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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (CAN) announced its 2026 Olympic display on Monday, which includes the pucks used for the gold-medal, overtime goals scored by Americans Megan Keller and Jack Hughes.
Hughes had remarked in an ESPN story that he would like the puck himself, to give to his father. The Hall of Fame announcement included a comment from President Jamie Dinsmore:
“These donated items represent defining moments on the world’s biggest stage and carry powerful stories of national pride and hockey history at its highest level.
“The Olympic ’26 display will help ensure that these unforgettable Olympic moments are preserved for our guests from around the world to experience.”
The Hall of Fame has received items related to the Games from the International Ice Hockey Federation, since the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature NHL players.
● Russia ● Russian President Vladimir Putin once again campaigned for Russia to be re-integrated without conditions into international sports. During a Wednesday meeting with government members, Putin said:
“With the recent change of the [executive] team within the International Olympic Committee, I would hope they would stop their tricks and stop using international sports as a tool of political struggle.”
Russia has placed high hopes in better treatment from IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) than from predecessor Thomas Bach (GER). Under Coventry, the IOC has told the worldwide sports federations they could re-integrate Russian and Belarusian “youth” athletes and teams as they see fit, despite the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine. But no decisions have been made on allowing Russia to return to the Games on any basis other than as “neutrals.”
● Baseball ● The sixth World Baseball Classic concluded on Tuesday evening with Venezuela’s 3-2 win over the U.S., with the real winner being the tournament itself.
The Associated Press reported that “This year’s WBC drew 1,619,839 fans for 47 games, a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,306,414 in 2023. The initial tournament in 2006 drew 740,451 for 39 games.”
The question now is what happens next. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said:
“There’s no resemblance to where we started in 2006. This one, I feel like it went to a different level. …
“The issue for us is whether we do it in ‘29 or in ’30, three years or four years? I’m getting a lot of email from people today saying don’t make us wait four more years for this.
“I do think a three- or four-year cycle is probably about right for the event. The timing is going to turn on what we do with respect to related sorts of international efforts. I remain optimistic about the Olympics and obviously if we play in the Olympics it’s a short time from July of ‘28 ’till the spring of 29 and that’s something we’ll have to take into account. I’m not saying it’s outcome determinative, but it’s something we’ll have to think about.”
Discussions have swirled around an expanded All-Star break in 2028 to accommodate the All-Star Game and the six-day Olympic tournament in Los Angeles. The World Baseball Classic took just 13 days from start to finish, played in Tokyo (JPN), San Juan (PUR) and in Houston and Miami in the U.S. and could be wholly or partially fit into a mid-season break in the future.
● Basketball ● The Olympic and World Champion U.S. women’s team cruised through the remaining two games of the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan (PUR), defeating New Zealand on Sunday, 101-46 and then easing past Spain on Tuesday by 84-70. The U.S. finished 5-0.
Guard Rhyne Howard had 18 points to lead the Americans against New Zealand, with guard Caitlin Clark scoring 14. Spain, fifth in Paris in 2024, was a bigger challenge, but got off to a 43-32 lead halftime edge and won by 14. Guard Kahleah Cooper led with 20, followed by guard Kelsey Plum with 18 and forward Dearica Hamby, with 14.
Clark, playing for a U.S. senior team for the first time, was recognized as the Most Valuable Player, averaging 11.6 points per game. She was joined on the All-Star Five by Plum among the U.S. players.
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 will take place in Berlin (GER) between 4-13 September.
● Football ● The Town of Foxborogh, Massachusetts approved on Tuesday the license for seven FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to be held at Gillette Stadium, in view of the guarantees it received for funding of an expected $7.8 million in security costs. It had been unwilling to approve the matches unless these costs were agreed to be paid by someone other than the town.
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The newest idea to handle the Iranian team situation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Inside World Football suggested placing Iran in Mexico except for game-days against New Zealand and Belgium on 15 June and 23 June and then have the team take a short flight to Los Angeles International Airport and then bus to SoFi Stadium.
For the third match against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June, Iran could fly there from Mexico, or should they move to Canada? The Group G winner plays in Seattle on 1 July and the runner-up in Arlington, Texas on 3 July in the Round of 32; a third-place team could play in Vancouver (CAN) or East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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The on-the-field result of the 18 January 2026 African Cup of Nations final in Rabat (MAR), where Senegal defeated Morocco by 1-0 after extra time, was reversed by the African Football Confederation and Morocco was handed the win on a 3-0 forfeit.
According to the confederation statement published Tuesday:
“The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (‘the Match’), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”
During the match, the Senegal team walked off the field to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco in the 98th minute and stay away for about 15 minutes. Senegal finally returned, the penalty was missed and Senegal won in the 94th minute on a Papa Gueye goal.
Sanctions against the Moroccan federation in the same holding for multiple other issues, including ball boys continuously removing the Senegal goalkeeper’s towel ($50,000 fine), interference with the referees around the video review area ($100,000 fine) and the use of “laser pens” by supporters ($10,000 fine).
Senegal’s federation has called the decision a sham and has promised an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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Iranian media reported that the women’s national team, including five members who initially asked for asylum in Australia, but decided to return, are in Iran. They flew into Turkey and took a bus into Iran and were met by officials at the border.
Two players stayed in Australia after Iran was eliminated in the Women’s Asian Cup tournament, and continue to be supported there.
● Skating ● The International Skating Union is inviting inquiries and then bids to acquire all of the federation’s broadcast and sponsorship and licensing rights in a single package.
It’s a move to try and free the ISU from the marketing task and try to lock up value for the long term. No specifics were given and interested parties are asked to signal interest by 26 March.
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