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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers said that the second ticket sales period will run from 10-20 August, with tickets to be sold for all 36 sports.
More than four million tickets were sold in the first sales period.
● Badminton ● There has been considerable confusion over the status of USA Badminton as the governing body for the sport in the U.S., exacerbated by an announcement on 11 May that the USA Badminton board approved a “Reset Proposal” by 7-3 from the Badminton World Federation.
However, the approval does not change the status of USA Badminton with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. A USOPC statement to The Sports Examiner on Wednesday explained:
“We’ve let BWF and USAB know that we will not open an application process for a new NGB until after LA28. This will allow USAB to work with BWF on the reset to adopt and implement necessary governance and operational reforms.”
Thus, the USOPC will continue to be responsible for elite-level badminton programs in the U.S. through the LA28 Games.
● Bobsled & Skeleton ● USA Bobsled & Skeleton announced an extension of its existing partnership with Cowbells.com to produced official USABS cowbells through 2034, the year of the Olympic Winter Games in Utah.
The production agreement began in 2020 and will now continue; how can you have sliding sports without official cowbells?
● Judo ● A long-time split in American judo has apparently ended with a Wednesday announcement that USA Judo and the United States Judo Federation have a “formal partnership”:
“USJF joins USA Judo and the American Traditional Jujutsu Association (ATJA) in this agreement. One of the key components of the partnership is a reciprocal membership for judo events, allowing members to compete in events of either organization.”
USJF President Mitchell Palacio explained:
“The United States Judo Federation extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Ron Tripp, USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto and USJF Executive Director Robert Fukuda for their collaboration in establishing this reciprocal membership agreement. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening judo in the United States by expanding opportunities, reducing barriers to participation, and fostering greater unity within our judo community. Together, we are creating a stronger foundation for the growth and success of current and future generations of judokas.”
USA Judo is the recognized National Governing Body for the sport by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
● Skating ● The International Skating Union, at its 60th Ordinary Congress in Tenerife (ESP), approved a major increase in price money for all of its disciplines:
“The approved measures will see prize money across all skating disciplines more than double over the next two seasons, alongside a significant increase in Member travel contributions, reflecting the ISU’s commitment to reinvesting the benefits of its strong financial performance directly back into the sport and its people.
“Under the approved budget, ISU prize money will increase from USD 5.4 million in the 2025/26 season to USD 11.1 million in 2026/27, before reaching USD 12 million in 2027/28, underscoring the organization’s ambition to ensure that the success of skating benefits those at the heart of the sport.”
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The ISU also announced a first-time combined world championships for its figure skating, speed skating, short track and synchronized skating in Beijing (CHN) in 2028.
Dates were not announced, but the event will be held at three venues: the National Indoor Stadium, the Capital Indoor Stadium and the National Speed Skating Oval.
The ISU follows the Union Cycliste Internationale, which combined nearly all of its disciplines in a massive single World Championships for the first time in 2023 in Glasgow (SCO). The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) is considering the same concept for its disciplines for 2028 and has asked for bidders.
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