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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● International Olympic Committee ● The IOC replied Monday to an inquiry about the Indonesian government’s refusal to grant entry visas to the Israeli team for the FIG World Artistic Championships saying only:
“We are aware of various allegations regarding the Israeli national artistic gymnastics team’s participation in the upcoming World Championships in Indonesia. We are working to better understand the situation with all stakeholders.”
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The IOC announced a renewed cooperation agreement with the World Olympians Association, a worldwide alumni group, which will be aimed at “maximising the impact of joint initiatives and resources to ensure that Olympians continue to be empowered to serve as role models and ambassadors of the Olympic Movement.”
This is significant as a change in attitude for the IOC from the Thomas Bach Era, when the IOC tried to absorb the WOA, but was rejected by the WOA in 2023.
WOA President Joel Bouzou (FRA) said, “We have achieved much over the last three Olympic cycles, including the creation of the OLY post-nominal letters and our grants and scholarship programmes, and we look forward to working hand in hand with the IOC to deliver even more services and opportunities for Olympians.”
● Archery ● World Archery announced that Tom Dielen (BEL), the federation’s Secretary General from 2005, was replaced on 10 October by 1992 Olympic men’s Team gold medalist Juan Carlos Holgado (ESP) as the Executive Director, new position.
He will serve as Acting Secretary General until that position is hired. Dielen lost to new World Archery President Greg Easton (USA) in the early September elections during the World Archery Congress. He said in a statement:
“I have had the privilege of working for a total of 26 years as a professional and several years as a volunteer at World Archery. The journey started in Lausanne with a meeting with Jim Easton in the Lausanne Palace in February 1996. He hired me, a few months later, in June 1996.
“I had the pleasure of working very well with Jim for six years and professionalised the office after moving the headquarters from Milan to Lausanne. In 2002, I left World Archery for three years and three months to move to WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency], but kept a volunteer role in the constitution and rules committee.
“When Prof Dr Ugur Erdener [TUR] wanted to become president, we sat together and jointly developed the 10-point presidential programme. Key elements of that were the mediatisation of our sport as well as implementing the World Cup, a project I finalised just before leaving to WADA in 2002. For me, it was essential that this project, which was not implemented during my absence (since there was no title sponsor nor financing for it), was implemented as soon as the elections confirmed Prof Dr Erdener as president and me as secretary general.
“The cancelled season due to the COVID pandemic will have caused me to miss the 20th edition next year. The World Cup has moved archery from a danger zone, nearly being kicked out of the Olympic Games at the session in Singapore in 2005, to a sport that is seen as a reference.”
● Athletics ● World Athletics posted the five nominees for Track Athlete of the Year for men and women, with fan voting available on the federation’s social channels:
Men:
● Rai Benjamin (USA) ~ 400 m hurdles World Champion
● Jimmy Gressier (FRA) ~ 10,000 m World Champion
● Noah Lyles (USA) ~ 200 m World Champion, 100 bronze
● Cordell Tinch (USA) ~ 110 m hurdles World Champion
● Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) ~ 800 m World Champion
Women:
● Femke Bol (NED) ~ 400 m hurdles World Champion
● Beatrice Chebet (KEN) ~ 5,000-10,000 m World Champion
● Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) ~ 100-200 m World Champion
● Faith Kipyegon (KEN) ~ 1,500 m World Champion, 5,000 m silver
● Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) ~ 400 m World Champion
Voting closes on 19 October with two finalists to be selected for each award.
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Kenyan distance runner Diana Chepkorir, 23, a 29:56 10 km road runner – no. 20 all-time – was banned for four years from 15 September 2025 based on irregularities in her Athlete Biological Profile. An expert panel noted of her test data, “the sequence of samples 2, 4, 5 and 6 displays an “ON” followed by an “OFF” phase pathognomonic for situations where the red cell mass is artificially increased and the body subsequently downregulates its own red cell production.”
● Football ● The U.S. men’s national team finished its latest international-play window against 2016 World Cup qualifier Australia in Commerce City, Colorado on Tuesday.
The game started with the U.S. in charge of the ball, but it was Australian defender Jordan Bos who scored in the 19th on a failed clearance and then an opportunistic left-footed shot from the center of the box to the right corner. But the Americans got even in the 33rd as striker Haji Wright took a lead pass in the box from midfielder Cristian Roldan and ahead of the defense, finished with a right-footed tap to the top of the left corner of the net.
In the half, the U.S. had 70% of possession and a 6-1 lead on shots, but only the one goal.
After an early Australian rush, Roldan surprised the Socceroos; off re-start, he sent a long pass from midfield to Wright streaking, on the right side, one-on-one toward the Aussie goal. He got control, faked to the right, went left and sent a curling, left-footed rocket to the far left side of the net for a 2-1 U.S. lead in the 51st.
U.S. substitute forward Diego Luna had a fabulous chance on a charge on the net in the 79th that was amazingly saved by Australian keeper Mathew Ryan. U.S. keeper Matt Freese saved a 90th-minute challenge from sub striker Nestory Irankunda, who danced through most of the defense, and that was enough for the win. The U.S. finished with 64% possession and a 10-9 shots edge.
In an up-and-down 2025, the 16th-ranked U.S. has rebounded from losses to 14th-ranked Mexico (July) and no. 23 South Korea (September) with wins against no. 19 Japan (2-0), a tie with no. 24 Ecuador (1-1) and now a win vs. no. 25 Australia. A key measure will come in November against South American sides no. 37 Paraguay and no. 15 Uruguay.
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Israel completed its latest UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers with two losses on the road in Oslo against group leader Norway (5-0 on 11 October) and 3-0 against Italy in Udine on Tuesday. Both games were marked by protests against Israel’s retaliation in Gaza against the 7 October invasion and massacre by Hamas.
There was a mostly-orderly protest of about 1,000 people against Israel in Oslo, with a heavy police presence and some protesting fans inside the nearly-full Ullevaal Stadion.
There were as many as 10,000 protesters in Udine according to The Associated Press and a heavy police presence. Skirmishes with protesters ended once the match began, but after about 50 people charged the police and were repelled with water cannons and tear gas. Less than 10,000 tickets were sold for the match; some booing of the Israeli anthem was covered by cheers from others.
● Gymnastics ● It was announced Monday that Russian star Alexander Dityatin, who won eight Olympic medals at a single Games at Moscow in 1980, has died at age 68.
He won four golds at the 1979 FIG World Championships, then won the Team gold, All-Around and Rings in Moscow in 1980, with silvers in the Pommel Horse, Vault, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar and a Floor Exercise bronze. Only U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, with eighth medals in 2004 (6-0-2) and 2008 (8-0-0) has also won eight in a single Games.
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U.S. gymnastics icon Simone Biles told a forum last week in Buenos Aires (ARG):
“Everyone likes to talk about L.A. and what that road looks like for me. So currently, I am taking some time off from the gym because I think it’s really important that your physical health matches your mental health.
“That’s why you saw so much of my success in Paris, because the mental and the physical were right on par. They were right on track with each other, so I think that’s really, really important.
“I’m not sure what 2028 looks like, but I will be there in some capacity. I just don’t know right now if it’s on the floor or in the stands. But I definitely want to go and be a part of that movement.”
● Judo ● A compact field of 248 judoka from 48 countries contested the IJF World Tour Lima Grand Prix in Peru.
Brazil took four wins, with Olympic medalist Daniel Cargnin taking the men’s 73 kg class, Rafael Macedo winning at 90 kg, Giovani Ferreira at 100 kg and Jessica Pereira in the women’s 52 kg division.
Israel won two golds, with Izhak Ashpiz in the men’s 60 kg and women’s Olympic runner-up Raz Hershko at +78 kg. Rio and Tokyo Olympic champ Lukas Krpalek (CZE) won the men’s +100 kg for his 10th career Grand Prix and Grand Slam gold. Tokyo Olympic 57 kg bronzer Jessica Klimkait (CAN) took the women’s 63 kg class.
The U.S. won a silver in the men’s 81 kg final by Johan Silot for its lone medal.
● Speed Skating & Short Track ● The International Skating Union announced Tuesday a new bonus program for world records in both disciplines, of $5,000 for individual events, and $5,000 per team member for speed skating team events (3 athletes) or the mixed relay (2 athletes). Same $5,000 prize for Short Track and $20,000 for team events with four skaters.
The record setters will also get a “world record” ring!
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