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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● NCAA ● As expected, the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved the five-year eligibility program, to be fully in place by the fall of 2027:
● The new rules will permit “Division I student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday. The new rule streamlines a significant portion of the Division I rule book by eliminating season-of-competition limits, sport-specific eligibility and redshirt rules, and eligibility extension waivers.”
● “The rule change will be effective for all prospects initially enrolling full time in college in fall 2027 or later.”
● “For students enrolling full time in college for the first time in fall 2026 and current student-athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year, Division I schools will apply the previous rules (allowing four seasons of competition within five years) or the age-based model, whichever results in the most favorable outcome for each individual.”
Exceptions are allowed for pregnancy, religious missions, and military service. Waivers for medical issues, redshirts and the like are no longer a part of the collegiate experience, and the five-year eligibility term is in sync with the graduation path of about half of all students (not just athletes).
● Athletics ● The Tokyo Marathon announced that for its 20th anniversary race on 7 March 2027, the race size will increase from 39,000 to 40,000 runners.
A much bigger increase is set for the elite race prize money, which will grow to $170,000 for the winners, the largest prize of any of the World Marathon Majors races. No details of increases beyond the winners was noted; the prize money for the 2026 Tokyo Marathon was to 10 places: $80,000-30,000-15,000-7,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000-1,000-500.
● Gymnastics ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that World Gymnastics has added rules for victory ceremonies, including “a strict ban on political, religious or racial propaganda on the podium; the display, wearing or use of any political, religious or racial symbols, signs, messages, banners, clothing or gestures; and the display of any flags other than the official national flags approved by World Gymnastics.”
Possible sanctions include “disqualification, annulment of results, and forfeiture of medals and titles.” The associated national federation may also be sanctioned.
There have been multiple incidents at recent World Gymnastics events involving Russian and Ukrainian gymnasts refusing to recognize the other during medal ceremonies.
● Ice Hockey ● The Hockey Hall of Fame announced the selection of six individuals as new members, including two-time Olympic champion Patrice Bergeron (CAN), 2014 Olympic gold-winning goalie Carey Price (CAN), goalie Pekka Rinne (FIN), four-time Olympian Keith Tkachuk (USA), and three-time Worlds silver winner Cindy Curley (USA), all players, and long-time NHL executive Brian Burke as a Builder.
The Hockey Hall of Fame induction is on Monday, 9 November 2026 in Toronto (CAN).
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