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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers said Monday that the Games-time volunteer sign-up portal will open on 14 July 2026, two years ahead of the Olympic opening..
This is different from the prior volunteer “interest” sign-up; an L.A. spokesperson explained:
“To date, more than 300,000 people globally that have expressed interest in participating in LA28’s volunteer program; none have applied as the application for Games-time roles is not yet available.
“On July 14, those who expressed interest will receive an email prompting them to submit and complete an application to be considered for a Games-time role.”
About 60,000 volunteers are expected to be engaged for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
● Anti-Doping ● The head of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, Sara Carter, issued an open letter on Monday to other anti-doping agencies, warning of actions by the World Anti-Doping Agency to weaken, among others, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:
“In this Open Letter I am writing to all WADA Stakeholders to address a report of the Working Group on the Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organizations (the ‘WGOI Report’) that I understand will be relied upon as a basis to weaken the role and effectiveness of operationally independent national anti-doping organizations (NADOs), which includes, the U.S. NADO, USADA.
“The United States considers it vital to the wellbeing of clean athletes to respond promptly and firmly to reject any use of the WGOI Report as a spring board to substantially alter the World Anti-Doping Program to diminish the role of operationally independent NADOs, which would thereby render the World Anti-Doping Program less accountable and transparent than it is today.”
The letter pointed out that the unspecified reform proposals came from a critique of WADA’s performance in the 2021 Chinese swimming mass-positives incident:
“Thus, it is predictable but still deeply ironic that WADA Management’s own conclusion arising from its failure to ensure that its own procedures were followed in the Russian and Chinese situations is to reduce the oversight role of NADOs and impose costly burdens upon them. WADA Management’s recommendations are obviously wrong. The overall impact of WADA’s recommendations would diminish transparency, independence, and checks and balances to the detriment of the global anti-doping system and would undermine confidence in that system for Athletes and Governments.”
An extraordinary meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee is to be held on Tuesday to discuss recommendations to transfer some roles to an “independent agency.” The U.S. cannot attend as a result of its withholding WADA dues.
● Athletics ● Statistician Tom Casacky points to a ninth collegiate record at the 2026 NCAA Championships last week, with Washington’s Amanda Moll clearing 4.84 m (15-10 1/2) to win, a centimeter higher than sister Hana’s 4.83 m (15-10) in May.
However, the sisters have three higher clearances indoors: 4.91 m (16-1 1/4) by Amanda in 2025, 4.88 m (16-0) by Amanda in 2025 and Hana’s 4.88 m (16-0) indoors in January. He notes, “[t]he NCAA/USTFCCCA don’t have an ‘absolute’ designation” that includes indoor marks.
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TSX reader and on-field television coordinator David Glassman pointed out that at least five people were present in Eugene to see Ja’Kobe Tharp’s 12.75 world record in the 110 m hurdles who were also on hand in 1976 to see the last world mark set in an NCAA Championships: Dwight Stones’ 2.31 m (7-7) for Long Beach State.
Stones, of course, was on hand as ESPN’s play-by-play announcer for the meet, plus Ed Miller, the 1976 decathlon winner for Cal; then-Western Kentucky assistant coach Sam Seemes; Arizona State 400 m runner-up Herman Frazier, and Vince Giarrocco, then in high school and now part of the Flash Results timing crew.
Any more?
● Equestrian ● The race for President in the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) is on with the federation stating Monday there are three candidates: Mark Samuel (CAN), Sabrina Ibáñez (ESP) and Jack Huang (TPE).
Samuel served on the FEI Board for 12 years and is Honorary Vice President; Ibanez has been the Secretary-General since 2014 and Huang has been FEI Vice President since 2019.
President Ingmar De Vos (BEL) is finishing his third and final term; elections will be held at the FEI General Assembly on 5 December 2026 in Jiangyin (CHN).
● Sailing ● The World Sailing Council approved by 22-4 (and five abstentions) new regulations in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee, reinstating Belarusian athletes and teams, and “clarifying” “that a crew of two persons does not constitute a team.” This allows entries into all of the current Olympic-program events for “neutral” athletes.
Russia continues on restrictions for its senior-level athletes, but – as the IOC suggested – “youth” athletes from Russia will be allowed in youth competitions.
● Skating ● During the International Skating Union Congress in Spain, Russian three-time Olympian Alexander Kibalko was elected as the ISU Vice President for Speed Skating, but none of the four Russian candidates for technical committees figure skating, short track and synchronized skating were elected.
Moreover, the ISU – which has limited Russian participation sine 2022 – said it will consider Russian participation again some time in the future. It was not discussed at the Congress.
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