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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.
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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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