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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games ● Tuesday marked the 105th anniversary of the first “Meeting International d’Education Physique Féminine de Sports Athlétiques,” held in Monte Carlo, Monaco, from 24-31 March 1921.
Organized by French women’s activist Alice Milliat and International Sporting Club de Monaco director Camille Blanc, about 100 women from five countries competed in 10 track & field events, with the express goal of getting the International Amateur Athletics Federation to hold women’s events in the Olympic Games.
It led to the 1922 “Women’s Olympiad” in Paris – later the “Women’s World Games” – and more events for women and finally, the IAAF relented and women’s events were eventually introduced at the 1928 Amsterdam Games.
● Athletics ● The Botswana-based Debswana Diamond Company – a partnership between the government and DeBeers – is the title sponsor of the now-Debswana World Athletics Relays in Gaborone (BOT) on 2-3 May.
The announcement notes a 16 million-pula contribution (about $1.168 million U.S.) for title sponsorship for the event. Debswana chief executive Andrew Motsomi explained:
“This partnership represents a powerful opportunity to elevate the World Athletics Relays and contribute to the continued growth of athletics in Botswana, while amplifying our global brand presence.
“As the world turns its attention to Botswana, the home of the men’s 4x400m world champions, we are proud to help showcase world-class competition on our soil. This moment also allows us to share the background of Botswana’s natural diamonds – a story rooted in positive impact, sustainability and national development – alongside the sporting excellence that defines our nation.”
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Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said that World Athletics voted at its Council meeting last week to remove the remaining sanctions related to doping on the Russian Athletics Federation:
“The RusAF has completed the so-called three-year ‘quarantine’ under a program stipulating special conditions: all of the set 34 strategic conditions and operational requirements have been fulfilled, new management standards have been introduced, anti-doping work has been restructured, and regional structures have been updated.”
Russian Athletics Federation head Pyotr Fradkov explained that as for Russian athletes competing again:
“We continue to engage with World Athletics on the return of Russian athletes to the world stage, and there are positive signs. We are exploring all possible scenarios and are continuing discussions with [World Athletics head] Sebastian Coe [GBR] regarding the full reinstatement of Russian athletes.”
Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned over the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
● Cycling ● Following the death of Swiss 18-year-old rider Muriel Furrer from a crash at the 2024 World Road Championships in Switzerland, where she was not attended to for more than an hour after her incident, the Union Cycliste Internationale has asked for mandatory location sensors, using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to allow tracking of all riders.
Union Cycliste Internationale President David Lappartient (FRA) explained in a letter sent last week to all teams and races, “It will be phased in and mandatory across different categories.”
The UCI is not requiring that its own system be adopted, but that a system which meets its requirements is installed, with a deadline of 30 April for teams to specify how they will implement it. Many installed systems – weighing as little as two ounces – are placed under the saddle.
● Figure Skating ● The ISU World Championships get started in Prague (CZE) on Wednesday, with some of the Olympic winners missing, but many ready to compete. Among the favorites:
● Men: Two-time defending World Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) is entered after his Olympic Free Skate failure, facing Olympic silver winner Yumi Kagiyama (JPN) and bronzer Shun Sato (JPN).
● Women: Retiring three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) will try for a fourth gold after Olympic silver, and will compete with teammate and Olympic bronzer Ami Nakai and American Amber Glenn, whose dynamic Olympic Free Skate catapulted her to fifth overall. U.S. Olympian Isabeau Levito, 12th in Milan, is in the field too.
● Pairs: Olympic silver winners Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava (GEO) and bronze medalists Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) are back, and Americans Alisa Efimova & Misha Mitrofanov, who could not compete in Milan, will challenge.
● Ice Dance: Olympic champs Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) are in and will try for their first Worlds gold as a duo. Olympic bronze winners Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier (CAN) figure to be their best competition.
NBC’s Peacock streaming service will show the event in the U.S., with afternoon coverage (some delayed) on USA Network or NBC.
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The International Skating Union unveiled its awards finalists, with Glenn, Malinin and Kagiyama all finalists for “Most Entertaining Program” and Glenn, Malinin and Gilles and Poirier the finalists for “Best Costume.”
The award winners will be announced at the end of the Championships, on Sunday.
● Football ● “Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and Euroconsumers have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against FIFA, alleging that the football body has abused its monopoly position to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes on European fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“FIFA holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market. For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; fair and transparent access to tickets is essential.”
The complaint alleges six abuses of the sales process – under European law – by FIFA and is asking for an immediate end to dynamic pricing to sales to European consumers, a freeze on pricing at the December 2025 levels and to publish data on remaining tickets and locations before the April ticket sale is opened.
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