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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Although mostly positive, there has been some shrieking about the 14 August announcement that the LA28 organizers will venue naming rights to its temporary venues, but with the International Olympic Committee retaining its ban on sponsorship signage inside competition sites.
“I understand people’s confusion, and even their alarm.
“Relax. The IOC will never abandon its ‘clean venue guidelines’ as it pertains to in and around the field of play.”
That’s from veteran American observer, bid expert and Olympic sponsorship designer and marketer Terrence Burns, in a LinkedIn post on the issue. He added:
“The over-reaction to this is understandable, but also uninformed about how LA28 and the IOC are approaching this new opportunity.
“And yes, I think every future OCOG or Candidate City see this as an additional revenue stream. And they should because they need it.
“Take it from someone who used to approve TOP Partner marketing activations, who used to canvass Olympic venues pre-Games with [duct] tape to cover up inappropriately displayed brand names, sponsors or not.
“This is a positive development and long overdue.”
Relax.
● Junior Pan American Games 2025: Asuncion ● The second Pan Am Juniors is heading to the finish on Sunday. Through Thursday, Brazil continues to lead the medal count with 150 (63-39-48), with the U.S. second at 112 (40-34-38), then Mexico (100: 22-41-37) and Colombia (95: 37-24-34).
● Athletics ● “After thoughtful and careful consideration, Foot Locker has made the difficult decision to conclude the annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championships (FLXC). As we look to the future, this strategic decision reflects our ongoing commitment to evaluating where we can make the most meaningful impact for our business, our customers, and the communities we serve, including the running community.
“For the past 45 years, the FLXC has been more than just a race; it has been a celebration of passion, perseverance, and the boundless potential of student-athletes across the country. As the longest running cross country race in the nation, it has brought together generations of runners, coaches, families, and fans and helped build one of the most inspiring communities in high school sports.”
Thursday’s announcement ends what started as the Kinney Cross Country Championships in San Diego in 1979 and grew into one of the most anticipated races of each season, up through December of 2024. No reasons were given for the decision, but it was announced in May that Foot Locker is being acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods for an equity value of $2.4 billion.
The transaction is slated to close by the end of the year; it’s not unusual for the sponsorships of a company being acquired to be shut down in favor of the marketing efforts of the acquirer.
Dick’s is the Official Sporting Goods Retail Provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee in the Official Supporters tier.
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The Athletissima Lausanne Diamond League meet was held under brutal conditions, with hard rain, but some athletes weren’t that upset:
● Cordell Tinch of the U.S., the 110 m hurdles winner in a speedy 12.98, said afterwards, “I felt great through the warmup, this is my kind of weather! This result feels great.”
● American Joe Kovacs, winner of the men’s shot at 22.04 m (72-3 3/4), said, “I’m never too scared of the rain, I live in a rainy state [Ohio]. You just have to find a way to make it work. It’s always good to put another 22-meter throw in the bank, even if the mark itself isn´t the most impressive. My wife [Ashley] told me not to come home without that wheel of cheese they give as a prize here; that´s my favorite part of the meeting.”
● Josh Hoey of the U.S., winner of the men’s 800 m in an amazing (for the conditions) 1:42.82, explained:
“I wanted to get out hard, let the leaders take the rain, and then make my move with 100 to go. It felt like being a kid again, playing in the rain. I´ve never raced in anything like this before. It reminded me of cross-country growing up, where it comes down to being the toughest and the most patient.”
● American Noah Lyles was second in the men’s 100 m (10.02), but was upbeat:
“I just had a horrible reaction to the gun. That was the only thing wrong. Technically I felt good, my warm-up was good, but once you miss the start at this level the race is basically over. Physically I feel great, and I am confident every race will get better and better. The goal is to sharpen the details, especially my drive phase and my start, heading to Tokyo and the World Championships.”
● The 100 m winner, Jamaican Oblique Seville, was impressive with his 9.87 win:
“Running 9.87 in those conditions shows I can go much faster, anywhere in the world. That´s a good time. I´ve beaten the Olympic Champion [Lyles] twice, in London and here, and that gives me a lot of confidence heading into the championships. It´s been a while since a Jamaican man has won the 100 m at a global championship, and of course I believe I can be the one to do it. My coach inspires me a lot, even the small tips he gives make a big difference.”
The penultimate Diamond League meet comes Friday in Brussels (BEL) for the annual Van Damme Memorial, with cloudy skies and cool temperatures in the low 60s forecast in the evening.
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Where did this come from? Norway’s Hakon Moe Berg, 19, finished a tight second to Worlds 1,500 m bronze winner Narve Nordas at the Pfungstadt Evening Sports Festival in Germany, 3:30.26 to 3:30.28!
That’s more than five seconds better than his prior best of 3:35.41 and a qualifying mark for the World Athletics Championships. Moe Berg had already won the European U-20 titles in the 1,500 m and 3,000 m and now this?
He’s now no. 8 on the all-time world junior list and the third-fastest junior in European history, behind Niels Laros (NED: 3:29.54 in 2024) and countryman Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:30.16 in 2019).
● Swimming ● The U.S. junior women are having a terrific time at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni (ROU) through three of six days, with five wins, including Rylee Erisman (100 m Free: 52.79 meet record), Charlotte Crush (100 m Back: 59.52), Audrey Denvaux (200 m Back: 2:06.99 meet record and 200 m Fly: 2:07.57), Rachel McAlpin (50 m Breast: 30.78).
Florida-based Erisman, 16, now sits at no. 6 all-time U.S. and no. 5 on the 2025 world list, and would have won the bronze medal with that time at the World Championships in Singapore!
The Americans also won the Mixed 4×100 Free relay and was second in the Mixed 4×100 m Medley. The men’s team has two bronzes so far, from Gavin Keogh in the 100 m Back and in the 4×100 m Free relay.
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