★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★
★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★
≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Politico reported Tuesday on a new golf tournament being staged by the LA28 organizers and the Trump Administration at the Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes.
This would not be connected to the Games, but a pro-am that would have a high profile. The story noted:
“The prospect of holding a marquee Olympics-adjacent event at a golf course owned by the presidential family’s Trump Organization highlights the extent to which organizers believe maintaining a productive relationship with the White House is essential to delivering a successful Games.”
¶
The Oklahoma state budget agreement for 2026-27 was approved last week and amid the many line items was $15 million aimed at support for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The money is intended for infrastructure improvements and transportation programming, notably temporary seating, broadcasting support, warehouse space, shade and heat mitigation measures and fan amenities.
¶
Temporary lighting company Musco Lighting was announced Tuesday as the “Official Sport Presentation and Broadcast Lighting Provider” of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Founded in 1976, Musco has been the long-time leader in temporary event lighting and signed an Official Supplier deal in April 1983 with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games!
● National Olympic Committees ● FrancsJeux.com reported on the merger of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) and the Belgian Paralympic Committee (BPC) to create the Belgian Olympic & Paralympic Committee (COPB) on 1 January 2027.
This will be the sixth combined Olympic-Paralympic national committee, for now including the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee met online on Tuesday and reviewed the Working Group report on “operational independence” of National Anti-Doping Organizations.
One of the recommendations was for the use of an “independent entity” to test at major events, including regional games and world championships, which means “the [national anti-doping organization] of the host country will not be involved in the test distribution plan, selection of athletes for testing, certain aspects of sample collection, or results management.
“Rather, these functions will be carried out by an independent, non-partisan body, removing the possibility of an actual or perceived conflict of interest or bias. This independent process is already the preferred model for the Olympic Games, with the [working group] recommending that this policy of independence be applied more strictly and for an extended suite of major events.”
This was immediately panned by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart, who said in a statement:
“WADA leaders’ intent to push aside truly independent National Anti-Doping Organizations and hand control back to sport and sport service providers at major events is a dangerous step backwards and risks compromising the fairness of major events and athletes’ right to fair competition.
“Dressing this up as progress is an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of clean athletes, fans, and the public who deserve real independence, real accountability, and a system that protects them – not one that protects sport from scrutiny and the global anti-doping watchdog from accountability. As noted in the recent open letter from the White House ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) Director Sara Carter, this is of particular importance with the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the United States in 2028.
“For this to be the response to WADA’s and World Aquatics’ failure to enforce the mandatory rules in the 23 Chinese swimming cases is another slap in the face by WADA leadership to all athletes who commit to competing clean and nations that enforce the rules consistently and fairly.”
The recommendation will require an amendment to the WADA International Standards for testing.
● Athletics ● At the 65th Golden Spike meet in Ostrava (CZE), World 200 m champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. won the 200 m – on a turn – in 14.67, the best ever for a dedicated race at that distance.
He was faster than Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who ran 14.92 in April; the fastest ever record was 14.44 en route by Usain Bolt (JAM) during his 200 m world record in 2009. On Tuesday, South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile was second in 14.78 and teen Gout Gout (AUS: 14.96) was third.
Swiss star Audrey Werro, who scared the women’s 800 m world record at the Stockholm Diamond League meet, ran the eighth-fastest time in history to win in 1:54.45, ahead of an impressive outdoor debut for former 400 m hurdles champion Femke Broeders-Bol, in 1:57.13.
American Nathan Green led a U.S. 1-2 in the men’s mile in 3:49.44, ahead of Vince Ciattei, in 3:49.51.
Australian Peter Bol won the rarely-run 1,000 m in a world-leading 2:15.13 over Samuel Chapple (NED: 2:15.20) and Marino Boudek (CRO: 2:15:40) and American Hobbs Kessler (2:15.44, now the no. 3 performer in U.S. history).
Brazil’s Matheus Lima won the 400 m hurdles in 47.64, Salah Ben Yazide (MAR) took the men’s Steeple in 8:09.88 with American Carson Williams fifth in 8:16.69 and Lurdes Manuel (CZE) delivered a home win in the women’s 400 m in 49.74.
● Basketball ● No worries for the USA Basketball women’s pipeline as its under-18 team won the U.S.’s 12th straight FIBA AmeriCup over Canada, 90-72, in the final on Monday (15th) in Iraputo (MEX).
Guard Kaleena Smith led the Americans with 26 points and forward Jordyn Palmer had 24.
● Cycling ● At the USA Cycling National Pro Championships in Charleston, West Virginia, defending men’s Time Trial champion Artem Shmidt routed the field for a second straight national title. Starting last, he finished the 33.4 km course in 38:21.88, well ahead of veteran Lawrence Warbasse, at 38:32.06.
Defending champ Emily Ehrlich took the lead in women’s race and finished in the lead at 43:22.46, but coming last was cycling and triathlon Olympian Taylor Knibb, who rushed through the course and won in a dominating 42:37.30. Knibb won back the title she first won in 2024.
● Tennis ● The Williams comeback continues as Venus and Serena Williams received a wild-card Doubles invitation for Wimbledon, an event the sisters have won six times together, in 2000-02-08-09-12-16.
No announcement on a wild-card Singles spot for Serena Williams as yet.
¶
★ Receive our exclusive, weekday TSX Recap by e-mail by clicking here.
★ Sign up a friend to receive the TSX Recap by clicking here.
★ Please consider a donation here to keep this site going.
For our updated, 681-event International Sports Calendar for 2026 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
