo Nehemiah, returning to track after his NFL football career. A boisterous crowd of 13,261 (!) came primarily to see these two stars, with Foster setting a world best of 7.36 for the 60-yard hurdles and Nehemiah third in his return, in 7.59. Pretty impressive promotion of a race of less than eight seconds!

Coghlan, whose mile battles with American Steve Scott especially, were legendary, explained:

“Al was ahead of his time because he looked after the athletes really well. A lot of race directors back then gave us money ‘under the table’ – that was the only we could get paid – Al wanted to make sure that we were really paid well. And the reason he paid us well was because, as Willie said, we performed. …

“Al paid us well. He saw value for money and there was never any difficulty in Al looking after us because he got great value for money.” And he noted that track & field, of course, pays athletes and “they’re doing now what he did all those years ago.”

Williams, who equaled the world 100 m record four times at 9.9 in the hand-timed era, told the now-famous story of Franken finding him in the warm-up area for the AAU National Championships at UCLA in 1974, and saying “Steve, Steve, I’ll give you $500 if you wear the Sunkist jersey; you don’t have to wear it except for the finals!”

Athletes almost never wore jerseys with commercial sponsors in those days, and Williams continued: “So, I wore the Sunkist jersey. I was lucky and I ran 9.9 that day and the picture went worldwide. But the cuter story of it is, I never thought about the money again. And then the week before Christmas, I got a check in the mail from Sunkist, from Al!”

Williams regretted that Franken was not appreciated at the time for what he was doing for athletes, but also in attracting corporate interest, which included Sunkist, Jack in the Box, Vons, Kinney, Pepsi and more to support his meets and the sport:

“Al would have changed the game if they had gotten out of his way. He had all of these corporations that were ready to play ball, but the AAU wanted to put their thumb on the scale. … They kept their thumb on the scale that pretty much retarded the sport taking off the way it could have and should have.”

(Williams did not note it, but behind the Amateur Athletic Union, then the governing body of track & field in the U.S., was the International Amateur Athletics Federation – with a strict amateur code – which had its thumb on the AAU to enforce its rules. A lot of Franken’s issues also came from the IAAF amateurism policy.)

Watson was especially grateful to Franken and others, such as the Mt. SAC Relays, when women’s track & field was mostly ignored:

“They made us pioneers, they made me a pioneer because we didn’t have the opportunity to perform in a big stadium, there were lots of people. We didn’t even have a track program in the high schools. It changed my life, it changed a lot of our lives.

“I got a scholarship to go to college. I saw the world. I guess I’m overwhelmed today because Al Franken made this possible, and a lot of other people too.”

Los Angeles Coliseum Commission Chief Administrative Officer Al Naipo explained that the plaque itself will be on permanent display at the Coliseum.

The World Athletics Heritage Plaque for Al Franken (Photo: Bill Kucera).

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PANORAMA: L.A. City Council approves new “Paralympic Way”; new IOC hospitality derby opening; New York, New Jersey questioning FIFA ticketing

By
Rich Perelman
-
Dutch sprint World Champion Marit Steenbergen (Photo: World Aquatics/Aniko Kovacs).

★ 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 ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles City Council voted by 12-0 for a change of the portion of 39th Street in downtown Los Angeles from Main Street to Figueroa Street, leading into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as “Paralympic Way.”

A motion by Council member Curren Price Jr. asked for the roadway to be renamed as “Paralympic Street,” but the motion was amended to “Paralympic Way.” The Los Angeles City Engineer is now directed to “initiate the process” of renaming the street.

The Coliseum is an especially appropriate venue to be recognized in this way as the first-ever wheelchair races held during an Olympic Games were contested in the Coliseum on 11 August 1984, a men’s 1,500 m and women’s 800 m.

The LA28 organizers released the comprehensive Paralympic Games sports schedule, with 560 medal events from 15-27 August. Ticket sales will start in 2027.

● Olympic Games: Future ● At the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) General Assembly on Lausanne on Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee head of sports, Pierre Ducray (SUI), told the assembled federations that negotiations for the IOC’s hospitality contractor are getting ready.

U.S. firm On Location has been the IOC’s official hospitality provider for Paris 2024, Milan Cortina 2026 and for Los Angeles 2028, but a new contract is to be awarded for the 2030-32-34 Games in French Alps-Brisbane-Salt Lake City.

A request for proposal will be circulated on 18 May to six selected agencies – not named on Wednesday – with submittals due in the third quarter of 2026. A to-be-determined number of firms will be selected for a second submittal by the end of the year, with one targeted for contract. A final selection is expected in the first quarter of 2027.

On Location lost money on its Paris 2024 operation, but is expected to do better in Los Angeles in 2028, given the better-developed hospitality and suite-sales environment in the U.S.

One of the requests that will be made of the proposers to be create federation-specific hospitality offerings that can be combined with federation ticket availability, potentially allowing federation to get more money out of their ticket allocations at the Games.

● Transgender ● The IOC told the Russian news agency TASS that transgender women can still compete in the Olympic Games:

“Transgender athletes are not excluded from IOC events, including the Olympic Games. Like all other athletes, they are eligible to compete in the category that aligns with their biological sex.

“Transgender athletes who are biologically female – as per the eligibility requirement – and who meet qualification standards may compete in the female category as long as they have not used testosterone or other androgens.

“Transgender athletes who are biologically male and who meet qualification standards may compete in the male category. Outside the Olympic Games or other IOC events, like all athletes who do not qualify for the Olympics, transgender athletes can participate in all other sporting events available to them.

“In summary, the policy applies specifically to eligibility for the female category, which is defined as ‘the competition category designated for athletes who are biological females.’ It does not introduce new eligibility rules for the male category. Athletes who are not eligible for the female category ‘continue to be included in all other classifications for which they qualify, including any male category and any open category,’ where these exist.”

● Boxing ● World Boxing’s Executive Board recommended the addition of four new member federations, in Rwanda, Costa Rica, Cabo Verde and the Solomon Islands.

That brings the federation to an impressive 180 members, especially since it was formed in 2023!

● Canoe-Kayak ● A submission from Paddle Australia is in to to the International Canoe Federation to host the first World Paddle Games in 2030, bringing 10 disciplines together in a single event with 6,000 athletes.

The State of Queensland is backing the bid, which projects as much as A$200 million in total revenue (about $142.6 million U.S.). The competitions would be held at the Redland Whitewater Centre, two years in advance of their use for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. The event could be formally allocated by the ICF in late July.

● Cycling ● At the 109th Giro d’Italia, Danish rider Michael Valgren attacked in the final 1,000 to cross first at the end of the 202 km, hilly route to Andalo in 4:41:33, edging Andreas Leknessund (NOR: +0:03) and Damiano Caruso (ITA: +0:06).

Valgren emerged from a group of six who broke away on the final climb and into the finish. The race leaders did not change, with Danish star Jonas Vingegaard continuing to lead Felix Gall (AUT) by 4:03. The race finishes Sunday.

● Football ● The Attorneys General for New York and New Jersey said Tuesday they “subpoenas to FIFA seeking information about its ticketing practices. The attorneys general are specifically requesting details about ticketing practices at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will host eight World Cup matches, including the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026.”

Their statement noted:

“The investigation will probe a range of issues that have arisen with FIFA’s ticketing process. Fans have reported they were misled about where the tickets they were purchasing would be located. For its initial ticket sales, FIFA’s seat maps divided stadiums into four zones named Category 1 through Category 4, with Category 1 seats in the most desirable location. Yet after many fans had already bought tickets, FIFA created new zones, Front Categories 1 through 4, made up of the most desirable seats within each Category. Tickets in these Front Categories cost significantly more. Reports indicate that fans who bought tickets before these new zones were introduced were excluded from those seats and instead assigned less desirable seats, including seats far from the field or behind the goals.

“In addition, some fans have reported that they did not receive the tickets in the Category they paid for. These fans have reported that although they selected and paid for Category 1 tickets, which were the closest areas to the field, they were assigned seats further back in Category 2 areas.

“The attorneys general will also investigate FIFA’s ticket prices for 2026 World Cup matches, which have far exceeded the prices for any previous World Cup tournament. FIFA has used ‘variable pricing’ to adjust ticket prices based on demand. As FIFA released tickets in phases over the course of several months, prices for some matches skyrocketed. Press reports indicate that between October 2025 and April 2026, FIFA raised the price of tickets for more than 90 of the 104 World Cup matches, with prices for the three main ticket categories rising on average by 34%. The investigation will examine whether and how FIFA’s ticket release schedule, public statements, and other conduct may have impacted these prices.”

● Swimming ● Dutch sprinter Marit Steenbergen moved to no. 2 on the all-time women’s world list in the 100 m Freestyle with a lifetime best 51.86 win in the second leg of the Mare Nostrum series in Canet-et-Roussillon (FRA).

The 2024 and 2025 World Champion in the 100 Free, Steenbergen’s time moves her past American Anna Moesch, who surprised with an American Record 51.94 win at the AP Race London Invitational, to no.2 in history, behind Swede Sarah Sjostrom’s 51.71 world record from 2017.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Organizing committee chief of delivery shares a glimpse of working within the LA28 sports and venue team

By
Rich Perelman
-
LA28 Chief of Sport Shana Ferguson speaking at the 2026 ASOIF General Assembly (Image: ASOIF video screen shot).

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≡ LA28 UPDATE TO ASOIF ≡

“It’s a big task, but we’re up for it.”

That was LA28’s Chief Sport and Games Delivery Officer Shana Ferguson, telling the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) General Assembly in Lausanne (SUI) about the challenge of planning and staging the 36-sport 2028 Olympic Games.

She explained that where the organizing committee had less than 200 staff at the end of 2024, there are 720 LA28 employees at present, to balloon to 6,000 full-time staff at the time of the Games, the largest staffing number disclosed so far.

The seventh International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission meeting on the LA28 Games will be held from 2-4 June in Los Angeles. LA28 expects to announce more information on the routes for the road cycling events, along with other new details about the Games.

Four Olympic Village facilities will be used, primarily at UCLA in Los Angeles and in Oklahoma City for the softball and canoe slalom events, plus the University of California, Irvine in Orange County for the southern venues and another satellite facility in northeastern Los Angeles County.

Ferguson, who came to the organizing committee from USA Swimming, also gave a fascinating insight into the day-to-day development of the 2028 plan around four major development steps in order to create “team building and additional training”:

● Talk-throughs: in process
● Walk-throughs: in process
● Tabletops: have begun
● Simulations: coming in 2027

Ferguson explained that the staff teams for sport and for venue management, often seen as separate in the past, have been co-located inside LA28 and work together, side-by-side, sport-by-sport:

● “The fact that our team is sitting in clusters already helps us with these talk-throughs. Every day our teams are conceptualizing how these venues will run, how these fields of play need to be operated and how, certainly, we deliver.”

● “Walk-throughs, at our venues. Again, 50 competition venues, you can imagine the number of site visits we have is almost untenable, but frankly, I think we’re wearing out our welcome at these venues already. Remember, this is a no-build Games, so every single venue is already in operation, many of them with 365 days of existing programming, right, so we’re doing many, many, many site visits; certainly, we’re prioritizing field of play and technology at this point. But in those walk-throughs and those site visits, we’re talking about what if? What will this be like? What will this feel like? How will be manage through this particular obstacle?”

● “Tabletops have started in earnest. Our CEO, Reynold Hoover, as you know, is a retired three-star Army General. You can imagine that tabletops and simulations to somebody of that caliber.

“We have tabletops once every three-to-four weeks as a senior leadership team. As a matter of fact, I am heading back tomorrow because we have a mandatory tabletop, all day, in person on Friday … we’re doing these, we’re a little more than two years out, but we have quite a bit of work to do in simulating what it will feel like at Games time and it is not too early for us to start that.”

● “And then certainly rehearsals and event testing – sport-specific – is our key cog in this entire wheel.”

She explained that the testing strategy for LA28 is focused at this stage on sport, technology, venue infrastructure and event management and will be done in waves, starting in the third quarter of 2027 – primarily at outdoor venues – then in the winter of 2027-28 for indoor venues, and close to the time of the Games, but just prior in May and June of 2028 once the sites are in LA28’s possession. She added:

“We’ll have some fully-owned testing events, but some that are co-owned or delivered, maybe by some U.S. [National Governing Bodies] or maybe some of you in the IF world, or by our league event delivery partners.

“And then there are some third-party events; certainly, it would be foolish of us not to take advantage of existing events.”

Sport Senior Vice President Nicco Campriani shared the LA28 sport staffing plan, with an organizational chart showing 15 members of the Sports department functional management team, plus 40 sports managers or sports experts as the sport manager team is built out. They work together in an integrated structure with the 11 event management cluster leads.

He added that “the volunteer portal is going to open this summer. More than 60,000 volunteers; one of the 60,000 volunteers, 20,000 – one third of the total – are allocated to sport.”

Campriani, a three-time Olympic champion in shooting and who previously worked at the International Olympic Committee, assured the federations, “We’re earning your trust every day and we’re going to continue to do so.”

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OLYMPIC GAMES: IOC chief Coventry says 2032 Games sport discipline cuts are coming, but “we’re just trying to identify a process in which we can all thrive”

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ ASOIF GENERAL ASSEMBLY ≡

At the 50th General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, held in Lausanne (SUI), International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) explained to the heads of 36 International Federations that some of them would be receiving some bad news in the next couple of weeks.

Some sports, at least some disciplines within sports on the Olympic program for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, were going to be cut. The Olympic Games, with 36 sports and more than 11,100 athletes coming to Los Angeles in 2028, is too big.

Before she took the floor, the meeting was opened by ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos (BEL), the President of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), who reminded Coventry – as ASOIF President always do – that the International Federations need more support from the IOC:

“The organization of events and certainly, international events is becoming more and more complex with much more requirements that need to be met. In reality, the International Federations are increasingly asked to do more with the same resources. And our membership itself has become more diverse, both in scale and strategic needs.”

Coventry was hardly surprised and noted early in her remarks that “The expectations from all of our stakeholders that they need more revenue generation across multiple Games, all of us trying to raise more revenues.”

Early in her 14-minute address, she made the case for the importance of sport:

“Our Movement is, I believe, more relevant today because of all these things, because of the geopolitics, because of the divide, because of the tension across our regions, because of the ever-changing technology that changes things daily for us and how we run an event, how fans engage with us, how young people engage with us, but we are – I believe – at a bit of a crossroads.

“And we’re going to make it through, we’re going to make sure our Olympic Movement remains relevant, but we’re only going to be able to do that if we do it together.”

Referring to a series of meetings that had taken place on Tuesday, she explained that the process of how the Brisbane 2032 program will be made is just as important as the actual decisions:

“I know that not everyone will be happy, but I do hope that you can at least see from the work that’s been done that we’re just trying to identify a process in which we can all thrive. And in which we can try to make the most relevant Olympic program in the future.

“I thank you for that. I thank you for being super-open. I’m really grateful for all of the feedback you all gave yesterday. It’s really, really important to have this dialogue with each of you. …

“We know that the future matters. And being fit for what we want to see in the future is a challenge, but it is a really great opportunity. It’s an opportunity that we have to showcase to the world that we are transparent, that we are a trusted partner, that we are a genuine partner. These things matter to athletes, and these things matter to the population and to the general public.

“If they don’t have trust in us and what we’re doing, we will not be able to remain relevant, right? We have to be able to have difficult conversations in the most respectful way, but also in the most open and transparent way, knowing that we’re trying to achieve the same goal.

“We know that the Games have grown in size and that means the complexity and the cost of those Games have grown. And if we continue to allow for the Games to get bigger and bigger and bigger, it also means that when we come to revenue distribution, at some point, we’re going to have to start giving you less.

“Which is not going to make you happy and I want to make you happy, so I don’t want to give you less, so it’s in our bests interests to find ways of identifying how we can sustain the cost and the complexity without losing who we are as the Olympic Movement, without losing that inspiration, without losing that experience, for you, for your stakeholders, for our athletes. That is what we’re trying to do. That is what is going to help us be fit for what the future holds.”

Yes, cuts are coming. But this is not the end, but only a continuing step:

“June is just the first step, of so many. …

“The goal is not to destroy any sport. The goal is not to remove a discipline and to just leave you out in the cold, right? It’s to find a way in which, yes, you may not be in the program in Brisbane, but how would we bring you back? What would that look like? How do we need to change and be adaptive to new ways of doing things?

“Those are the conversations that I’m really looking forward to having with you, after June, and as we move forward and making the next decisions in and around the Brisbane 2032 program.”

The discussions are continuing and the decisions will come soon. The IOC’s Executive Board will meet in Lausanne on 9-10 June and then on 21-23 June, followed by an Extraordinary IOC Session from 24-25 June at which the recommendations of the Executive Board will be voted on.

Observed: This is a tense time for some of the International Federations which will not have some or all of their events continued from 2028 to 2032.

For The Sports Examiner review of what disciplines and sports might be the most endangered, check out our 10 May analysis here.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Revised “Olympic wage” ordinance passes easily, so the initiative to repeal City business tax goes away

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ “OLYMPIC WAGE” REVISED ≡

With only a few people sitting in the Los Angeles City Council chamber, compared to the full houses to push for the “Olympic wage” ordinance for airport workers and airport-area hotel workers, the L.A. City Council passed on Tuesday a revision to spreads the minimum wage increases out to 2030.

As a result, the ready-for-November ballot initiative created by business interests to repeal the City’s business tax – and create a devastating $860 million hole in the City budget – was withdrawn and that action was approved with a 14-0 vote.

The back story:

● The “Olympic wage” ordinance was passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Karen Bass and went into effect in September 2025, raising the minimum wage for airport workers and hotel workers in properties of 60 or more rooms, from $22.50 per hour in 2025 to $25.00-27.50-30.00 in 2026-27-28.

● Business interests tried, but failed, to collect enough signature for a referendum on the increases, so they pivoted and did raise enough signatures for an initiative on the November 2026 ballot which would eliminate the City’s business tax, threatening the City’s financial stability.

It was stated that the City’s ability to provide services to host the 2028 Olympic Games would be imperiled if the measure were to pass.

● City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson introduced a motion last December to stretch the increases out to 2030, and he, business representatives, the unions and other City Council members worked through a difficult set of talks that finally yielded an agreement.

The revised ordinance moves the increases out to 2030, starting with $22.50 as of 1 July 2025, then $25.00 on 1 July 2026, $25.50 on 1 July 2027, $28.50 on 1 July 2028, $29.00 on 1 July 2029 and $30.00 on 1 July 2030.

This passed the City Council, with no fanfare other than being called for a separate vote, by 11-3.

Beyond the business and labor interests, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee was also a winner, as the new ordinance appears to create labor certainty in the hotel and airport sectors through the Games period and on to 2030. 

Another item on Tuesday’s agenda that passed by 14-0 as part of a vote on a group of motions was a directive by the City Council for the “City Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Legislative Analyst to negotiate a contract between the City and the University of Southern California (USC) to provide supplemental City services for the Events in the City of Los Angeles at venues including but not limited to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with full reimbursement of all provided supplemental City services, and that said contract be for a term of three years with an option to extend for an additional two years (five years total).”

This is important as confirmation of the City’s “full reimbursement” requirement for special events; the City and the LA28 organizers are locked in a battle over responsibility for payment of the currently-estimated $728.8 million in security costs for the Los Angeles Police Department to provide during the 2028 Games.

Discussions with the organizers are continuing, and both the City and LA28 are trying to obtain funding from the Federal government to cover all security costs for the Games.

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PANORAMA: Activists protesting start of Brisbane 2032 stadium build; FISU allows some Russians in; Enhanced Group shares down 42%

By
Rich Perelman
-
Rendering of the to-be-built new stadium for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Victoria Park (Image: Queensland government).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Queensland government expects to begin sitework on Monday in Victoria Park in Brisbane for the new, 63,000-seat Olympic Stadium to be built for the 2032 Olympic Games.

But the site has now drawn protesters – primarily environmental groups and First Nation activists – who oppose the use of Victoria Park for the stadium and have set up tents. They have been told by the Queensland government that they will be removed if they do not leave.

Construction work is set to start despite an ongoing application to the national government to protest the park as a “significant Aboriginal area.”

● Olympic Winter Games: Future ● New York Governor Kathy Hochul told USA Today that she is working to assemble a committee to create a dual-cluster format for a future Winter Games bid for Lake Placid for snow sports and New York City for ice sports.

This is modeled after the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, in which the distances between the ice and snow venues were not universally welcomed. In any case, the sites for the Winter Games in 2030 (French Alps), 2034 (Salt Lake City) and 2038 (Switzerland) appear set and the earliest available opportunity would be 2042.

New York has never hosted a Games; Lake Placid was the host for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games.

By that time, the International Olympic Committee may have decided on a Winter Games rotation due to climate worries and Salt Lake City is a prime candidate to be included.

● World University Games ● The International University Sports Federation (FISU) agreed Tuesday to allow Belarusian athletes and teams to compete in its events without restrictions, following the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board.

As for Russia, still suspended at the senior level by the IOC and allowed to compete only as “individual neutral athletes”:

“[O]utright exclusion of Russian student-athletes on grounds of nationality alone is considered disproportionate and inconsistent with FISU’s educational mission. Neutrality conditions – participation without national flag, uniform, etc. – constitute the maximum restriction applicable at any FISU event, regardless of the position of the applicable International Federation.

“At the same time, where the applicable International Federation has fully reinstated Russian athletes, FISU mirrors that position. Russian student-athletes may therefore, depending on the sport and the applicable IF position, be eligible to participate at FISU events under full national conditions.”

A delegation of FISU Technical Committee Chairs covering 18 sports disciplines completed visits to the venues for the 2029 WUG in North Carolina across 15 days. This was the first visit of technical experts to see the sites and begin planning for the 2029 event.

North Carolina 2029 organizing committee Chair Hill Carrow explained, “This visit helps us get to about 90% certainty on our proposed venues for the FISU Games, which is significant progress at this stage in the preparations for the big event.”

The next FISU inspection visit will be in November.

● Enhanced Games ● Investors were apparently not impressed with Sunday’s Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, with the Enhanced Group NYSE-traded stock diving from $5.24 per share on Friday (23rd) to $3.03 at Tuesday’s close, down 42%.

The stock debuted in April with an opening day price of $10.28 and was as high as $14.00 during trading on 7 May.

● Athletics ● American Olympic women’s 100 m hurdles champion Masai Russell ran the second-fastest time in history to win the Xiamen Diamond League race last Saturday at 12.14, but that’s not enough. She said afterwards:

“I am feeling good. I need to see it. I haven’t seen the race yet. I’m feeling blessed. I’ve been saying all year that I’m gonna break the world record.

“I don’t know when it’s gonna happen, but I keep getting closer and closer. I am blessed. I’m ecstatic. All the hard work is truly showing.”

Russell’s 12.14 lowered her American Record of 12.17 from the Grand Slam Track meet in Miramar, Florida in 2025 and of the five races in history under 12.20, she has three:

● 12.12 Tobi Amusan (NGR) ‘22
● 12.14 Masai Russell (USA) ‘26
● 12.17 Russell ‘25
● 12.19 Tia Jones (USA) ‘25
● 12.19 Russell ‘25

Of the 21 races ever run at 12.25 or better, Russell has seven, more than anyone else. Amusan and former world-record holder Keni Harrison (USA) have three each.

● Cycling ● Danish star Jonas Vingegaard crushed the field on the 11.6 km final uphill finish in the 16th stage of the 109th Giro d’Italia and won the 113 km route to Cari in 2:57:40, increasing his race lead to 4:03.

The initial breakaway was finally caught at the base of the climb to the finish and Vingegaard raced away from Felix Gall (AUT: +1:09) and Jai Hindley (AUS: +1:11). That means Vingegaard has a 4:04 lead on Gall, 4:27 on Dutch rider Thymen Arensman and 5:00 on Hindley, with five stages remaining. He’s in a great position to win in his first time at the Giro.

● Figure Skating ● Japan’s Shoma Uno, a two-time World men’s Singles Champion, retired in May 2024, but is now returning to the ice with partner Marin Honda to compete in Ice Dance, with a goal of competing at the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.

Honda is also new to Ice Dance, but was the 2016 World Junior Champion in the women’s Singles.

● Football ● The Iranian team for the FIFA World Cup has now settled on a strategy of a training base in Tijuana, Mexico, just across the border from San Diego and busing to its games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and flying to its game in Seattle, Washington.

It was to have trained in Tucson, Arizona, but now prefers to stay in Mexico rather than the U.S. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters on Monday:

“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” and added that she agreed to have them in Mexico in response to an inquiry from FIFA.

U.S. Soccer announced its 26-player World Cup roster, with 13 returnees from the 2022 team, including eight players who started the four U.S. matches: Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, keeper Matt Turner and Tim Weah.

The team will have an average age of 26 years, 332 days when the tournament kicks off and is the fifth-youngest American squad at a World Cup. With two friendly matches still to be played, the squad has an average of 35 caps per player.

● Ice Hockey ● Group play finished at the IIHF men’s World Championship in Switzerland, with the U.S. beating Austria by 4-1 to sneak into the playoffs as the last qualifier from Group A:

● Group A: Switzerland (21 points: 7-0); Finland (18: 6-1); Latvia (12: 4-3); U.S. (11: 4-3).

● Group B: Canada (20: 7-0); Norway (15: 5-2); Czech Rep. (13: 4-3); Sweden (12: 4-3).

So, in the quarterfinals on Thursday (28th):

● Switzerland vs. Sweden
● Canada vs. U.S.
● Finland vs. Czech Rep.
● Norway vs. Latvia

The semifinals on the 30th will be re-seeded based on the results of the quarterfinals.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne announced an agreement with Tokyo Broadcasting System, the originator of the popular Ninja Warrior series, “to collaborate on SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and the new Modern Pentathlon discipline of Obstacle Racing. …

“TBS and UIPM’s agreement also establishes a framework for both parties to proactively collaborate on and globally cross-promote SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and Modern Pentathlon in the lead-up to the Olympics.”

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PANORAMA: Wow! U.S. women’s 100 Free record by Moesch; Eliasch defends FIS record with elections ahead; U.S. hockey strains for Worlds playoffs

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. sprint swim star Anna Moesch (Photo: University of Virginia Athletics).

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Swimming ● A startling American Record on Monday at the AP Race London Invitational in Britain, as Virginia All-American Anna Moesch, 20, demolished Rio 2016 Olympic co-champ Simone Manuel’s 2019 record of 52.04 in the women’s 100 m Freestyle with a 51.94 win.

The time moves her to no. 2 on the all-time list, behind only Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom’s world record of 51.71 from 2017. Moesch won by more than two seconds over Czech Barbora Janickova (54.06)!

Moesch also won the women’s 50 m Free in 24.27 to move to no. 9 all-time U.S. and the 200 m Free in 1:55.81, no. 6 in the world for 2026 and no. 11 all-time U.S. Wow.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● Of special note from the L.A. Track Festival held Saturday at UCLA’s Drake Stadium was the return of 2017 women’s Steeple World Champion Emma Coburn. Now 35, she finished third in 9:23.87 in the race won by Britain’s Elise Thorner in 9:07.39.

For Coburn, it’s her first time back on a track since 2 February 2025, and first Steeple since she broke her right ankle at the Diamond League meet in Suzhou (CHN) in April 2024! She was satisfied:

“I’m so happy to be coming off of this race my ankle feeling good, my hamstring feeling good; I felt like myself out there. I’ve got to get faster, but I’m so happy not to be in pain.”

Also interesting was the 1,500 m debut of American 800 m star Cooper Lutkenhaus – age 17 – where he finished ninth in the third section, running 3:45.10.

● Gymnastics ● A final gold for the U.S. in the Pan American Trampoline Championships in Medellin (COL), with Ruben Padilla and Maia Amano scoring 50.380, ahead of Canada (46.870). It was Padilla’s third win of the event and the second for Amano.

● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Switzerland, the U.S. defeated Hungary, 7-3, to move to 3-3 for the tournament and continue with a chance to make the playoffs, requiring top-four finish in Group A.

The Americans are currently sixth with eight points and will play Austria (3-3: 9 points) on Tuesday. Hungary (1-5: 3 points) plays Latvia (3-3: 9 points) and Germany (3-4) is done and has 10 points. A U.S. win (in regulation) against the Austrians will give them 11 points and into third place, and even a Latvian win to get to 12 points will leave the Americans fourth and into the quarterfinals.

● Shooting ● At the USA Shooting national Skeet championships in Hillsdale, Michigan, stars Vincent Hancock and Sam Simonton won the men’s and women’s titles.

Hancock, the four-time Olympic champion from 2008-12-20-24, led the men’s qualifying at 246, and the finals (36), piling up 496 points in all to win ahead of Christian Elliott (487) and Dustan Taylor (482).

Simonton, the defending champ and 2025 World Champion, was third in qualifying, but won the finals and had the best Tucson Selection Match score to total 480 points, ahead of six-time Olympic medalist, 46-year-old Kim Rhode (477) and 2017 World Champion Dania Jo Vizzi (476).

● Skiing ● Johan Eliasch, the Swedish-British-Georgian head of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation, is up for re-election against multiple candidates at the FIS Congress on 11 June and has an “anyone but Eliasch” campaign being run against him by several large national federations, including the U.S.

He is, however, undaunted, and told SkiRacing.com:

“I want to finish off what I’ve started. We still have work to do. Once done, then it’ll be time for somebody else to take over.”

He points to his media rights centralization policy and said, “We have significantly increased revenues. If we look at what we’ve done with the media rights centralization, that over the eight-year cycle should bring in more than 250 million in additional revenue in very challenging market conditions.”

He also emphasized, “One of the things that we needed to do now that the organization has grown a lot and the programs have become more ambitious is move from the old model. That allows for a more business-like approach, particularly when it comes to growing revenues.”

His critics have pointed to financial pressures on FIS and his autocratic style, with the decision in less than three weeks.

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FOOTBALL: FIFA World Cup ticket tracking site shows 93 matches with less than 1,000 tickets available; Iran is the least popular team on “get-in” prices!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD CUP TICKETS ≡

With less than three weeks to go to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ticketdata.com tracking site shows just 11 matches out of 104 with more than 1,000 tickets available on the FIFA direct-sales site:

● 3,472: 25 June for Curacao vs. Cote d’Ivoire in Philadelphia
● 2,908: 26 June for Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia in Houston
● 2,626: 18 June for Czech Rep. vs. South Africa in Atlanta
● 2,425: 12 June for Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto
● 2,410: 22 June for Jordan vs. Algeria in Santa Clara

● 2,157: 12 June for U.S. vs. Paraguay in Inglewood
● 2,154: 27 June for Uzbekistan vs. D.R. Congo in Atlanta
● 2,116: 16 June for Austria vs. Jordan in Santa Clara
● 2,037: 18 June for Canada vs. Qatar in Vancouver
● 1,801: 26 June for Egypt vs. Iran in Seattle
● 1,152: 25 June for U.S. vs. Turkey in Inglewood

There are 21 games shown with essentially no tickets available and 26 more with less than 100 tickets available.

This does not mean that all of the stadiums will be full; this is a measure of tickets still available for sale on the FIFA site and does not include resales, or tickets not yet placed on sale by FIFA. But it appears that most tickets have been sold.

As for pricing, the lowest prices available as of Monday – based on resale sites – show only four matches at less than $200; the 10 least-expensive matches include many of those with tickets still remaining:

● $178: 26 June for Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia in Houston
● $182: 22 June for Jordan vs. Algeria in Santa Clara
● $187: 16 June for Austria vs. Jordan in Santa Clara
● $196: 27 June for Uzbekistan vs. D.R. Congo in Atlanta
● $209: 24 June for Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Qatar in Seattle

● $222: 27 June for Algeria vs. Austria in Kansas City
● $224: 18 June for Czech Rep. vs. South Africa in Atlanta
● $233: 26 June for Egypt vs. Iran in Seattle
● $244: 15 June for Iran vs. New Zealand in Inglewood
● $254: 25 June for Curacao vs. Cote d’Ivoire in Philadelphia

As for the highest-priced “get-in” ticket prices on the resale market, the site shows the expected late-stage matches:

● $7,982: 19 July for the World Cup final in East Rutherford
● $2,512: 27 June for Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami Gardens
● $2,277: 14 July for a semifinal in Dallas
● $2,138: 15 July for a semifinal in Atlanta
● $2,105: 18 June for Mexico vs. South Korea in Guadalajara

● $2,057: 11 June for Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City
● $1,919: 11 July for a quarterfinal in Miami Gardens
● $1,638: 24 June for Scotland vs, Brazil in Miami Gardens
● $1,634: 03 July for a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens
● $1,432: 11 July for a quarterfinal in Kansas City

The teams which have the highest “average get-in” prices are Mexico at $1,704, Brazil at $1,326, Portugal ($1,322), Colombia ($1,267) and Scotland ($969). The U.S. is eighth at $896. The team drawing the lowest interest? Not too surprisingly, Iran at $267 on average.

In terms of host cities, the highest “average get-in” prices are for Mexico City ($1,242), then Miami ($1,210) and Guadalajara ($1,086). Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympic host, ranks 10th out of 16 at $514 with the bottom three as Monterrey ($386), Atlanta ($352) and San Francisco ($265).

While most of the tickets are being sold, the actual outcome for the 16 host communities will fully depend on the number of out-of-town and especially, international travelers, who book hotel rooms, eat and shop at local establishments and take local transportation. Those results won’t be known until the tournament is over.

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ENHANCED GAMES: Inaugural event produces slow track times, no lifting records, but one world best in swimming

By
Rich Perelman
-
A view of the 2026 Enhanced Games venue, from the YouTube livestream.

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≡ ONE WORLD BEST ≡

It was a bright afternoon at Resorts World Las Vegas for the start of the Enhanced Games on Sunday, with fans and competitors braving 93 F heat for the afternoon events in weightlifting and swimming in a specially-created outdoor facility.

There were nine swimming events to just two for track and four for weightlifting and when the evening session started at 6 p.m. Mountain Time, it was still 92 F. It was down to 87 F by 8 p.m. and 83 F when it was all over by 9:50 p.m.

One of the main attractions was money, with the swimmers getting $250,000 – 125,000 – 75,000 – 50,000 for first through fourth and bonuses for “world records.” The track payouts were $250,000 – 125,000 – 75,000 – 50,000 – 30,000 – 20,000 for places 1-6.

What happened? A lot of talking over more than six hours, and some sport; in summary:

Swimming:
● Men/50 m Back: American star Hunter Armstrong – the 2023 World Champion – competing without doping, but wearing the banned supersuit, won with a surge in mid-race in 24.21, well off the world mark of 23.55.

● Men/50 m Breast: American Cody Miller, the 2016 Olympic bronzer, clearly bulked up, won in 26.55, a lifetime best, wearing a supersuit, but way off the world record of 25.95.

● Men/100 m Free: Ireland’s Shane Ryan led at the turn in 22.75, but Greece’s 2024 European 50 m champion Kristian Gkolomeev, who had been doping with the Enhanced program for more than a year, came on and won in 46.60, scaring the world mark of 46.40. Armstrong was second in 48.09.

● Women/50 m Free: Britain’s Emily Barclay got a strong start and held off American Megan Romano, 24.09 to 24.55, well off the world record of 23.61.

● Men/50 m Fly: This race had the existing world-record holder in Andrii Govorov (UKR: 22.27) from 2018, and he was out well. British star Ben Proud came on and got to the lead with 20 m left and won in 22.32, close but no record. Govorov was second in 22.66.

● Men/100 m Breast: Miller got out to a small lead on the first lap and held off Russian Evgenii Somov, 59.47 to 59.61. The world record of 56.88 from 2017 was quite safe. Miller’s second win meant a $500,000 payday.

● Women/100 Free: Romano, the 2012 World Short-Course silver winner, was out best at the turn and held on to win in 54.20, with Barclay second in 54.67. The world mark of 51.71 was not in play.

● Men/100 m Fly: German Marius Kusch, a 2022 Worlds Short-Course bronze winner, led throughout and won in 51.28, just ahead of Antani Ivanov (BUL: 51.61) and Max McCusker (IRL: 51.78). The world mark of 49.45 was not in doubt.

● Men/50 m Free: This was probably the best shot for a world best, with Gkolomeev having been doping for more than a year and fully into the Enhanced program, plus racing in the supersuit. Proud was out best, but with Gkolomeev coming hard in the final 10 m and finishing in 20.81, faster than the World Aquatics – no doping, no supersuit – record of 20.88 by Australian Cam McEvoy earlier this year. Gkolomeev won a $1 million bonus for the world best.

Athletics:
● Women/100 m heat: In a “heat” which eliminated no one, Tristan Evelyn (BAR) accelerated away from the field by 50 m and won easily in 11.18 (wind: +1.5 m/s).

● Men/100 m heat: American Fred Kerley, the 2022 World Champion, appeared to false-start, but of course was not penalized. He was in front of Emmanuel Matadi (LBR), and held on to win, 9.93 to 9.95 (+1.7).

● Women/100 m final: Evelyn was in front by 25 m and was never headed, winning in 11.25 (+0.3) with American – who was not doping for the event – Shania Collins second in 11.43.

● Men/100 m final: Two false starts, but again with no penalty. On the third try, Kerley got out well and was in front of Matadi by 25 m and won in 9.97 (-0.3) with Matadi at 10.05.

The world marks were never in danger, of course.

Weightlifting:
There were three men’s lifters, trying for records in different weight classes, but no records in either the Snatch or the Clean & Jerk. There was a failed Snatch attempt at a best-ever weight of 183 kg by Canadian Boady Santavy at 94 kg and no record tries in the Clean & Jerk.

There were no records in the women’s Snatch, during which the video stream froze for several minutes, but it was not mentioned again in the broadcast.

Observed: There was some significant time taken during the more than six hours of the livestream to say that world records should not be expected since the doping “protocol” had only been undertaken over the past four months.

But that’s how the event was sold from the very start. So Gkolomeev saved the night with his last-event heroics, with doping and a supersuit.

As for the production, installing a mixed-sport venue – including a pool – was impressive in a little more than a month, but the commentary, on-screen information and pacing was all second-class, even for a first attempt. It resembled, more than anything, the hype-machine-style first-season telecasts from the International Swimming League, which went on for three seasons and folded.

In terms of the event, the participants got a lot of money, but the Enhanced Games proved nothing we didn’t already know. If you take drugs, you can go faster than if you don’t take drugs. If you wear a banned swimming “supersuit,” you can go faster than if you don’t. This is news?

Enhanced is a publicly-traded company, based on selling steroids and other drugs and telehealth solutions and amazingly, no commercials for their products or services were incorporated into all the hours of the live stream, only some mentions in the final hour. Like the rest of the event, kind of odd.

Miller, $500,000 richer, said in an interview “this is something different.” It is different, and not a part of Olympic sport. It’s something altogether different.

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OLYMPIC GAMES: IOC chief Coventry tells SportNationNZ, “I don’t believe in paying athletes” at the Olympic Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry at her 4 February 2026 news conference (IOC video screen shot).

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≡ COVENTRY ON MONEY ≡

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) made it clear in an interview with SportNationNZ’s Alex Chapman posted on Friday (22nd) that she is not in favor of prize money payments from the IOC at the Olympic Games:

“I don’t believe in paying athletes and I come from a small country. I came from a sport that doesn’t necessarily pay athletes very well and I still don’t believe we should be paying athletes at the Olympic Games.

“Now I do think we should find more ways to directly impact athletes and find ways to directly help them on their journey to become Olympians, while they’re Olympians and as they’re finding ways into their new career transition, because I think as the Olympic Movement, it’s not just about those athletes that are the best in the world, right?

“It’s about all the athletes that come to the Olympic Games and being able to offer them the same experience and to be able to offer athletes an ability – no matter where they are – to have a little bit of hope and inspiration that they too can become Olympians, and sort of send the message that just because you come from a smaller nation, that may not be known, if you’ve got talent, we’re going to help identify that talent so that you can become an Olympic champion.

“And that was very much my journey. I was an Olympic Solidarity scholarship holder; without that money, I’m not sure I would have been as successful. And I’m so grateful for that. And it’s because of that that I want to be able to have that solidarity model felt across the Movement.”

As Coventry noted, the IOC does pay athletes – a total of 2,150 in 2024 at a cost of $17.6 million – through its Olympic Solidarity program, which distributes money to support athletes and the National Olympic Committees which help send them to the Games.

Chapman asked about the IOC showing athletes’ image and likenesses during the Games and not being paid. Coventry essentially replied that what the athletes get for showing up is the Games itself, an enormously expensive undertaking and to which much of the money the IOC gets is used for:

“They get beautiful venues, they get beautiful villages, they get a beautiful experience and all of that comes from the money that we raise. And that goes into an OCOG [organizing committee] …

“So, again, what I challenge athletes, International Federations that are always asking for more money, National Olympic Committees, the solidarity model is very particular. Now if the entire Movement wants us to change, we would have not as many countries, not as many sports, we’d be very particular on what that would look like. I don’t think that’s the Olympic Games; I don’t think the Olympic Movement thinks that’s the Olympic Games, and so we’ve got to move things forward and we’ve got to do it in a way which is authentic and in a way that allows for everybody to succeed.”

Observed: Coventry has made her position clear, and her reference to “it’s not just about those athletes that are the best in the world, right” indicates that her opposition is to paying prize money at the Games, so that – as the logic goes – the “rich get richer.”

However, Coventry’s logic would apply – as it does for Olympic Solidarity scholarships – to pay athletes for participation in the Games. The Sports Examiner made the case for this policy in a July 2025 column. 

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PANORAMA: Kerley says he is not doping, expects Olympic return; Vingegaard takes over at Giro d’Italia; two world leads at L.A. Track Fest

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. national women’s 800 m champion Roisin Willis (Photo: USATF).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● For someone who says very little, 2022 men’s 100 m World Champion Fred Kerley of the U.S. is often in the middle of a lot of conversations.

On Friday, prior to Sunday night’s Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, he told reporters that he has not taken any performance-enhancing drugs in advance of the event and despite being suspended into August 2027 for “whereabouts” failures, expects to be in the mix for future Olympic medals:

“I will compete at the L.A. Olympics in 2028.”

He expects to run fast on Sunday and will be challenged by former U.S. teammate Marvin Bracy-Williams, the 2022 Worlds 100 m silver winner, who is also suspended through November 2027, and is doping for the event.

● Wrestling ● Given the continuing conflict in the Middle East, United World Wrestling announced Friday that the 2026 UWW World Championships is being relocated from Manama in Bahrain to Astana in Kazakhstan.

The dates are to remain the same: 24 October to 1 November; Astana previously hosted the UWW Worlds in 2019.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● At the USA Archery Team Qualifier Salt Lake Summit, Olympic medal winners Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold won the men’s and women’s Recurve titles with identical, 6-4 scores.

Ellison defeated Nicholas D’Amour by 6-4 in the men’s final while Kaufhold got past Abigail Kippes in the women’s final, 6-4. The Compound wins went to top-ranked Kyle Douglas over Louis Price, 149-148, while third-seed Alexis Ruiz took the women’s Compound gold, 146-142, against top-seed Paige Pearce.

● Athletics ● Strong fields produced some noteworthy marks at the 2026 L.A. Track Festival held at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, with the men’s 800 m the main event. In fact, three two-lap races stood out:

● Paris Olympian Brandon Miller won the men’s 800 m in 1:44.26, taking off on lap one in 50.37 and then beating an elite field, including Abe Alvarado (1:44.59), British 1,500 m World Champions Josh Kerr (1:44.60) and Jake Wightman (1:44.74) and U.S. stars Bryce Hoppel (1:45.01) and Donavan Brazier (1:45.03).

● Another section of the 800 was almost as fast, with Australia’s 2024 World Junior runner-up Peyton Craig winning in 1:44.66 over Yusuf Bizimana (GBR: 1:44.89).

● The best section of the women’s 800 m was an outdoor world-leading time from NCAA and U.S. champ Roisin Willis in 1:58.08, who led at the 400 m mark in 58.18, then held on to win, ahead of Paris Olympian Klaudia Kazmierska (POL: 1:58.18) and American Raevyn Rogers (1:59.82).

There was another outdoor world leader, in the men’s 5,000 m with Eritrea’s 2026 NCAA Indoor champ Habtom Samuel (ERI) winning in 12:57.22, well ahead of Gulveer Singh (IND: 13:03.93).

American Olympian Parker Valby was on the track for the first time since Paris 2024 and won the women’s 5,000 m in a lifetime best 14:49.41, the U.S. outdoor leader in 2026. Britain’s Elise Thorner won the women’s 3,000 m in 9:07.39 – a stadium record – to move to no. 6 on the 2026 world list.

Vincent Ciattei won a three-way sprint in the early men’s 1,500 section, winning in 3:33.41, ahead of Nathan Green and Parker Wolfe, both in 3:33.46. Abdi Nur beat Joe Waskom in the men’s 1,500 m evening section, 3:34.31 to 3:35.47.

In the sprints, it was 2022 World Champion Michael Norman taking the men’s 400 m in 44.94, no. 5 in the U.S. this season and his fastest since 2024.

At the Tucson Elite Classic, three-time U.S. Olympian Rudy Winkler won the men’s hammer and moved to no. 4 in the world this season at 80.88 m (265-4), ahead of Trey Knight at 78.01 m (255-11).

American Rachel Richeson won the women’s hammer and went to no. 2 in the world at 78.95 m (259-0). In the women’s javelin, Madison Wiltrout got a lifetime best of 63.88 m (209-7) and moved to no. 3 on the 2026 world list and no. 6 all-time U.S.

World 20 km silver medal winner Alegna Gonzalez was a clear winner at the World Athletics Race Walk Tour Gold in La Coruna (ESP), taking the women’s Half Marathon walk in 1:32:24, well ahead of Italy’s Sofia Fiorini (1:32:36)

The men’s race was a Chinese 1-2, with 19-year-old Shengji Shi winning by 1:23:23 to 1:23:25 for Chenjie Li. Japan’s Keisuke Hara was a distant third in 1:23:52.

● Badminton ● China scored three wins at the BWF World Tour Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur, with Shi Feng Li taking the men’s Singles title, 21-16, 21-17 over Panitchapon Teeraratsakul (THA), and wins in the women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

Ratchanok Intanon (THA) swept top-seeded Yu Fei Chen (CHN), 21-17, 21-15, in the women’s Singles final and Denmark won in the men’s Doubles.

● Cycling ● The 109th Giro d’Italia headed into its second weekend with furious riding and a change in the leaderboard.

The Friday stage of 189 km to Verbania was mostly flat, then a climb with about 17 km left, and a lead group of 15 saw Italian veteran Alberto Bettiol attack near the top and ride away to win in 3:51:33, ahead of Andreas Leknessund (NOR: +0:26). The race leader stay comfortable in a pack that finished 13:06 behind Bettiol.

Saturday’s brutal climbing stage of 133 km to Pila featured two major climbs, one smaller one and then a misery-inducing uphill finish over 17 km, from 617 m to 1,789 m!

An early breakaway was finally reeled in as the final climb began and race favorite Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) sailed away to win in 3:53:01, 49 seconds ahead of Felix Gall (AUT) and 59 seconds up on Jai Hindley (AUS). It also gave Vingegaard the race lead, with Portugal’s Eulalio Afonso finishing 15th and 2:49 back. Vingegaard’s lead was 2:26 over Afonso and 2:50 over Gall heading into Sunday.

The 15th stage was a sprinter’s dream, a flat, 157 km route finishing in Milan, but it didn’t turn out that way. A breakaway group formed almost from the start and held on for a four-way finish with Fredrik Dversnes (NOR) winning at the line over Italians Mirco Maestri, Martin Marcellusi and Mattia Bais. Due to road conditions and the placement of barriers, it was decided for safety reasons to take times and placements at the start of the last lap in Milan and not at the actual finish.

Vingegaard thus goes into the final week as the leader, still up 2:26 on Afonso.

The four-stage UCI Women’s World Tour Vuelta a Burgos Feminas saw Dutch star Lorena Wiebes win the first two stages in sprint finishes, then countrywoman Mischa Bredewold taking the sprint finish in the hilly third stage with Wiebes third. Wiebes entered Sunday’s final ride with just a three-second edge.

A third Dutch star, Yara Kastelijn, took stage four with a 1.2 km breakaway on the uphill finish and won the hilly, 120 km ride into Lagunas de Neila in 3:36:47, 16 seconds up on France’s Evita Muzic. Bredewold finished fifth at +1:01 and Wiebes was 49th (+9:05), so Kastelijn came from eighth and -0:25 to win with an overall time of 13:20:04, beating Muzic by 20 seconds, with Bredewold fading to fifth and Wiebes to 36th.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Nove Mesto (CZE), the second stage of the season, opened with Short Track wins for Mathis Azzaro (FRA) in the men’s race (over Britain’s double Olympic champ Tom Pidcock, 21:46 to 21:47) and Dutch 2024 World Champion Puck Pieterse (21:37) at the line, beating Laura Stigger (AUT) and Nicole Koller (SUI) with all given the same time.

On Sunday, Pidcock won the men’s race decisively in 1:18:52, 18 seconds up on France’s Luca Martin and 1:04 ahead of Swiss Filippo Colombo. Stigger, the two-time World Junior Champion, won her third World Series gold in 1:21:32, way ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic champ Jenny Rissveds (SWE: +0:47). American Savilla Blunck was sixth.

● Fencing ● Egypt’s Paris 2024 bronze winner Mohamed Elsayed won the FIE World Cup in Men’s Epee in Bern (SUI), taking a 15-12 finals win over Tibor Andrasfi (HUN). It’s Elsayed’s second career World Cup win. The Swiss won the team gold, over Italy.

Korea’s Paris Olympic champ Sang-uk Oh won a battle with American Colin Heathcock in the final of the FIE World Cup in Men’s Sabre in Cairo (EGY), winning by 15-8, for his seventh career World Cup gold. Heathcock, still just 20, won his third career World Cup medal. France won the team title over Hungary.

The FIE World Cup in Women’s Epee in St. Maur (FRA) saw Italy’s 2023 Worlds runner-up Alberta Santuccio win over American Hadley Husisian, also by 15-8. The American, 22, is now ranked seventh worldwide and won her third career World Cup medal and first silver. South Korea took the team gold, defeating the Russian “neutrals.”

France’s Sarah Noutcha won the FIE World Cup in Women’s Sabre in Lima (PER), 15-11, against Sebin Choi (KOR) for her second career World Cup win.

● Gymnastics ● Paris Olympian Lena Bickel (SUI) won two events to highlight the World Gymnastics Artistic World Challenge Cup in Tashkent (UZB).

She took the Uneven Bars scoring 13.000 and the Floor Exercise at 13.100. Thi Quynh Nhu Nguyen (VIE) won the Vault at 13.375 and Evelina Yezhova (KAZ) won on Beam at 12.850.

The astonishing Oksana Chusovitina (UZB), now 50, was fourth on vault at 12.925 just 0.025 points from third place.

Bulgaria celebrated three men’s wins, from Rayan Radkov on Pommel Horse (13.900), Daniel Trifonov on Vault (13.950) and Yordan Aleksandrov on Parallel Bars (13.700). The other men’s victors included Emil Akhmejanov (KAZ: 13.650) on Floor; Akhrorkhon Temirkhonov (UZB: 13.850) on Rings, and Alisher Boysarov (UZB: 13.650) on the Horizontal Bar.

The U.S. posted 1-2 finishes in both individual Trampoline finals at the Pan American Trampoline Championships in Medellin (COL), with Worlds silver winner Ruben Padilla winning the men’s title at 61.540, ahead of Aliaksei Shostak (60.280).

Padilla and Elijah Vogel then won the men’s Synchro gold, scoring 51.850, ahead of Brazil (50.760).

The women’s gold was won by Maia Amano at 55.190 with Leah Garofalo second, scoring 55.010. Ava DeHaines and Garofalo won the women’s Synchro at 48.270, with Mexico taking silver at 47.480.

● Ice Hockey ● With round-robin play concluding on the 26th, Switzerland (6-0) and Canada are leading the groups at the IIHF men’s World Championship in Switzerland.

The Swiss have rolled past six opponents by a total score of 35-5, with Finland right behind at 6-0 (29-7); they will meet on the 26th. The U.S. is 2-3 with two games left against Hungary and Austria and probably needs to win both to move from sixth to four and make the playoffs.

Canada (5-0) leads Group B over the Czech Republic (4-1) so far. The quarterfinals will be held on 28 May.

● Sport Climbing ● Australia’s Oce MacKenzie won her first World Climbing Series gold – and the first for Australia – in Bern (SUI) in the women’s Boulder final, scoring 74.5 in the final to top Britain’s Erin McNeice (69.0) and American stars Annie Sanders (60.0) and Brooke Raboutou (44.1).

The men’s Boulder final saw Japan’s teen sensation – he’s 19 – Sorato Anraku show why he was the 2025 World Champion, scoring an impressive 99.7 to win easily. It’s his 14th World Cup win across all events. France’s two-time Worlds silver winner Medji Schalck was a distant second at 84.3; American Colin Duffy was eighth (29.4).

● Swimming ● Triple Paris 2024 gold medal winner Torri Huske was everywhere at the third Tyr Pro Swim Series of the season in Sacramento, California, winning four events and second in a fifth.

She won the women’s 200 m Free in 1:57.15, then swept the 50 m Butterfly (25.95) and 100 m Fly (57.46) and the 200 m Medley in 2:11.34. She finished second in the 100 m Freestyle to four-time Olympic relay medalist Taylor Ruck (CAN), 53.90 to 54.13, in her fifth event Saturday evening.

World Junior Champs medal winner – and Georgia star – Kennadi Dobson was also busy, winning the 400 m Free in 4:07.64, the 800 m Free in 8:33.50 and then 400 m Medley in 4:43.73. The other women’s multi-event winners were Backstroke star Katharine Berkoff – the 2025 50 m World Champion – in the 50 m Back (27.41) and 100 m Back (2:08.41), and 16-year-old Mikayla Tan in the 100 m Breast (1:08.16) and 200 m Breast (2:26.35).

Emerging U.S. distance star Luka Mijatovic was the star of the men’s events, winning the 400 m Free (3:45.20), 800 m Free (7:47.08) and the 1,500 m (14:59.27). Stanford All-American Henry McFadden won the 200 m Free in 1:47.34 and tied for the 100 m Free gold with Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) in 48.72.

One of the highlights of the meet was the return of Backstroke star Ryan Murphy, in his return to competition. He was second to Daniel Diehl in the 100 Back, 53.74 to 53.91, but took the 50 m Back in 25.17.

Dutch swimmer Sean Niebold won the 50 m Freestyle in 21.92 and the 100 m Buitterfly, beating American star Michael Andrew, 52.13 to 52.36. Andrew won the 50 m Breast final in 26.96.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: “Olympic wage” deal appears sealed, with city tax repeal to go away; 39th Street to become “Paralympic Street”

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Olympic and Paralympic flags on display at Los Angeles City Hall (TSX photo)

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≡ CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS ≡

The documentation is out for next week’s Los Angeles City Council meetings with two critical votes scheduled for Tuesday, 26 May.

First is item 6, a vote on the revised “Olympic wage” ordinance, the result of a frantic negotiation between L.A. business interests, labor unions and the City Council. The story so far:

● The “Olympic wage” ordinance was passed by the City Council and signed by Mayor Karen Bass and went into effect in September 2025, raising the minimum wage for airport workers and airport-area hotel workers from $22.50 per hour in 2025 to $25.00-27.50-30.00 in 2026-27-28.

● Business interests tried, but failed, to collect enough signatures for a referendum on the increases, so they pivoted and did raise enough signatures for an initiative on the November 2026 ballot which would eliminate the City’s business tax and blow an $860 million hole into the City budget.

It was stated that the City’s ability to provide services to host the 2028 Olympic Games would be imperiled if the measure were to pass.

● City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson introduced a motion last December to stretch the increases out to 2030, and he, business representatives, the unions and other City Council members worked through a difficult set of talks that finally yielded an agreement last week, that will be voted on on Tuesday.

Contrary to some reports that the increases would be stretched to 2029, the revised ordinance to be approved does move the increases out to 2030, starting with $22.50 as of 1 July 2025, then $25.00 on 1 July 2026, $25.50 on 1 July 2027, $28.50 on 1 July 2028, $29.00 on 1 July 2029 and $30.00 on 1 July 2030.

The amounts are a little higher than in Harris-Dawson’s December motion, but do in fact stretch the raises out to 2030.

The approval of the ordinance is tied in with the withdrawal by the business groups of the November ballot initiative to end the City’s business tax. Item 30 on the Council agenda states:

“The proponents of the Initiative filed a request on May 21, 2026 to withdraw the Initiative from the ballot. The proponents have stated that their withdrawal is contingent on the final adoption of the ordinance relative to revising the wage and health benefit provisions for airport employees and hotel workers in the City of Los Angeles.”

Harris-Dawson had said the ballot withdrawal was not related to the wage ordinance change, but this is now shown to be incorrect.

Assuming both items 6 and 30 are adopted, one of the winners will be the LA28 organizing committee, which will – it appears – be spared from being in the middle of an airport and hotel labor fight and possible strikes in 2028.

Further to the City’s fight with LA28 over who will pay for the security costs for the Los Angeles Police Department related to the 2028 Games – currently estimated at $728.8 million by the LAPD – Tuesday’s item 18 is related.

Council member Curren Price Jr.’s motion of 19 May states:

“The University of Southern California (USC) hosts large events including College Football games, commencements, and various other events (collectively referred to as “Events”) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and other venues in the City of Los Angeles. To advance safety and support the Events, the City and USC collaborate in planning security, transportation, and crowd management requirements.

“The Events are subject to the Special Events Ordinance which requires the recovery of costs for City services from the event sponsor. The Ordinance also provides for the negotiations with major sports or entertainment venues in determining a payment. In support of the long-standing partnership between the City and USC, the organizer desires to provide the City with reimbursement for all necessary supplemental services provided in connection with the Events.

“I THEREFORE MOVE that the Council instruct the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Legislative Analyst to negotiate a contract between the City and the University of Southern California (USC) to provide supplemental City services for the Events in the City of Los Angeles at venues including but not limited to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with full reimbursement of all provided supplemental City services, and that said contract be for a term of three years with an option to extend for an additional two years (five years total).”

These are the same kinds of terms that the City is looking for from LA28 and ensuring that USC pays for City services for its events is important to tell LA28 that it must pay for all “supplemental City services” as well.

The agenda for the City Council’s Wednesday meeting includes a special designation on item 26, another motion from Price Jr.:

“In 1932, when the City hosted its first Olympic Games, the City renamed 10th Street as Olympic Boulevard as part of its celebration of the Games and as a long-lasting memorial of the event.

“As the City builds on this legacy, now hosting both the Paralympic and Olympic Games in 2028, it is appropriate that the City rename 39th Street, which leads into Exposition Park which will serve as an important venue in the upcoming Games, as ‘Paralympic Street.’”

The motion asks to rename that portion of 39th Street from Main Street to Figueroa Street and runs into the Coliseum complex itself, giving the “Paralympic Street” name significant visibility.

This would be a lasting legacy of the 2028 Paralympic Games and one which will stand long after the Games have passed.

Wednesday’s meeting also includes an update on the construction effort on the expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center and indicates that the initial construction work is on budget and still on schedule, although 26 days of delay have been incurred so far. As present, there is no threat to the 31 March 2028 required date to stop building and get ready to turn the site over to the LA28 organizers.

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ATHLETICS: Eight more world leads in Xiamen Diamond League, with American Record for Russell and U.S. wins for Britt and Sion

By
Rich Perelman
-
Paris Olympic champion and American hurdles record-setter Masai Russell (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ DIAMOND LEAGUE XIAMEN ≡

The second Diamond League meet in China was in Xiamen, about 525 miles south of the opener in Shaoxing, with strong results once again and eight more world-leading marks:

● Men/400 m: 43.92, Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT)
● Men/5,000 m: 12:57.32, Addisu Yihune (ETH)
● Men/400 m hurdles: 46.72, Alison dos Santos (BRA)
● Men/Long Jump: 8.46 m (27-9 1/4), Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE)

● Women/3,000 m Steeple: 8:51.06, Peruth Chemutai (UGA)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.14, Masai Russell (USA) ~ American Record
● Women/High Jump: 1.99 m (6-6 1/4), Yuliya Levchenko (UKR)
● Women/Javelin: 71.74 m (235-4), Ziyi Yan (CHN)

Perhaps the most remarkable was Paris Olympic champ Russell, who is on fire, having won the women’s hurdles in Shaoxing in 12.25 and rocketing away from the field in Xiamen to win in 12.14 (wind: +0.5 m/s), the no. 2 performance of all-time, behind only Tobi Amusan (NGR) and her 2022 world record of 12.12.

Russell was already the no. 2 performer all-time from her 12.17 at the Grand Slam Track meet in Miramar, Florida on 2 May 2025. But she crushed the field here, with Amusan second in 12.28 and World Indoor 60 m hurdles champ Devynne Charlton (BAH) in 12.37. American Tonea Marshall was ninth in 13.13.

Botswana’s World Champion Kebinatshipi overtook Zambia’s Paris bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga in the final 50 m to win in 43.92 to 44.04 for Samukonga. Americans Chris Bailey was fourth n 44.70 and Vernon Norwood in eighth in 45.51. Ethiopia’s Paris Olympian Yihune, just 23, won a final-lap struggle with German Mohamed Abdilaahi (12:57.90) and Ethiopian Biniam Mehary (12:58.51) with a surge over the final 200 m.

Dos Santos, the 2022 World Champion in the 400 m hurdles, led from the start against world-record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR) and won in 46.72, the equal-23rd performance of all time. Americans Caleb Dean (47.75) and Trevor Bassitt (47.90) finished 3-4 and CJ Allen was seventh (49.18).

Two-time Olympic champ Tentoglou blew open the long jump with his 8.37 m (27-5 1/2) opener, then extended to 8.46 m (27-9 1/4) in round three. Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, got out to 8.32 m (27-3 3/4) to grab second in the fifth round.

The other women’s world leaders include Tokyo Olympic winner Chemutai, who won in Shaoxing in 8:51.47 and improved to 8:51.06 to win a duel with Paris Olympic champ Winfred Yavi (BRN: 8:51.54) and World Champion Faith Cherotich (KEN: 8:52.53). American Lexy Halladay-Lowry was seventh in 9:14.96.

Levchenko was the only one to clear 1.99 m, outlasting fellow Ukrainian Paris bronze winner Iryna Gerashchenko, who cleared 1.97 m (6-5 1/2). American Charity Hufnagel was sixth at 1.91 m (6-3 1/4). In the javelin, Yan, just 18, was the 2024 World Junior Champion, got a lifetime best and a World Junior Record with a 235-4 bomb on her first throw!

Elsewhere, the U.S. got wins from Jamal Britt in the 110 m hurdles, running 13.07 (+0.5) to win from Japan’s Rachid Muratake (13.13); World Champion Cordell Tinch of the U.S. was fifth in 13.28. The other American win was from Olympic and World Champion discus star Valarie Sion, who won at 68.45 m (224-7) on her second throw. Former World Champion Feng Bin (CHN) was second at 65.03 m (213-4) and American Erika Beistle was fourth at 64.07 m (210-2).

Kenyan star Ferdinand Omanyala won the men’s 100 m in 9.94 (+0.2) with Americans Trayvon Bromell (10.03) and Kenny Bednarek (10.03) third and fourth, and Christian Coleman (10.08) in seventh. In the men’s shot, Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell got a lifetime best in the fifth round and won at 22.34 m (73-3 1/2), beating American Jordan Geist (21.52 m/70-7 1/4), Olympic champ Ryan Crouser (21.41 m/70-3) and Roger Steen (21.25 m/69-8 3/4) in places 2-3-4.

Jamaica’s two-time women’s World 200 m champ Shericka Jackson followed her up Shaoxing win with a 21.87 triumph (+0.2) in Xiamen, now no. 2 in the world for 2026. Americans went 3-4-5-6 with Anavia Battle (22.29), Sha’Carri Richardson (22.29), Jenna Prandini (22.46) and McKenzie Long (22.63). Australia’s Abbey Caldwell won the women’s 1,500 m in 3:57.26 over Birke Haylom (ETH: 3:57.79) with American Emily Mackay third in 3:58.13.

Next up will be Rabat (MAR) on 31 May.

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PANORAMA: Berlin approved as candidate for German bid for 2036-40-44 Games; Crouser and Sion return for Diamond League Xiamen on Saturday

By
Rich Perelman
-
The logo and motto “Berlin wins with the Olympics” for the approved city bid to be the German candidate for a 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic Games.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games: Germany ● The Berlin State Parliament approved the city bid for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games, becoming the third candidate in the country.

Referendums in Munich and the Rhine-Ruhr region both passed and no vote is planned for the Berlin bid, which foresees revenues of €5.24 billion, expenses of €4.82 billion and a surplus of €420 million (€1 = $1.16 U.S.). Almost all of the competition venues for a Berlin Games are stated to be existing. A vote is yet to be taken in Hamburg, on 31 May.

The German Sports Confederation (DOSB) will decide in September which bid will go forward and what Games will be bid on.

● Athletics ● The second meet of the Diamond League season, in Xiamen (CHN) comes on Saturday, with rematches in multiple events from the first meet in Shaoxing.

U.S. winners Jamal Britt (110 m hurdles) and Olympic champ Masai Russell (100 m hurdles) will be back in action, but two American throwing stars will make their Diamond League debuts for 2026.

Shot put superstar – Olympic Champion, World Champion and world-record holder – Ryan Crouser will return to the ring after throwing in just one meet last year: the World Athletics Championships, which he won for the third time!

Discus superstar Valarie Sion, the double Olympic winner and 2025 World Champion, will be in the ring for the fourth time this season and already owns the world’s longest throw in 2026, a monster 73.10 m (239-10) bomb at the Oklahoma World Throws on 11 April.

The meet will be shown in the U.S. on FloTrack, starting at 6:10 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday.

● Curling ● USA Curling hired 2006 Olympic champ Brad Gushue (CAN) as its High Performance Director looking ahead to the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in France and the Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games.

Gushue won Olympic gold in 2006 and bronze in 2022, plus the 2017 World Championship and four silver medals in 2018-22-23-24. He retired at the end of the 2025-26 season; he said in a statement:

“This role felt like a natural fit, and positions like this don’t come along all that often in the sport of curling. It is an opportunity to stay close to the sport and make a meaningful impact in a new way.

“I’m excited to work alongside athletes and coaches to help them reach their full potential. Curling is a close-knit, international community, and I’m proud to play a part in strengthening it and driving the sport forward.”

● Cycling ● At the 109th Giro d’Italia, the 12th stage to Novi Ligure had a major climb in the middle of the 175 km route, but then a long, fairly flat finish. That opened the door for a breakaway for Belgium’s Alec Segeart, who took off with 3 km left and won in 3:53:00, three seconds ahead of a mass sprint of 58 riders behind him. Countryman Toon Aerts wound up second.

In the overall race, Portugal’s Eulalio Afonso won a mid-race mark to add six seconds on to his lead over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, now 33 seconds overall. Saturday brings the next climbing stage that could shake up the leaderboard.

● Football ● New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani said about 150 tickets to be sold at $50 each for seven of the eight matches to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – 1,000 in total – to be sold by lottery starting on 25 May.

Mamdani said that transportation will be included and that the tickets will be given to the users as they board the bus to the game, in order to ensure no resales take place. FIFA did not supply the tickets; they came from the allotment made to the New York-New Jersey Host Committee.

● Swimming ● The third Tyr Pro Swim Series is in Sacramento, California, with some noteworthy swims on Wednesday night, including the return of Ryan Murphy, the five-time Olympic gold medalist who is now 30. He skipped 2025, but returned with a good performance in the men’s 100 m Backstroke, finishing second to Daniel Diehl, 53.74 to 53.91.

In the men’s 1,500 m Freestyle, 17-year-old Luka Mijatovic got a huge lifetime best of 14:59.27 and is now no. 4 on the all-time U.S. age 17-18 list, and the U.S. list leader for 2026. Remember that name.

Torri Huske, the five-time Paris 2024 medalist, won the women’s 200 m Medley in 2:11.34 by almost two seconds. The meet continues through Saturday.

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DOPING: Doping-friendly Enhanced Games comes Sunday, with 38 of 42 athletes to compete having used WADA-prohibited substances

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ ENHANCED GAMES ≡

After a year of promotion, lawsuits and a roller-coaster of financial and legal questions, the doping-friendly Enhanced Games will take place on Sunday, 25 May, at a specially-arranged facility at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The project now includes 42 athletes, of whom 18 are in swimming, 13 in track & field and 11 in weightlifting. Four of these athletes have said they are not taking any prohibited substances and expect to be able to maintain their eligibility under the World Anti-Doping Code. These include American swim star Hunter Armstrong, Egyptian swimmer Sohib Khaled and American track & field sprinter Shania Collins.

The events and world-record bonuses are heavily weighted to men’s swimming, with prize money for the top place winners in track and swimming.

Athletics:
● Men/100 m (7 entries): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000-30,000-20,000-20,000
● Women/100 m (6): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000-30,000-20,000
● World-record bonuses: $1 million for men and women

Swimming:
● Men/50 m Free (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/100 m Free (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/50 m Back (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/100 m Breast (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/50 m Fly (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/100 m Fly (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Men/World-record bonus: $1 million for 50 Free; $250,000 for others

● Women/50 m Free (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Women/100 m Free (4): $250,000-125,000-75,000-50,000
● Women/World-record bonus: $250,000 for 50 Free; $1 million for 100 Free

Weightlifting:
● Men/Snatch and Clean & Jerk (6)
● Women/Snatch and Clean & Jerk (3)
● Only listed prizes are $250,000 for world records

There is also a men’s Deadlift competition.

The facility is to hold 2,500 invited guests and will be shown online Sunday with the competition beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific time on Roku, YouTube, Rumble, Twitch and Kick.

An Enhanced Games release issued Wednesday described “substance usage by athletes during the 12-week trial period” by 36 of the 42 competitors, two of whom did not use any prohibited substances. This included:

● “91% of athletes used testosterone or testosterone esters”
● “79% of athletes used human growth hormone (hGH)”
● “62% of athletes used stimulants (eg. Adderall)”
● “50% of athletes used metabolic modulators, primarily ancillary compounds (eg. Anastrozole) which was used alongside anabolic agents to support protocols”
● “41% of athletes used erythropoietin (EPO)”
● “29% of athletes used an anabolic steroid agent (eg. Deca durabolin)”
● “5% of athletes used hormonal support therapies (eg. hCG)”

The track & field stars include two American sprinters, both currently suspended for doping offenses: two-time Olympic 100 m medalist Fred Kerley and 2022 Worlds 100 m silver medalist Marvin Bracy-Williams.

Olympic medalist swimmers in the field include Ben Proud (GBR: Paris 2024 50 m Free silver), James Magnussen (AUS: London 2012 100 m Free silver) and Cody Miller (USA: Rio 2016 100 m Breast bronze).

Observed: It’s important to note that the Enhanced Games itself is not the point. It’s a promotional program for supplements and telehealth programs that the New York Stock Exchange-listed Enhanced Group is selling online.

As for the show, that’s what it is. Its initial appeal is demonstrated by the streaming-only broadcast line-up, but there will be onlookers who want to see if anything interesting happens.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Federal transportation funding of $875 million for 2028 Games included in new transit bill for fiscal year 2027

By
Rich Perelman
-
L.A. Metro Federal Affairs Director Raffi Hamparian (center) reporting to the L.A. Metro Executive Management Committee on 21 May 2026 (L.A. Metro video screenshot).

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≡ “BETTER THAN ZERO” ≡

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Executive Management Committee heard Thursday that the new U.S. House bill for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) includes $875 million to assist with transport services related to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Raffi Hamparian, Metro’s Director of Federal Affairs, explained:

“As all of you know, the Board has been a strong supporter of seeking Federal resources, beginning with our request to be in the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2027. And while that didn’t happen, the drumbeat that our Board and the CEO have done on Capitol Hill has been successful in securing these funds.

“Obviously, this is not the end of the story, because the Senate is going to adopt their own appropriations bill and we’re in touch with our Senators, Adam Schiff, and our senior Senator, Alex Padilla, to make sure that the final Fiscal Year 2027 bill has robust funding for the Olympics.”

The proposed grant is listed in the Federal Transit Administration section for the Federal fiscal year of 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, and specifies:

“$875,000,000 for transportation assistance, including assistance with transit planning, capital projects, relocation of vehicles, and operating assistance, for surface, commuter, and public transpor tation systems necessary to support the mobility needs of the international quadrennial Olympic and Paralympic events as authorized by section 1223(e)6 of Public Law 105–178.

“Provided, That such assistance shall be for any eligible entity as defined by section 6702(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, that serves or supports service to a venue that is related to the 2028 international quadrennial Olympic or Paralympic events: Provided further, That such planning, capital, and operating expenses are not required to be included in a transportation improvement program, long-range transportation, statewide transportation plan, statewide transportation improvement program, or a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).”

So this money, if it gets through the budgeting process and becomes law, will be focused on the 2028 Games, the first major funding provided by the U.S. Federal Government for transportation support for the Games. If approved, it would be the second Federal transportation grant related to the Games; a $94.3 million grant was included in the H.R. 7148 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, that was approved in February.

While helpful, the $875 million total is well short of Metro’s desire for about $2 billion in Federal assistance. Metro Board member Hilda Solis commented during the meeting:

“On the Federal level, $878 [sic] million for Olympics? I know, Raffi, it’s better than zero, as I was thinking we were going to get zero. We all know we had members of our Board, Mayor [Karen] Bass and [Supervisor] Kathleen Barger had discussions in the Administration about the Olympics. There was, I guess, the thought that we were going to get more support, or intervention by the Administration, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“While I’m happy that there’s something there, we do definitely need to get more.”

The report on a funding request of $379 million from the State of California related the Games is that the requests have been successful, but efforts are continuing.

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FOOTBALL: Canadian government report says spending on the 13 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches there will total $775.5 million U.S.!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The 2026 FIFA World Cup “Trionda” ball by adidas (Photo: adidas).

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≡ MAJOR WORLD CUP SPENDING ≡

In response to inquiries from members of the Canadian Parliament, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer [PBO] published Wednesday a stunning report:

“Based on the most recent information, PBO estimates total government support to co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to be $1,066 million, of which federal support will be $473 million, with the remainder of $593 million funded by other levels of government.

“Because Canada will be hosting 13 games, the estimated cost per game is $82 million. This amount is aligned to past public spending to host World Cup events.”

A Canadian dollar is worth $0.73 U.S. today, so the C$1.066 billion is U.S. $775.52 million, for 13 matches, in Toronto and Vancouver. The C$82 million – about $59.6 million U.S. – per match average was characterized as “it appears Canada’s costs are roughly in line” with spending by prior organizers, in table that showed incredible inflation in hosting in this century (amounts in U.S. dollars):

● 1998: $16.0 million average per match in France
● 2002: $81.5 million average in Japan and South Korea
● 2006: $36.8 million average in Germany
● 2010: $73.7 million average in South Africa
● 2014: $90.9 million average in Brazil
● 2018: $79.6 million average in Russia
● 2022: no data for Qatar
● 2026: $59.6 million average for Canada

Canadian spending was detailed as split between Federal costs and all other levels of government (in Canadian dollars; C$1 = U.S. $0.73):

● Toronto federal: C$149.3 million
● Toronto other govt.: C$230.6 million
● Toronto total: $C$380.0 million (rounding)

● Vancouver federal: C$215.7 million
● Vancouver other govt.: C$362.3 million
● Vancouver total: C$578.0 million

● All other federal spending: C$108.2 million

The comments to the tables noted:

● “Net of the $220 million and $145 million federal transfers, this would imply a remaining cost of approximately $231 million for Toronto and $362 million for Vancouver. However, updates to municipal and provincial spending plans may be announced in the coming weeks, implying changes to the expected costs for other levels of government.”

● “The majority of funding allocated to the FIFA World Cup under [Federal] Budget 2025 and the 2026 Spring Economic Update is for security-related items.”

Of the Federal allocation of C$473.2 million, security support on various forms came from Public Safety Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Security Agency, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and the Canadian Food Security Agency totaling C$236.6 million or 50.0%.

Of the remaining C$236.6 million, C$220.0 million – 97.0% was from Canadian Heritage, for event delivery costs in operations and infrastructure, especially stadium improvements and team training sites.

With three weeks to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off, that’s what Canada has spent to get just two stadia ready for a total of 13 matches to be held over about four weeks. It’s the clearest picture available so far of local World Cup spending, as the costs for U.S. cities are borne primarily by the local host committees, with $625 million in security costs provided by the U.S. government. A similar report to the Canadian one has not yet been seen from Mexico.

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PANORAMA: Int’l Fair Play Committee expands with new “Academic Circle”; ATHLOS expands to two ‘26 meets; big event win for USA Gymnastics!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Fair Play ● Tuesday the 19th of May marked the second anniversary of “World Fair Play Day” as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2024.

To expand its expertise, the International Fair Play Committee invited Olympians Emma Terho (FIN: ice hockey) and Paul Tergat (KEN: athletics) to the IFPC Council; both are members of the International Olympic Committee.

Further, Fair Play Committee President Sunil Sabharwal (USA) announced the formation of the Fair Play Academic Circle (F-PAC), “to analyze contemporary ethical challenges and serve as a dedicated research and educational resource for the international sporting community.”

Said Sabharwal:

“Fair play is the vital heartbeat of sport, and its promotion is more critical than ever as the sporting ecosystem navigates complex challenges from the grassroots to the institutional level.

“On this World Fair Play Day, we reflect on a year of immense growth and activation, from the Olympic Museum to the peaks of Milano Cortina. But our work is just beginning. Today, we are scaling our capabilities, by welcoming two legendary Olympians to our Council and launching a dedicated philosophical engine, CIFP is building its position as a vital center of knowledge and champion for sporting ethics.”

● Athletics ● The once-a-year ATHLOS women’s-only meet is expanding to two meets in 2026, with the first reported to be held in London on 18 September – following the 11-13 September World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest (HUN) – and then again in New York on 2 October.

The ATHLOS site reported the 2026 program to include seven events, with six athletes per event and $151,000 prize money per event. No mention of team scoring, talked about last year, has been mentioned concerning the 2026 meets thus far.

● Cycling ● At the 109th Giro d’Italia, Tuesday’s 42 km Individual Time Trial from Viareggio to Massa was won by two-time World Champion Filippo Ganna (ITA) in 45:53.87, followed by Thymen Arensman (NED: +1:53.34). Race leader Eulalio Afonso (POR) was 41st and challenger Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) was 13th, closing the gap to 27 seconds, with Arensman third at 1:57 back.

On Wednesday, Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez won his third stage of this race, a hilly, 195 km route with multiple climbs, finishing in Chiavari, in 4:33:43 in a final sprint against Spain’s Enric Mas. Italian veteran Diego Ulissi won a three-way race for third, 11 seconds back.

Mas attacked with about 18 km left with Narvaez following and then winning the final sprint.

Given the early dates for the 2028 Olympic Games from 14-30 July, the Tour de France announced the earliest dates since 1966 for its 2028 edition, beginning on 24 June and finishing on 16 July. Olympic road cycling events will start on 19 July in Los Angeles for the Individual Time Trials and then the men’s road race on the 23rd (Sunday).

The 2028 Tour will start in Reims and end, as usual, in Paris.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing has presented its proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with a slight increase to $17.586 million in revenue, $16,674 million in primary expenses and some other, small items which will show a final projected surplus of $299,167, up from 2024-25.

The federation’s board will review the budget at its 30 May meeting, but the federation annually posts the proposed plan ahead of the meeting annually to allow for member input. USA Fencing has shown an annual surplus in three of the last six fiscal years.

● Flag Football ● “Flag football took a big step Tuesday, receiving a formal recommendation to become an NCAA championship sport. Its first championship is projected to occur in spring 2028.”

That came from the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact, which oversees emerging sports for women, and “voted at its spring meeting to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship.”

Of course, this is a process and each NCAA Division has to agree to accept the sport, with a vote due in January 2027. The rules require that “[a]ll three divisions must approve the legislation to establish a championship.”

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics scored a significant event award on Monday, as World Gymnastics awarded the 2031 World Gymnaestrada to the U.S., for the first time that the event has been held outside of Europe.

The event has drawn more than 20,000 participants from 50 countries and is performative, not competitive. It was first held in 1953 in Amsterdam (NED) and is held quadrennially. Per the announcement:

“From July 7-13, 2031, eight of Las Vegas’ most prestigious venues, including MGM Grand Garden Arena, T-Mobile Arena, Mandalay Bay Beach, Mystère Theatre, Michael Jackson ONE Theatre, Fremont Street, Westgate Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention Center, will see gymnastics performed by people of all ages and abilities from around the world. Emphasizing group performances – some with hundreds of participants – the non-competitive event celebrates the sport and physical movement.”

Las Vegas was selected over Helsinki (FIN) and Antwerp (BEL), and will be a fascinating test of the economics of a participant-based event vs. a spectator event, which can inform other cities and other sports. The city is, of course, no stranger to mass events, including in Olympic sports, where the largest annual archery tournament in the world – the Vegas Shoot – is held annually, with more than 5,000 shooters.

● Volleyball ● The 40th class to be inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame will include five players and a coach among nine total honorees, with officials ceremonies to be held at the Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on Saturday, 17 October 2026.

Among the players to be honored as U.S. Olympic beach gold winner April Ross, as well as two-time Olympic indoor gold medalist Fabi Alvim (BRA) and Brazilian Olympic beach champion Alison Cerutti. Former FIVB President Ary Graca (BRA) will also be honored.

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BIATHLON: U.S. Biathlon circulates message to members advising of possible merger with U.S. Ski & Snowboard

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ POSSIBLE MERGER? ≡

A remarkable message was sent to the membership of U.S. Biathlon on Tuesday, which included:

“As a sport, we believe biathlon is positioned to take a significant leap forward in the United States.

“At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges ahead. To meet rising needs for athlete support, international competitiveness and increased expectations and pressure from our largest investor, the USOPC, to deliver results, we need greater depth in our athlete pipeline, expanded operational capacity, and increased financial and performance resources.

“While we are proud of our progress, incremental growth within our current structure is unlikely to deliver the results we all know are possible. Throughout our history we have faced inflection points but been unable to take advantage of them.

“For that reason, our board leadership and I, along with input from senior staff, have entered into discussions with U.S. Ski & Snowboard regarding a potential integration that could elevate biathlon onto a bigger stage in America. Fundamental to these discussions is ensuring our high level of athlete support, and protecting the identity, culture, and community of U.S. Biathlon.

“While these discussions remain ongoing, we felt it was important to communicate directly and openly with our membership as the process advances. …

“At its core, this integration could represent a strategic opportunity to increase scale, expand awareness and broaden our athlete base, strengthen financial sustainability, and accelerate long-term competitive success. This is not a short-term survival decision.”

The message, from chief executive Jack Gierhart, was seen by The Sports Examiner and notes, this is not an idea, but a concept which has been thought out and appears ready for serious review and possible action. The sales points for the “integration” would include:

● “Current athlete support – across the spectrum – would be maintained and positioned to expand. Additionally, athletes would have access to an extensive portfolio of athlete support services provided by U.S. Ski & Snowboard including tuition support, internships, commercial opportunities and career support that will extend what we are currently providing.”

● “Importantly U.S. Biathlon would retain its brand identity. The pride our community has in the uniqueness of this sport is deeply important and will be respected.”

● “Biathlon would have representation in broader organizational governance, including seats on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard board, Athlete Council and key committees.”

As described, this is a merger of U.S. Biathlon into U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which has been trying to expand its footprint in order to present added value and interest to potential funders and sponsors.

The U.S. Biathlon Association is tiny compared to U.S. Ski & Snowboard:

U.S. Biathlon:
● 1,432 members per its USOPC diversity statement
● $1.15 million assets as of June 2024
● $566,331 in reserves
● $3.99 million revenues in fiscal 2024

U.S. Ski & Snowboard:
● 39,246 members per its USOPC diversity statement
● $106.38 million assets as of April 2024
● $71.81 million reserves
● $50.43 million revenues in fiscal 2024

The USBA message notes that an “integration” with U.S. Ski & Snowboard would provide access to its Nordic athlete pool, which could be a considerable help for athlete recruitment.

And while the finances look attractive, there is a significant legal issue, one which U.S. Ski & Snowboard has run into before, the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act (36 U.S.C. §2205 et seq.), which requires in 36 U.S.C. §220522 (6) that a U.S. National Governing Body:

“demonstrates that it is a member of no more than one international sports federation that governs a sport included on the program of the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan-American Games, or the Parapan American Games.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is already a member of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), which should prevent it from being a National Governing Body for any other sport, in this case, one governed by the International Biathlon Union.

That’s a problem and one that will have to be worked out before a merger is possible, no matter how attractive on paper.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. City Council motion calls for 10% City tickets tax; potentially devastating business tax repeal vote may go away

By
Rich Perelman
-
An LA28 mock-up of a design for "souvenir" tickets for the 2028 Games (Image: LA28; this was a design sample only, as all tickets are to be electronic).

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≡ POLITICS IN PLAY ≡

As promised, the Los Angeles City Council once again took up the “Olympic wage” fight between labor and business and while the issue was not finally settled on Tuesday (19th), a new resolution with a major deal to eliminate the repeal of the City’s business tax is apparently within reach.

In the meantime, a new motion to impose a 10% tax on the sales of LA28 Olympic and Paralympic tickets was introduced by Council member Monica Rodriguez, to help fund the City’s costs for the Games.

/Updated/On the “Olympic wage,” the existing ordinance that was passed after a significant push from labor groups representing Los Angeles airport and airport-hotel workers, raises wages in stepped increases to $30.00 per hour by 1 July 2028.

Business interests have pushed back and a motion to stretch the raises to $30.00 out to 2030 has been before the Council. On Tuesday, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson explained that negotiations have continued:

“I want to thank the labor leaders, business leaders and a select members of this Council for literally staying in the room for hours and hours and hours and hours to see how close we could get to bringing the City together over what is an extremely divisive issue.

“We made tremendous progress, we walked away from negotiating tables – like many negotiating tables – where no one was happy about the outcome, but everybody came away better than we started off.

“So, this has again been a painful process that we’re almost to the end of . We’ll have a second reading of this item next week. I expect, unrelated to this, there will be an item before this Council to accept a letter withdrawing the gross receipts tax ballot initiative from the ballot, permanently, and that will conclude our work on this period.”

The motion was carried, 11-4, to advance the revised ordinance forward to next week, with revised raises to $25.00 an hour in 2026, $26.50 in 2027, $28.50 in 2028, and $30.00 an hour in 2029.

Observed: Harris-Dawson was not believable in saying there is no connection between a deal on the “Olympic wage” and a withdrawal of the repeal initiative for the gross receipts tax – there apparently is – but if both can be settled, the City will be better for it and the LA28 organizers may see some labor peace through the Games period. “Maybe” is the operative word.

Also on Tuesday, a motion was made by Rodriguez which began:

“In preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics, the City of Los Angeles enacted a special 6 percent tax on Olympic ticket sales. The tax applied to the ‘gross receipts’ from distributing tickets to Olympic events and was directed at the organizations promoting and selling admission to the Games. The tax was designed to help the city recover some of the enormous public costs associated with hosting the Olympics, including police, fire protection, transportation, and other municipal services needed during the event.”

So, with the City worried about LA28 deficits and payments for security costs:

“I THEREFORE MOVE that the City Attorney be requested to prepare and present the documents necessary to place on the November 2026 ballot a measure that would impose a 10 percent tax on all Olympic Tickets sold beginning on January 1, 2027. The revenue should be placed in a special fund to cover any cost overruns in hosting the 2028 Olympic Games. If funding is not needed then it would be released to the General Fund on January 31, 2029.”

The motion was seconded by Budget & Finance Committee Chair Katy Yaroslavsky and assigned to Budget & Finance and the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations committees for review.

Rodriguez is also spearheading a push for a City Charter amendment that would require LA28 to exhaust all available funds to ensure that the City’s expenses are paid in full before any amount could be declared as a “surplus.” This issue is also being discussed in the negotiation of the City-LA28 contract for “Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement,” as yet unresolved.

Observed: A glance at the ticket sales brochure for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles shows that in addition to the prices of tickets, there was a 6% “Los Angeles City 1984 Olympic Games Ticket Distribution Tax” of 6% which had been installed years prior to the Games, specifically to build up funds to pay for City services such as police.

In addition, there was a “Ticket Handling Charge” of $1 per ticket requested; for 2028, this charge has been reported as 24% of the ticket price, but was included in the on-screen price to be paid.

It’s remarkable that the City did not incorporate such protections earlier, but Rodriguez is trying to make up for lost time, even if as much as half of the Olympic tickets will have been sold by January 2027. Yaroslavsky said during City budget hearings earlier this month that LA28 has discouraged her from installing even a $1 charge per ticket to assist City funding.

It will be fascinating to see how these cost-containment concepts evolve as the City tries to avoid any Olympic debt. It must be noted that under the Games Agreement with LA28, signed in 2021, the City does not have a right of audit in the preparatory period to check on LA28’s finances. Rodriguez is pushing for that also.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. City Council committee on 2028 Games asks about City coordination, and again on oversight of LA28 spending

By
Rich Perelman
-
L.A. City Office of Major Events Executive Director Paul Krekorian (California State Senate video screenshot).

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≡ CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ≡

The Los Angeles City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games got a first opportunity to hear directly – at least in public – from the City’s Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Major Events, former Council President Paul Krekorian.

Over nearly 85 minutes on Monday afternoon, Krekorian explained what his office does:

● “Essentially, we are the hub of the wheel of City preparation, and we’re also the point of contact across governmental jurisdictions.”

● “Another important role we have is streamlining and problem-solving to ensure the success of the Games, to make sure that our usual way of doing things in the City, that sometimes leads to bureaucratic breakdowns and delays, we can’t afford that when it comes to the major events.”

He noted that in addition to the Office of Major Events, the new Office of Strategic Partnerships will reach out for philanthropic and corporate support for the Games and beyond, and the existing Office of International Affairs is involved in promotion of possible “hospitality houses” in the City and the City’s international marketing efforts related to the Games.

Krekorian explained that his team has also formed working groups of City departments dealing with delivery coordination of energy, water, mobility, permitting and operations of City services during the Games. He says he meets weekly with the LA28 organizers and will be going to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday with LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover and L.A. Metro Transportation Authority chief Stephanie Wiggins to lobby for more Federal funding support for transportation and other items.

He noted that the City had specific goals in mind when the agreement to host was made in 2017:

“We really are not doing this just to be host of the Games, we are doing this so that we can really the Games as a catalyst to do things differently in the City, to re-imagine the way we deliver services and infrastructure, to strengthen out City and benefit our City, financially and otherwise.”

He spent some time on inclusivity, and pointed to the “Kick It In The Park” watch-party program for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a “trial run” ahead of 2028. Krekorian underlined the importance of community programming in 2028, stating that it would be needed to “provide an opportunity for everyone in Los Angeles to be engaged with the Games.

“We saw that not everyone in Los Angeles is going to be able to get a ticket to these Games. The affordability of the tickets are, needless to say, an enormous challenge for most people in Los Angeles and most of the low-priced tickets have already been sold during the local pre-purchase, so we want to make sure we have the broadcast community engagement program possible to ensure that everyone is involved.”

His said the Office of Major Events has about 15 total staff and six primary functional focuses: Operations and City Services, Community Programs and Impact, Accessibility, Development Services and Permitting, Capital Program Management and External Affairs. One emphasis is in the capital programs to – “once and for all” – upgrade the repair of City sidewalks, a major issue in many neighborhoods.

Council members Imelda Padilla and Monica Rodriguez asked for more direction, work schedules, milestone lists, and more instructions – a “to-do list” – from the Office of Major Events to be prepared for the Games.

The Committee members pressed Krekorian on the progress not only of the venue use agreements with LA28 for City-owned sites such as the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, but also for other sites, since the terms impact whether the organizing committee will have a deficit … for which the City of Los Angeles is the underwriter of last resort. Krekorian said that the “business terms” for the City-owned sites are essentially agreed, and the draft agreements should come to Council soon. But he was not as well informed about other sites and several Committee members were worried about status and oversight of these agreements as they impact the LA28 budget (and any potential deficit).

Krekorian noted that in addition to the volunteers who supported the Paris 2024 organizers, there were 12,000 City of Paris volunteers and that the Office of Major Events is coordinating with LA28 on volunteer management, with possible long-term benefits for the City.

A review of the LA28 Human Rights Strategy focused on subject-matter experts, but did not have the LA28 authors available. So a series of panelists explained their view of the needs to safeguard the Games on issues of accessibility, civil rights, homelessness and wage-labor trafficking.

A consistent theme was a lack of funding – no surprise – from LA28 to support human rights support organizations and activations in and around the Games so that anyone and everyone has someone to talk to who is immediately accessible to them.

A future session will be held with LA28, responding to the comments made.

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PANORAMA: Gymnastics re-admits Russia; Iran says it will play at FIFA World Cup; Herb Brooks ring sells for $549,000!

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers followed up on their promise to fund community organizations to assist with the well-being of the Los Angeles area and announced eight organizations as first recipients of LA28 Resilience Champions Fund.

Each group will receive a $100,000 grant to support projects in wildfire resilience and nature restoration, ocean protection, and cooling solutions. The initial recipients include Active SGV, Amigos de Los Rios, Chrysalis, Climate Resolve, Conservation Corps of Long Beach, L.A. Community Garden Council, Los Angeles Urban League and Santa Monica Mountains Fund.

A new LA28 emblem for the program was also introduced.

● Doping ● American chemist Patrick Arnold, who developed steroid-infused compounds for the supplement market that eventually came into use by Olympic and professional athletes, passed away at age 59 on 12 May 2026 in Guilford, Connecticut.

He created compounds known as the “cream” and the “clear” which were centerpieces of the doping-distribution program of the Bay Area Laboratories (BALCO) scandal in 2003 and touched baseball stars such as Bobby Bonds and Olympic sprint star Marion Jones, who lost her Sydney 2000 medals over their use.

The BALCO distribution mastermind was Victor Conte, who passed away in 2025 at age 75; he pled guilty in 2005 to charges of conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering and served four months in prison.

● Memorabilia ● A specially-made commemorative ring with five diamonds in the shape of the Olympic Rings for 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks was sold by Heritage Auctions over the weekend for $549,000, including the buyer’s premium.

This is a one-of-a-kind ring, of 10-karat gold, made for Brooks, who led a group of college and amateur players to the 1980 Olympic gold, the last by the American men until the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. Brooks passed at age 66 in 2003 and the ring was placed for sale by his family.

● Russia ● World Gymnastics lifted sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes at its Executive Committee meeting on Monday:

“The EC has decided to lift all restrictions applicable to Russian and Belarusian athletes since February 2022, with immediate effect. The FIG Ad-Hoc rules are therefore no longer in force.”

World Gymnastics President Morinari Watanabe (JPN) has signaled this change for some time, and gymnastics is now the fifth federation to re-integrate Russian and Belarusian athletes and the second in a week’s time.

● Athletics ● Lots of hot action at the many conference championship meets in the U.S. over the weekend, including four world-leading marks at the Southeastern Conference meet at Auburn, Alabama:

● Men/400 m: 43.95, Samuel Ogazi (NGR-Alabama)
● Men/110 m hurdles: 13.05 Ja’kobe Tharp (Auburn)
● Women/400 m: 48.92 Dejanea Oakley (JAM-Georgia)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 54.02 Akala Garrett (South Carolina)

Ogazi won a tight final over Americans Jordan Pierre (Arkansas: 44.12) and Georgia’s Jonathan Scott (44.16). Oakley outlasted Arkansas’ Kaylyn Brown (49.54) and Garrett won the 400 m hurdles over Georgia’s Michelle Smith (54.72).

In addition, Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins won the men’s 100 m in 9.95 and the 200 m in 19.87, with Denzel Simusialela (ZIM-Kentucky) second at 19.98. Gabrielle Mathews JAM-Florida) won the women’s 100 m in 10.97 and Georgia’s Adaejah Hodge (IVB) was a runaway winner of the 200 m in 21.92.

At the Big 10 Champs in Lincoln, Nebraska, NCAA champ Hana Moll of Washington won  the women’s vault with a world outdoor lead of 4.83 m (15-10). But there were some other, stunning marks in the sprints, led by a 9.74 men’s 100 m win by Edward Osei-Nketia (USC), but with an aiding wind of 5.6 m/s! Oregon’s P.J. Ize-Iyamu was second at 9.80 and Charles Godfred (Nigeria-Minnesota) was third at 9.88.

Osei-Nketia won the 200 m at 20.03, also very wind-aided (+7.5 m/s). USC teammate Brianna Selby won the women’s 100 in a windy 10.74 (+3.8 m/s) with teammate Dajaz Defrand (10.90w) second. USC’s Madison Whyte won the 200 m at 21.78 with a big wind-aid of 6.0 m/s! Whyte also won the 400 m in 51.01.

Two world-leading triple jump marks came from the Coqui International Cup in Caguas (PUR), with Jamaican star Jordan Scott reaching 17.66 m (57-11 1/4) in the men’s event and Cuba’s Davisleidis Velasco at 14.85 m (48-8 3/4) to win the women’s competition.

● Football ● Iran will play at the FIFA World Cup, according to a statement from Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“The decision to have the Iranian national football team participate in the World Cup was made based on assessments from the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Football Federation. Two days ago, a good meeting was held in Turkey between representatives of the Football Federation and senior FIFA officials, and we were assured that FIFA would make every effort to ensure the tournament hosts comply with FIFA regulations.”

The Iranian team is expected to arrive at its training camp in Tucson, Arizona on 5 June and will play two group matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California and one in Seattle, Washington.

● Ice Hockey ● At the 2026 IIHF men’s World Championship in Switzerland, group play continues through the 26th, with Finland leading Group A at 3-0, ahead of Austria and the Swiss at 2-0. The U.S. is 1-2, losing to Switzerland (3-1) and Finland (6-2) but beating Britain (5-1).

Canada leads Group B at 3-0, with Slovakia at 2-0 so far.

● Weightlifting ● The International Testing Agency reported weightlifting anti-doping testing results for 2025, with 1,150 athletes from 131 countries tested, up from 1,078 athletes from 120 countries in 2024.

A total of 24 doping violations were confirmed in 2025, however, the number of violations recorded in 2025 was down to seven, compared to 14 positives in 2024 and 28 in 2023, a welcome downwards trend for a sport which has had severe doping issues in the past. The report noted:

“This reduction may be attributed to a more targeted, structured anti-doping approach, expanded education, and stricter requirements related to the Member Federations’ Categorisation Rules.”

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SKI & SNOWBOARD: Seven leading national federations, including U.S. Ski & Snowboard, circulate letter urging votes for a new FIS President

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ FIS ELECTIONS ≡

Seven leading national governing bodies for skiing and snowboarding sent a polite but direct letter to the other 134 national ski associations on 5 May 2026, campaigning for votes for the upcoming International Ski & Snowboard Federation elections … for anyone but incumbent Johan Eliasch.

Born in Sweden, but nominated by the British association in 2021, Eliasch won with 65 votes out of 119 over Urs Lehmann (SUI: 26), Sarah Lewis (GBR, nominated by BEL: 15), and Mats Arjes (SWE: 13).

Now, he has raised concerns serious enough for the associations from skiing heavyweights Austria, Canada, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association to join together in a two-page letter. It includes:

“Over recent months, many NSAs have expressed similar concerns about the future direction of FIS. With the upcoming elections on June 11, we wanted to share some of our thoughts regarding the current situation and the importance of the upcoming leadership decision.

“All of us have had open and constructive exchanges with Federations over the past
months … [and] one thing has become increasingly clear: there is a growing sense across the FIS community that the organisation is facing significant issues which need to be addressed.”

The letter cites three areas of worry: finances, governance and communications:

● “FIS is in a very serious financial situation which has deteriorated significantly over the past five years. Cash reserves have declined substantially, annual operating costs have increased significantly, and revenues have not developed as anticipated. Despite recent presentations and appeasements.

“This situation affects all of us. In particular we believe it is essential that FIS remains in a position to continue providing meaningful distributions and support mechanisms to all NSAs – especially small and medium-sized nations – in the years ahead.”

● “Most recently, the FIS budget was shared with the FIS Council less than 24 hours before their meeting this week. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern that has developed over time and has caused very strong concerns about the governance of FIS.

“Financial and other information shared with the NSAs and the Council has too often been incomplete or delayed, limiting the ability of elected bodies to properly fulfil their responsibilities on behalf of the membership.”

● “We have repeatedly made genuine efforts to engage constructively with the current leadership in the interest of all NSAs – large, medium-sized and small alike – in the hope of contributing to positive solutions. Unfortunately, these efforts have not resulted in an improvement of the situation.

“While perspectives may differ, many of us feel that the upcoming election represents an important opportunity to strengthen trust, collaboration and long-term stability within FIS.”

The close of the letter promotes a solution: vote for someone other than Eliasch:

“The positive news is that we have four highly respected new candidates for President: Vicky Gosling, Anna Harboe Falkenberg, Alex Ospelt & Dexter Paine. Each bring valuable qualifications, perspectives and experience to the role and share the same views about what we need to develop for OUR federation and sports. We are fully convinced we need a change for FIS and the NSAs to have credibility and a positive future for our sports and athletes.”

The four mentioned candidates come from only one of the seven federations behind the letter – the U.S. – and each is already deeply involved with the ski and most are FIS Council members already:

● Alex Ospelt (LIE) ~ FIS Council member
● Anna Harboe Falkenberg (DEN) ~ FIS Council member
● Dexter Paine (USA) ~ FIS Council member
● Victoria Gosling (GBR) ~ GB Snowsport chief executive

Eliasch was nominated by Georgia this time and is required by FIS regulations to carry a passport from the country nominating him. He has been criticized for an autocratic style and has succeeded on consolidating media rights for skiing, a strategy which he believes will pay significant financial dividends in the future.

The FIS will hold elections on 11 June 2026, in Belgrade (SRB).

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PANORAMA: FIFA meets Iran to smooth World Cup prep; wrestling re-admits Russia; Lyles, Anthony, Benjamin win in Tokyo Golden Grand Prix

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic and World Champion sprinter Noah Lyles of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers will be back in front of the Los Angeles City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Monday, with the focus on the organizing committee’s December 2025 “Human Rights Strategy” plan. Per a review report by the City’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst:

“The LA28 Human Rights Strategy relies on support and collaboration with existing resources, programs, and laws enforced by federal, state, and City agencies responsible for associated prevention, mitigation, and remediation efforts.

“While LA28 commits to collaborating with public and private stakeholders in its support of human rights protections, the LA28 Human Rights Strategy does not identify funding to support and advance these protections.”

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) published its candidate list for its 11 June 2026 Congress in Salzburg (AUT), including four candidates for President:

● Martins Dambergs (LAT)
● Heike Groesswang (GER)
● Ander Mirambell (ESP)
● Dr. Nelson Christian Stokes (JAM)

The well-respected outgoing chief, Ivo Ferriani (ITA), has been president since 2010 and served four terms, also being elected to the International Olympic Committee. Groessewang is the current Secretary General of the IBSF.

● Football ● A FIFA team met with Iranian football officials in Istanbul (TUR) to confirm arrangements for the FIFA World Cup and Iran’s matches in Southern California and Seattle.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom (SWE) said in a statement:

“We’ve had an excellent meeting – a constructive meeting together with the Iran FA. I think we’re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“We’ve had the opportunity to discuss some of the operational matters, like we do with every Member Association. But I’m very happy that we were able to have this positive exchange, and both the Iran FA and FIFA are very happy with the meeting and looking forward to welcoming Team Melli in the USA, Canada and Mexico.”

At the top of Iran’s concerns are U.S. visas, as some of its players and staff apparently have ties with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization banned in the U.S. as terrorists. The Iranian team is training in Turkey and plans a training camp in Tucson, Arizona.

FIFA announced a broadcast rights sale to China for four World Cup events – the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups and 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups – for a reported $60 million, a fraction of the $250-300 million originally asked by FIFA.

Chinese broadcasters noted that with these tournaments to be held in North America, Europe and North Africa, the matches will mostly be on during the middle of the night and early morning in China, drawing substantially reduced audiences. FIFA currently has no broadcast agreement for India for the 2026 World Cup.

● Wrestling ● “United World Wrestling will allow Belarusian and Russian wrestlers to compete without restrictions at upcoming UWW competitions with immediate effect.”

This decision was announced on Friday, with UWW becoming the fourth federation to allow Russian re-integration, after judo, taekwondo and aquatics. The International Olympic Committee recommended returning Belarusian competitors and allowing Russian junior athletes to be re-integrated, but maintains Russian senior-level athletes as “neutrals” and subject to review for neutrality for support of the war against Ukraine.

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Amit Elor bore a son named Aryeh Elor Galvao on 23 January 2026, with her fiancé, Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete Micael Galvão. The couple named the son after her maternal grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. 

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Athletics ● Good season-opening results for multiple American stars at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo (JPN) on Sunday, including 9.95 (+0.6 m/s) for Noah Lyles to win the men’s 100 m, with 18-year-old Tate Taylor next at 10.04. Said the winner:

“I’m happy with the race, I’m happy with the time. It’s a great way to start the season.

“It wasn’t my fastest, but it was definitely in my top five fastest season openers, so I’d say it was very worth the journey and I’m excited that I got to have it in a fun place like Tokyo.”

Americans Jordan Anthony and Courtney Lindsey went 1-2 in the 200 in 20.05 and 20.28 into a 1.3 m/s headwind and 400 m hurdles Olympic champ Rai Benjamin took the 400 m in 44.69, with Vernon Norwood third in 45.22.

Olympic silver winner Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) won the javelin at 85.24 m (279-8), ahead of Marc Minichello of the U.S. (81.84 m/268-2).

The women’s 400 m was a big win for Britain’s Yemi Mary John in a lifetime best of 49.85, ahead of American Bailey Lear, who also got a PR in 50.42. Kenya’s Purity Chepkirui won the women’s 1,500 in 4:16.11, with Shelby Houlihan of the U.S. second in 4:16.25. Alia Armstrong took the 100 m hurdles in 12.75 (-0.9).

Sweden’s four-time Worlds medalist Perseus Karlstrom was in top form at the World Athletics Race Walk Tour Gold races in Rio Maior (POR), rolling to an impressive win in the men’s half marathon in 1:25:27, way ahead of runner-up Matheus Correa (BRA: 1:27:06) and Noel Chama (MEX: 1:28:16).

The women’s race was equally decisive, as Mexico’s Alegna Gonzalez won in 1:32:15 – the fourth-fastest ever in the new event – with teammate Karla Serrano second in a lifetime best of 1:35:22 and Greece’s 2023 Worlds bronzer Antogoni Ntrismpioti in third (1:36:33).

● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour Thailand Open in Patumwan, Anders Antonsen (DEN) came from a set down to win the men’s Singles over Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA), 9-21, 24-22, 21-18. Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi swept the women’s final over Yu Fei Chen (CHN), 21-14, 21-18.

Indonesia won the men’s Doubles, China took the women’s Doubles and Denmark won in the Mixed Doubles.

● Canoe-Kayak ● Hungary claimed seven wins to lead all nations at the ICF Sprint World Cup in Brandenburg (GER), winning four men’s events with two-time World Champion Balazs Adolf in the C-1 5,000 m, Tokyo Olympic champ Sandor Totka in the K-1 200 m, World Champion Balint Kopasz in the K-1 1,000 m and in the K-2 500 m with Levente Kurucz and Worlds K-4 silver medalist Bence Fodor.

The three women’s wins came in the C-1 500 m with 2025 World C-4 gold medalist Agnes Kiss, the C-1 5,000 m by C-4 Worlds winner Zsofia Csorba and Kiss and Bianka Nagy in the C-2 500 m.

Tokyo Olympic C-1 1,000 m champ Isaquias Queiroz (BRA) won the C-1 500 m final and Paris C-1 1,000 m champ Martin Fuksa (CZE) won that event. Australia’s Thomas Green, the Tokyo K-2 1,000 m gold medalist, won the K-1 500 m.

Ukrainian star Liudmyla Luzan, who won four golds at the 2025 Worlds, won the women’s C-1 200 m easily, and 2021 World K-1 500 m champ Aimee Fisher (NZL) won that event. Sweden’s Melina Andersson won the women’s K-1 5,000 m, in which she is the reigning World Champion.

American finishers includes Jonas Ecker in seventh in the K-1 1,000 m and Audrey Harper and Andreez Ghizila, fifth in the women’s C-2 200 m.

● Cycling ● Favored Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) decided he had to do something about being 6:22 down to race leader Afonso Eulalio (POR) after six stages of the 109th Giro d’Italia. So, in stage seven, he did.

The 244 km stage to Blockhaus had a major climb in the middle and then a nasty uphill finish and Vingegaard was ready, attacking with 5 km left – on the ascent – and only Giulio Pellizaarri (ITA) could follow. But Vingegaard won easily in 6:09:15, with Felix Gall (AUT) second at +13 and then Jai Hindley (AUS: +1:02) with Pellizarri fourth. Eulalio was 15th at 2:55 and Vingegaard moved into second, down 3:17.

Saturday saw a hilly stage of 155 km to Fermo, with Ecuador’s Jhonatan Navarez breaking the race open with a solo attack from about 10 km out. He won in 3:27:26 for his second stage win in this Giro, 32 seconds up on Andreas Leknessund (NOR). Vingegaard gained a couple of seconds in 24th.

On Sunday, the 184 km route to Corno alle Scale was largely flat until a final climb in the final 11 km to the 1,465 m final altitude. On the climb, Ciccone attacked with 7.5 km left, with Einer Rubio (COL) going with him. But Vingegaard and Gall caught up with 3 km left and then Vingegaard went alone to the finish in the final 1.8 km, getting his second win in three days in 4:20:21. Gall was 12 seconds back, with Eulalio in fifth at +0:41.

So Eulalio retains the maglia rosa, now ahead of Vingegaard by 2:24 and Gall by 2:59, with a 42 km, flat Individual Time Trial coming Tuesday.

At the three-stage fifth edition of the Itzulia Women in Spain, Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold took the opening stage in a four-way sprint in 3:30:55, then was second in a mass sprint finish in the second stage, to Dominika Wlodarczyk (POL). The combination of bonus seconds gave Bredewold a 16-second lead over countrywoman Yara Kastelijn heading into Sunday.

The hilly, 113.1 km ride in and around San Sebastian ended with a 10-way sprint won by Wlodarczyk in 2:59:01, with Bredewold sixth in the same time and a five-second midway bonus. So, she won the overall title in 10:15:56, by 21 seconds over Kastelijn and Lauren Dickson (GBR), who finished third.

Japan swept the BMX Freestyle Park World Cup finals in Montpellier (FRA), with 14-year-old Shirai Rena taking the women’s title with a 89.60 score, followed closely by China’s 21-year-old Sibei Sun (88.90) and American six-time World Champion Hannah Roberts at 85.86.

Rim Nakamura, the 2022 World Champion, won the men’s Park final with a splendid 95.10 performance, just ahead of 2018 World Champion Justin Dowell (93.55) of the U.S. and 92.60 from American Marcus Christopher, the 2025 Worlds runner-up.

● Fencing ● Italy’s 2024 Worlds silver medalist Martini Batini won the women’s FIE Foil Grand Prix in Shanghai (CHN), defeating Japan’s Paris Olympic Team bronze winner Yuka Ueno, by 15-11.

Russian “neutral” Kirill Borodachev won the men’s final, 15-9, over Poland’s Andrzej Rzadkowski.

● Gymnastics ● At the World Gymnastics Rhythmic World Cup in Portimao (POR), 2022 World All-Around champ Sofia Raffaeli was a clear winner in the All-Around, scoring 113.250, to out-distance Israel’s Daniela Munits (111.550). Rin Keys was the top American, in eighth at 106.050.

In the individual apparatus finals, Raffaeli won on Hoop at 29.250, with Keys taking the bronze at 28.300. Fellow Italian Tara Dragas won the Ball final, scoring 29.600 to 28.900 for Raffaeli, and the Ribbon at 29.950; American Natalie de la Rosa was seventh at 26.900.

Israel’s Alona Tal Franco took the Clubs title at 29.650, with Keys seventh (27.550).

● Modern Pentathlon ● A tight men’s finish at the UIPM World Cup in Pazardzhik (BUL), with 2024 Worlds relay gold winner Changwan Seo (KOR) doing just enough in the Laser Run to win over 2025 Worlds bronze medalist Matej Lukes (CZE) and Worlds runner-up Mathis Rochat (FRA).

Rochat led into the Laser Run, with Seo starting 20 seconds behind and Lukes, 49 seconds back. But Lukes was the fastest on the course and Seo was fourth-best, meaning the Korean got to the line less than a second ahead, with Rochat following just three seconds back. Scores: Seo 1,595 to 1,594 for Lukes and 1,592 for Rochat.

It was not quite as close in the women’s final, with 2022 Worlds bronzer Ilke Ozyuksel (TUR) winning by 1,459 to 1,451 over Hungary’s two-time Worlds runner-up Blanka Guzi wih Egypt’s Ganah Elgindy third (1,446). Those three started two, three and six seconds behind Sumin Shin (KOR) in the Laser Run and quickly took over, with Ozyuksel the fastest of the three to earn her first World Cup individual gold.

● Sailing ● At just 19 years old, Singapore’s Max Maeder continues to dominate the Formula Kite World Championships, held this year in Viana do Castelo (POR). Finishing on Saturday, Maeder – the 2023 and 2024 World Champion – won 17 of 19 races and was second in the other two for a net point total of just 16.0.

Swiss Gian Stragiotti was a distant second at 40.0 and then 2025 World Champion Riccardo Paniosi (ITA: 64.0). The top American was Noah Runciman, in 16th (159.0).

Defending champion Jessie Kampman (NED) took the women’s title again, scoring 19.0 net points to edge France’s two-time winner Lauriane Nolot (23.0) and American six-time Worlds winner Daniela Moroz (72.0).

The 49er-49erFX-Nacra 17 World Championships were held off Quiberon (FRA), wittriathlonh a first-time men’s winner in New Zealand’s Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, leading into Sunday’s final race and then making a mad dash for the finish to get fifth and end up with a net score of 31.0 points, good enough for their first Worlds gold.

Close behind were Austrians Keanu Prettner and Jakob Flachberger (37.0) and then three-time Worlds winners Bart Lambrieux and Floris van de Werken (31.0).

The women’s 49erFX title went to Norway’s Pia Dahl Andersen and Nora Edland by 46.0 to 47.0 over defending champs Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero, thanks to finishing ahead of them in the final race on Sunday. Barcelo has now won four medals in the last seven Worlds (2-1-1).

Italy’s Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei won the Nacra 17, despite a re-start in the final race on Sunday. But they finished with 61.0 points to 69.0 for Tim Mourniac and Aloise Retornaz (FRA: 69.0) and 75.0 for defending champs John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR). It’s the first Worlds gold for Ugolini and Giubilei after a silver in 2025 and bronze in 2024.

● Triathlon ● Reigning World Champion Matt Hauser (AUS) got off to a great start at the World Championship Triathlon Series in Yokohama (JPN), leading after the first transition and was never headed, winning by 20 seconds in 1:38:48, posting the second-fastest swim, fifth-fastest on the bike and fourth-fastest in the 10 km run.

Alone in second was 2025 seasonal runner-up Miguel Hidalgo (BRA: 1:39:08) and then Aussie Luke Willian (1:39:16). Braxton Legg was the top American finisher, 10th at 1:41:01. It’s Hauser’s fifth career Championships Series gold.

The women’s race saw Swede Tilda Mansson dueling with 2023 World Champion Beth Potter (GBR), with Mansson ahead into the 10 km run and with a final sprint, getting to the line first in 1:50:13 to 1:50:15 for Potter. Jeanne Lehair (LUX: 1:50:36) finished third; the top Americans were Rio 2016 Olympic champ (and now 40) Gwen Jorgensen (7th: 1:51:18) and Taylor Spivey (8th: 1:51:38).

It was Mansson’s first WTCS gold.

● Wrestling ● At the USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials in Louisville, Kentucky, the winners moved on to the Final X selection meet on 19 June for the UWW World Championships, to be held in September.

Several major stars were using this meet to get to Final X, including Paris Olympic gold medalist and eight-time Worlds winner Amit Elor, wrestling in her first meet in a year, following maternity. She piled up an 11-0 lead and then pinned Precious Wieser with 29 seconds left in the women’s 72 kg class to advance.

Two-time Worlds medalist Macey Kilty also advanced, at 62 kg, pinning Claire DiCugno in 1:06 and World U-17 champ Morgan Turner won at 50 kg by 10-8 over 2025 Worlds team member Felicity Taylor. At 65 kg, 2023 Worlds bronze winner Jennifer Page defeated Emma Bruntil, 4-2.

In the five men’s classes, Paris Olympic runner-up Spencer Lee won a 13-3 technical fall at 57 kg over Anthony Knox; World U-23 champ Jax Forrest took the 61 kg final by 11-1 over Benjamin Davino; 2023 World Champion Zain Retherford edged Caleb Henson, 2-1, at 70 kg and two-time NCAA champ David Carr won at 74 kg by 9-7 over Jayden James.

At 125 kg, 2023 Worlds bronze winner Mason Parris was pinned early by Isaac Trumble, but after a challenge, the decision was reversed with Trumble called for a choke. Parris rallied to take a 14-6 lead and held on for a 14-12 win.

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ATHLETICS: Eight world leads in Diamond League opener in China, including U.S. hurdles wins for Britt and Russell!

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Masai Russell (l) wins the Women’s 100 m Hurdles (Photo: Liam Blackwell for Diamond League AG).

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≡ DIAMOND LEAGUE OPENS ≡

The 2026 Diamond League opened in Shaoxing (CHN) with strong fields and some excellent marks, including eight outdoor world-leading performances:

● Men/3,000 m: 7:25.77, Mohamed Abdilaahi (GER)
● Men/Pole Vault: 6.12 m (20-1), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
● Men/Long Jump: 8.43 m (27-8), Matteo Furlani (ITA)

● Women/1,500 m: 3:55.56, Birke Haylom (ETH)
● Women/Steeple: 8:51.47. Peruth Chemutai (UGA)
● Women/5,000 m: 14:24.14, Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.25, Masai Russell (USA)
● Women/Shot: 21.09 m (69-2 1/2), Jessica Schilder (NED)

Perhaps the best events were on the infield, where 2025 World Champion Furlani got a lifetime best in the second round to win at 8.43 m (27-8). Bulgaria’s World Indoor bronze winner Bozhidar Saraboyukov was a distant second with 8.07 m (26-5 3/4).

Swedish superstar Duplantis won the men’s vault, of course, for his 40th straight victory, clearing 6.12 m (20-1) on just his fourth vault of the competition. He did take three shots at a world record of 6.32 m (20-9), but didn’t clear. Australia’s World bronzer Kurtis Marschall finished second at 5.80 m (19-0 1/2); American Sam Kendricks tied for third at 5.70 m (18-8 1/4).

World women’s shot winner Schilder also got a lifetime best and world leader in the women’s shot at 21.09 m (69-2 1/2) in the fifth round, taking the lead from World Indoor champ Chase Jackson of the U.S., who reached 19.97 m (65-6 1/4) in the first round. Jackson got out to 20.46 m (67-1 1/2) in round five, but could not catch Schilder.

American Monae Nichols, the 2024 World Indoor runner-up and no. 2 on the 2026 world list, won the women’s long jump at 6.89 m (22-7 1/4), ahead of Natalia Linares (COL: 6.78 m/22-3), and Americans Lex Brown (6,75 m/22-1 3/4) and 2025 World Indoor champ Claire Bryant, fourth at 6.70 m (21-11 3/4).

On the track, Russell’s 12.25 (wind: +0.4 m/s) is the equal-10th fastest performance in American history, of which she has six! She blasted an excellent field, with three-time World Indoor champ Devynne Charlton (BAH) second in 12.38 and world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR: 12.41) in third.

Uganda’s Chemutai, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, won a duel with 2025 World Champion Faith Cherotich (KEN) down the home straight and got to the line first,8:51.47 to 8:51.48, in the nos. 8-9 performances all-time!

Ethiopia’s Haylom took the lead from Australian star Jessica Hull with 200 m to go in the women’s 1,500 m and won in 3:55.56, with countrywoman Tsige Duguma coming on in the final straight to get second in 3:55.71, a lifetime best. Australia’s Abbey Caldwell also sprinted in for third in a lifetime best of 3:56.12, as Hull faded to sixth. Emily Mackay was the top American, in seventh (3:58.54).

Kipyegon was pressed in the women’s 5, barely winning over Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw (14:24.21) and Senayet Getachew (14:24.71).

In the men’s 3,000 m, Germany’s Abdilaahi got a national record and the win in 7:25.77 to move to no. 11 all-time. He led the final 600 m of the race and out-lasted Kenyan Reynold Cheruiyot, second in 7:26.11 and Swedish star Andreas Almgren, with a national record 7:26.48 in third.

Ireland’s Mark English won the 800 m in the familiar mass sprint finish in 1:43.85 to 1:43.89 for Botswana’s Ketho Haingura and 1:44.00 for American Brandon Miller.

The men’s 100 m was wild, with Americans Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman out best, but five coming to the line almost together, with a surprise win for South Africa’s Gift Leotlela out of lane one in 9.97 (+0.6), over Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (9.98), and Americans Kenny Bednarek (9.98) and Bromell (10.01). Coleman faded to eighth in 10.19.

American Jamal Britt took the 110 m hurdles and moved to no. 2 on the 2026 world list by beating country and 2025 World Champion Cordell Tinch, 13.07 to 13.10 (+0.1), taking over on the run-in.

The 300 m hurdles was a duel between 400 m hurdles stars Tokyo Olympic champ Karsten Warholm (NOR) and 2022 World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA) and dos Santos had the lead off the turn, but Warholm almost caught him on the run-in, 33.01 to 33.05. Trevor Bassitt of the U.S. was fourth in 34.02.

Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh dominated the men’s discus, winning at 70.58 m (231-7) and had four throw beyond second-place Matt Denny (AUS: 67.54 m/221-7).. American record man Sam Mattis was seventh at 64.83 m (212-8).

Two-time World women’s 200 m champ Shericka Jackson (JAM) looked the part, winning 22.07 (+0.3) over Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH: 22.26) and Americans Anavia Battle (22.40) and Sha’Carri Richardson (22.42).

Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce, the 2024 NCAA champ for Arkansas, won the 400 m in 49.75, just ahead of American Aliayah Butler, the 2025 NCAA champ for Georgia, in 49.78.

The Diamond League stays in China for meet no. 2, next Saturday (23rd) in Xiamen.

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PANORAMA: USA Fencing reveals “Maison d’Escrime” at L.A. Biltmore in ‘28; Diamond League opens Saturday; U.S. Ski & Snowboard-North Face deal

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Athletics ● The Diamond League season will begin on Saturday (16th) in Keqiao with good fields, in the first of two meets in China.

Three world-record holders are slated to compete – not necessarily in their record events – with Karsten Warholm in the men’s 300 m hurdles, Swede Mondo Duplantis in the men’s vault and Kenyan Faith Kipyegon in the 5,000 m.

American stars Kenny Bednarek and Trayvon Bromell race in the men’s 100 m against Botswana’s Paris Olympic 200 m champ Letsile Tebogo and World Champion Cordell Tinch of the U.S. is in the 110 m hurdles.

Fellow Americans Anavia Battle, Jenna Prandini and former World 100 m champ Sha’Carri Richardson is in the women’s 200 m against two-time World Champion Shericka Jackson (JAM) and the 100 m hurdles has Olympic champ Masai Russell of the U.S. against World Champion Dita Kambundji (SUI).

Shot star Chase Jackson, who won the World Indoor gold faces Olympic champ Yemisi Mabry (GER) and World Champion Jessica Schilder (NED).

The meet will be broadcast in the U.S. on FloTrack.

On Sunday, the Seiko Golden Grand Prix, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet, is on in Tokyo (JPN), with some strong entries, including American sprint star Noah Lyles in the men’s 100 m, countrymen Courtney Lindsey and Jordan Anthony in the 200 m and Olympic 400 m hurdles gold medalist Rai Benjamin in the 400 m.

● Cycling ● Another first-time winner at the 109th Giro d’Italia, with Italian rider Davide Ballerini getting to the line first at the end of a mass sprint to the close of the sixth stage in Naples.

The final corner – on gravel – caused problems for multiple riders, but Ballerini managed to get to the finish ahead of Belgian sprint star Jasper Stuyven and two-stage winner Paul Magnier (FRA).

Wednesday’s fifth stage, held in rough, rainy weather over 203 km to Potenza shook up the overall standings, with Spain’s Igor Arietta and Alfonso Eulalio (POR) breaking away on the final major climb of the day with 55 km to go. Both crashed and recovered, and despite a wrong turn, Arrietta was able to come back and cross first in 5:07:51, two seconds up on Eulalio. Guillermo Silva (URU) was third, 51 seconds back.

Eulalio, however, took the race lead by 2:51 over Arrietta with Christian Scaroni (ITA) some 3:14 back in third. Most of the pre-race favorites are more than six minutes back, but it’s early.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing is the first U.S. National Governing Body to announce its hospitality arrangements for Los Angeles 2028, securing private space at the iconic Biltmore Los Angeles hotel in downtown Los Angeles for its “Maison d’Escrime.” According to the federation:

● “The invitation-only venue will be open during Olympic fencing competition at the Los Angeles Convention Center, roughly a mile from the Biltmore, and will host athletes, their families, donors, sponsors, USA Fencing members and special guests across the run of the Games.” (It’s actually about 1.8 miles, but a scenic walk along Figueroa Street and then down to Grand Avenue.)

● “Members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic fencing delegation will have full access throughout the Games, as will USA Fencing partners, and major funders of the U.S. Fencing Foundation.”

USA Fencing said it expects to share the space with other National Governing Bodies, similar to what U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating did with their joint “Winter House” at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.

● Football ● It was reported that the Toronto fan festival for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was going to be tickets at C$10 each (C$1 = $0.73 U.S.), however, tickets have been changed to free, but with a sign-up required.

The Toronto hosts are apparently running a C$5 million deficit, but the Fan Festival site explains:

“General admission tickets are free but you must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are only available to reserve online in advance and are not available at the gate.”

There are reserved areas that do cost, with the Casamigos Clubhouse (C$300 plus taxes and fees), Pitchside Terrace (C$150++) and Garden Pavilion (C$100++) available for purchase.

The Fort York festival site will run throughout the tournament, with match-day viewing, concessions and more.

● Skiing ● U.S. Ski & Snowboard signed an eight-year deal with The North Face to “provide competition outerwear for national team athletes, coaches, and staff across all 11 U.S. Ski & Snowboard disciplines” and

“As the exclusive outerwear partner, The North Face will outfit athletes with cutting-edge performance apparel designed to deliver speed, warmth, and protection in the world’s most demanding conditions. In addition to outerwear, The North Face will provide performance base layers, mid-layers, training wear, accessories, and bags/luggage to support the full year-round lifecycle of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.”

The agreement runs through the 2030 French Alps Winter Games and the Utah 2034 Winter Games, and a consumer collection will be available beginning this fall.

● Volleyball ● Remote officiating, familiar to all American fans, has come to volleyball.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) “will introduce a remote Video Challenge System (VCS) hub for the 2026 edition.” Per the announcement:

“Under the updated system, two Challenge Referees and one Bolt6 operator will no longer travel to each VNL event, with selected officiating and technical functions instead operated remotely through a centralised hub.”

● Weightlifting ● USA Weightlifting announced a contract extension for chief executive Matt Sicchio, through 2029. According Board Chair Michael Choi said. “Under his leadership, USAW has strengthened its financial position, bolstered organizational credibility with the USOPC, expanded athlete support opportunities, and achieved historic competitive success on the international stage.”

Sicchio joined USA Weightlifting in August 2022.

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ATHLETICS: Undetailed “Letter to the Membership” of USATF says everything is fine in USOPC governance inquiry

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ “LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP” ≡

On Tuesday, USA Track & Field posted a statement on its Web site titled, “Letter to the Membership,” which explained that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee sent a letter on 18 December 2024 – 18 months ago – “regarding allegations of potential noncompliance by USATF with the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act and NGB Compliance Standards.”

The federation hired one of the law firms recommended by the USOPC, Beveridge and Diamond, which performs compliance audits, to inquire into the USOPC allegations.

The result, according to USATF:

“This spring, B&D completed its independent report, reviewing it first with the USATF Board Audit Committee and then the full USATF Board of Directors in May. B&D’s independent investigation did not find financial fraud, misappropriation of funds, election misconduct, or conflict of interest violations.

“The B&D independent report did identify a series of recommendations to improve systems and processes in USATF’s budgeting, expense, and election procedures.”

The statement also noted that “Over the course of the last year, B&D interviewed twenty-one people and reviewed thousands of pages of documents.”

USATF chief executive Max Siegel’s comment included, “This investigation validated what we knew all along; there was no fraud or financial malfeasance.”

Asked for a copy of the report, USATF Chief Content and Communications Officer Jeff Holder explained that “The report will not be released. As we work through the recommendations, we will share any appropriate updates.”

Observed: While American track & field athletes continue to be the best in the world by far, their federation has struggled financially. The 2025 financial statements and tax return have not been posted – usually not until November or December – but the 2024 audited financial statement shows the federation with negative net assets of $6.1 million, with total assets of $29.7 million. This despite record-smashing revenues of $44.59 million.

An introduction to the 2024 financials noted that “USATF anticipates an operational surplus in 2025.” This would have been due in part to USATF taking over Paralympic track and field in the U.S. in 2025 and receiving “conditional funding totaling $14,150,000, in annual installments through 2028” from the USOPC. About $3.7 million was expected in 2025.

But no announcements on a financial success in 2025.

In December, The Sports Examiner reported on the suspension the memberships of Board members Kristie Killough-Ali, an independent director, and Jere-Summers-Hall, the elected Chair of the USATF Athletes Commission since December 2024.

Former Olympic triple jump champion Mike Conley, a former USATF Board Chair, also had his membership suspended, related to his involvement in a suit against USATF by former staff member Jim Estes, pertaining to the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials.

In response to our story, USATF issued a response which stated that hearings would be held regarding membership suspensions and that, “While USATF does not believe in discussing personal business matters in the public forum, we do believe in facts and transparency.”

A check of the USATF Board list shows that Killough-Ali has departed, but that Summers-Hall is shown once again as the Athletes Commission Chair. No public announcement on her reinstatement has been noted, but she was selected as an “Event Manager” for the USATF staff at the 2025 NACAC Championships in The Bahamas.

In view of so little publicly-available information – and USATF is hardly the only U.S. National Governing Body that practices silence as policy – the most that can be gleaned from the USATF’s cryptic announcement is that it has a continuing revenue problem and spending problem, but apparently is not being stolen from.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Initiative to repeal City of Los Angeles business tax and put Olympic prep in “severe jeopardy” advances to November ballot

By
Rich Perelman
-
A slide from a 13 May 2026 presentation to the Los Angeles City Council on the impact of repealing the business tax (City of Los Angeles video screen shot).

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≡ BUSINESS TAX ON BALLOT ≡

“We would need to reevaluate our Olympics plan and preparedness, it would put everything that we’re planning to do in preparation for the Olympics in question.”

That’s City of Los Angeles Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo, addressing the City Council on Wednesday, explaining the potential financial shock that passage of a public initiative to eliminate the City’s “gross receipts” tax on business within in the City limits.

Szabo ran through a series of slides which showed the potential impacts of losing this taxing authority:

“So in the first year of loss of this tax, we would realize some prior year taxes, so it would in a $740 million dollars loss in the first year. This loss would create an unprecedented fiscal vacuum which would immediately trigger massive spending reductions.

“Beyond the immediate 740 million dollars shock, my office estimates that repealing the tax would trigger an annual General Fund loss of greater $860 million average and that would be over the first five years, it would increase thereafter.

“To manage a shortfall of this magnitude and rising contractual obligations, the City would be forced to implement measures far more severe than those seen during the Great Recession or during the Covid-19 pandemic. And the reason for that difference is that while those previous crises were significant, they were ultimately transitory shocks followed by a period of recovery.

“In contrast, the permanent elimination of the City’s second largest tax stream would open a massive fiscal-year gap requiring immediate ongoing service reductions.”

He stated that the initiative would hurt public safety, reduce the size of the police force and more:

“So not only would this measure require massive reductions to public safely, it would debilitate our homelessness response, our street cleanliness and put our Olympic preparedness efforts in severe jeopardy. …

“[T]he commitments you made to the communities, the plans and the goals you have for your [Council] districts and your priorities city wide, would largely be rendered moot should the business tax be repealed. should this measure be adopted.

“The primary responsibility for whoever occupies seats around this horseshoe, whoever ccupies the Mayor’s office, will be to oversee and implement a systematic and permanent degradation of our most vital City services.”

However, the City Council had essentially no choice and voted 15-0 to move the measure forward to the November election ballot, as the required number of signatures were confirmed to have been collected. If the measure was not forwarded to the ballot, the proponents of the measure would have quite quickly sued to have it placed on the ballot, or a separate election held, that would cost the City $30 million or more to hold.

Even beyond the Olympic impact, the measure will be furiously lobbied on both sides in the lead-up to the November elections.

A significant part of the Council session which consumed more than four hours was public comment about the “Olympic wage” law, which is in effect and will raise minimum wages for airport and airport-area hotel workers to $30.00 per hour by 1 July 2028.

A motion by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson last December stretched out the increases to 1 July 2030, provoking a furious reaction from labor activists, who showed up in force to protest.

However, Harris-Dawson also explained:

“At the passage of the living-wage ordinance, there is been some conversations which is represented in the motion or amendment that is before you today. I want to assure every member of this Council and every member of the public that the, labor movement has come to the table, in good faith, has moved a lot; the business community has been at the table from the beginning and moved some, and continues to move.

“We frankly, about an hour and a half ago, ran out of time and had to come here and hold the vote. But there is a commitment on both sides to continue to negotiate, so what we have today gets the City Attorney started on a process that we expect to come back to on Tuesday.

“My expectation and I say to all the parties involved, my expectation is what comes back Tuesday, will not be what we have in front of us today. The details of how that happens still have to be worked out. But effectively, it’s our role as a Council to mediate between sort of two opposing forces, the people who work for us and the residents and the people who have businesses and who in many cases are residents of the city.”

After more discussion, a vote was taken on the motion to change and elongate the raises, which passed by 9-6. Let’s see what happens Tuesday.

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PANORAMA: French Alps 2030 speed skating going Dutch; another sample-swap doping scandal; another doping charge vs. 2:04:48 Kenyan Kandie

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The International Olympic Committee distributed awards related to the 2026 Winter Games in Rome on Tuesday, with the Olympic Cup – established by modern Games founder Pierre de Coubertin (FRA) in 1906 – awarded to the “People of Italy” for their support of Milan Cortina. Said IOC chief Kirsty Coventry (ZIM):

“These Games were not only organised in Italy – they were embraced by the Italian people.

“The arenas were full, the cheers loud, the atmosphere electric. You celebrated your champions and supported athletes from every nation. You showed the world that passion and respect can go hand in hand.”

The Olympic Order was awarded to multiple Italian government officials, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Ceremonies on Monday saw the Olympic Order given to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and five government ministers.

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● The 2030 organizing committee board confirmed Vincent Roberti, the Prefect of Tarn-et-Garonne since April 2023, will become the new Director General of French Alps 2030, beginning in June.

It was also announced that the speed skating events, for which there is no available site in the French Alps region, will look to hold the sport in one of its most celebrated venues: the 12,500-seat Thialf in Heerenveen (NED). It has been a 23-time ISU World Championships venue.

● Anti-Doping ● Think substituting urine samples in doping tests went out with the Russian state-sponsored doping program of 2011–15? Think again.

The World Anti-Doping Agency reported Tuesday on six doping violations reported against six Georgia national rugby team players and one staff members. “Operation Obsidian” “revealed five instances where sample substitution occurred, also finding that advance notice of testing was being given to players from the Georgia national rugby union team, with the involvement of employees of the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency (GADA).

“It also determined that doping control officers were not observing athletes notified for doping control and not witnessing urine passing, which are clear non-conformities under the rules.”

In response, the Georgian government is working with WADA to create a new anti-doping organization in the country.

● Athletics ● More Kenyan doping news, as the Athletics Integrity Unit announced a four-year ban against 27:34 10 km and 58:53 half-marathoner Hillary Chepkwony “from 8 December 2025, for the Use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (ABP case).” He last raced in June 2025, but his results are nullified back to 24 August 2024.

Kibiwott Kandie, now 29, was the Half Marathon Worlds silver winner in 2020 and ran 2:04:48 for the marathon in 2023. He was suspended in March 2025 for “Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection” and now has an added charge of “Tampering or Attempted Tampering with Doping Control.” He remains provisionally suspended; he last raced in August 2025.

A couple of world-leading marks in a mostly-quiet weekend, notably Japan’s Rachid Muratake – the Paris 2024 fifth-placer – running 13.05 in the 110 m hurdles in Osaka (JPN) on Sunday, and 24-year-old China’s Chenlong Yuan winning the Chinese Athletics Street Tour long jump in Nanjing (CHN) with a lifetime best of 8.33 m (27-4) on his third attempt.

● Badminton ● The USA Badminton Board voted, 7-3, to accept a “Reset Proposal” from the Badminton World Federation and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee of 23 April 2026.

The details of the proposal were not included, but the majority wanted to find a way forward and not have the organization de-certified as the U.S. governing body, while those against noted that issues with financial noncompliance, governance delays, and the lack of grassroots infrastructure are not being fixed.

● Cycling ● The 109th Giro d’Italia was finally in Italy, for the fourth stage, a 138 km ride to Cosenza with a giant climb in the middle. The long, gentle finish allowed for a mass sprint with Jhonatan Navarez (ECU) getting to the line first in 3:08:46, ahead of Orluis Aular (VEN) and Italy’s Giulio Ciccone. The first 42 riders received the same time.

It’s the third career Giro stage win for Navarez, previously in 2020 and 2024. The race leader is now Ciccone, with the top 25 all within 10 seconds.

British star Katie Archibald, 32, said she is retiring from competitive cycling to become a nurse:

“The draw of the real world has been pulling me for a while, but I’ve been too scared to leave the world I know and love and, ultimately, to let go of something I’m good at.

“I’ve fallen completely in love with the whole [nursing] thing, When I let my friends and teammates know I was retiring from sport, they assumed it was because I wasn’t coping doing both.”

Her career includes Olympic track cycling golds in the Team Pursuit in 2016 and the Madison at Tokyo 2020 with Laura Kenny. She won 17 World Championships medals, including wins in 2014-17-18-21-23-24-25 in the Team Pursuit (3), Omnium (2) and Madison (2).

● Swimming ● Fascinating note in the USA Swimming sponsorship extension with Speedo through 2028, for “National Team and National Junior Team programs.” In specific:

“The partnership expansion includes dedicated National Junior team kit entitlements, further investing in the next generation of American swimming talent as they progress through the high-performance pathway.”

Interesting to see the focus on juniors in the deal. Young, super-talented swimmers usually make the varsity quickly and compete at the highest level. A renewed interest in the “pipeline” is noteworthy.

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RUSSIA: Sports Minister Degtyarev says he expects Russia to be re-admitted in “virtually all sports” by the end of 2026

By
Rich Perelman
-
Mikhail Degtyarev, now the Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (Photo: Wikipedia via the Office of the President of Russia)

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≡ RUSSIA STILL SUSPENDED ≡

“Despite the fact that we are not satisfied with the IOC’s decision, we will still be pragmatic.”

That’s Russian Sport Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, speaking with the Russian news agency TASS on Tuesday, commenting on the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation last week to lift sanctions against Belarus:

“Firstly, the lifting of sanctions against Belarus is a serious step forward. Secondly, this is the first time in years that the IOC publicly noted the constructive nature of cooperation with the ROC.”

“Our lawyers, as well as me personally, have already communicated with the IOC administration. A dialogue is underway. We are not changing any plans. We are preparing for the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal this year and for the qualifying tournaments ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in the United States.”

Russia’s participation has been limited since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Degtyarev noted the progress so far:

“At one point, it seemed like everything was blocked for everyone. There was no plan to get out of this situation. Our team did everything possible to open the doors and return to competitions, at least as a neutral party.

“Now we’re restoring the flag and anthem, and the results are clear: this year, our athletes will be allowed to compete internationally in virtually all sports. This is my prediction, based on our negotiating positions and the communication we maintain with international organizations. Meanwhile, our anthem is already being played and our flag is being raised at many tournaments.”

Belarus continues to be returned to international competitions as federations follow the IOC’s recommendation, including announcement on Tuesday from World Boxing, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne and the International Volleyball Federation. World Athletics and the International Tennis Federation have pointedly said they are not changing their status on Belarus.

On Russia, a few federations have re-integrated their athletes without restrictions, including the International Judo Federation last October, World Taekwondo in January and World Aquatics in April. The IOC has indicated Russia’s status is different and remains restricted as far as it is concerned.

Further, IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) noted continuing inquiries by the World Anti-Doping Agency into accusations that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has links with the Russian government security services, which have been denied.

There is also political pressure building on Degtyarev. Former ice hockey star Vyacheslav Fetisov, himself a former Russia Sports Minister and since 2016 a member of the State Duma – the Russian national legislature – as well as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings as a defenseman, told TASS:

“Until RUSADA is reinstated, it’s not entirely correct to talk about a full return of our Olympic Committee. Unfortunately, many promises were made, especially to the athletes, coaches, and us, the legends of Russian hockey, basketball, football, and other sports, that we would soon be able to enjoy the Olympic Games in a format with national representation, its symbols, and paraphernalia.

“We were promised that this would happen this summer, but it seems they somehow miscalculated. They’re trying to convince us that everything is fine, when in fact, it’s not.

“I’m upset for our athletes, coaches, and fans. Once again, we were promised something, and we failed to deliver.”

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Wednesday L.A. City Council meeting slated to approve ballot measure that could “fundamentally undermine” city’s Olympic operations

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Los Angeles City Hall, a 1928 Art Deco downtown icon (Photo: Tim Ahern via Wikipedia)

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≡ L.A. BUSINESS TAX REPEAL ≡

The latest potential financial crisis to hit the City of Los Angeles will come up for City Council approval on Wednesday (13th) as a ballot initiative has collected sufficient signatures to be placed before Los Angeles voters.

The initiative proposed to repeal the City’s business tax effective 1 January 2028, which is based on gross receipts by businesses within the city and not on net income.

Given the continuing budget crises which Los Angeles faced in its 2025-26 budget and continues to deal with right now in the approval of the 2026-27 budget – which must be finished by 31 May – here’s how serious the new threat is to the 2028 Olympic Games, according to the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, Matthew Szabo:

“Eliminating the business tax would deal an irreparable blow, necessitating an immediate and lasting contraction of public services and fundamentally undermine the City’s ability to prepare for and host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (2028 Games).

“The sudden, permanent loss of $860 million on average in annual revenue starting in 2027-28 would coincide exactly with the final, most intensive preparation phase for the 2028 Games. This fiscal vacuum would jeopardize the city-wide mobility and transit enhancements currently being planned to accommodate millions of visitors. Furthermore, the projected deep cuts to public safety and public works services would severely degrade the City’s capacity to provide the essential security, sanitation, and emergency response levels required for a global event of this magnitude.

“By stripping the General Fund of its second-largest tax revenue source just as these international obligations peak, the repeal would shift the City from a position of growth and readiness to one of permanent structural austerity, leaving it ill-equipped to fulfill its commitments to the world stage.”

The initiative’s backers, who collected 79,317 public signatures, had their petition certified by the City Clerk on 23 March 2026 and it is in line to be placed on the 3 November 2026 election ballot. The measure was created by business interests to try and reduce the business tax burden in the City of Los Angeles, the latest chapter in a long tug-of-war between businesses and labor groups over costs, wages and benefits.

The Chief Administrative Officer’s report casts passage of the measure in catastrophic terms for the finances of the City:

● “The adoption of the proposed initiative ordinance repealing the business tax on non-cannabis business activity would result in an annual General Fund revenue loss of $860 million on average for the first five years starting in fiscal year 2027-28.

“The average annual loss would increase every year. The cumulative negative impact resulting from this tax repeal over the next ten years would be $9.6 billion. This would require immediate and significant reductions in City services and would severely impact the City’s long-term financial stability.”

● “The scale of the revenue loss – representing roughly 10 percent of the General Fund and 12 percent of all unrestricted revenue – is unprecedented. To manage a shortfall of this magnitude amid existing structural deficits and rising contractual obligations, the City would be forced to implement austerity measures far more severe than those seen during the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While those previous crises were significant, they were ultimately transitory shocks followed by recovery. In contrast, the permanent elimination of the City’s second-largest tax revenue stream would open a massive, structural fiscal gap requiring immediate, ongoing service reductions.”

Just as a precaution if the measure is approved for a vote – for which it has qualified – the Chief Administrative Officer’s report states that the City would need to (1) start saving money immediately; (2) limit new hires to just six months of funding; (3) freezing all unfunded positions in the new budget; (4) prepare for a “fiscal emergency” in case of passage, including no new hires, a list of positions to be eliminated, deferment of contracts and capital projects, discussions with unions on cancellation of wage increases, and as for public safety, “suspend police sworn hiring for 2026-27 beginning with the cancellation of the January 2027 police class.”

The recommended City Council’s instructions would also include:

“Direct the City Administrative Officer to report to the City Council and Mayor on the impact the required cuts will have on the City’s preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games including its ability to meet its obligations as a Host City and provide the services required under service agreements established with the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28).”

Given the certification of sufficient signatures, the City Council appears to have no choice but to approve the initiative for the November ballot. Once placed there, the stakes for the City will be high, as well as for the security and services planning for the 2028 Games.

Also on Wednesday, the Council will consider a modification to the “Olympic wage” ordinance which was won by labor unions representing airport and airport-area hotel workers for raises in their minimum wages to $30.00 by 1 July 2028.

A motion by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson on 5 December 2025 asked to have the law changed to have the increases introduced more slowly, with the $30.00 wage taking effect on 1 July 2030.

The unions are strongly against the change and will no doubt rally many loud supporters at Wednesday’s meeting. But the City is also under pressure from businesses which are involved in airport operations and airport-area hotels, who are now paying these higher wages and benefits.

The City Council debate should be fascinating.

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