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ALPINE SKIING: Shiffrin returns to the World Cup tour at Courchevel Thursday; another career record is in sight!

American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin

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≡ SHIFFRIN RETURNS ≡

After a brutal crash during a training run in Killington, Vermont on 30 November, American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin had to go through surgery to head off a possible infection after a puncture wound – apparently from one of her poles – that could have led to a dangerous infection.

Barely two months later, she is the no. 6 starter in Thursday’s Slalom at Courchevel, France, returning to the FIS Alpine World Cup tour in which she has logged more wins than any other skier in history.

She has 99 total wins, including 62 Slaloms – the most ever– and has won at Courchevel seven times in her career:

2017: Giant Slalom and Parallel Slalom
2018: Giant Slalom and Slalom
2020: Giant Slalom
2021: Giant Slalom
2022: Downhill

She said in a video she’s more concerned with her continuing recovery than a magic 100th career World Cup gold:

“To be here at this point is just so incredible. It’s just really hard to zoom out and look at that whole big picture and all the hype [around a 100th win] that has been talked about since the start of the season.

“This is a step. This is a really big step in my recovery. But it’s only one step, actually. We’re taking it as it comes. My biggest goal is to enjoy being back in the start gate again. …

“A part of what I hope to show the world is that I want to be here. That sounds so simple and so obvious, but I questioned whether or not it’s even worth returning this season. Even if I could take on that physically, could I take it on mentally? I suppose I have enough of an answer to that, being that I’m here and we’re doing it.”

However, Shiffrin could get another record with a medal of any color in Courchevel. She has 154 total World Cup medals (99-27-28) and with another, she will tie Swede Ingemar Stenmark (1973-89) for the most in World Cup history at 155!

Shiffrin was the women’s World Cup overall leader coming into the Killington race, but has now missed 17 of the 35 events on the schedule and is not expected to contend for another seasonal championship. The same happened to her in the 2023-24 season, where injuries caused her to miss races after she was in position to take the title again.

If she does well in Courchevel, she could then be in the mix at the 4-16 February FIS Alpine World Championships in Saalbach (AUT), but for now, it’s one step at a time.

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INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Presidential candidate presentations in Lausanne on Thursday in CLOSED session

Olympic House in Lausanne, home of the International Olympic Committee (Photo: IOC).

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

The one and only opportunity for the seven candidates running for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee to make a formal presentation prior to the vote at the 144th IOC Session in March comes on Thursday (30th) in Lausanne.

It’s a very private event, with the presentations made only to the IOC members, with no media present and no broadcast of the event.

There will be a post-presentation meet-up for a maximum of 10 minutes with news media on-site, which will be live-streamed on the IOC’s YouTube channel here, beginning at 11:35 a.m. Central European Time (5:35 a.m. Eastern).

The order of presentation was decided by random draw and will be:

● Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR)
● David Lappartient (FRA)
● Johan Eliasch (GBR)
● Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP)
● Kirsty Coventry (ZIM)
● Sebastian Coe (GBR)
● Morinari Watanabe (JPN)

The IOC also issued two pages of detailed regulations for the presentations themselves:

“The presentation by the candidates must reflect the content of their respective Candidature Document published on the IOC website.”

● “Each candidate will have 15 minutes to give their presentation and 30 additional seconds at the end of a 15-minute countdown. At the end of their time slot, the microphone will be switched off automatically.”

● “There will be no Q&A sessions. There will be a short comfort break between each
presentation.”

● “No electronic devices will be allowed in the meeting room; such devices will be collected at the entrance to the meeting room.”

● “Each candidate will wait in a room reserved for each of them outside the meeting room while the other candidates deliver their presentations. “

● “The candidate may use the support of a PowerPoint presentation, by using the IOC template.”

“The PowerPoint presentations will not be given to the interpreters in advance. A relay screen will be available for the candidate should a PowerPoint presentation be used. Such presentation shall not include any videos, sound, photos or other images than the ones included in the IOC PowerPoint presentation template.”

Pretty sterile, all in an attempt to try and “level” the playing field – at least as to technical skills – between the candidates.

And this is the only presentation that will be made to the IOC membership, The regulations are clear that “The candidates will not give any presentations during the 144th IOC Session.”

The election will be on 20 March 2025 at the 144th IOC Session, to be held in Costa Navarino, Greece.

What do the candidates say in their campaign statements? The Sports Examiner has reviewed all seven in depth and in two ways:

Candidate-by-candidate reviews:
Al Hussein and Coe
Coventry, Eliasch and Lappartient
Samaranch and Watanabe

Reviewing promises and priorities:
Part I
Part II

This is the first open election for the IOC Presidency since 2013, and four of the seven candidates are International Federation Presidents: Coe (athletics), Eliasch (ski & snowboard), Lappartient (cycling) and Watanabe (gymnastics). Unfortunately, only one of the nine IOC Presidents in history was a federation head and he – J. Sigfried Edstrom (SWE), the IAAF chief – took over during World War II after the 1942 death of Count Henri de Baillet-Latour (BEL). Edstrom served until 1952.

Samaranch is the son of the transformational Juan Antonio Samaranch, president from 1980-2001 and Coe and Coventry were stand-out athletes and Olympic champs in athletics and swimming, respectively.

The conventional wisdom is that Coe – who has asked for a four-year first term that will require a separate vote – is one of the favorites, along with Coventry, Lappartient and Samaranch. But the key question for March is not about favorites but about trust.

In a world spinning out of control on national, political and technical fronts, who will the members trust to keep the Olympic Movement sailing steadily ahead?

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LOS ANGELES 2028: LA28 Chair Wasserman, 1992 Olympic gold medalist Magic Johnson named to California “LA Rises” initiative

California Governor Gavin Newsom, with (l-r), Magic Johnson, Dodgers president Stan Kasten, Casey Wasserman and L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (Photo: California Governor’s office).

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≡ LOS ANGELES FIRES ≡

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the creation of “LA Rises” on Tuesday, described as a “unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts led by the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the State of California.

“The Governor has enlisted Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter, business leader and basketball legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, and Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairperson and President to lead and recruit others to this private sector and philanthropic effort.”

The project was immediately seeded with a $100 million commitment from Los Angeles Dodgers Chair Walter, the Mark Walter Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.

Said Wasserman:

“I’ve been a lifelong Angeleno, and what I admire most about this city is its resilience and unity. There’s nothing Los Angeles can’t achieve. LA Rises will channel the unmatched creativity, resources, and generosity of the private sector to rebuild our city and pave the way for a stronger future.”

Said Johnson, a member of the original “Dream Team” at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona:

“This is a time for bold action. We’re bringing together the best resources and biggest hearts across California to ensure that every Angeleno — no matter their race, socioeconomic status, or neighborhood — has a chance to rebuild and thrive. This isn’t just about recovery; it’s about restoring communities while also making them more resilient and better than before.”

The task was described as “LA Rises will contribute through collaboration, access to capital and financial tools, leveraging innovation and private-sector investment to drive a faster recovery.” This expected to include fundraising, collaborating with other organizations to maximize rebuilding efforts, and providing current and correct information on resources and rebuilding.

Those with long memories of Los Angeles will immediately see an echo of the “Rebuild LA” effort undertaken in the city in the aftermath of the April-May 1992 riots following the acquittal of officers in the Rodney King arrest and beating incident in 1991.

The rioting, violence and property damage in the mid-town Los Angeles area was linked to 63 deaths, damage estimated at as much as $1 billion, with more than 12,000 arrests made.

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley assembled a “Rebuild LA” effort in May, with 1984 Olympic organizing committee President Peter Ueberroth as Chair. The rebuilding effort – which added Tony Salazar, Linda Wong, Barry Sanders and Bernard Kinsey as co-Chairs over the next few months – had mixed success, but brought new businesses and financing to the area. Ueberroth left as Chair in May 1993, but remained on the board. But it was quickly overshadowed just 21 months later when the Northridge Earthquake hit on 17 January 1994, causing damage estimated at more than $13 billion and perhaps as much as $50 billion.

The rebuilding effort in Altadena and Pacific Palisades will take years, and residents are just now being allowed back to their property in multiple areas, owing to the hazardous waste removal needed to make the areas safe.

It took years, but the areas hit by the 1992 riots have moved ahead. It will be the same in Altadena and the Palisades, but it will take time. And it will not be done by 2028.

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PANORAMA: IIHF studying hockey officials’ eyesight with special glasses! FIFA declines to hire labor rights monitor for 2034 Saudi World Cup

IIHF women’s World U-18 officials – like Sydney Harris of the U.S. here – wore special glasses with tiny cameras that followed their eye movements to show what they were looking at! (IIHF video screenshot).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● Japan’s Morinari Watanabe is a long-shot candidate for the IOC Presidency, but as the head of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), he is charging ahead with his plan to have sport support society.

He introduced the FIG Ageing Society Programme last week in Jakarta (INA), the host for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October, as a method for keeping senior citizens healthier:

“Many countries face the challenge of an aging population.

“This has a significant impact on social security costs, since the smaller, younger population cannot finance the social security costs of the bigger, older population. The FIG Ageing Society Programme addresses this problem and allows countries to work on measures to mitigate the problems of an ageing society using dedicated gymnastics programmes.”

This is a joint initiative of the FIG, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation, the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Indonesia and commercial partner NTT Data.

The first step is a measurement exercise, which 115 program members undertook by visiting eight different stations to establish baseline health measurements. According to the FIG:

“The programme encourages older people to continue to exercise at home using a smartphone application. They will be able to track their progress, their overall health and share their health data with medical institutions to facilitate treatment of any health issues.”

In the end, Watanabe hopes the results – which will need to be measured over years – will result in better senior heath and significant cost savings:

“This application will create an entire ecosystem for the benefit of older people with the aim of reducing social security costs. Food companies, retailers, financial institutions and insurance companies would all benefit from integrating with this application.”

He said he got the idea from seeing opposition to bringing the Olympic Games to Tokyo (for 2020), noting:

“There were many who were against the Olympics or not welcoming of them. That was because the Olympics were seen as entertainment and not something essential to society. When we think about turning sports into something society demands … sports are at the core of countermeasures for aging societies.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Tuesday’s men’s Alpine World Cup Giant Slalom in Schladming (AUT) was shortened to deal with rainy and snowy conditions, eliminating 15 gates.

Swiss star Loic Meillard led after the first run, but faded on the second, allowing for a Norwegian 1-2 with Alexander Steen Olsen moving up after standing second following the first run. He had the 10th-fastest second trip and that was good enough for his second World Cup win of the season in 1:42.75. Teammate Henrik Kristoffersen had the no. 3 first run and 16th-best second run and finished second (1:43.14) with seasonal leader Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:43.35) in third.

River Radamus was the top American, tied for 12th (1:43.71). The Schladming stop concludes on Wednesday with a Slalom, weather permitting, of course.

● Basketball ● USA Basketball announced forward A’ja Wilson as its women’s 5×5 Athlete of the Year, following up on her Paris Olympic Most Valuable Player and All-Star Five awards at the Games.

Wilson, 28, was the dominant force on the gold-medal-winning American team, leading the squad in points per game (18.7), rebounds (10.2), blocks (2.7) and steals (1.5)!

● Football ● The International Trade Union Confederation-Africa (ITUC-Africa) has been rebuffed by FIFA on its request that the football federation establish an independent monitoring operation in Saudi Arabia over labor conditions in the build-up to the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom (SWE) wrote back, noting “With the bidding processes now completed, FIFA is working collaboratively with its local counterparts to ensure these commitments are upheld.”

ITUC-Africa Secretary General Akhator Joel Odige (NGR) said in an interview, “We vow to remain seized with this campaign until we see, feel, and measure tangible changes in Saudi Arabia’s laws and practices. Black lives must be respected and valued as those of other races.”

● Handball ● France and Croatia advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 IHF men’s World Championship with taut, one-goal wins in their quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The French remained undefeated with a 34-33 win over Egypt in Zagreb (CRO), , leading 18-14 at half and holding on Nedim Ramili and Dika Mem both scored six goals for the French, while Egypt’s Ahmed Hesham led all scorers with eight.

Croatia and Hungary were tied, 16-16, at half but the Croatians advanced with a 31-30 win, with Filip Glavas scoring six and Hungary’s Zoran Ilic the top scorer with eight.

Wednesday’s quarters feature three-time defending champs Denmark (5-0) playing Brazil and Portugal facing Germany, with both matches in Baerum (NOR).

The U.S. finished 26th overall, going 0-3 in group play, then 3-0 in the President’s Cup playoffs for places 25-32. Poland defeated the U.S., 24-22, in the 25-26 final. Aboubakar Fofana of the U.S. led all scorers in that match with five goals.

● Ice Hockey ● You hear it every day in every sport: “how could the refs miss that?”

The International Ice Hockey Federation is doing something about it, in a new program in which it “has provided the on-ice officials with special glasses in four junior tournaments – most lately at the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in Finland. The glasses have two cameras: one records the game events, or what the referees see, and the other the ref’s eyes.”

Joel Hansson (SWE), the IIHF Officiating Development Manager, explained:

“A red dot shows where the referee’s eyes are focused, and the size of the dot tells us how fully they’re focused on, say, a puck in the corner.

“And we can tell that over the course of a tournament the focus changes. Early on, everyone’s very alert and focused, but as the tournament progresses, fatigue or stress affects them. …

“What we’re looking for are ways to help the officials to find new patterns and tools that they can use, for example, when warming up, especially their eyes. We’ve looked into what is being done in Formula 1 racing, how they work with reaction times and so on. …

“What’s a little funny is that we often hear that the ref ‘should’ve seen it,’ and now we can tell that they really have or should’ve seen it.”

● Swimming ● Australian star Ariarne Titmus, the women’s 400 m Freestyle Paris Olympic winner and silver medalist in the women’s 200 and 800 m Freestyles, will skip the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July.

Titmus, 24, told the Sydney Morning Herald, “I just knew that after Paris, I needed some time away. I’ve been on the national team since I was 16, and I just needed a bit of a break mentally from the intensity of the sport. …

“When you’re at the tail-end of your career, the Olympics just become so much more important. I’ll be going back to training to be able to gear up for LA. It’s the [2028] Olympic Games that now my eyes are on.”

● Wrestling ● Phenomenal, developing story in Kenya, where U.S. Freestyle star Kyle Snyder, 29, the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist at 97 kg and Tokyo 2020 runner-up is setting up a children’s wrestling club near Nairobi.

Snyder visited the Mully Children’s Family Ndalani Campus for orphaned children in November, saw considerable interest from 75 kids who came to an opening meeting. USA Wrestling shared:

“The targeted timeline to launch the wrestling club is October 2025. The goal is to finish up an athletic facility at Mully Children’s Family Ndalani Campus in April and have mats and supplies shipped out in time for the fall launch.

“Snyder and team are currently seeking coaches and athletes from the U.S. interested in helping with the club. The initial plan is for individuals to commit to a six-month rotation living at Mully Children’s Family Ndalani Campus and coaching at the club.”

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BOXING: USA Boxing shows membership up 82% since the pandemic, is supporting World Boxing with $250,000 loan

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≡ USA BOXING ANNUAL MEETING ≡

The annual members meeting for USA Boxing was held online on 22 January and included a 59-slide presentation which framed 2024 as a continued year of growth for the organization, with an important investment in the future for Olympic boxing.

One of the key slides showed that membership has continued to increase and has rebounded strongly from the pandemic year of 2020:

2019: 50,631 total members
2020: 36,006 (pandemic)
2021: 46,311
2022: 50,240
2023: 59,850
2024: 65,712

Integral to this continuing growth was the number of athlete members, which was 37,192 in 2019, then dropped to 24,450 members in 2020. For 2024, growth continued for a fourth consecutive year, reaching 46,246, an 89% increase over the pandemic low.

This was noted as a record for the federation, for boxers, clubs and non-athlete members. The same growth was seen for the number of member clubs and sanctioned events:

2019: 2,044 clubs and 1,374 events
2020: 1,873 clubs and 341 events (pandemic)
2021: 2,077 clubs and 914 events
2022: 2,453 clubs and 1,610 events
2023: 2,649 clubs and 1,423 events
2024: 2,837 clubs and 1,853 events

Coaching development was also a priority, with 23 “Bronze” clinics that certified 291 coaches and 10 “Silver”-level clinics, that produced 98 certified coaches. The first “Gold”-level clinics will be held in March 2025.

A total of 1,339 boxers and 1,084 coaches took part in the USA Boxing national championships in Richmond, Virginia in December.

The slides showed cash sponsorships at $200,000 or less through 2022, but zooming to more than $1.1 million in 2023 and right at $1 million in 2024, both considerably better than in prior years.

USA Boxing is not a wealthy federation, but it is doing better. Its audited financial statements for 2023 showed assets up to $5.70 million, a 53% jump from 2022, with annual revenues of $9.46 million, way up from $6.91 million in 2022.

But the federation also knows its future is in jeopardy. USA Boxing left the International Boxing Association in 2023, and the IBA was removed by the International Olympic Committee as the governing body for Olympic boxing.

USA Boxing was one of the first federations to support the creation of a new worldwide body, World Boxing, which was organized in 2023 and now has 68 members, trying for recognition by the IOC as soon as March of this year. The retention of boxing on the Olympic program for Los Angeles in 2028 requires that the IOC recognize a new governing body.

To that end, the 2023 financials disclosed USA Boxing’s financial support for World Boxing:

● “During the year ended December 31, 2023, [USA Boxing] spent approximately $200,000 to assist in the creation of World Boxing, including various professional fees and travel related to the creation of the new entity. The professional fees specifically are considered credits towards USA Boxing’s 2024 annual contribution.

“All national federations for the sport of Boxing have been asked to contribute towards the cost of establishing this organization.”

● “During the year ended December 31, 2023, USA Boxing offered a revolving line of credit to World Boxing for the maximum loan amount of $250,000. The purpose of this loan is to assist World Boxing with its costs in establishing the new international federation.

“No amounts were drawn by World Boxing under arrangement until 2024.”

In the member meeting slides, a question about the loan was answered:

“Yes, USA Boxing loaned World Boxing $250,000 which will be paid back over the next five years. Yes, it was approved [by the Board of Directors].”

The future of boxing for LA28 is fully dependent on the recognition of World Boxing as the new International Federation for the sport, so this was an investment that USA Boxing had little choice but to make with enthusiasm.

Whether it will pay off won’t be known until the IOC Session in March at the earliest.

Observed: There was nothing especially fancy about this presentation, but it was forthright and solid and was missing only the financial statements for 2024, which won’t be ready until mid-year.

Every U.S. national federation would be well advised to make such a clear, concise presentation of its achievements in the prior year and plans for the new year, especially in terms of membership, programming and sponsorship advances (or declines).

Good for USA Boxing to do so now. Hopefully, others will follow.

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INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Coventry looking to AI, broadcast streaming, ready to lead as IOC chief

Two-time Olympic champion and IOC member Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe (IOC video screenshot).

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

“One of my expectations from our media rights holders is, how are we going to access streaming around the world?

“We saw, for the first time, NFL games over Christmas Day being streamed on Netflix. What does that look like for us? That is going to be very important as we move into the future.

“I do believe that if we can open up opportunities in these new areas, we create more fans which should in turn bring new revenue opportunities.”

That’s five-time Olympian (2000-16) and seven-time Olympic medalist swimmer Kirsty Coventry, speaking to BBC Sport Africa in advance of Thursday’s private presentations to the membership of the International Olympic Committee, with the vote for the next IOC President to take place on 20 March at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.

Coventry, 41, is by far the youngest of the seven candidates and one of just two who have no age-limitation issues in order to serve a two-term, 12-year presidency. But she has also been around the IOC for some time, elected as a member of the Athletes’ Commission in 2012, then elected as an individual member in 2021.

Her experience in swimming gave her a deep look at sport in the U.S, as she attended Auburn University in Alabama and was a champion swimmer for the Tigers. In 2019, at just 34, she was appointed the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture in her native Zimbabwe.

All that makes her a formidable candidate, but there is more: she has been a favorite of current President Thomas Bach (GER), and served as the Chair of the Athletes’ Commission from 2018-21, dealing with thorny issues on the Tokyo 2020 Games, including athlete speech, publicity and promotion rights. She is the Chair of the Coordination Commissions for both the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar (2026) and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

Bach is widely known within the Olympic Movement to be supporting Coventry as his favorite for successor and that means a lot. She is also the only woman in the field, and she seized on this for role modeling in her BBC interview:

“I want to show people and women across Africa and the world: ‘Don’t be afraid of anything.’

“If you believe in something and know you can lead an organisation, don’t be too scared to put your hand up and do it. It’s time for women in Africa to stand up and lead, to not be afraid of leading, and to not be afraid of leading in a different way.”

She noted the Netflix presentation of the NFL Christmas Day game between Baltimore and Houston, which drew an average of 24.3 million viewers. That was impressive, but down from the 29.0 million total on Fox in 2023 for the same window; the NFL has been streaming games online since 2017. And it raises the question of how Olympic broadcasts will be sold into the future, especially since the Netflix audience trended younger than the broadcast audience.

She also emphasized the need to integrate new technologies into sport, such as artificial intelligence, to maintain the IOC as a forward-looking, forward-thinking steward of the Olympic Movement.

Coventry also told the BBC she’s no fan of prize money for medal winners at the Olympic Games, since it would only make the rich richer. Instead:

“We have 10,500 athletes at the Summer Olympic Games and nearly 3,000 at a Winter Games. How do we impact them?

“How do we ensure that Olympians, or prospective Olympians and athletes from around the world get better access to sport, to training, to health and mental health [support]? Those are the programs that I would like to focus on.”

And she is also clear about ensuring that women’s competitions are for women only:

“It’s our duty to ensure equal opportunity and fairness within our competitions.

“I don’t believe we can do that based off of the medical and science research that I’ve seen if we add or allow for transgender women to compete in the female category right now.

“It is very clear that transgender women are more able in the female category, and can take away opportunities that should be equal for women. If that changes and there’s new ways of doing things, then we’ll look at that.”

Coventry is considered a solid contender to be the next IOC President, along with Sebastian Coe (GBR) from World Athletics; David Lappartient (FRA), head of the French National Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale and long-time member Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP). The remaining candidates are seen as less likely to win: Prince Feisal Al-Hussein (JOR), International Ski & Snowboard Federation head Johan Eliasch (GBR) and gymnastics federation chief Morinari Watanabe (JPN).

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LANE ONE: “Athlete activist” group does a poll in three countries (out of 206), then says IOC must pay athletes more? Huh?

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≡ ATHLETE PAY ≡

Mark Twain, the iconic American writer and publisher, wrote in 1907, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” attributing the remark to 19th Century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.

A recent example which Twain might have cited – it’s not at all clear that Disraeli ever made the remark – would be a poll conducted by the French-based Ipsos market research firm for the UNI World Players, which claims to be “the exclusive global voice of organized players and athletes across professional sport.”

Ipsos undertook a survey of 3,188 individuals aged 16 to 75 in three countries – Australia, France and the U.S. – between 27 September and 2 October 2024.

Based on that sample, UNI World Players head Matthew Graham (AUS) said, “This poll shows the public support for change.”

What?!?

Three countries speak for all? This is drivel.

The poll and the breathless announcement of the findings – “immense public support for greater compensation for Olympic athletes and increased athlete input in decisions affecting their careers” – is the latest political ploy by another activist group trying to create some action ahead of the International Olympic Committee’s March election of its next president.

To that end, this poll is – in my view – an insult to the IOC and the Olympic Movement:

● There are 206 National Olympic Committees and the Ipsos self-description says the company is active in 90 markets. Three markets were hand-picked for the survey.

● At Paris 2024, athletes representing 92 National Olympic Committees won medals. But UNI World Players picked three countries to survey.

● The U.S., France and Australia finished 1-4-5 in Paris in terms of total medals won during the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. Why didn’t the survey include China (no. 2), Great Britain (3), Japan (6), Italy (7) or nos. 8-10: the Netherlands, Germany and South Korea. What about African NOCs?

If the IOC under successive Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP: 1980-2001), Jacques Rogge (BEL: 2001-2013) and now Thomas Bach (GER: 2013-) has leaned into anything, it has been unity, and the insistence that the benefits of the Olympic television rights sales and sponsorships be distributed as widely as possible.

This polling prank proposes, as Graham says, “The next president must ensure the IOC acknowledges athletes’ hard work and dedication by paying them their fair share, and giving them an equal say in all matters affecting their careers, wellbeing and livelihoods.”

Who is he kidding?

The one obvious truth that none of these “athlete activists” mention is that the Olympic Games (and the Winter Games) comes once every four years. Even if the IOC paid athletes lavish prize money, what about the other three years? Well:

● The onus would fall on the International Federations, many of which would be in danger of folding up altogether if not for the IOC’s distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in television rights monies to them every four years.

A few IFs have good programs to allow athletes to earn a living regardless of the Olympic Games; the FIS World Cup programs in Alpine and Cross Country skiing, Freestyle, Nordic Combined, Snowboard and Ski Jumping might be the best example of this. Others pay prize money for their major championships, such as World Athletics and World Aquatics.

Gymnastics, one of the three most popular sports at the Olympic Games and which will get close to $40 million from the IOC from the Paris Games, pays no prize money at all, to any of its athletes at any of its championships. Nothing. 

● The IOC’s primary responsibility is to make sure that the Olympic Games and Winter Games actually happen. To this end, out of about $7.6 billion in revenue from 2017-21 – including the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games – the IOC paid the PyeongChang and Tokyo organizing committees a combined $2.86 billion, or about 38% of everything it collected.

Millions more were advanced to the organizing committees of Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, bringing the total during the quadrennial to well past $3 billion, or about 40% of revenue.

Let’s add in another $1.14 billion for the IOC’s own event-production costs for PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, which includes paying for the host broadcasting production and $62 million to NOCs to subsidize travel, uniforms and equipment.

And then there are the IOC’s payments to support the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the International Testing Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency and more. All of these are programs developed by the IOC and support sports well beyond those on the Olympic program. And there are many more programs, such as the IOC’s Olympic Scholarships project, for 1,457 athletes, plus 223 teams in 2023.

The poll takes none of this into account, with Ipsos asking questions that provided background or context.

So what did the poll show?

● Strong majorities in all three countries found sports governing bodies to be “trustworthy.” This included 60% in the U.S., 63% in France and 69% in Australia.

● Asked whether the IOC shares revenue with athletes, about 50-55% in all three countries did not know.

● Asked if the IOC should pay athletes competing in the Olympic Games either directly or indirectly, 59% in the U.S. said yes (41% said no, or didn’t know), 67% in France said yes and 68% in Australia said yes.

(Of course, the IOC would say that it already does this, both directly and indirectly.)

● There was majority support – but hardly unanimous – for athletes being able to promote their personal sponsors at the Games, regardless of whether these sponsors were affiliated with the IOC or the organizing committee: 59% in the U.S., 57% in Australia and 51% in France.

The question on whether athletes “should have an equal say” in decisions “which affect their careers” got support from 62-71%, not surprising given all three are high-functioning, first-world democracies.

This project, to me, was a waste of time and money by the activist UNI World Players group and will have no impact whatsoever on the IOC going forward.

If there was any understanding at all of the way the IOC has done business over the last 40 years, any worthwhile survey would have needed representation from all five continents and a selection of large and small National Olympic Committees.

Moreover, there is a significant split within the IOC, the National Olympic Committees and the International Federations on paying athletes:

● The National Olympic Committees, mostly from government funding – except in the U.S. – almost all have medal-bonus programs. This follows the format of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, where the city-state which sent an athlete supported him.

● Only one International Federation – World Athletics, headed by IOC Presidential candidate Sebastian Coe (GBR) – has ever paid prize money. This started at Paris 2024, with World Athletics paying each gold-medal winner $50,000; other federations were furious … because almost none of them have that kind of money available!

● The IOC sees its role as a sports development organization, using sport to uplift society in all 206 countries in which there are NOCs. That means direct payments to athletes are not a top priority, but part of a larger effort.

A three-country poll is worthless with an organization that operates in 206 places. And as far as the IOC Presidential Election is concerned, if Coe wins – and he’s a real contender – then the idea of more athlete payments will come with him. Less so for the other six.

But the IOC’s own concept of unity and development can be employed much more cleverly – as opposed to what was done in this poll – as not just a reward for athletes, but an aspirational goal.

There are, in rough terms, 11,000 athletes at the Olympic Games and 3,000 at the Winter Games, so about 14,000 all together. The IOC is not going to pay medal bonuses, since it only reinforces – for the most part – payments to those stars who already get paid.

But an honorarium to each and every athlete who qualifies for the Games is another matter and would appeal to the athlete-equality mantra which is very much a part of the IOC’s view of the Games. A $10,000 payment would total $140 million each quad, a figure well within the reach of the IOC.

(I personally would only pay those who actually qualify, not those receiving gifted “universality” places; but that’s just me.)

This kind of approach would receive some close scrutiny within the IOC, as it rewards athletes equally, without regard to nationality, gender, ranking and so on. The IOC likes that, and it could work.

What it will not pay much attention to is a three-country survey falsely passed off as representative of worldwide sentiment. Twain was right, even if Disraeli didn’t actually say “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and … commissioned polls.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Tragedy in Colorado as errant Weight toss kills spectator; Olympic Esports Games delayed; U.S. speed skating records spree!

Americans Austin Kleba, Cooper McLeod and Zach Stoppelmoor on their way to a men’s Team Sprint world record of 1:16.98 in Calgary (Photo: ISU).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Esports Games ● SportBusiness reported that the IOC’s inaugural e-sports event will be delayed from the anticipated 2025 debut to 2026 or 2027.

The delay is to allow a new organizing concept to be firmed up, as the Olympic Movement structure of National Olympic Committee to assemble teams and International Federations to oversee the competitions does not apply.

Moreover, no announcements of the games to be played, qualifying process or venues have been made. It’s just going to take longer. The Olympic Esports Games is to be held in Saudi Arabia.

● Athletics ● A terrible, terrible accident at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs United High School meet on Sunday at the UCCS Mountain Lion Fieldhouse as a spectator was hit and killed by an errant weight throw that went into the stands.

The university statement explained:

“A member of the attending audience was killed when a hammer [sic] thrown by a participant cleared certified barriers and struck him. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded, provided medical care and ultimately pronounced the audience member dead at the scene. Members of the UCCS Police Department and Colorado Springs Police Department were on scene.”

The victim was 57-year-old Wade Langston, who was said to be shielding his family from the implement at about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. The Colorado United Track Club sent a message to its members:

“At the UCCS United track meet this morning, a spectator was hit in the head by a stray throwing weight. The man who was hit by this weight died on the scene. He was the father of one of our CO United team members who attends Vista Ridge HS. The remainder of the meet was canceled and all athletes were asked to go home.”

The high school weight is a 25-pound iron ball attached to a 16-inch cable, heavier than the standard men’s Olympic-event hammer, which is 16 pounds and uses a nearly-four-foot cable. When thrown, either can be extremely dangerous and deaths have taken place over the years in the throwing events, especially in the shot put or hammer or weight.

Britain’s Daily Mail reported in detail on the allegations made by 2022 World men’s 100 m Champion Fred Kerley’s wife, Angelica, that he tried to strangle her in their home in May 2024. The two are estranged; they have three children together.

Kerley’s attorney called the allegations “imaginative claims”; he was accused of domestic violence by strangulation and strong-arm robbery and posted bond after a hearing in Miami on 4 January 2025. This case is separate from his 2 January arrest for battery on a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct while trying to get to his car while a police activity was ongoing; he was released on his own recognizance in that matter.

Further hearings are upcoming.

● Basketball ● USA Basketball named its Athletes of the Year in 3×3, with guard Dylan Travis selected for the men and guard Hailey van Lith for the women. Travis was a member of the Paris Olympic 3×3 team that struggled with injuries and finished seventh. Van Lith was a bronze-medal winner on the women’s team that also had to deal with injury replacements; she was named to the Olympic All-Star Team for her play.

Former Connecticut star and now the President of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, Jennifer Rizzotti was honored as the USAB 3×3 Coach of the Year – for the third time – guiding the women’s 3×3 squad – despite injuries – to the Olympic bronze.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Bradley Nicol of the U.S. took the men’s Pan American Championships in Skeleton in Lake Placid, New York on Saturday, winning both runs to edge Canadian Ryan Kuehn, 1:50.39 to 1:51.51.

Brazil’s Nicole Rocha Silveira won both women’s runs to finish at 1:50.91, just ahead of Canadian Hallie Clarke (1:51.55). Kendell Wesenberg was the top American, in fourth, in 1:52.48.

● Boxing ● Another small step for World Boxing, with the formation of a continental confederation in the Americas – the Pan American Boxing Confederation – which will hold its inaugural meeting on 15 March 2025 in Panama City (PAN).

There are 17 national federations in the Americas which are currently affiliated with World Boxing, which is trying to become recognized by the International Olympic Committee and preserve boxing place on the Olympic program for Los Angeles in 2028.

● Speed Skating ● The strong U.S. performance at the ISU World Cup no. 3 in Calgary was even more spectacular than it looked:

Jordan Stolz’s wins in the 500-1,000-1,500 m men’s races not only gave him 11 wins in 11 individual races this season, but ran his World Cup win streak to 20 in a row.

● The men’s Team Sprint winners – Austin Kleba, Cooper McLeod and Zach Stoppelmoor set a world record at 1:16.98, taking 0.19 off the record set by Canada in 2024.

● While Italy’s Davide Ghiotto was setting a world record in the men’s 10,000 m, Casey Dawson grabbed the American Record as well, finishing seventh in 12:45.43. That was near 10 seconds better than Chad Hedrick’s 12:55.11 from 2005!

Emerging women’s distance star Greta Myers – still just 20 – got not only her first win of the season in the women’s Mass Start, but her first career individual World Cup medal as well.

● Swimming ● Brrrrr! SwimSwam.com reported on a four-gold medal performance by U.S. Olympian Keaton Jones at the 2025 Ice Swimming World Championships, held in Molveno (ITA) in a 50 m pool … with 35 F temperatures (no wetsuits)! Ouch!

He became the first American to ever win gold at the Ice Swim Worlds in 2023, and racked up a lot more in the 13-19 January event, taking the 50-100 m Freestyles and the 50-100 m Backstroke events. He also won a silver in the 50 m Fly and set the Ice Swimming world record in the 100 m Butterfly, but did not swim the final. He was fifth in the Paris Olympic men’s 200 m Back last summer.

With sister Ezmee Jones, Lisa Yamamoto and Stephan Rouch, he won a fifth gold in the Mixed 4×250 m Free relay as well.

Why did he go? Per his Instagram post: “This community, these athletes, their stories of perseverance, spirit and sheer will, the pervasive desire to challenge oneself and to go against the grain of simply existing and instead live wild and embrace the extraordinary.”

Yes, of course, the International Ice Swimming Association – not a part of World Aquatics – wants its events in the Olympic Winter Games.

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INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Candidate Lappartient tells AFP if elected, he plans to meet Trump soon after

David Lappartient, President of the French National Olympic Committee, at the opening of the 142nd IOC Session (IOC video screenshot)

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

“We can see that with the exit from the World Health Organization, the exit from the climate agreement, there is a desire to call multilateralism into question.

“This will naturally be an issue, and I remind you that the awarding of the 2034 Olympics to Salt Lake City is conditional on this subject.”

That’s French National Olympic Committee President and Union Cycliste Internationale President David Lappartient, speaking with Agence France Presse, in an interview published on Monday.

He was speaking about the U.S. and the Trump Administration, and Lappartient said he looks forward to meeting with Trump if he is elected:

“It will be an opportunity to reaffirm the autonomy of the sports movement, [and] that it is up to the IOC to define who should and should not participate in the Games.”

He also noted that Trump is a major sports fan, which is a plus:

“I don’t think it’s disputed that he loves sport. He even organised the ‘Tour de Trump’, a competitor to the Tour de France. I tell myself that a man who organises bike races, by definition, there may be something good!”

Lappartient, 51, is considered a real contender in the upcoming election for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee, to be decided on 20 March at the 144th IOC Session, to be held in Greece.

He has been an IOC member only since 2022, but has forged a solid record as the UCI chief, with a great success at the first combined UCI World Championships in Glasgow (SCO) in 2023, with more than 190 world championship events held. The UCI will also take its World Road Championships to Africa for the first time in 2025, to Kigali (RWA).

Lappartient was elected as the head of the CNOSF in 2023 and is credited with calming a fractious political situation within the NOC. And IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) turned to him to head the IOC’s liaison with the e-sports community, resulting in the announcement in 2024 of an Olympic Esports Games, to be held in 2025 (now more likely in 2026 or 2027).

In the interview, Lappartient went a bit further than his mostly aspirational comments in his candidate statement, on Russia and transgender participation:

● “Historically, Russians have always been a sporting nation and the very role and mission of the IOC is to unite people in a more peaceful way through sport.

“They are destined to naturally regain a place in the world of sport. There will be a decision to be taken in due course on the subject, but a country is not destined to be permanently excluded from the Olympic movement, that’s clear.”

● “Everyone is welcome in the world of sport, transgender people are welcome. But the participation of transgender people in competitions in the gender in which they would like to compete is not a fundamental right. …

“The IOC says that it must be regulated sport by sport, which is not illogical. I think we can’t do without scientific research, which takes time.”

As for the upcoming Olympic hosts, Lappartient had no doubts about Los Angeles for 2028, and as one of those involved in developing the successful bid for the French Alps 2030 candidature, noted that “Artificial snow does not necessarily seem to me necessarily a bad thing.”

Lappartient’s interview timing is not a random act of kindness, but in advance of Thursday’s crucial presentation by the seven candidates, to a closed audience of IOC members in Lausanne, Switzerland (with some no doubt watching online).

The other candidates include Prince Feisal Al-Hussein (JOR), Sebastian Coe (GBR), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Johan Eliasch (GBR), Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Morinari Watanabe (JPN). Like Lappartient, Coe (athletics), Eliasch (ski and snowboard) and Watanabe (gymnastics) are all heads of International Federations.

Lappartient is 51 – only Coventry is younger (41) – and unlike all the rest, does not need any special age dispensation from the IOC membership to be elected for a full eight-year term and a second, four-year term. That’s in his favor.

The conventional wisdom is that Coe, Coventry, Lappartient and Samaranch are the front-runners in this campaign, with Thursday’s audiences an important step toward March. But the most important steps are the one-on-one conversations the candidates are having with the other members, in advance of the vote in March.

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ATHLETICS: How about a $1,000 ticket for the USATF Indoor Championships in February? Sure, why not?

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≡ USATF INDOOR CHAMPS ≡

The 2025 USA Track & Field Indoor Championships are heading back to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, New York, a $93 million facility opened in 2015 and host to the 2019 USATF National Indoors.

The two-day meet is slated for Saturday and Sunday, 22-23 February 2025, with seating for about 2,500. Ticket sales are underway, with fairly typical pricing for a top-class meet in the U.S. (also the selection meet for the 2025 World Indoor Championships in March in Nanjing (CHN)):

$65: Gold §§106-107-108 (home straight finish area)
$45: Silver §§103-104-105-109 (middle of home straight)
$30: Bronze §§101-102 (end of home straight)
$20: General Admission (backstraight)

But then there are two special packages, in the corners of the backstraight, at very special prices:

Platinum VIP:
● $1,000 covers both days
● Trackside seating
● Hot buffet with beer and wine
● A limited-edition Championships souvenir
● A meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with top athletes

Gold VIP:
● $250 covers both days
● Trackside seating
● Appetizers with beer and wine
● A Championships souvenir

What? $1,000?

Don’t seem surprised; this is where ticket marketing is headed, everywhere.

Yes, this is an astonishing sum for a track meet, but it is more and more the norm. Consider that for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, the “Cadence Club” from Daimani hospitality offered tickets at varying prices depending on the day, and which came down as the meet got close:

Cadence Club: home straight §§123-124-125:
● Apr. 2022 prices: $450-550-975-450-875-450-650-1,250-1,250-1,250
● July 2022 prices: $395-495-695-395-650-400-550-850-895-895

Cadence Club: finish line §§ 121-122:
● Apr. 2022 prices: $950-1,050-1,450-950-1,770-950-1,150-2,250-2,250-2,250
● July 2022 prices: $650-875-1,050-750-1,250-750-950-1,395-1,495-1,495

These included a hospitality area with food and drink and hard-to-get parking for Hayward Field; these did not sell out, but there were plenty of takers, nonetheless.

And while the $1,000 Platinum VIP price for the USATF Indoors is pretty wild, the “Gold VIP” level is hardly out of bounds. Consider pricing for the third Grand Slam Track meet at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, the closest venue to New York, scheduled for 30 May to 1 June:

● $25-40-60 General Admission for 1-2-3 days
● $60-80-150 Premium Admission for 1-2-3 days
● $75-100-200 VIP finish Line for 1-2-3 days

There are people who have the money, inclination and willingness to enjoy a promised premium experience, with proceeds going to the benefit of the Ocean Breeze Park Alliance.

In the race for money from tickets, high-cost hospitality and premium services are a major part of every major sport in the world. Track & field now, too.

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PANORAMA: Russia OK being “neutrals” for now; Malinin, Glenn, Chock & Bates dazzle at U.S. nationals; Stolz now 11-11 in World Cup races

American skating superstar Ilia Malinin, now a three-time U.S. national champion (Photo: SpiritedMichelle via Wikipedia).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● The organizing committee for the 2030 Winter Games is expected to be officially formed on or about 3 February, with FrancsJeux.com reporting that ex-biathlon star Martin Fourcade tabbed as the likely head of the organizing committee.

Fourcade, still just 36, retired from competition at the end of the 2019-20 season, having won six Olympic golds and a silver from 2010-18. He was also a 13-time World Champion, and joined the International Olympic Committee in 2022 as an elected member of the Athletes’ Commission.

The other candidates mentioned are another former biathlete, Vincent Jay, the 2010 Olympic champion in the men’s 10 km Sprint, and retired Freestyle skier Marie Martinod, the 2014-18 silver winner in the Halfpipe.

● World Games ● Voting for the World Games Athlete of the Year for 2024 has been narrowed down to 10, with voting continuing through 31 January.

Indonesian climber Veddriq Leonardo was the top vote getter with 22,861, way ahead of China’s Wushu star Xin Tong (12,533) and Estonian Flying Disc player Kristin Lott (11,575). American flag football star Vanita Krouch was fifth at 8,856 and the U.S. cheerleading pair of Allison Hoeft and Sydney Martin were sixth at 7,598.

● Russia ● Comments from Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov indicated that any return to international competition – even as neutrals – is welcomed as a step toward re-integration.

Peskov said Friday of a decision by the International Chess Federation to allow Russian and Belarusian junior (U-18) teams to compete as neutrals, “Of course, we will continue to work patiently to ensure that our athletes have the opportunity to take part in international competitions.

“Even if it’s in neutral status at first, the main thing is to start playing and return to international sports life.”

The Russian fencing federation has asked the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to allow its athletes to compete under the federation’s flag, as is now allowed by the International Judo Federation.

● Athletics ● Sad news that Dr. Greg Bell, the 1956 Olympic men’s long jump champion, died Saturday at 94 in Logansport, Indiana.

Bell was an Indiana star, winning the 1956 and 1957 NCAA titles, the 1955 and 1959 AAU national champion and took the Melbourne Olympic title with an Olympic Record 7.83 m (25-8 1/4). He finished with a best of 8.10 m (26-7) in 1957, which at the time placed him no. 2 all-time to fellow American Jesse Owens.

Inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1988, Bell was a practicing dentist at the Logansport State Hospital until his retirement in 2020, at age 89!

● Gymnastics ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee is not a threat to make it to the Olympic Winter Games.

Trying skiing for the first time while in Montreal, she fell flat and wrote later on Instagram:

“First time skiing. Omg never again.”

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● A busy men’s World Cup weekend in Kitzbuehel (AUT), with three events, starting with the seventh win of the season for defending World Cup champion Marco Odermatt, winning in 1:13.25, ahead of Raphael Haaser (AUT: 1:13.36) and Stefan Rogentin (SUI: 1:13.55). Bruce Bennett was the top American, in 19th (1:14.47).

Canadian James Crawford got his first career World Cup gold in Saturday’s Downhill – and his fifth career World Cup medal – in 1:53.64, beating Alexis Monney (SUI: 1:53.72), who won his third career World Cup medal.

Sunday’s Slalom was the 14th career World Cup gold for Beijing 2022 Olympic champ Clement Noel (FRA), fourth after the first run and eighth in the second run, but fastest overall at 1:41.49. Italy’s Alex Vinatzer moved from 11th to second with the second-fastest second run in 1:41.58 and Brazil’s Lucas Braathen was third (1:41.68). Benjamin Ritchie was the top American, in 21st.

The women’s World Cup was in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER), with three-time Olympic medalist Federica Brignone taking her fifth race of the season, overtaking teammate Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic Downhill winner, by 0.01: 1:35.82 to 1:35.84. Swiss Corinne Suter got her second medal of the season in third (1:36.02), just ahead of American Breezy Johnson (1:36.08). Fellow American Lauren Macuga was sixth in 1:26.21.

The Super-G on Sunday had defending World Cup champion Lara Gut-Behrami scoring her sixth medal of the season, but her first win in 1:14.91, followed by Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR: 1:15.26) and Brignone (1:15.29). Keely Cashman of the U.S. was sixth, her best World Cup finish ever, in 1:15.94.

Czech skier and 2022 Olympian Tereza Nova, 26, suffered a bad crash during Downhill training on Friday in Garmisch and had to undergo surgery on Saturday. According to Czech ski federation spokesman Tomas Haisl:

“Terka underwent surgery in the hospital in Murnau to reduce brain swelling. She is currently in an induced coma, where she will remain for as long as the doctors deem it appropriate.”

● Athletics ● Jamaica’s 2024 Olympic silver winner Kishane Thompson starred in the men’s 60 m at the World Indoor Tour Gold meet in Astana (KAZ), winning his heat in 6.58 and the final in 6.56 over Ali Anwar Al-Balushi (OMA: 6.60), with American Demek Kemp fourth in 6.63.

The U.S. got wins from Dylan Beard in the men’s 60 m hurdles (7.58) and two-time World Champion Chase Jackson in the women’s shot with a world-leading 19.13 m (62-9 1/4).

● Badminton ● At the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta, Thailand scored both Singles titles, with fourth-seeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) overcoming no. 3 seed Jonaton Christie (INA), 18-21, 21-17, 21-18, while Ratchanok Intanon (THA) took the women’s title, 21-18, 21-17, over Yu Jin Sim (KOR).

Wei Chong Man and Kai Wun Tee (MAS) won the men’s Doubles, defeating Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto (INA), 21-11, 21-19, and Hye Jeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong (KOR) won the women’s Doubles over Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah (MAS), 21-12, 17-21, 21-18.

Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito won the Mixed Doubles by 21-15, 21-17 over China’s Xin Wa Guo and Fang Hui Chen.

● Biathlon ● IBU World Cup no. 6 for 2024-25 was in Antholz-Anterselva (ITA), also a test event for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina, with 36-year-old Tarjei Boe, the 2011 seasonal winner, taking Norway’s ninth win in 14 men’s races this season in the 10 km Sprint in 23:51.0 (0). Teammate Sturla Laegreid was a very close second in 23:51.4 (1).

Sunday’s 12.5 km Pursuit saw Lagreid win in 29:53.0 (0) and take over the seasonal lead. He beat Boe (30:11.9/1) and Italian Tommaso Giacomel (30:17.0/2).

Following the lead of his younger brother, Johannes, Tarjei Boe announced that he will also retire at the end of the season.

Four-time Worlds medalist Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) continued her hot streak, winning her fifth race of the season in the women’s 7.5 km Sprint in 21:09.5 (0), ahead of Germans Selina Grotian (21:16.7/0) and Franziska Preuss (21:26.2/0).

The 10 km Pursuit on Saturday had Jeanmonnot winning again – four of the last five World Cup races – in 29:44.0 (1), ahead of teammate Julia Simon (30:08.1/0) and Preuss (30:37.6/1). Preuss still leads Jeanmonnot overall, 879 to 787 after 14 of 21 events.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The sixth stop of the IBSF World Cup (in bobsled) was in St. Moritz (SUI), with two races of the men’s Four-Man sleds scheduled, as the Two-Man season has concluded. Britain’s Brad Hall, the 2023 Worlds silver medalist, won the first races in 2:11.59, ahead of double Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich (GER: 2:11.80) and Olympic silver medalist Johannes Lochner (GER: 2:11.87). Frank Del Duca drove the top American sled, in 11th (2:13.10).

The Sunday races had to be canceled; per the IBSF announcement: “[t]he temperatures in St. Moritz did not reach the necessary below-zero margin during the night which would allow the natural ice track to freeze during the night.”

The women’s Monobob was also held twice, the American star – and 2022 Olympic runner-up – Elana Meyers Taylor getting her first win of the season, in 2:21.52, winning both runs. She beat New Zealand’s Bree Walker (2:21.76) and fellow American Kaysha Love (2:22.07), with Beijing Olympic champ Kaillie Armbruster Humphries finishing seventh (2:22.44).

Taylor won the second event as well, winning both runs again with a total of 2:22.15, ahead of Love (2:22.29) and German, two-time World Champion Laura Nolte (2:22.45). Armbruster Humphries was seventh again (2:22.79). The Two-woman races were canceled due to the warm weather.

● Cross Country Skiing ● The FIS men’s World Cup in Engadin (SUI) started with the eighth win of the season for four-time World Cup champ Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, in the Freestyle Sprint, in 2:29.24, just ahead of Swede Edvin Anger (2:29.44). The 20 km Freestyle Mass Start completed the weekend sweep for Klaebo, who won in 53:02.8, heading a Norwegian sweep, with Iver Andersen (53:04.1) and Didrik Toenseth (53:04.7). Norwegians took the first six places.

The women’s Freestyle Sprint was the third win in four Free Sprint races this season for Swede Jonna Sundling, the 2022 Olympic champ, in 2:49.04, more than a second ahead of Kristine Skistad (NOR: 2:50.08). Seasonal leader Jessie Diggins of the U.S. was sixth in 3:47.44.

Sunday’s 20 km Freestyle Mass Start was fourth win of the season for Norway’s 36-year-old Astrid Slind (57:12.7), ahead of teammate Nora Sanness (57:16.3) and Sundling (57:32.9). Diggins finished fifth (57:33.9), and leads Slind, 1,483 to 1,269 after 21 of 31 events this season.

● Cycling ● The UCI men’s World Tour opened with the six-stage Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, and Ecuador’s 2023 Pan Am Games road winner Jhonatan Narvaez took control of the race on the hilly fifth stage and held on for the overall win on Sunday.

Second by four seconds after the fourth stage, Narvaez won a fifth-stage sprint for a tight victory and grabbed the lead by just nine seconds over Javier Romo (ESP) going into Sunday’s flat, 90 km stage in Adelaide. He finished 31st to Romo’s 20th, but both had the same time and Narvaez took the race title, 19:19:16, with Romo at 19:19:25. Magnus Sheffield of the U.S. was seventh, 27 seconds back of the winner.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup was back in action, with Sabre events in Plovdiv (BUL), and Korea’s Paris 2024 Olympic champ Sang-Uk Oh winning the men’s final over France’s 2023 European bronzer Sebastien Patrice, 15-11.

France defeated the U.S. (Antonio Heathcock, Colin Heathcock, Daryl Homer and William Morrill) in the tight men’s team final, 45-44.

Home favorite – and 2024 Worlds bronze medalist – Yoana Ilieva won a tight women’s final from Italy’s Chiara Mormile, 15-13, for her first career World Cup gold. It was the second career World Cup medal for Mormile. Japan defeated Hungary, 45-44, for the team gold.

At the Epee Grand Prix in Doha (QAT), 2022 Worlds bronze winner Neisser Loyola (BEL) got his first Grand Prix gold with a 15-11 win over Hungarian Gergely Siklosi, the 2019 World Champion.

Hong Kong’s Kaylin Hsieh scored a 15-7 win in the women’s final over Nelli Differt (EST). Hsieh won her first career Grand Prix medal.

● Figure Skating ● The stars shone brightly at the U.S. national championships in Wichita, Kansas, especially World Champion Ilia Malinin.

Still just 20, he dazzled in the Short Program, with a Quad Flip and a Quad Lutz-Triple Toe Loop combo and scored 114.08 points to lead Andrew Torgashev by 19.14 points!

In the Free Skate, Milanin was even better, trying a staggering seven quad jumps: Quad Flip, his patented Quad Axel, Quad Loop (fall) and Quad Lutz to start, then including Quad Lutz, Quad Toeloop and Quad Salchow – each in combination – and although he also some trouble on the Salchow combo, he scored a monster 219.33 points to finish at 333.31. It’s Malinin’s third straight U.S. title, in spectacular fashion.

Torgashev was strong in second at 191.55 and finished second overall at 286.49, with Cam Pulkinen moving from fourth to third (252.92) and Maxim Naumov from seventh to fourth (248.16).

There was no doubt about the Ice Dance winners as World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates won both segments and took their sixth national title with 223.223.52 points, well ahead of Christina Carrera and Anthony Ponomarenko (210.79). Caroline Green and Michael Parsons finished third with 205.37 points.

Chock and Bates won their fourth U.S. title in a row; their total of six equals the record by Meryl Davis and Charlie White from 2009-14. Carrera and Ponomarenko won silver for the second year in a row.

Amber Glenn, who placed silver-withdrew-bronze-gold in the prior four Nationals, defended her 2024 title in a battle with 2019-20 winner Alysia Liu, who led after the Short Program. But Glenn won the Free Skate by nearly seven points and vaulted from third to first with a 216.79 total.

Liu, who returned to competition this season after a two-year break, scored 76.36 to lead after the Short, and her 138.97 Free Skate score ranked second, with a total of 215.33 points, her first top-three finish since winning in 2020. Sarah Everhardt, fourth in 2024, moved up to the bronze at 207.36, with 2018/21 national champ Bradie Tennell in fourth place (199.94).

Defending Pairs champs Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea led in Pairs after the Short Program by more than eight points, but suffered two falls and ended up fifth in the Free Skate, scoring 189.57 total points.

That left the door open for 2024 runners-up Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who won the Free Skate and took their first national title with 211.90 points. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman won the silver, coming from fourth after the Short Program, at 190.57, with Kam and O’Shea placing third, repeating their bronze placement from 2023.

U.S. Figure Skating named Glenn, the injured Isabeau Levito and Liu as its women’s team for the ISU World Championships, in Boston in March. The Pairs selections were Efimova and Mitrofanov and Kam and O’Shea.

Chock and Bates, Carreira and Ponomarenko, and Green and Parsons were named for Ice Dance.

● Freestyle Skiing ● Olympic champ Guangpu Qi (CHN) grabbed his 17th individual World Cup gold in Aerials at Lac-Beauport (CAN) on Saturday, scoring 124.50 to out-distance Canadian Lewis Irving (102.50) and 2021 Worlds runner-up Chris Lillis of the U.S. (85.40) in the final.

Qi doubled his pleasure in Sunday’s jumping, scoring 110.56 to best countryman Xindi Wang (105.88) and Canada’s Emile Nadeau (95.98).

Two-time women’s Worlds winner Laura Peel (AUS) won the first women’s competition at 117.19, well ahead of China’s Meiting Chen (102.31) and Olympic champ Mengtao Xu (92.72). Sunday’s results showed another double, this time for Peel (102.17), who was a decisive winner over American Kareena Elliott (87.42) and Airleigh Frigo (AUS: 76.85).

Every time Canadian star Mikael Kingsbury wins a Moguls or Dual Moguls World Cup, he extends his record for career wins, as he did in Waterville, New Hampshire, taking the men’s Moguls on Saturday, 84.95 to 83.55 over American Nick Page. It’s Kingsbury’s 94th World Cup win!

Sunday was the Dual Moguls, with another Kingsbury win, this time over Australia’s 2018 Olympic silver winner Matt Graham in the final. Filip Gravenfors (SWE) won the bronze.

France’s 2018 Olympic winner Perrine Laffont got her second win of the season in the Saturday women’s Moguls with 77.43 points, beating Beijing 2022 Olympic runner-up Jaelin Kauf (77.39) and Olivia Giaccio (75.52), both from the U.S.

Laffont and Kauf went head-to-head for the Dual Moguls gold on Sunday, with Laffont getting the win again, 20-15. Yuliya Galysheva (KAZ) won the bronze.

● Handball ● The IHF men’s World Championship moved to the quarterfinals in Zagreb (CRO) and Baerum (NOR), with three-time defending champ Denmark and France advancing with perfect, 5-0 records. Portugal won Group III at 4-0-1 and Croatia took Group IV at 4-1.

The quarters start Tuesday:

● France (5-0) vs. Egypt (4-1) in Zagreb
● Hungary (3-1-1) vs. Croatia (4-1) in Zagreb

● Denmark (5-0) vs. Brazil (4-1) in Baerum
● Portugal (4-0-1) vs. Germany (4-1) in Baerum

The semis are on Thursday and Friday, and the medal matches in Baerum on Sunday.

● Luge ● The seventh stop for the FIL World Cup was in Oberhof (GER), for the second time this season, with the women’s winners repeating in both Singles and Doubles!

Madeleine Egle (AUT), the 2024 Worlds bronze medalist, won for the fourth time this season at 1:23.117, winning the first run, over second-run winner Julia Taubitz (GER: 1:23.230), the 2021 World Champion. Ashley Farquharson was the top American, in seventh (1:23.675).

Younger sister Selina Egle, with Lara Kipp (AUT) won their sixth World Cup race in a row, taking both runs and finishing in 1:24.135, ahead of two-time World Champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER: 1:24.235). Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby were fifth (1:24.897) and Maya Chan and Sophia Gordon finished eighth (1:25.943).

Germans went 1-2 in the men’s Doubles with three-time World Champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt winning in 1:22.808, ahead of teammates Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Gubitz (1:22.876), who won at the first Oberhof event. Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa finished eighth as the top U.S. sled (1:23.557).

Germany’s 2024 World Champion Max Langenhan won his third World Cup of the season in the men’s Singles, in 1:25.895, ahead of two-time Olympic champ Felix Loch (1:26.134) and Beijing runner-up Wolfgang Kindl (AUT: 1:26.257). Tucker West was the top American, in 10th (1:26.746)

In the new Mixed events, Loch and Merle Frabel (GER) won the Singles in 1:36.948, and Wendl and Arlt and Degenhardt and Rosenthal won the Doubles in 1:36.365.

Next up are the World Championships in Whistler (CAN) beginning on 6 February.

● Rugby Sevens ● Argentina made a statement at the Rugby Sevens Series in Perth (AUS), winning the men’s final over Australia by 41-5! Fiji, France and Argentina won their groups, then the Argentines whipped Britain, 27-14, and smashed Spain by 40-5. Australia got by France (24-12) and eased by South Africa, 17-12, to get to the final. Argentina, Fiji and Spain are all tied at 48 points atop the men’s standings after three of six tournaments.

Australia won the women’s tournament for its second victory in three stages of the Series so far, beating New Zealand in the final, 28-26. Those two teams and Canada won their groups, then all three won their quarters. In the semis, the Kiwis bopped France, 36-7 and Australia eliminated Canada by 24-17. France won the bronze over Canada (14-7). New Zealand still has a small, 56-54 lead over Australia overall, with France next at 48.

● Ski Jumping ● The men’s World Cup moved to the giant, 235 m ski-flying hill in Obertsdorf (GER), with Slovenia’s Beijing 2022 runner-up Timi Zajc becoming the first jumper to win a World Cup this season who is not from Germany or Austria!

Zajc won Saturday’s final with 453.7 points, winning the second jump, ahead of first-round leader Johann Forfang (NOR: 448.6) and Slovenian teammate Domen Prevc (444.9).

Prevc won Sunday’s meet, winning the first round and scoring 436.8 overall, ahead of Forfang (433.2) and Austria’s Michael Hayboeck (429.1).

At the women’s World Cup in Zao (JPN), Slovenian star Nika Prevc – at 19, the youngest of the jumping Prevcs, with three older brothers – won Friday’s event off the 102 m hill, scoring 220.1 points for her fifth win of the season. That was just enough to beat Thea Bjoerseth (NOR: 217.5) and 2023 Worlds runner-up Eva Pinkelnig (AUT: 212.7).

Sunday’s second event saw Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT), 34, get her third career World Cup win at 235.4 points, ahead of Eirin Kvandal (NOR: 232.5) and Prevc (231.3).

● Ski Mountaineering ● Swiss star Remi Bonnet, already the reigning World Champion and winner of three races on the ISMF World Cup this season, dominated the Individual Race in Arsinal (AND) for his fourth win and 22nd of his career.

He won in 1:12:21.4, far ahead of France’s Thibault Anselmet (1:14:20.0) and Aurelien Gay (SUI: 1:14:30.2).

The women’s race wasn’t close either, with World Champion Axelle Gachet Mollaret leading a 1-2 for France with Emily Harrop, 1:11:11.1 and 1:12:38.2. Swede Tove Alexandersson finished a distant third in 1:13:32.0. It’s the fourth win in the Individual and Vertical races for Gachet Mollaret this season (without a loss).

● Snowboard ● In the FIS World Cup in Parallel Giant Slalom in Rogla (SLO), Italy’s Maurizio Bormolini scored his third Parallel win of the season, beating Elias Huber (GER) in the men’s final and re-taking the season lead, with five events still to go.

Japan’s Tsubaki Miki, the 2023 World Champion, won the women’s final for her third win of the season and extended her seasonal lead, beating two-time Worlds medalist Sabine Payer (AUT).

● Speed Skating ● The third ISU World Cup was in Calgary (CAN) at the famed Olympic Oval, with American Jordan Stolz continuing his march, now with 11 wins in 11 races at 500-1,000-1,500 m.

Stolz is the reigning World Champion in all three distances and won the 1,500 m on Friday at 1:41.22 – a track record – ahead of China’s Zhongyan Ning (1:42.24), the 2024 Worlds 1,000 m silver medalist.

On Saturday, Stolz took the 1,000 m in another track record of 1:05.90, with Jenning De Boo (NED: 1:06.05) second and three-time Olympic gold medalist Kjeld Nuis (NED: 1:06.73) third. Stolz added the 500 m on Sunday with 33.85 win, ahead of De Boo (33.87), with fellow American Cooper MacLeod sixth in 34.15, a lifetime best.

Not to be overshadowed, Italy’s Davide Ghiotto, the two-time World Champion at 10,000 m, broke the 10,000 m world record, finishing in 12:25.69, crushing the 12:30.74 mark by Olympic champ Nils van der Poel (SWE) in 2022. Czech Metodej Jilek was a distant second in 12:37.81.

France’s Timothy Loubineaud took the Mass Start in a tight finish with Fridjof Petzold (GER) and Belgian Indra Medard, 7:50.14 to 7:50.48 to 7:50.74. American Ethan Cepuran was ninth (7:54.94).

Austin Kleba, MacLeod and Zach Stoppelmoor won the men’s Team Sprint in 1:16.98, over The Netherlands (1:17.54), after finishing second to the Dutch in Beijing in December.

Dutch star Joy Beune, the 2024 World Allround Champion, won the women’s 5,000 m in 6:45.76 ahead of teammate Merel Conijn (6:47.44), then beat 2024 World Champion Miho Takagi (JPN), 1:51.72 to 1:51.85, in the 1,500 m. American star Brittany Bowe, four times a Worlds medalist at this distance, was sixth (1:53.98).

Takagi, the 2022 Olympic winner at 1,000 m, won that race in 1:13.10, beating two-time World Champion Jutta Leerdam (NED: 1:13.46), with three-time World Champion Bowe fifth (1:14.28) and U.S. teammate Kimi Goetz in seventh (1:14.66).

Sunday’s 500 m sprint went to two-time World Champion Femke Kok (37.01) over Poland’s Andzelika Wojcik (37.16). Goetz was ninth (37.69), Bowe finished 15th and Olympic champ Erin Jackson was 20th.

American Greta Myers took the women’s Mass Start in 8:36.64, well in front of Wenjing Jin (CHN: 8:44.38) with U.S. teammate Mia Manganello in ninth (8:46.10). Canada won the Team Sprint over Poland, 1:24.90 to 1:26.02.

● Tennis ● The defending Singles champions were back to the final; in the Australian Open, but Italy’s Jannik Sinner was the only one to repeat, defeating German Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6–3, 7–6 (7–4), 6–3. Sinner became the 15th man to win two or more Australians in the Open Era.

The women’s final saw 2024 champ Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) make it to the final, but lost to 29-year-old American Madison Keys, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, as Keys won her first career Grand Slam title in her second appearance in a Slam final (also the 2017 U.S. Open). Keys was the first American to win the women’s Australian since Sofia Kenin in 2020. Sabalenka was the first to make three straight women’s finals since Serena Williams in 2015-16-17.

In the men’s Doubles, the 2024 Wimbledon winners, Harri Heliovaara (FIN) and Henry Patten (GBR) took their first Australian title over Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, 6–7 (16–18), 7–6 (7–5), 6–3. The women’s Doubles also took three sets, with Kateřina Siniakova (CZE) and American Taylor Townsend – who won Wimbledon last year – defeating Su-wei Hsieh (TPE) and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), 6–2, 6–7 (4–7), 6–3. It’s Siniakova’s 10th Doubles title in a major!

The Mixed Doubles title went to Australians Olivia Gadecki and John Peers over fellow Australians Kimberly Birrell and John-Patrick Smith, 3–6, 6–4, [10–6]. This was the first time since 1967 for an all-Australian final in this event.

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BOXING: World Boxing adds eight new members, now up to 68 in a race against time for IOC recognition

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≡ WORLD BOXING ≡

“World Boxing has approved applications from eight more National Federations to take its membership to 68 countries.”

Friday’s announcement welcomed France, Croatia, Poland, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Turkmenistan and Samoa, bringing the World Boxing total higher, but still short of what would be an automatic approval of recognition by the International Olympic Committee at the March Session in Greece.

So far, World Boxing membership by region includes:

● 23: Asia
● 19: Europe
● 17: Americas
● 6: Oceania
● 3: Africa

World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst (NED) observed:

“It is clear that the only way that boxing will be on the programme for LA2028 is for National Federations to support World Boxing and I invite all boxing leaders that care about the future of the sport and their boxers to apply for membership of our organisation as we continue to grow and go from strength to strength.”

IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) has said that if boxing is to be contested at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a decision on a new International Federation should be taken by the end of the first quarter of 2025. That makes the target the 144th IOC Session in Greece from 18-21 March.

The sport has been without a governing federation since the IOC de-recognized the International Boxing Association at a special Session in June 2023. And the IOC has been pushing national federations away from the IBA, noting in a letter to the 206 National Olympic Committees on 30 September 2024:

● “The NOCs shall no longer affiliate, or entertain any institutional relationship with, national boxing federations that are still affiliated to IBA.”

● “[T]he NOCs may decide to maintain or create an institutional relationship with any (existing or newly created) national boxing federation not affiliated to IBA, provided that such national boxing federation is affiliated, or in the process of being affiliated, or intends to affiliate, to a new international boxing federation established for the purpose of Olympic boxing.”

There is no magic number of federations which are needed for the IOC to confer recognition. However, the most recent federations to join the more-or-less “permanent” program of the Olympic Games (summer) all have more than 100 national federation members today:

● 101: International Federation of Sport Climbing
● 116: International Surfing Association
● 135: World Skate

In his 5 December news conference following the IOC Executive Board meetings, Bach explained the situation this way:

“This is in the hands of the national boxing federations, whether they want their athletes to give an opportunity to win Olympic medals or not. It’s very easy and, there, we see there is some moves with a number of federations. We are watching this and when the time comes, we have to make, like for any recognition, a provisional recognition of any International Federation, we have to make an assessment whether there is a federation – and in this moment, it looks like the only one it could be is World Boxing – whether they are meeting the criteria which we have for such situations.

“And there, to be very clear, it cannot be IBA [International Boxing Association]. This story is over, for all the reasons: governance, ethical reasons, you know.”

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PANORAMA: Shiffrin to return to skiing on 30th; appreciating Fred Newhouse; Justin Thomas asks fellow golfers to cooperate with TV

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● World University Games ● The Winter World University Games in Turin (ITA) concluded on Thursday, with France dominating the medal table with 40 total, including 18 golds (18-8-14).

Germany had 23 medals (6-9-8) for second, followed by South Korea (20), Japan (19) and Finland and host Italy (15).

The U.S. won two medals (0-1-1), with the men’s curling squad earning a silver and Jackson Crockett winning a bronze in men’s Freestyle Skiing Dual Moguls.

The Koreans had the big individual medal winners, as three-time Worlds medalist Gil-li Kim (age 20) won five golds in the women’s Short Track 500-1,000-1,500 m and two relays, and Whi-min Kim was right behind with a bronze in the women’s 500 m, silvers in the 1,000-1,500 m and two relay golds (2-2-1).

Four others win four medals, with the men’s Short Track dominated by Korean Tae-sung Kim, who took the men’s 500-1,000-1,500 m and the Mixed Relay.

● World Rankings ● Did you know there is a comprehensive World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport (WRCES), across 115 sports?

It’s been compiled since 2014, created by Nadim Nassif, Associate Professor in Physical Education and Sports from Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) in Lebanon. It is updated annually by an NDU think tank, the International Center for Sport Policy & Governance.

For 2024, the U.S. was the top scorer again, winning for the 10th straight time – no rankings for the Covid year of 2020 – taking the top spot in 23 sports and second in five more. The top five:

(1) 2,002,738: United States
(2) 1,386,924: France
(3) 1,209,710: Great Britain
(4) 1,086,311: Italy
(5) 930,963: Japan

China ranked sixth, Australia was ninth, Canada was 12th and Russia, widely excluded due to its invasion of Ukraine, ranked 31st, one spot behind … Ukraine (30th).

● Alpine Skiing ● World Cup wins record holder Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. will return to the slopes at Courchevel (FRA) for a Slalom on 30 January.

She posted a short video on her Instagram page of her skiing once again, after recovering from a crash on 30 November in a Giant Slalom at Killington, Vermont. She needed surgery to deal with complications from a puncture in her right side.

She was trying to win her 100th World Cup race in Killington, and will try for her 100th in Courchevel.

● Athletics ● One of the youngsters being watched for a breakthrough in 2025 is 17-year-old Gout Gout, the 2024 World U-20 200 m silver medalist from Australia. Born to parents from South Sudan who moved to Australia, Gout has shaken the track & field world with his All Schools Championships wins in Brisbane in December in 10.29 and the 20.04, the top U-20 time in the world for 2024.

Adidas signed him to a sponsorship deal, managed by veteran Australian rep James Templeton and coached by Di Shepherd. Now he’s in Florida, for a training block with American coach Lance Brauman, and training with Olympic 100 m champ Noah Lyles. Said Templeton, in an interview with SportsBoom:

“Did Lance see something special in Gout, yes he did and because Noah Lyles is with adidas and Gout now is too, adidas and Lance thought it would be good for Gout to meet Noah and train in Florida for a couple of weeks in 2025.”

And perhaps to an NCAA career? Probably not, according to Templeton:

“Most likely he will attend university in Queensland. He’s a straight A student, who will continue training in Ipswich and Brisbane with the likelihood of further training stints to Florida. He just wants to be a teenager with his friends around. That’s perfect because to Di and I, there is no rush.

“We are on a journey that should last ten years or longer. Over time he will sign with global brands, it makes no sense to overcommit him now. He will sign bigger deals when the time is right.”

A final note on the great Fred Newhouse, who passed away on Monday at age 76.

Newhouse won the 1976 Olympic 400 m silver in Montreal at 44.40, his lifetime best with automatic timing; he ran two hand-timed 44.2s in 1972. If we look at that 44.40 in today’s terms, consider:

● 44.40 would have been second at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
● 44.40 would have made the Paris 2024 final and placed sixth!

Newhouse is underrated because he didn’t win the Olympic gold in Montreal, passed in the final 60 m by Cuban star Alberto Juantorena. Newhouse now ranks no. 44 on the all-time U.S. list, but he was at his best when his best was needed.

● Golf ● Not directly Olympic-related, but a fascinating letter was circulated by two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, 31, to his fellow golfers, asking for more and better cooperation with the PGA Tour television partners. It included:

“We’re incredibly lucky to have many passionate people tuning into watch us every week, but let’s be honest – this game can feel a little distant at times.

“The more I think about it, the more feels giving more access and insight can make a WORLD of difference. Things such as pre-round interviews, mid-round interviews, wearing a mic, communication of any equipment/swing changes you’re working on with broadcasters, etc.

“I know stepping outside of our comfort zones isn’t always easy, Believe me, in the past I’ve been the first to say ‘no’ before things are even done being asked. I’ve had no interest when someone asks for an interview mid-round or suggests trying something new.

“But I also know how much the fans love those moments – hearing our thought processes, conversations with our caddies, our reactions to the shots, and understanding the ups and downs of competing at the highest level I’ve recently done mid-round interviews at both Hero [World Challenge] and [The] Sentry and found them totally fine and easy. While we may (at least know I do) think it’s not that important interesting, our fans do.

“Our Fan Forward research shows that ‘on-course personality’ is the highest ranked driver of interest for young fans (18-34). Getting the younger age group interested and watching our sport could be a huge difference in our popularity. They love the opportunity to be able to have that connection to us as fans, and humanizes us.

“The more I’ve watched documentaries and specials on streaming services on other sports the more I’ve come to realize the main reason I love them so much is the access they provide and the insight the players are giving me; a fan of them and their craft. I had no interest in rooting for certain players, teams, coaches before watching a handful of shows and games. But the way some of them show their cards and how they go about everything makes mean even bigger fan.”

He also noted:

“The more we work with NBC/CBS/ESPN, the more they should be able to work with us. I’m sure many of us feel the telecasts can be better let’s help them do that. I firmly believe if we make an effort to do some of the things I’ve mentioned that we’ll be proving we care and want to improve the experience for our fans – and that our broadcast partners will need to do the same.”

Observed: Communications professionals around the world are bobbing their heads up and down – yes – that athletes and media do not have to be enemies, but can both win by cooperating with each others. Let’s see if Thomas’ comments have any impact on his fellow players … or in any other sport.

● Handball ● At the IHF men’s World Championship in Croatia, Denmark and Norway, the “Main Round” is progressing, with three teams now confirmed into the quarterfinals:

Group I: With one game to play, three-time defending champion Denmark is 4-0 and Germany is 3-1-0 (W-L-T), with both into the quarters.

Group II: France is 4-0 and into the quarters, with one game to play. Hungary is 2-1-1 with North Macedonia (1-1-2) and the Netherlands (2-2) at four points with the last match on 25 January.

Group III: Two games to play, with Portugal (2-0-1) at five points and Sweden (1-0-2) at four points, as is Brazil (2-1-0).

Group IV: Also two games left, with Iceland (3-0) leading the group and three teams with four points each: Croatia, Slovenia and Egypt (2-1-0).

The quarters will start on 28 January with the final in sight now on 2 February.

The U.S. is in the President’s Cup playoffs for places 25-32 and has two games left to determine which place-game it will play.

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ANTI-DOPING: U.S. Senator Blackburn re-introduces bill giving Office of National Drug Control Policy authority to withhold WADA dues

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≡ U.S. vs. WADA continues ≡

The Associated Press reported that U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and three co-sponsors have re-introduced a bill to give the Office of National Drug Control Policy an option to withhold annual dues to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

This bill was introduced in the 118th Congress as S. 4839, but went nowhere as Democrats controlled the chamber. Now, with Republican control of the 119th Congress (2025-26), the bill could move forward.

As introduced last session, it includes two primary features:

● Tasked the ONDCP with a 90-day review to determine whether WADA:

“(i) has a credible and independent governance model that provides for fair representation of the United States;

“(ii) fully implements all governance reforms, including a proper conflict-of-interest policy … and

“(iii) allows independent athletes from the United States and other democratic countries, or representatives of such athletes, to have decision-making roles on the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board, and in all relevant expert advisory groups, standing committees, permanent special committees, and working groups, of the World Anti-Doping Agency.”

● If the report shows WADA is deficient, authority to not pay the U.S.’s annual dues to WADA, which were $3.625 million in 2024:

“In the case of a determination under paragraph (2)(A) that the World Anti-Doping Agency does not have a governance model that provides for fair representation of the United States, has not fully implemented governance reforms, or has not allowed decision-making roles described in clause (iii) of that subparagraph, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, may voluntarily withhold up to the full amount of membership dues to the World Anti-Doping Agency.”

WADA is funded, more or less half and half by the International Olympic Committee (50%) and government dues from signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code. A dues formula was worked out in 2003 which broke the public-authority dues contributions among five continental groups:

● Africa: 0.50%
● Americas: 29.00%
● Asia: 20.46%
● Europe: 47.50%
● Oceania: 2.54%

Within each continental group, the dues responsibility is divided; for 2025, the U.S. dues are $3,842,482. That amount is:

● 50.00% of the Americas’ share of $7,684,963;
● 14.50% of the public-authority total of $26,499,874;
● 7.25% of WADA’s total 2025 budget of $52,999,748.

Canada is the next-highest payer at $1,921,241, and then Japan at $1,502,800. France, Germany, Great Britain and Russia all are slated to pay $1,408,094.

Blackburn’s bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), and Representatives John Moolenar (R-Michigan) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois).

The 2024 bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and died there. Expect more action on this in 2025; the first Trump Administration also had issues with WADA over U.S. representation and threatened to withhold dues that were eventually paid.

WADA has said that non-payment of dues will remove U.S. representatives from the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board, although there have been situations in the past where this has not happened.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart said that non-payment of governmental dues will not subject athletes or the U.S. as a host country for Olympic Games or world championships to sanctions that would impact either.

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SKI & SNOWBOARD: Want to host a FIS World Championships? Here’s how much it could cost!

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≡ FIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation, known by its old-style French acronym – “FIS” – is the largest of the winter sports federations, governing alpine skiing, cross country skiing, ski jumping, nordic combined, freestyle and snowboard events.

And it holds championships in all of them, and is now soliciting hosts for most of these events for 2029 and 2031.

To that end, it released a detailed bidding overview for its World Championship events in 2030 and 2031, to be voted on at the FIS Congress in 2026:

● 2030 World Ski Flying Championships
● 2031 Freestyle & Snowboard World Championships
● 2031 Nordic World Championships
● 2031 Para World Championships

(The Alpine Worlds have already been attributed for 2029 to Narvik (NOR) and for 2031 to Val Gardena (ITA).)

A formal application is due by 1 May 2025, along with a non-refundable application fee, which varies by event (CHF 1 = $1.10 U.S.):

● CHF 150,000 for the Nordic Worlds
● CHF 125,000 for the Freestyle & Snowboard Worlds
● CHF 100,000 for the Ski Flying Worlds
● CHF 20,000 for the Para Worlds

For venues bidding for a second time, the reg fee is reduced by 25% and for third-time bidders, by 50%. In case you were wondering, the Alpine Worlds have a CHF 400,000 registration fee.

FIS also provides some helpful guidance into what a resort or region might be getting itself into by trying for one of these events:

Nordic World Championships:
● 200 athlete training days (with accommodation and board)
● 12 days for Cross Country, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping
● Event organizing cost estimated at CHF 15-20 million
● Added hosting fee for the selected site of CHF 400,000

Freestyle & Snowboard World Championships:
● 200 athlete training days (with accommodation and board)
● 12-14 days for Aerials, Big Air, Halfpipe, Moguls, Slopestyle, Ski/Snow Cross and Parallel
● Event organizing cost estimated at CHF 10-15 million

Ski Flying World Championships:
● Four-day program (200 m hill or larger)
● Event organizing cost estimated at CHF 3-4 million

Para World Championships:
● Includes all or part: Alpine, Cross Country, Snowboard
● 10-11 day program for each discipline
● Event organizing cost estimated at CHF 1-4 million

These events aren’t cheap. But FIS does provide some support, with organizers receiving 60% of media and commercial sponsorship rights sales for their event, plus ticket sales – but not VIP sections or hospitality sales – and whatever support can be obtained from local, regional or national governmental sources. The usual suspects for support of these kinds of events is the tourism authority for the area, seeking to boost recognition of a winter site.

European sites have dominated the Worlds in these sports; since 2000:

2001-27: 13 of 14 Nordic Worlds in Europe
2015-29: 5 of 7 Freestyle & Snowboard Worlds in Europe
2000-28: 15 of 15 Ski Flying Worlds in Europe

Outside of Europe, only Japan has hosted the Nordic Worlds (2007) and since the start of combined Freestyle and Snowboard Worlds in 2015, just the U.S. (2019) and China (2029) have been selected to host. The 2021 Freestyle and Snowboard Worlds are not counted, as they were split among four sites due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with three in Europe and one in the U.S.

The Para Worlds have often been split among multiple sites for Alpine, Nordic and Snowboard; since 2019, these have mostly been in Europe, but also in Canada. FIS is still looking for hosts for Cross Country and Snowboard in 2027.

The FIS documentation is a fascinating look into the current state of the skiing Worlds; will anyone outside of Europe get in the game?

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BRISBANE 2032: Former Queensland Premier rips political fight over stadiums; new government alleges A$3.345B villages shortfall

Former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the Nine Network's "Today" program (video screenshot)

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≡ STADIUM SITE, VILLAGE COSTS
IN CRISIS ≡

“I’m absolutely shocked at the state of this. If I was at the IOC [International Olympic Committee] at the moment, I would be saying, ‘What is going on, Brisbane?’”

That’s former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the Nine News “Today” program on Thursday, ridiculing the continuing fight over where the main stadium will be for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

And then there is a charge from the current Liberal National Party government, elected in October, that the former Labor Party government left a A$3.5 billion hole in the state budget over the cost of building four housing projects to be used as the Olympic Villages in 2032. (A$1 = $0.63 U.S.)

First, the stadium fight.

The LNP government is in the midst of a 100-day review, expected to be delivered by the end of March, on the question of where to fund new construction or a renovation of a main stadium for the 2032 Games.

The original plan, championed by Palaszczuk, was to renovate the famed Brisbane Cricket Ground (the Gabba) at a projected cost of A$2.7 billion. But after she retired, her Labor successor, Steven Miles, undertook another review, which recommended a new facility – costing A$3.4 billion – at Victoria Park in Brisbane. Miles rejected both of cost concerns, in favor of renovating the existing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) for track & field and using Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park) for ceremonies.

Palaszczuk told the Today program:

“When I left, we had a plan, we were sticking to the plan and the tenders would have been out now for the Gabba and the planning and construction would have been well getting into it now.

“So, I’m absolutely shocked at the state of this.

“Everything’s getting unpicked. I often describe it as like, if you’re knitting a sweater and someone pulls a bit of wool, it’s all going to come untangled and everyone is pulling bits of wool out of this sweater.

“If I was at the IOC at the moment, I would be saying, ‘What is going on, Brisbane?’

“This is not just Brisbane or Queensland Games, this is an Australian Games, and everyone needs to pull together. There was a plan, the plan was submitted to the IOC, the IOC ticked off the plan. And now you have nearly every single mayor, you have the new government reviewing.

“Look, I’ve been told the committee has actually already decided it’s going to be Victoria Park. It’s got no transport, it’s going to cost a lot more, more billions and billions and billions of dollars that Queenslanders don’t have at the moment because of the cost-of-living pressures.

“You know, there was a plan, there was [IOC’s] The New Norm, we had 80 per cent of our stadiums locked in and, frankly, I’m pretty annoyed about how it’s turned out, it actually makes me quite sad as well. Something that I was so pleased with when we secured it for Brisbane and Queensland and Australia, an inclusive Games, and now the athletes are being forgotten and it’s become this huge fight over stadiums, for goodness sake.”

She called the Victoria Park concept “a ridiculous idea” and added:

“The Gabba was the place. But I’ve been told that it’s already Victoria Park, and I think there’s going to be a lot of outrage about the last piece of pristine greenness in our city being ripped up for stadiums.

“Time is running out. … Under the former plans we put in place, it would have been completed by 2030. Now we’re going to be pushed right up to the line until 2032.”

Palaszczuk noted that when Brisbane got the Games, the plan was clear: “We agreed on the funding. We secured the funding. And now it’s just become this political football.”

In the meantime, the venue review continues.

Then there is the funding for the Olympic Villages, planned for Brisbane, Kooralbyn, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. The LNP government issued a statement on Wednesday that included:

“Explosive new budget analysis from the Queensland Government has revealed a massive budget blackhole left by the former State Labor Government to build the Athlete Villages for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“It can be revealed today, the athlete villages have blown out to an estimated [A]$3.5 billion.

“The former Palaszczuk-Miles Labor Government only allocated [A]$155 million to build suburban streets and paths for the proposed villages, leaving a staggering [A]$3.345 billion funding shortfall.”

Labor Party Deputy Leader Cameron Dick said Wednesday, “The truth of the matter is the villages have no business cases, no project validation reports, no commercial input, and of course, there’s no other details.”

A Labor spokesman noted, “Money [A$410 million] was allocated in the budget for the first and most progressed project at Northshore Hamilton, with additional funding to be budgeted as planning continued for villages on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.”

The estimate of the shortfall came from Queensland Treasury, which said that A$2.4 billion was being set aside “for future works.” As the 2032 village properties are expected to become resident housing after the Games, private financing may also be available for part of the project, but this has not yet been explored.

It’s a mess. But Palasczcuk was optimistic:

“I think everybody will get their act in order. But … it’s going to need everybody sitting down around that table.”

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PANORAMA: Kevin Durant on world catching U.S. in hoops: “Hell no”; Trump erases Keller’s Jan. 6 conviction; doping positive from a cookie?

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant on whether the world is catching the U.S.: “Hell no.” (Photo: Wikipedia via TechCrunch).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The International Testing Agency disclosed a sixth doping violation from Paris 2024 and disqualified Belgian equestrian Domien Michiels for the use of Dorzolamide, a Class S5 diuretics or masking agent. However:

“[T]he athlete was able to establish that dorzolamide entered his body inadvertently when he administered eye drops containing dorzolamide to his dog to treat the dog’s illness. Considering that dorzolamide did not enter the athlete’s system through topical ophthalmic route exclusively and in light of the principle of ‘strict liability,’ the presence of dorzolamide in his sample constitutes an ADRV [doping violation].

“The athlete was however able to establish that he bore ‘No Fault or Negligence’ for the ADRV.

“The only consequence of his ADRV under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is the disqualification of the athlete’s individual competitive results at the Dressage Team Grand Prix event on 3 August 2024 at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The results of the Belgium Team in the Dressage Team Grand Prix on 3 August 2024 are not to be disqualified.”

Belgium finished fifth in the Team Dressage Grand Prix Special. The ITA’s determination can be appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency if desired.

● U.S. Center for SafeSport ● The Associated Press reported that SafeSport chief executive Ju’Riese Colon told an online stakeholder meeting on Tuesday that she will begin participating in staffing interviews, and is exploring other background-check processes to further improve hiring.

The Center has been under scrutiny since former investigator Jason Krasley was arrested on 10 January on allegations of theft, rape and sex trafficking when he was a police officer in Pennsylvania. Said Colon during the meeting:

“This was certainly unprecedented and certainly something we’ll strive to never have happen again, because it was a dark week for the Center. It certainly impacts the trust we’re striving to build.”

An outside audit is being conducted of Krasley’s work at SafeSport to see if any actions are needed in cases he was involved with.

● Anti-Doping ● Here’s a new one, from Russian Anti-Doping Agency results processing department head Valeria German, speaking at an educational seminar:

“There was a case when an athlete ate cookies baked by her friend. It turned out that a capsule of mildronate [meldonium] was added to the powdered sugar on the cookie.

“We were told that this was done so that the athlete would end her career and spend more time with her friend.”

After testing, the unidentified athlete received a reduced sanction for having no fault in the ingestion of the prohibited drug.

RUSADA chief Veronika Loginova cited difficulties with some parents of athletes who are uninterested in following the anti-doping regulations:

“We encounter a strange approach from the parents of some children in sports. Videos are published on social networks where mothers say that RUSADA forces them to do something and violates the rights of all children, that the education is difficult. And then we see violations by underage athletes.”

● Athletics ● Organizers of the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships unveiled a motto and artwork for the event, based on the idea of “Every second, SUGOI,” using a Japanese word for “amazing” or “extraordinary” to emphasize the dramatic nature of the championships:

“‘Every second, SUGOI’ signifies that every moment of this year’s Championships, from start to finish, will be extraordinary, creating an event where the spirit of ‘SUGOI’ resonates with everyone.”

The artwork features dramatic brushstrokes to convey a sense of speed and power, developed by the organizing committee and sponsor TBS Television. Calligrapher Bisen Aoyagi was engaged to create the principal artwork, which will be integrated into the TBS broadcast of the event as well as at the National Stadium, where her work has already been displayed.

● Basketball ● FIBA featured comments from U.S. superstar Kevin Durant, who won his fourth Olympic gold in Paris as the U.S. went undefeated at 6-0, coming from behind to beat Serbia, 95-91, in the semi and then France by 98-87 in the final.

Asked on the Out The Mud podcast if the world is catching up to the U.S. men, Durant fired back, “Hell no, of course not.” Some more highlights:

● “We beat Serbia three times this summer. You know what I’m saying? So what, like one game, yeah. They’re going to get a game where they look solid.”

● “No, I don’t believe it’s close. For people to give them credit for just being in a close game with us shows that they ain’t even, can’t compete. We [USA] created basketball. They’re influenced by us.

Luka [Doncic is] influenced by Americans. So is [Nikola] Jokic. So was [Croatia’s] Toni Kukoc. So was [Argentina’s] Manu Ginobili, [France’s] Tony Parker. All these dudes was influenced by Americans. We set the blueprint.”

● “It’s cute for sure for people that want to experience history. That’s what they want. ‘I was there to see the changing of the guards between the Americans and the Europeans.’

“People want to try and switch the narrative up or try to hype [something] up when in reality, we’ve been dominating these dudes for this whole time. And they finally get closer than 20 points and now you’re saying they catching up. Nah.”

Others, including 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medalist Shaquille O’Neal, feel differently. O’Neal said after the Paris Games, “I am sure that the USA will not win gold at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”

For the record, Durant will be 39 by the time LA28 rolls around.

● Football ● The U.S. concluded its January men’s training camp with a friendly in Orlando, Florida against familiar foe Costa Rica. The game started with 40-degree temperatures and rain, but the American squad had a firm hold on the match and scored a 3-0 victory.

The American starting eleven had eight changes from the 3-1 win over Venezuela on the 18th, with six of the 11 having just one or two appearances with the national team. Striker Brian White, in his third appearance, gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute – his first international goal – on a left-footed rocket from the center of the box to the far right side, off a long lead pass from midfielder Diego Luna.

That was the halftime score, as the U.S. had 59% of possession and a 7-3 edge on shots. White had an excellent chance for a second goal in the 54th, but his shot from the right side went wide to the left. U.S. keeper Zach Steffen got a right-hand save on a direct shot from substitute midfielder Allan Cruz in the 56th to maintain the lead.

The U.S. got a second goal in the 77th, as midfielder Emeka Eneli sent a pass from the left side to the top of the box for a left-footed smash from midfielder Caden Clark that flew into the net. A late score came from sub striker Patrick Agyemang, who ran on to a pass down the right side, dribbled in and blasted a hard shot from left to right that made the final 3-0 in the 90th.

The U.S. finished with 58% possession and a 11-8 shots edge. The U.S. improved to 5-1-0 under coach Mauricio Ponchettino (ARG). Next up is the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama on 20 March in Inglewood, California.

An auxiliary event at the World Economic Forum in Davis (SUI) focused on “Connection vs Connectivity: Tackling the Loneliness Epidemic” and included UEFA Social & Environmental Sustainability Director Michele Uva (ITA), who noted:

“Physical activity can also improve mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety, boosting mood, and enhancing cognitive function. More practically, while playing football, using phones or electronic devices is almost impossible, which naturally limits screen time and encourages more direct, face-to-face interactions.”

True for almost any sport, and good advice.

● Swimming ● Five-time Olympic medalist Klete Keller was one of the 1,500+ individuals involved in the 6 January 2021 riot in Washington, D.C. pardoned by President Donald Trump on Monday.

Keller, 42, who won medals at the 2000-04-08 Games in the 400 m Free and 4×200 m Free relay, pled guilty to obstructing an official proceeding, and was sentenced to six months of home detention, three years of probation and community service.

He told The Washington Post, “It didn’t feel real. And waking up this morning, I was like: ‘My gosh. Wow, this is over. I don’t have to check in with my probation officer anymore.’ It’s just such an amazing feeling of relief.”

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FIGURE SKATING: U.S. Championships on in Kansas with World Champions Malinin and Chock & Bates as headliners

World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, in 2021 (Photo: Wikipedia via Phantom Kabocha).

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≡ U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The much-awaited 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships are ongoing in Wichita, Kansas, with the senior competitions to start on Thursday, featuring multiple current and former national champions on the ice.

The men’s star is Ilia Malinin, the 2024 World Champion and a medal favorite for the 2026 Winter Games. The two-time Ice Dance World Champions, Madison Chock and Evan Bates will be trying for their sixth national title and a sixth appearance at the Worlds.

All four defending champions – Malinin, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea and Chock and Bates are back. Malinin won twice during the ISU Grand Prix, as did Glenn, with Chock & Bates winning a gold and a silver. All three won at the Grand Prix Final and are favorites in their events.

The American depth is impressive; here are the top scores by American skaters in the world top 30 for the 2024-25 season so far (with world ranking and the meet performed; skaters not entered in the senior competition shown in strikeout type):

Men (4):
● 312.55 (1), Ilia Malinin (Lombardia Trophy) ~ 2023/24 national champ
● 246.58 (16), Andrew Torgashev (NHK Trophy) ~ 2023 3rd
● 246.48 (17), Lucas Broussard (Cranberry Cup)
● 236.77 (24), Jimmy Ma (Cranberry Cup)

Women (7):
● 215.54 (3), Amber Glenn (Cup of China) ~ 2024 national champ
● 213.33 (4), Elyce Lin-Gracey (Nebelhorn Trophy)
● 201.90 (10), Sarah Everhardt (Lombardia Trophy) ~ 2024 nationals 4th
● 198.13 (17), Isabeau Levito (Nebelhorn Trophy) ~ 2023 national champ
● 197.71 (18), Alysa Liu (Golden Spin of Zagreb) ~ 2019/20 national champ
● 197.41 (19), Sophie von Felten (Ljubljana Cup) ~ in Junior event
● 192.04 (26), Bradie Tennell (Skate America) ~ 2018/21 national champ
(Levito will not skate due to injury.)

Pairs (5):
● 201.73 (6), Ellie Kam-Danny O’Shea (Skate America) ~ 2024 national champs
● 191.51 (9), Alisa Efimova-Misha Mitrofanov (Skate America) ~ 2024 2nd
● 178.31 (18), Emily Chan-Spencer Howe (Skate Canada Int’l) ~ 2023 2nd
● 173.37 (20), Katie McBeath-Daniil Parkman (John Nicks)
● 170.21 (23), Audrey Shin-Balazs Nagy (Golden Spin of Zagreb)

Ice Dance (10):
● 219.85 (1), Madison Chock-Evan Bates (Grand Prix Final) ~ 5x national champs
● 198.87 (8), Christina Carrera-Anthony Ponomarenko (NHK Trophy) ~ 2024 2nd
● 196.07 (11), Emilea Zingas-Vadym Kolesnik (Warsaw Cup) ~ 2023 4th
● 190.86 (13), Emily Bratti-Ian Somerville (Tallinn Trophy) ~ 2024 3rd
● 189.86 (15) Caroline Green-Michael Parsons (Cup of China) ~ 3x 4th place
● 186.96 (17), Oona Brown-Gage Brown (Denis Ten Memorial)
● 184.41 (21), Eva Pate-Logan Bye (Warsaw Cup)
● 179.38 (25), Leah Neset-Artem Markelov (Skate America)
● 174.32 (28), Annabelle Morozov-Jeffrey Chen (Denis Ten Memorial)
● 174.32 (30), Isabella Flores-Ivan Desyatov (Denis Ten Memorial)

The meet will be shown on NBC’s Peacock streaming service, with significant portions of the event on NBC or USA Network:

23 Jan. (Thu.): 7:00 p.m.: Pairs Short Program on USA
23 Jan. (Thu.): 9:00 p.m.: Women’s Short Program on USA
24 Jan. (Fri.): 6:00 p.m.: Rhythm Dance on USA
24 Jan. (Fri.): 8:00 p.m.: Women’s Free Program on NBC
25 Jan. (Sat.): 2:30 p.m.: Men’s Short Program & Free Dance on NBC
25 Jan. (Sat.): 8:00 p.m.: Pairs Free Program on USA
26 Jan. (Sun.): 4:00 p.m.: Men’s Free Skate on NBC

NBC will also have a delayed showing of the Exhibition Gala, at noon on 2 February.

These championships are not a direct selection meet, but will have a heavy impact on the U.S. team selection for the 2025 ISU World Championships, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts from 25-30 March.

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BOXING: Carefully-worded IBA open letter asks Trump to “look into” boxing at LA28, urges Olympic prize money

IBA President Umar Kremlev (RUS) addressing the 2022 IBA Congress in Istanbul (Photo: IBA)

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≡ IBA OPEN LETTER ≡

One day after a leading Russian propagandist threatened Germany, France and Great Britain with destruction for their continuing support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion, the Russian-led International Boxing Association asked for the help of U.S. President Donald Trump to get boxing back onto the program of the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles.

The open letter issued on Wednesday starts with congratulations and an endorsement of Trump’s position against transgender men participating in women’s events. Then:

● “IBA provides a platform for boxers to proudly represent their countries and earn a significant income through a substantial prize money fund established for all continental and World Championships. IBA ensures that all earnings are allocated to athletes, coaches, and National Federations, and that the medals won by the athletes, which they have worked towards their entire careers, are made of genuine and quality materials.”

● “Worthy of note, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its current leadership have, unfortunately, led the Olympic movement towards a decline through their short-sighted actions and poor governance. In fact, they have announced in the last 12 months that boxing will not be part of the Olympic program for LA28; it would be very much appreciated if your team could look into this situation.

“It is disappointing to see political agendas influencing sports, discrimination against athletes based on their nationality, and mishandling of funds in the Olympic movement.”

● “It is shameful that the only reward athletes receive for their countless hours of training and numerous sacrifices are medals made of low-quality metals. This is evident by the fact that many athletes have returned their medals to the IOC after the Paris 2024 Games.”

● “The International Boxing Association firmly believes that significant prize-money funds should be available for all sports disciplines at future Olympic Games editions, with the LA28 being the first to lead the way.”

“With the upcoming renewal of leadership in the IOC in March, IBA expects the IOC to undergo restructuring, revitalization of key positions, and significant governance reforms. This will undoubtedly revive the Olympic movement and enable the provision of fair conditions, competition opportunities, and a prosperous future for the athletes.”

The letter also expresses “our eagerness to collaborate with your administration on initiatives that will promote the development of boxing in the United States” and suggests hosting an IBA World Championship in the U.S. in the near future.

It is co-signed by the IBA’s Russian President, Umar Kremlev, and its British Secretary General, Chris Roberts.

Observed: The message is very cleverly constructed, as it does not call for the IBA to be governing body for Olympic boxing once again, only that it “takes pride in being the sole governing body for boxing that respects the inherent rights of every athlete.”

It also, carefully, does not ask Trump to take any action, but only to “look into this situation,” as a direct intervention in the organization of the 2028 Games would be a violation of the Olympic Charter regarding government interference in the autonomy of sport (and of the IOC’s property rights as the owners of the Olympic Games).

But the IBA falls into its usual call for the IOC “to amend their regulations” regarding gender identity, when in fact the IOC’s 2021 Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination only provides guidelines to International Federations and eschews a “one size fits all” approach.

The problem for boxing at the Olympic level is, in fact, the IBA, which has refused to identify its sources of financing, has held questionable elections, and when it disqualified both Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Yu-ting Lin at its 2023 Women’s World Championships, did not disclose the medical information which backed such actions, saying only they did not meet the IBA’s “eligibility” requirements (and, neither are transgender athletes). This after both Khelif (2022) and Lin (2018-19-22) had won medals at prior IBA World Championships. They both won Olympic women’s boxing golds in Paris. 

So, the IBA was dismissed from the Olympic Movement at a special IOC Session in 2023 and the question of whether boxing will be included at the 2028 Olympic Games is to be decided in the first quarter of 2025.

Although the IOC will elect a new President on 20 March in Greece, Thomas Bach (GER) will remain as IOC President through 23 June, with the new President taking over on 24 June. That means the decision on (1) whether boxing will be part of the 2028 Olympic program and (2) if so, the recognition of 60-member World Boxing to be the new International Federation for the sport will take place while Bach is still President.

Further, the IBA – and many others in Russian sport – will be mortified if World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) is elected as the IOC President; he has been continuously against Russian participation in athletics since its state-sponsored 2011-15 doping program was exposed and then for its invasion of Ukraine.

Coe is a serious contender, along with former Olympic swim star Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), cycling chief David Lappartient (FRA) and long-time member Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP). Candidates not currently expected to contend include gymnastics head Morinari Watanabe (JPN), Jordan’s Prince Feisal Al-Hussein and ski & snowboard head Johan Eliasch (GBR). All seven will make presentations to the IOC members on 30 January, which could shake up the voters seven weeks in advance of the decision.

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PANORAMA: Robinson wins Alpine World Cup after four years; Montreal ‘76 star Newhouse passes at 76; 10-year TV deal for Aussie swimming!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● As the winter World Cup seasons in multiple sports move through Italy, the events double as pre-Olympic tests for the Winter Games coming next year.

One more venue passed with flying colors last weekend, the famed Olympia delle Tofane Downhill course, which hosted women’s Downhill and Super-G races. Two-time World Cup seasonal champion Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) spoke for many:

“Cortina is a guarantee of quality; the track is always prepared in excellent condition. It’s the only place on the World Cup circuit where, even if it snows a meter, they manage to clear it.

“So, aside from the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites, it also helps you mentally to know that when you arrive here on Tuesday, you can look forward to a week of perfect conditions.”

● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s World Cup was in Kronplatz (ITA) for a one-day Giant Slalom, with New Zealand star Alice Robinson getting her first World Cup gold since March 2021!

She was fifth after the first run, but had the fastest second run in the field and took the lead at 1:55.28, passing American Paula Moltzan (1:56.22), who had roared from 10th to be the leader.

Sweden’s Olympic champ Sara Hector, third after the first run, crashed and Gut-Behrami, second after the first run, skied well, but moved only into second at 1:55.84. After first-run leader Federica Brignone (ITA) crashed out, Robinson had her fourth career World Cup win and Moltzan got her first World Cup medal since February of 2024 and her fourth career podium.

Nina O’Brien of the U.S. finished 10th (1:57.22).

● Athletics ● Sad news on the death of American 400 m Olympic gold and silver medalist Fred Newhouse, who passed away at age 76 on Monday.

Newhouse was known for his swift starts, always daring competitors to follow him and see if they could hang on at the finish. He was a silver medalist at the 1971 Pan American Games and favored to make the 1972 Olympic team, but finished seventh in the Trials final. In 1976, he was second at the Trials and ran the race of his life in the Olympic final, but was passed in the final 60 m by gold medalist Alberto Juantorena of Cuba, 44.26 to 44.40. Newhouse then won a gold on the men’s 4×400 m relay.

He graduated from Prairie View A&M, and went on to a successful career as an engineer for Exxon Corporation and remained deeply involved with track & field as an official and team leader. Within the past year, he suffered from brain cancer.

World Athletics correspondent Karen Rosen wrote a wonderful tribute in 2022 to the long-time friendship that developed between Newhouse and Juantorena, available here.

● Judo ● USA Judo named Corinne Shigemoto, a 21-year veteran of the organization, as its new chief executive, replacing Keith Bryant, in charge since 2016. Shigemoto was a four-time national champion and worked with the federation from 2001-22 as chief operating officer, director of membership services, director of event services, and director of manager/coach development and education.

● Swimming ● Swimming Australia and Nine Network announced a massive, 10-year media tie-up from 2025 to 2034:

“Nine’s coverage will come to life across streaming, broadcast and publishing platforms – including the 9Network and 9Now – for the Swimming Australia calendar that includes Australian Swimming Trials, Australian Short Course Championships, Australian Age Championships and Australian Open Championships.”

Importantly, the deal encompasses the period including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2032 Games in Brisbane, when national interest in Australia’s best sport will be at a fever pitch. International events such as the Pan Pacific Championships are included, but not the World Aquatics Championships or the Olympics.

● Table Tennis ● With the 2028 Olympic Games coming to Los Angeles, the U.S. is suddenly in the spotlight for multiple major events in table tennis.

The first World Table Tennis Smash in the U.S. is coming in 2025, to the Orleans Center in Las Vegas from 3-13 July, with the world’s top players expected to attend. Further, USA Table Tennis was confirmed as a candidate for the ITTF World Championships in 2027 and 2029.

The U.S. federation will be competing with Brazil, China, France and Kazakhstan for the 2027 event, and Australia, Brazil, China, Germany and Iraq for 2029, the most bidders ever for the Worlds. The U.S. has hosted once before, in 2021 in Houston.

The decision will be made during the ITTF Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2025.

(In case you were wondering, table tennis in 2028 is slated to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.)

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PANORAMA: Milan Cortina registers 347,000 ticket buyers; Kenya’s Kipchoge not retiring (yet); Djokovic offended by TV talk, gets apology

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 1904: St. Louis ● A follow-up to last week’s sensational RR Auction of the 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold won by American Fred Schule, which sold for a hammer price of $436,297.

With the buyer’s premium – the add-on that goes to the auction house – the actual sale price was a remarkable $545,371.

Bobby Eaton of RR Auction confirmed that there were 33 total bids for the medal.

This is not a record for an Olympic medal. The record is from one of Jesse Owens’ four golds from the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin sold for $1,466,574 at auction in 2013. A second Owens gold was sold for $615,000 at auction in 2019.

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The registration period for the initial sales of tickets for the 2026 Winter Games closed last week with considerable success:

“There has been a great response from all over the globe, with 347,000 registrations, nearly 30% from Italy and more than 70% from abroad. Among the foreign countries with the highest number of users who have joined the Fan26 community, the digital community of Milano Cortina 2026, are the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada.”

Sales will start on 6 February with registrants given a 48-hour time slot for purchases, with the order determined by lottery. Buyers will be limited to a total of 25 tickets.

● Russia ● Continuing messages of hope for inclusion appear in Russian media, including an announcement that the International Canoe Federation is allowing Russians to compete as “neutrals” in Canoe Slalom events this year, with eight athletes approved so far.

Russia had three Canoe Sprint athletes in Paris, but none in Slalom.

While the Winter World University Games continue in Italy, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) told the Russian news agency TASS that with regard to the summer World University Games in Germany:

“FISU follows the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus, which are applied by the International Federations responsible for the qualification requirements in each sport. The International Federations concerned are responsible for establishing neutrality, among other criteria, before any possible participation. 

“We will indeed follow the decisions/recommendations of the international federations.”

● Athletics ● When you convince me that the world has become a running world, I will retire. When you have four billion people running every day I will retire.”

That’s Kenyan two-time Olympic marathon champ Eliud Kipchoge, now 40, at a London Marathon news conference last Friday, explaining that he’s not done yet. Asked if the 27 April London race will be his last:

“No. I will speak more when I finish the marathon. Now I’m focusing on training, purely on fitness and my muscles to be ready for the start line in London.

“I don’t like to mix some things. I learn to put all my mind on the road, put all my mind on making sure my muscles are lean and ready to combat the London streets. And the rest will come.”

He’s a four-time London winner, but failed to finish at the Olympic marathon in Paris:

“It was not my day. It’s not always straight. Sometimes you hit a bump. It’s like driving a car and getting a puncture. That’s what happened. It was a big challenge. It was demoralizing. But it’s sport. You have to wake up, go again, and push on every day.”

● Biathlon ● The sport is coming out of the snow with a new showcase in October with the Loop One Festival on 18-19 October at Munich’s Olympiapark. A Super Sprint format on roller skis will feature 60 biathlon stars in heats and a final, designed to bring new fans to the sport.

The innovation also includes programs for kids and Paralympians, as well as many other festival elements. If successful, look for more programs in more countries to follow.

● Handball ● The IHF men’s World Championship, in Croatia, Denmark and Norway, is into the second round, with Germany, three-time defending champ Denmark, France, Portugal, Iceland and Egypt all compiling 3-0 records in group play.

The second-phase “Main Round” – with six teams in each of four groups – begins on Tuesday, with the top two teams in each group heading to the quarterfinals.

The U.S., added as a wild-card team, was 0-3 in its group matches and is in the President’s Cup tournament for places 25-32.

● Swimming ● SwimSwam.com noted personal sanctions imposed on International Swimming League founder Konstantin Grigorishin by the Ukrainian government, including the freezing of all of his assets in the country. He was also on a list of individuals considered to be supporting Russia in its continuing war with Ukraine.

Grigorishin, at one time a billionaire in energy and related enterprises, founded ISL with the intention of raising swimming to a high-profile sport with its own league. It operated for three seasons in 2019-20-21 losing millions each year, subsidized by Grigorishin.

● Tennis ● Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic refused to participate in an on-court, post-match interview on Sunday at the Australian Open in Melbourne to protest comments by broadcaster Tony Jones, explaining in a video:

“A few days ago, a famous sports journalist here from Australia who works for a main broadcaster of the Australian Open, Channel 9, decided to mock Serbian fans and he made insulting and offensive comments towards me.”

Djokovic told on-court interviewer – two-time Australian Open winner Jim Courier (USA) – only “Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your presence and the support. I’ll see you next round. Thank you very much.” He left and explained his reasons at the post-match news conference and also informed the tournament management.

Nine Network apologized, with a statement:

“Nine would like to apologise to Novak Djokovic for any offence caused from comments made during a recent live cross. No harm was intended towards Novak or his fans. We look forward to further showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park.”

Jones also apologized, saying “I do apologise if he felt that I disrespected him.” Djokovic is through to the quarterfinals and will play Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday.

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced it will not file an appeal in the case of Polish star Iga Swiatek, given a one-month suspension for a positive test for the heart medication Trimetazidine.

Per WADA: “her positive test for TMZ was caused by a contaminated melatonin product that is regulated as a medication in Poland and was sourced from a reputable pharmacy in that country. …

“WADA’s scientific experts have confirmed that the specific contaminated melatonin scenario, as presented by the athlete and accepted by the [International Tennis Integrity Agency], is plausible and that there would be no scientific grounds to challenge it at [the Court of Arbitration for Sport].”

The second-seeded Swiatek has reached the Australian Open quarters and will play again on Wednesday against American Emma Navarro.

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LOS ANGELES FIRES: U.S. Olympians and Paralympians relief fund ready to offer aid to Olympians and Paralympians with L.A.-area fire losses

KCAL9's Jaime Maggio with Olympic legend John Naber, about grants to help Olympians and Paralympians in need from the L.A.-area fires (Photo: KCAL9 screenshot).

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≡ OLYMPIC FAMILY RELIEF ≡

The Santa Ana winds were back up again in Southern California on Monday, but the relief work is already underway from the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which are still not out.

KCAL9 Los Angeles shared a relief program for Olympians and Paralympians, explained by 1976 four-time Olympic gold medalist John Naber, a Pasadena resident who recently served as a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee board member. Naber told correspondent Jaime Maggio at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center:

“There was an alumni association with which I was on board, and somebody came and said I have a friend who’s living out of a trailer and they’re stealing electric power from their neighbors and he’s an Olympian. Can we do something? And we passed the hat that afternoon raised about $6-700 and got him some prescription meds and some help. He passed away less than a year later but we all felt good about doing something.

“And so the [U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Relief Fund] has been doing that since 2006. We raise money from Olympians and Paralympians. We are run by a board of Olympians and Paralympians and we give money back to Olympians and Paralympians. It’s a very low-overhead, high-value proposition.

“We don’t solve their problems but we demonstrate solidarity with them and these grants can easily reach $5,000, which will not rebuild a burnt house, but it will make somebody feel like they’re part of this Olympic family one more time.

“Our grants are limited to Olympians and Paralympians who’ve hit a speed bump through no fault of their own. We call it accident, illness, injury, or natural disaster and we’ve had athletes who had eye cancer and the insurance covered the treatment but not the false new eyeball and so we paid for that.

“We’ve had athletes who’ve had commuting issues to get kidney dialysis and insurance will cover the procedure but the loss of work and the cost of travel [was not.]”

The organization was established by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee; Naber is the current President and inquiries for help can be made to Executive Director Cindy Stinger, a three-time handball Olympian.

Naber had to evacuate his home due to the Eaton Fire, but is back now:

“We’re back home now and feel greatly relieved but also a little bit guilty because of the remarkable suffering that our neighbors, our friends, a board member here at the Aquatics Center, lost a home. You know everybody knows somebody who’s suffering right now and this is the time where we need to be sensitive and helpful if we can.

“One of the things I’m really hoping that this interview can accomplish is that we can find Olympians who are too proud to ask for help but their house burned up or they lost their car and they’re entitled to apply for a grant.

“You can help them out a little bit and it it seems to matter and it allows us to remain part of that family.”

Naber also noted the true nature of being an Olympian and Paralympian:

“We say there’s no such thing as a former Olympian or Paralympian. You’re an Olympian for life and it’s a club you earn your way into and you can never lose your way out of it.”

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SWIMMING: Healthy USA Swimming budget for 2025 shows $39.75 million operating revenue and $99,532 surplus

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≡ USA SWIMMING ≡

Swimming World Magazine posted the internal USA Swimming 2025 budget documentation from 19 December 2024, showing a healthy $39.75 million in revenue and a surplus of $99,532 at the end of the year.

By outward appearances, this is down considerably from the 2023 and 2024 revenue totals of $45.23 million (audited) and $44.41 million (expected), but is in fact quite healthy for a post-Olympic year. From the audited financial statements, recent revenue totals were:

2017: $43.09 million revenue
2018: $32.86 million
2019: $46.48 million
2020: $36.39 million
2021: $42.53 million ~ Olympic year
2022: $29.34 million
2023: $45.23 million
2024: $44.41 million ~ Olympic year (estimate)

The 2017 figures included $6.55 million in investment income, and the 2022 revenue total was hurt by $7.69 million in investment losses. Removing those shows operating revenues for those years of:

2017: $36.54 million operating revenue
2022: $37.03 million operating revenue
2025: $39.75 million projected

The major difference in operating income between the $44.41 million in 2024 and the $39.75 million projected for 2025 is the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, which netted revenue of $5.11 million. The major sources of 2025 revenue:

● $24.93 million: membership
● $5.68 million: sponsorships
● $5.19 million: USOPC grants
● $1.64 million: USA Swimming Foundation grants
● $1.38 million: events

These amounts are similar to 2024 except for the USOPC grants, which are expected to be down from the $6.08 million total in 2024.

The major operating expense categories include:

● $10.26 million: national team
● $9.89 million: sport development
● $4.53 million: event operations
● $5.08 million: commercial programs
● $4.10 million: insurance and risk management
● $1.45 million: executive operations
● $2.39 million: finance and operations
● $1.64 million: business affairs

Operating expenses are expected to total $39.65 million, with a projected surplus of $99,532, much smaller than the $2.202 million gain in 2024 (thanks to the Trials), but well ahead of losses in 2022 ($1.29 million) and 2023 ($538,513).

Support for the national team was down 15% compared to the Olympic year of 2024, but up by 15% compared to the last post-Olympic year in 2022.

This is a solid budget, with USA Swimming in the midst of a search for a new chief executive, with former Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Shana Ferguson serving as the interim chief executive and possible future chief executive of the organization.

The question for the USA Swimming board going forward – and influencing its consideration of a new chief executive – will be the potential for substantial growth in memberships and sponsorships with the 2028 Olympic Games coming to Los Angeles in 2028.

Although some incremental additions will come naturally, can USA Swimming really develop extra enthusiasm for its programs in the run-up to 2028? That eluded many U.S. national federations trying to capitalize on the prior U.S. hostings in Los Angeles in 1984 and Atlanta in 1996. It isn’t easy and will require considerable imagination in both concepts and executions in 2026-27-28.

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SPORTS LAW: European Advocate General says Court of Arbitration CANNOT be the final word on sports law in Europe

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

“I am of the view that effective judicial protection demands that both access to national courts and their powers of review be expanded in relation to mandatory arbitration, beyond their current powers in relation to commercial arbitration.

“Direct access to challenge FIFA’s rules, despite a [Court of Arbitration for Sport] award confirming their validity, should be available to subjects who claim that their rights guaranteed by [European Union] law have been infringed. The scope of review should not be limited to public policy, but should include all relevant EU law provisions.

“It should be possible to exercise such review in all judicial proceedings, be they initiated as a direct challenge to FIFA’s rules, in enforcement proceedings of a CAS arbitral award, or incidentally in a different type of procedure, such as the one initiated by an action for damages.”

That is from the 16 January opinion by European Court of Justice Advocate General Tamara Capeta (CRO), writing an advisory to the Court concerning a case brought by a Belgian football club – Royal Football Club Seraing – against FIFA, the European Football Union (UEFA) and the Belgian football federation, protesting the inability for the club to bring a case against these governing bodies under European law.

Yes, it’s lawyer talk, but the implications are enormous. The formation of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 1984 – driven by the International Olympic Committee – created a way for individuals and organizations to lodge judicial-style appeals against the IOC, International Federations and other non-governmental organizations involved in sport, but in the more private format of arbitration.

Most of the cases shown on the CAS calendar deal with football, far more than any other sport. And under FIFA rules, filings must be made with CAS and not with courts in individual countries. So, when RFC Seraing lost its appeal at CAS over the transfer of player contracts to a third party (a company in Malta), it protested that it did not have the chance – as a European company – to litigate the question under European law.

Now comes Advocate General Capeta, writing an advisory brief for the European Court of Justice. It is not binding on the Court, but offers an independent view of the case. The judges will consider the matter separately.

Capeta makes the point that unlike commercial arbitration, which is voluntarily entered into by two or more parties, the referral to CAS for disputes is mandatory under FIFA rules. And FIFA, or one of its member associations, will enforce the judgement. But (citations omitted for readability):

“[W]hen a FIFA rule, or a decision based on such a rule, potentially infringes the right of an individual based on EU law, the constitutional system of the European Union bestows on that individual the right to effective judicial protection …

“[T]he Member States are under an obligation to ensure that subjects of EU law genuinely enjoy this fundamental right. That means that the Member States must ensure that an individual who claims that his or her EU-based right is infringed has access to an independent court previously established by law …

“CAS, or the Swiss Federal Tribunal which has jurisdiction to review its awards, are not such courts. Thus, their assessment of the compatibility of FIFA’s rules with EU-based rights does not satisfy the requirement of effective judicial protection in EU law.”

This is the crux of the issue and if it were to be adopted, could potentially blow up at least the European part of the system of dispute resolution in Olympic sport today, sending cases into national court systems, potentially for years at a time.

Capeta, noting the issues and the stakes, suggests to the Court:

● “After analysing the extent to which those two lines of jurisprudence may or may not be relevant for FIFA’s arbitration system, I will propose that the Court develop a specific interpretation suitable for mandatory arbitration, such as that carried out by CAS in the FIFA dispute resolution system. …

● “I am of the view that effective judicial protection demands that both access to national courts and their powers of review be expanded in relation to mandatory arbitration, beyond their current powers in relation to commercial arbitration.

● “Direct access to challenge FIFA’s rules, despite a CAS award confirming their validity, should be available to subjects who claim that their rights guaranteed by EU law have been infringed. The scope of review should not be limited to public policy, but should include all relevant EU law provisions.”

Capeta does not indicate what she believes an appropriate model “suitable for mandatory arbitration” would be other than access to national courts, which could simply eliminate the need for the Court of Arbitration for Sport altogether for disputes under European law.

There’s no timetable on the European Court of Justice decision on this case, but it will be carefully watched to see if the Court decides to vaporize the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s suitability as a venue to resolve disputes in the Olympic-sport world.

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PANORAMA: Trump assures LA28 of support; Vonn to retire post-2026 Winter Games; another win for cross-country star Jesse Diggins!

U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo: The White House).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● President-elect Donald Trump assured LA28 organizing committee chair Casey Wasserman of full support from the U.S. government for the Games in a meeting at Mar-a-Lago last week, according to Axios:

“‘These are America’s Olympics,’ Trump told Wasserman. ‘These are more important than ever to L.A. and I’m going to be supportive in every way possible and make them the greatest games.'”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● “At the end of the visit, all of the participants acknowledged to the commissario di governo Fabio Saldini the progresses made by SIMICO.

“Meanwhile, the schedule remains tight and challenging in order to be ready for the start of ice making at the beginning of March and the pre-homologation of the track at the end of March. The parties decided to continue a close and collaborative monitoring of progress, share information and meet again mid February.”

That’s from the Milan Cortina 2026 organizers, after a meeting and inspection last Thursday of the work on the bob, luge and skeleton track under construction in Cortina. The timeline is extraordinarily tight, especially for the start of the certification, expected to be in March.

The 2026 organizers have been in discussions with the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid, New York, to use the famed Mt. Van Hoevenberg site as an option.

● Alpine Skiing ● “I would never go past that. It would be a great way to end things – for once and for all.”

That’s U.S. skiing star Lindsey Vonn in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, explaining that if she was able to make the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina, that would be the coda on her career.

Vonn left skiing in 2019 after a series of injuries, but after a knee replacement in 2024, made it back to the FIS Alpine World Cup, already finishing 14th, sixth and fourth in her first three races.

“I don’t know if it’s possible. I have to stay on my feet, unlike today [following a training crash]

“I have to keep thing’s going and if I can make it, it would be a thrilling and a great way to kind of close the loop on my career – I guess the second chapter of my career. But I’m really trying not to think that far ahead. I have to stick with what’s on today and tomorrow and just kind of building and getting everything dialed in.”

● Biathlon ● Five-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time seasonal World Cup champion Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR) announced his retirement as of the end of this season. He posted on Instagram (computer translation from the original Norwegian):

“For 13 years I have been part of the world’s best national team, with the world’s best sponsors behind me.

“For the last six seasons I have combined top sport with family life. It has been fantastic, but also challenging. Now I feel that the time has come to prioritize the family.

“According to the plan, I was supposed to continue for another year, but the Olympic commitment requires even more, also from those around me. I still love to compete but competition days are few compared to all the other days. Let’s enjoy the last races together, before we end (at the World Cup Finals) with a bang in Holmenkollen on March 20-23!”

The announcement stunned the biathlon world and Boe gave an emotional news conference on Saturday at the Ruhpolding World Cup. He will finish with eight Olympic medals (5-2-1) and has 38 Worlds medals (20-13-5) and 88 World Cup wins. And still a few more races to go.

● Diving ● Jordan Windle, 26, a Tokyo Olympian in the men’s Platform, has been banned from the sport by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, following up on an initial, temporary suspension by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in December 2021 for “allegations of misconduct.”

SafeSport ruled that the “accusations against him since 2021 for inappropriate sexual conduct with minors are true” and that “SafeSport had received several complaints accusing Windle of exchanging explicit photographs with at least one minor on the USA Diving team.”

His status was updated on 16 December 2024 with a notation of “Sexual Misconduct – involving Minors; Inappropriate Conduct; Emotional Misconduct.” He does not appear to have competed since 2021.

● Football ● Star keeper Alyssa Naeher, who retired from international football at the end of 2024, was voted the women’s Player of the Year by U.S. Soccer. She is only the second keeper to win, with Hope Solo named in 2009.

Naeher was a key player in the U.S. gold-medal run in Paris, and finished 2024 with 18 starts, 1,170 minutes played, a 13-1-3 (W-L-T) record and a goals-against average of 0.50!

FIFA’s Ethics Committee issued three sanctions on Friday, including the suspension of the head of the Panamanian federation:

“The President of the Panamanian Football Association, Manuel Arias Corco, has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity for six months and ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 for breaches of article 24 paragraphs 1 and 2 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the FIFA Code of Ethics following his derogatory comments regarding players of the national team.”

In March of 2024, Arias said of Panama midfielder Marta Cox in a news conference, “out of shape, she’s fat, she couldn’t move on the pitch.” Arias said on X that he regretted the comments.

The two other bans were for misuse of office:

● “The former Secretary General of the Venezuelan Football Association (FVF), Manuel Álvarez, has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity for five years and ordered to pay a fine of USD 993,603.93 for breaches of articles 29 (Misappropriation and misuse of funds), 16 (Duty of loyalty) and 14 (General duties) of the FIFA Code of Ethics following actions, omissions, lack of care, mismanagement and negligence in the performance of his duties that enabled the misappropriation and misuse of FVF’s and FIFA’s funds.”

● “The former President of the Equatorial Guinean Football Association (FEGUIFUT), Gustavo Ndong, has been banned from taking part in any football-related activity for three years and ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 for breaches of articles 14 (General duties), 16 (Duty of loyalty), 20 (Conflicts of interest), 21 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and 26 (Abuse of position) of the FIFA Code of Ethics following his approval and acceptance of undue pecuniary advantages whilst serving as the President of the FEGUIFUT”

● Gymnastics ● Tokyo Olympian and two-time World Championships bronze medalist Yul Moldauer posted on Instagram that he has received a 16-month suspension for “whereabouts” failures:

“I want to personally share some important news with you before it becomes public.

“I have received a 16-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) due to a whereabouts violation. I want to be absolutely clear: I have never tested positive for any banned substances in my career.”

“This suspension stems from missing three required whereabouts updates within a 12-month period. The first two tests were missed due to competitions, where they had drug testing stations, which I passed. The third violation happened after the Olympic Trials, as I was processing the disappointment of missing out on my second Olympic Games. During that time, I took a short break to reset mentally and physically. While in Florida, I was in the area but not at the exact location I had listed when a tester arrived, I was 45 minutes away and told him I was in the car and ready to drive and meet him, but he said he had only 15 minutes to wait which resulted in my third missed test.”

He replaced his original post with another which clarified that he was responsible for the suspension due to the missed tests. He added, “One thing I certainly got right in my previous statement is that I am going to keep working and doing everything possible to represent Team USA at the LA 2028 Olympics.”

● Wrestling ● The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, with the first nationals to be held in 2026. This has been a long-time goal of USA Wrestling to get the women’s program to the collegiate championship level, and will improve an already strong U.S. women’s program.

USA Wrestling noted, “There were 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, with projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today.” Wrestling became an emerging sport in 2020 and will be the sixth to graduate to full NCAA championship status, joining rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015).

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced an 18-month suspension of U.S. Greco star Ben Provisor, 34, for “whereabouts” failures:

“Provisor accrued three Whereabouts Failures: the first on May 13, 2023, the second on August 12, 2023, and the third on April 4, 2024. … Provisor’s 18-month period of ineligibility began on November 5, 2024, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Provisor has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to April 4, 2024, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.”

A 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympian, he won the Pan American Games silver at 74 kg in 2011 and has three national titles.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Alpine Skiing ● Three days of FIS men’s World Cup skiing in Wengen (SUI), with the home fans in a tizzy after seeing their stars win! It was Franjo van Allmen, 23, taking the Super-G for his first World Cup gold in 1:47.65, ahead of Austria’s 2021 World Champion Vincent Kriechmayr (1:47.75) and Swiss Stefan Rogentin (1:48.23). Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American, in 11th (1:49.06).

Then it was three-time defending World Cup champ Marco Odermatt (SUI) taking his sixth win of the season in the Downhill in 2:22.58, with von Allmen second (2:22.95). Bryce Bennett finished sixth for the U.S. (2:23.41), with Cochran-Siegle 11th (2:24.03).

Sunday’s Slalom was a Norwegian sweep, with Atle Lie McGrath taking his third career World Cup win in 1:45.94, ahead of Timon Haugen (1:46.12) and Henrik Kristoffersen (1:46.23). Benjamin Ritchie was the top American, in 18th.

The women’s World Cup was in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) – on the 2026 Olympic course – with a dream finish for the home crowd as 2018 Olympic champ Sofia Goggia got her second win of the season in 1:33.95, overtaking second-starting Kasja Vickhoff Lie (NOR: 1:34.37) and fellow Italian Federica Brignone (1:34.50). Jackie Wiles was the top American (7th: 1:34.94), Lauren Macuga was 16th (1:35.27) and Lindsey Vonn was 20th (1:35.63).

Brignone, the three-time Olympic medalist, won the Super-G on Sunday in 1:21.64 for her 31st career World Cup title, ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI: 1:22.22) and Corinne Suter (SUI: 1:22.72). Macuga was 13th (1:23.29) and Vonn crashed out in mid-race while sitting in fifth place; she was not injured.

● Archery ● Four-time World Indoor medalist Brady Ellison of the U.S. won the men’s Recurve (18 m) class at the World Archery Indoor World Series in Nimes (FRA), defeating Florian Unruh (GER). Britain’s 19-year-old 2023 European Games champ Penny Healey took the women’s Recurve win, 6-2, against Lucilla Boari.

● Athletics ● Both American Records in the half-marathon had been set in the Chevron Houston Marathon: 59:43 by Ryan Hall in 2007 and 66:25 by Weini Kelati in 2024. Both got shattered on Sunday – despite weather in the 40s – as 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials winner Conner Mantz finished second at the line to Ethiopian Addisu Gobena, both timed in 59:17.

They were 1-2 out of a pack of four that raced to the line, with Gabriel Geay (TAN: 59:18) third and Jemal Yimer (ETH: 59:20) in fourth. American Hillary Bor was sixth in 60:20, moving to no. 6 all-time U.S.

Kelati and Ethiopia’s 19-year-old Senayet Getachew, the 2023 World Junior Cross Country champ, were in charge of the women’s Half by the 10-mile mark and raced to the finish, with Getachew in the lead for good and won in 66:05, with Kelati taking 16 seconds off her own record at 66:09.

Fellow American Amanda Vestri was fourth in 67:35, moving to no. 7 all-time U.S.

In the marathons, Israel’s Haimro Alame won the men’s race in 2:08:17 and Ethiopian Kumeshi Sichala took the women’s in 2:20:42.

Josh Hoey got an American Indoor Record in the men’s 1,000 m, winning in 2:14.48 at the Quaker Invitational in Philadelphia o Saturday, breaking Shane Steich’s 2:16.16 time from 2022. It’s the no. 2 performance in history, behind only Ayanleh Soleiman (DJI) and his 2:14.20 mark from 2016.

● Badminton ● Two-time Olympic champ Viktor Axelsen scored a solid win at the BWF World Tour India Open in New Delhi, taking the men’s Singles from Cheuk Yiu Lee (HKG) by 21-16, 21-8, while Korea’s Paris Olympic champ Se Young An won the women’s title over Pornpawee Chuchuwong (THA), 21-12, 21-9.

Third-seeds Sze Fei Goh and Nur Izzuddin (MAS) took the men’s Doubles, 21-15, 13-21, 21-16 over Won Ho Kim and Seung Jae Seo (KOR), and Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto (JPN) won the women’s Doubles, 21-15, 21-13 against Hye Jeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong (KOR).

China’s second-seeded Zhen Bang Jiang and Ya Xin Wei (CHN) won the Mixed Doubles, 21-18, 21-17 over Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (FRA).

● Biathlon ● The fifth stop for the IBU World Cup was in Ruhpolding (GER), with the French women continuing to dominate, as two-time Worlds relay gold winner Lou Jeanmonnot won her second World Cup race in a row and fourth of the season in the 15 km Individual on Saturday in 41:35.3 (0 penalties), ahead of Franziska Preuss (GER: 42:11.2/1) and Amy Baserga (SUI: 42:18.6/0).

Sunday’s 12.5 km Mass Start was a win for triple Olympic medalist Elvira Oeberg (SWE: 33:00.5/0), who beat Preuss (33:25.5/1) and Jeanne Richard (FRA: 33:25.9/0).

The men’s 20 km Individual winner was Norway’s 2024 European champ Vebjorn Sorum, who got his first win of the season 47:30.0 (0), beating Emilien Claude (FRA: 48:21.1/0) and Andrejs Rastorgujevs (LAT: 48:26.8/1).

The 15 km Mass Start on Sunday belonged to Italy’s Tommaso Giacomel, a clear winner in 36:21.8 (0), ahead of Norwegians Sturla Laegreid (36:28.1/1) and seasonal leader (and soon to retire) Johannes Thingnes Boe (36:33.2/2).

France beat Sweden in the men’s 4×7.5 km relay and Germany defeated Norway in the women’s 4×6 km relay.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The fourth stop on the IBSF World Cup tour in Innsbruck (AUT), with German sleds taking both the Two-Man and Four-Man wins. Beijing 2022 silver winner Johannes Lochner piloted the Two-Man win, with George Fleischhauer aboard (1:41.47), ahead of Olympic champ Francesco Friedrich (1:41.63), with fellow German Adam Ammour (1:41.84) in third. Americans Frank Del Duca and Charles Volker were fourth (1:42.23).

Friedrich won the Four-Man for the third time this season, in 1:40.45, ahead of Brad Hall (GBR: 1:40.73) and Lochner (1:40.74). Del Duca had the best American finish, in 10th (1:41.54).

PyeongChang Olympic Two-Women champ Lisa Buckwitz (GER) won her third women’s Monobob title this season in 1:48.41, just ahead of Kaysha Love of the U.S. (1:48.45) and fellow German Lisa Nolte (1:48.51). Elana Meyers Taylor of the U.S. was fourth (1:48.96).

Beijing Two-Woman champ Lisa Nolte led a German sweep, with Deborah Levi aboard, in 1:44.09, with Kim Kalicki second (1:44.24) and Buckwitz third (1:44.44). Meyers Taylor and Jasmine Jones finished fourth (1:44.76); Love and Emily Renna finished sixth (1:45.03) and Sylvia Hoffman and Sadie McMullen finished seventh (1:45.10).

● Cross Country Skiing ● The amazing Jessie Diggins expanded her overall lead in the women’s FIS World Cup with a win in the 10 km Interval Freestyle in Les Rousses (FRA) in 22:37.7, ahead of Victoria Carl (GER: 22:57.2) and Astrid Slind (NOR: 22:57.8). Sophia Laukli of the U.S. was eighth (23:16.6); it was Diggins’ fourth win on the season.

The Classical Sprint was a win for Kristine Skistad (NOR: 3:05.70), just ahead of Swede triple Olympic medalist Maja Dahlqvist (3:05.98) and Beijing 2022 Olympic Sprint winner Jonna Sundling (SWE: 3:06.36).

Ten-time Worlds medalist Frida Karlsson took Sunday’s 20 km Classical Mass Start in 55:29.1, with teammate Ebba Andersson second (56:59.0) and Teresa Stadlober (AUT: 57:10.4) in third.

Norway extended its men’s World Cup win streak to 15 straight in the 10 km Freestyle as Iver Andersen, 24, got his second career World Cup gold, ahead of teammate Paal Golberg, 19:50.6 to 19:55.8. American Ben Ogden was third in 19:59.7 for his second career World Cup medal!

Swede Edvin Anger, 22, took his first individual World Cup gold in the Classical Sprint in 2:42.99, with Norway’s Ansgar Evensen (2:43.50) and Erik Valnes (2:44.15) going 2-3. Sweden got another win in the men’s 20 km Classical Mass Start from William Poromaa (51:43.1), ahead of Iivo Niskanen (FIN: 51:44.0); Ogden was 12th (52:25.3).

● Curling ● The Grand Slam of Curling Masters in Guelph, Ontario (CAN) was the fourth of five tournaments this season, with 2022 Olympic silver medalist Ross Whyte (SCO) taking the men’s title with a 5-4 win over Canadian star Brad Jacobs, the 2014 Olympic champ. Whyte’s two points in the sixth end proved to be decisive.

In the women’s final between PyeongChang Olympic winner Anna Hasselborg (SWE) and two-time World Champion Rachel Homan (CAN), Hasselborg’s early 2-0 lead evaporated with the score at 4-4 after five ends.

It was 5-5 through seven, but Hasselborg scored two in the eighth and got the 7-5 victory.

● Cycling ● The UCI Women’s World Tour opened for 2025 with the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia, with 23-year-old Swiss Naomi Ruegg winning her first WWT event, taking the lead after the second of three stages.

Ruegg had a 15-second lead going into the final stage on Saturday, and finished third as American star Chloe Dygert – two-time World Time Trial champ – won the stage. Ruegg’s overall time was 8:49:00, with Silke Smulders (NED: +0:13) second. Ruth Edwards was the top U.S. finisher in ninth (+0:59); Dygert was 26th overall.

● Football ● The U.S. men scored a decisive, 3-1 win over Venezuela in a friendly in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, using mostly MLS players, with six making their first starts for the American national side.

The U.S. got a chance right away with a penalty called against Venezuela in the second minute, but midfielder Matko Miljevic (Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina) had his shot saved. In the 37th, it was midfielder Jack McGlynn (Phila Union) who opened the scoring with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the right corner of the Venezuelan goal. Then forward Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte) scored in the 39th – in his debut – for a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Miljevic, also scored in his first USA match, clinching the game at 3-0 in the 64th and the visitors got one back in the 68th as midfielder Jorge Yriarte scored on a header from the center of the box. The U.S. enjoyed 66% possession and a 15-11 edge on shots.

The Americans will play Costa Rica on Wednesday in another friendly, in Orlando.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The FIS World Cup in Ski Cross resumed in Reiteralm (AUT), with German Florian Wilmsmann, the 2023 Worlds silver winner, taking the first men’s race over Melvin Tchiknavorian (FRA). France’s Youri Kergomard won the second race (Friday) over 2023 World Champion Simone Deromedis (ITA).

Canada swept the women’s races, with Hannah Schmidt beating 2013 World Champion Fanny Smith (SUI) in the first final, then India Sherret beat Smith again in Friday’s final.

Big stars were winners at the FIS World Cup in Slopestyle in Laax (SUI), as Norway’s Birk Ruud – the 2022 Olympic Big Air winner – took the men’s gold, scoring 85.54 over Americans Mac Forehand (83.69) and Beijing Slopestyle winner Alex Hall (81.62).

China’s Eileen Gu, the two-time Olympic winner in Beijing, but also second in Slopestyle, won the women’s gold at 81.22, well ahead of Canadian Megan Oldham (72.80) and Swiss Mathilde Gremaud (72.59).

At the FIS World Cup in Lake Placid, New York, it was the season opener for Aerials, with China’s Jiaxu Sun got his first World Cup medal – and first win – scoring 136.17 to edge Noe Roth (SUI: 123.90) and Xinpeng Li (CHN: 118.10).

Beijing 2022 women’s champ Mengtao Xu took the women’s event at 95.52, over two-time Worlds runner-up Danielle Scott (AUS: 95.17) and Marion Thenault (CAN: 90.94).

● Luge ● German Julia Taubitz, the 2021 World Champion won the FIL World Cup women’s Singles in Winterberg (GER) – also the European Championships – for her second win of the season. She timed 1:49.582 to beat Austria’s Madeleine Egle (1:49.780), the 2024 Worlds bronze medalist. American Emily Sweeney, the 2019 Worlds bronzer, got her second medal of the season in third (1:49.922).

The women’s Doubles was the fifth straight World Cup win for Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp, winning by 1:26.467 to 1:26.481 over two-time World Champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER). The U.S. teams of Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby and Maya Chan and Sophia Gordon finished 7-8.

Jonas Mueller (AUT), the 2019 World Champion, won the men’s race at 1:41.742, beating 2024 World champ Max Langenhan (GER: 1:41.797).

Triple Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (GER) won both runs in the men’s Doubles to win in 1:25.152 over Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schoepf (AUT: 1:25.286). Americans Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa were ninth in 1:25.582.

● Nordic Combined ● At the fourth stop of the FIS World Cup, in Schonach (GER), Norway’s 2022 Olympic runner-up Jens Oftebro came from 12th after the jump phase to win in 24:21.1 in the 10.0 km cross country race. That was just enough to edge Austria’s 2021 World Champion Johannes Lamparter (24:22.2).

Lamparter came back to win on Sunday, in a Compact 7.5 km race, in 19:02.2, just ahead of seasonal leader Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR: 19:07.3) and German Vinzenz Geiger (19:26.5).

The women’s jumping off the 100 m hill and 5.0 km race was once again won by defending World Cup champ Ida Marie Hagen (NOR) in 11:22.4, winning her fifth event of the season without a loss. German Nathalie Armbruster was well back in second at 11:32.9.

On Sunday, Hagen remained undefeated with her sixth straight win this season, in a 6 km race, leading a Norwegian sweep in 17:05.5. Gyda Westvold Hansen was second (17:23.5) and Marte Leinan Lund was third (18:03.3).

● Ski Jumping ● The FIS men’s World Cup resumed in Zakopane (POL) off the 140 m hill, with Austria’s Daniel Tschofenig picking up where he left off. He won the Four Hills Tournament and won again, with 316.7 points, coming from third after the first round. Norway’s Johann Andre Forfang got second (309.4) and Austrian teammate Jan Hoerl was third (309.3). It’s Tschofenig’s fifth win of the season.

Austria won the men’s team event on Saturday, 1,170.4 to 1,129.6 over Slovenia. The U.S. (Kevin Bickner, Erik Belshaw, Andrew Urlaub, Tate Frantz) was seventh (985.8).

The women’s World Cup was in Sapporo (JPN), on the 137 m hill, with emerging Canadian star Alexandria Loutitt, 21, taking the Saturday competition for her second career World Cup gold. She won both rounds and scored 266.4 to beat Austria’s Lisa Eder, who came from 11th to second with 253.7 points.

On Sunday, Eirin Kvandal (NOR) won both rounds, scoring 248.4 to win, over Selina Freitag (GER: 228.0).

● Snowboard ● At the FIS Halfpipe World Cup in Laax (SUI), Australia’s two-time World Champion Scotty James (AUS) got his first win of the season, 95.75 to 93.75 over Japan’s Ruka Hirano, with Beijing Olympic champ Ayumu Hirano third (87.00). American Chase Josey was seventh (70.00).

In Slopestyle, 19-year-old Cameron Spalding (CAN) won for the second time in two events this season, beating 2018 Olympic champ Red Gerard of the U.S., 86.63 to 86.22.

Two-time Olympic champ Chloe Kim of the U.S. won the women’s Halfpipe title in a tight battle with fellow American, two-time Worlds medalist Maddie Mastro, 96.50 to 94.50, with Korean Gaon Choi, just 16, close at 93.25.

For Kim, it’s her 11th career World Cup win and fifth at Laax!

Britain’s 17-year-old Mia Brookes, the 2023 World Champion, won the Slopestyle event at 84.86, well ahead of Zoe Sadowski Synnott (NZL: 77.29). American Lilly Dhawornvej was eighth (54.09).

Two-time Worlds Parallel Slalom medalist Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) won her second straight FIS World Cup event, this time a Parallel Giant Slalom in Bansko (BUL) over 2023 World Champion Tsubaki Miki (JPN). It was Miki’s third straight silver in World Cup competition this season!

On Sunday, It was a re-run, with Hofmeister winning over Miki once again (her fourth silver in a row!).

Three-time World Champion Andreas Prommegger (AUT) took Saturday’s men’s Parallel Giant Slalom over countryman Benjamin Karl in the final, for his first win of the season. On Sunday, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, Dario Caviezel (SUI) won the final over Gabriel Messner (ITA).

● Water Polo ● The World Aquatics women’s World Cup in Alexandroupolis (GRE), with Olympic champ Spain going 2-1 in group play and then winning all three games in the second round to be the top qualifier for the Super Final later this year. The Netherlands, Greece, Australia, Hungary and Italy all advanced.

The U.S. squad featured nine first-time national-team players (out of 15) and lost all three games in group play, and was relegated to Group B, with the top two teams advancing to the World Cup Super Final. The Americans lost a 12-7 lead to Italy ion the final quarter, 13-12, but beat Israel, 10-9, to stay in contention. But Hungary won, 10-6, in the final game, eliminating the U.S. from the Super Final.

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ATHLETICS: Tokyo 2025 World Championships tickets now on sale, from $16 up to $320 per session, in a special sale to 23 January!

The Japan National Stadium, host of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and 2025 World Athletics Championships (Photo: Japan Sport Council)

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≡ TOKYO 2025 ≡

The beautiful National Stadium in Tokyo, completed in 2019, hosted the Olympic Games in 2021, but without spectators. That is expected to be cured at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, coming 13-21 September, and tickets are now on sale during an early offer through 23 January, in five main categories (simplified below):

Premium 1: Finish line area
Premium 2: Home straight start area, past the finish line
Category A: lower level: first turn-backstraight-far turn
Category B: middle level: first turn-backstraight-far turn
Category C: upper level: first turn-backstraight-far turn

Now the ticket prices, for which there are three different levels:

● Morning sessions
● Evening sessions on weekdays
● Evening sessions on weekends and a holiday (Respect for the Aged Day on 15 September)

It’s not as confusing as it sounds, but here are the prices (U.S. conversions rounded to the nearest dollar):

Morning sessions:
(13-14-15-20-21 September)
● ¥ 15,000 for Premium 1 ($96 U.S.)
● ¥ 10,000 for Premium 2 ($64)
● ¥ 7,000 for Category A ($45)
● ¥ 4,000 for Category B ($26)
● ¥ 2,500 for Category C ($16)

Evening sessions/weekdays:
(16-17-18-19 September)
● ¥ 30,000 for Premium 1 ($192)
● ¥ 22,000 for Premium 2 ($141)
● ¥ 14,000 for Category A ($90)
● ¥ 7,000 for Category B ($45)
● ¥ 4,000 for Category C ($26)

Evening sessions/weekends and holiday:
(13-14-15-20-21 September)
● ¥ 50,000 for Premium 1 ($320)
● ¥ 35,000 for Premium 2 ($224)
● ¥ 20,000 for Category A ($128)
● ¥ 8,000 for Category B ($51)
● ¥ 5,000 for Category C ($32)

Each ticket is also charged with a ¥550 fee ($3.52 U.S.) for handling.

There’s also a promotional Tokyo 2025 ticket for ¥2,025 or $12.96, available for all sessions in Category C up to 2,025 tickets per session, in the 68,000-seat venue.

These prices are higher than the 2023 Budapest Worlds, where tickets went for $7 U.S. for all morning sessions and $44-33-21-16 for categories 1-4 on weekdays and $54-42-30-21 on weekends.

But the Tokyo 2025 pricing is pretty good compared to the Eugene 2022 Worlds – in a much smaller stadium – where morning sessions went for $25-95, and evening sessions cost from $70-250 depending on the day and location.

Tickets are shown to be available for all sessions, although a “Limited” banner has already been attached to the second-day evening session, featuring the men’s and women’s 100 m final!

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Final-day Biden Administration statement asks IOC to blow up NOC team rules for Haudenosaunee lacrosse team

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≡ LACROSSE SIXES ≡

On the last business day of the Biden Administration, a statement called for the International Olympic Committee to allow the cross-national – U.S. and Canada – Haudenosaunee Confederacy to be allowed to field teams in the Lacrosse competition of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, including:

● “The United States and Canada call on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a confederacy of Indigenous Nations in North America, to compete in lacrosse at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as their own team under their own flag.”

● “While participation in the Olympics is generally reserved for recognized countries, the Haudenosaunee are seeking a special exception from the IOC to field their own lacrosse team.”

● “While we respect the IOC’s independence, we encourage the IOC to take advantage of this historic opportunity. Permitting the Haudenosaunee to compete in lacrosse – the sport they invented – would advance the highest values of the Olympic Games and send a powerful message about respecting and valuing indigenous cultural heritage.”

There’s a lot to digest here, especially since lacrosse’s admission to the 2028 Olympic Games is as a one-time-only added sport, requested by the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee.

The White House request was welcomed by the Haudenosaunee, in a post on X that included:

“The Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse Organization would like to express our sincere gratitude to President Joseph R. Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for their steadfast support of our inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

(While the White House statement says the request is made by the U.S. and Canada, the statement does not appear on the news and statements list of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.)

The Haudenosaunee – the Six Nations – live mostly in upstate New York and southern Ontario, and the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team program was created in 1983. The name was changed to the Haudenosaunee Nationals in 2022.

Lacrosse was originated by the tribes, perhaps in the 17th Century, and a Haudenosaunee team was admitted to the men’s World Championship in 1990, winning bronze medals in 2014-18-23.

The women’s team debuted at the Worlds in 2009, with a best finish of seventh in 2013.

However, in 2021, World Lacrosse, taking a page from rugby, which pushed the more compact Rugby Sevens as a better format to get the game into the Olympic program, created Lacrosse Sixes. The core differences:

● Men’s field lacrosse has 10 players per team, played on a 100 x 55 m field, with four 14-minute quarters and a 15-minute halftime.

● Women’s lacrosse has 10 players per team in international play, on a 82-92 m long by 55-64 m wide field, with four 15-minute quarters, 10-minute halftime and two-minute breaks between quarters.

● Sixes has six players per team, is played on a 70 x 36 m field with four quarters of eight minutes each, a 15-minute halftime and a 30-second shot clock. It was created in 2021 and the first World Championship is slated for 2026.

They succeeded with LA28, which added Sixes to the program, along with baseball and softball, cricket, flag football and squash.

The problem with the Haudenosaunee is that it is a trans-national team, neither American or Canadian. World Lacrosse has accommodated this in view of the team’s historical importance. But the Olympic Games is something else.

Since the formation of the modern Olympic Movement in 1894, participation in the Games has been by national teams, fielded by National Olympic Committees. There have been exceptions, as in the 1896, 1900 and 1904 Games there were entries allowed from outside the NOCs. Some won medals:

Fencing: 1904 (1), in men’s Team Foil.

Polo: 1900 (1).

Tennis: In men’s Mixed Doubles, mixed-nationality teams won medals in 1896 (2) and 1900 (4).

Tug of War: 1900 (1).

This happened one other time, at the Chamonix 1924 Winter Games, where the Alpinism gold went to the 1922 British Mt. Everest expedition team, with members from Britain, India and Nepal.

That was 100 years ago. For 2028, the question will be about whether the IOC is willing to open the door for what will be a raft of future requests for similar treatment, starting with tennis, but also other sports which have doubles or team events that could benefit from all-star tie-ups of athletes of varying nationalities.

Inevitably, the question will be left up to (1) the LA28 organizers, who must come up with a solution on how the Haudenosaunee will be accommodated and managed, since no NOC will have jurisdiction over them, and (2) whoever is the new International Olympic Committee President, to be elected in March.

But for now, the Haudenosaunee in the 2028 Games is an idea, not a matter of qualification.

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MEMORABILIA: Staggering $436,297 paid for beautifully-preserved 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold at RR Auction!

The brilliant, historic 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold for the 110 m hurdles, which sold for $436,297! (Photo: RR Auction)

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≡ RR AUCTION CONCLUDES ≡

With a week to go, a beautifully-preserved gold medal from the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis had reached $168,209 at auction against an expected sales price of $150,000. But that was only the beginning.

The 384-item Olympic memorabilia offer from Boston-based RR Auction finished on Thursday evening, with a sensational final price for the 1904 gold at $436,297!

Wow!

This was a rare piece; RR Auction chief operating officer Bobby Eaton explained, “It is the BEST 1904 medal to ever come to auction.”

St. Louis was the first Olympics to use the now-traditional gold, silver and bronze-medal scheme for the top three placers. This specific medal was presented to winner Fred Schule of the U.S., who led an American sweep. The Olympic Games was part of the much larger, seven-month-long Louisiana Purchase Exposition, better known as the St. Louis World’s Fair.

Minted in New York, the medal is in excellent condition and includes part of its original, four-color ribbon and gold clasp, and is offered in its original, worn, leather case, reading “Medal for Olympic Games, Universal Exposition, St. Louis U.S.A., F. J. V. Skiff, Dir. of Exhibits, Jas. E. Sullivan, Chief.”

This was not the only star item at the auction, as 18 other items sold for $15,000 or more:

● $128,618: 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic gold medal for ski jumping
● $93,137: 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympic torch (one of 33 made)
● $79,865: 1956 Stockholm Olympic equestrian gold medal
● $64,421: 2012 London Olympic gold medal for men’s volleyball
● $53,719: 1904 St. Louis Olympic silver medal for football

● $40,000: 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic silver medal for ski jumping
● $37,268: 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympic torch
● $34,343: 1894 Paris Olympic Congress silver commemorative medal
● $30,597: 2024 Paris Olympic torch
● $30,000: 1994 Albertville Winter Olympic torch (one of 133 made)

● $27,815: 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal for women’s wrestling
● $22,538: 1964 Tokyo Olympic gold medal for fencing
● $18,784: 1932 Los Angeles Olympic gold medal with box
● $18,782: 1908 London Olympic gold medal for field hockey
● $18,782: 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter torch and flame lamp

● $17,243: 1964 Tokyo Olympic torch
● $15,941: 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Winter gold medal for speedskating
● $15,028: 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic bronze medal for ski jumping

All three of the rare Nagano ski jumping medals – gold, silver and bronze – sold, for a combined total of $183,646!

A good specimen of the gaudy Berlin 1936 “Chain of Office” given to International Olympic Committee members, which has shown up in several auctions over the past year, sold for $12,419, and the 1904 St. Louis Olympic participation medal – perhaps the rarest of all participation medals – sold for $11,270.

A group of three Tokyo 1964 medals – one gold, one silver and one bronze, from different events – sold for $9,075 and the four-torch collection from the late Phil Coles, an International Olympic Committee member from Australia, from Rio 2016 and Winter Games from 2002-2018-2022 went for $8,639.

A collector of highly-prized IOC Session badges snapped up the Coles collection of 30 badges from 1984 to 2021 for $5,453. Among the lesser-priced items, a glorious blue-and-white banner from the Lake Placid Olympic Center – where the “Miracle on Ice” game took place, went for $495.

The auction showed that 289 items sold, down to $200, a spectacular showing, but especially for the 1904 St. Louis gold, in one of the least-regarded Olympic Games of the modern era.

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PANORAMA: L.A. winds calm, no 2028 venues touched; Staley, Krzyzewski, Gasol to FIBA Hall; waste-sorting a priority at handball worlds!

Sport Event Denmark has made following Japanese fans on waste sorting a priority for its matches at the IHF World Championship (Photo: Sport Event Denmark).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Los Angeles 2028 ● The high winds that caused so much fire destruction in the Los Angeles area have calmed and the National Weather Service ended its “Red Flag Warnings” for the area on the evening of 15 January (Wednesday).

The Palisades Fire was 22% contained – meaning a perimeter has been established so that the burn area will not expand – as of mid-day Thursday and the Eaton Fire in Altadena was 55% contained. Damage assessments are continuing, and the recovery planning is beginning.

No LA28 Olympic or Paralympic venues were damaged in these fires.

The PGA Tour announced on Thursday:

“In collaboration with Genesis, The Riviera Country Club and @TGRLiveEvents, and out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that the 2025 @TheGenesisInv will be played at an alternate location the week of Feb. 10-16.”

Riviera is the venue for golf for the 2028 Olympic Games and although not touched by the Palisades Fire, is in the Palisades area which was devastated by the fires.

Of interest from an L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority report on special-event ridership from New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game:

“Rail ridership NYE/NYD was up over comparable recent Tuesdays and Sundays by 40%.”

● Basketball ● American star and coach Dawn Staley, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Spanish and L.A. Lakers star Pau Gasol were announced, with six others, as inductees to the Class of 2025 for the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Staley, best known today as the coach of three-time NCAA champion South Carolina, was a three-time Olympic champion with the U.S. in 1996-2000-2004 as a point guard, and then coached the American women to victory at the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021.

Krzyzewski won five NCAA titles at Duke and was the coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s teams that won gold medals at the 2008-2012-2016 Olympic Games and was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also an assistant coach on the Olympic-winning teams in 1984 and 1992.

Gasol, 44, is now a member of the International Olympic Committee after being voted to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2021. He was a star forward for FC Barcelona and then five NBA teams, winning two NBA titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He is a three-time Olympic medalist, reaching the Olympic final – and losing to the U.S. – in 2008 and 2012 and a bronze in 2016.

Nine new members of the Hall of Fame were revealed, who will be inducted on 17 May during the FIBA Mid-Term Congress in Bahrain.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The U.S. Freestyle national championships in Aerials were held at the Bristol Ski Resort in Canandaigua, New York, with 2022 runner-up Connor Curran, 20, getting his first national title, scoring 102.57 points to win over Beijing 2022 Team Aerials gold winner Justin Schoenefeld (100.81) and defending champ Chris Lillis (97.64).

Winter Vinecki took the women’s competition with 90.24 points, ahead of Karenna Elliott (86.62) and Tasia Tanner (73.40). It’s Vinecki’s first U.S. gold, after bronzes in 2019 and 2024.

● Handball ● The 2025 IHF World Championship is underway in a three-country set-up with matches in Croatia, Denmark and Norway. The Danes are the three-time defending champions, winning in 2019 (over Norway), 2021 (over Sweden) and 2023 (over France).

The matches in Denmark are in Herning, in the 12,500-seat Jyske Bank Boxen arena, with a host of environmental initiatives incorporated into the tournament there. Explains Sports Event Denmark chief executive Lars Lundov:

“Green focus is no longer an option – it’s an obligation for all major events. The IHF Men’s World Handball Championship in Denmark is not just about what happens on the court; it’s also about inspiring fans to contribute to a greener future through small but meaningful actions.”

Here’s some of what is being done, per Sport Event Denmark:

●”[O]rganisers have eliminated beef meat from the event’s menu, offering greener, more climate-friendly food options. Compared to the 2019 IHF Men’s World Championships, hosted in Denmark, the meal offerings at the 2025 edition will emit significantly fewer carbon emissions.”

● “Fans will be informed and encouraged to take part in sustainable practices, such as waste sorting, using reusable drinkware, and minimising single-use plastics.”

● “Inspired by the meticulous waste-sorting culture of Japanese fans at global tournaments, organisers are working to improve fan behaviour around trash disposal. The goal is to foster a culture of responsibility among Danish fans, encouraging them to clean up after themselves and sort waste correctly.”

Said Lundov: “It would be incredible to see Danish fans adopt the same commitment to cleanliness and recycling as Japanese fans have shown. Building this culture of responsibility is a key focus for us.”

Denmark won its first two group matches by 47-22 over Algeria and 32-21 against Tunisia, the latter before an overflow crowd of 13,697. No report yet on waste-sorting statistics or concession sales for either match.

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PARIS 2024: Paris region survey finds pre-Games fears went way down; 88% followed the Games in some way

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≡ SURVEY REPORT ≡

The Paris Region Institute, an urban-planning center, released the results of a 4,500-person survey held after the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, with the event received much better afterwards than before.

Interestingly, the fears shown in the May 2024 edition of the survey went way down in the post-Games review in September:

● 79% said Games raises public safety risk before, 55% afterwards
● 77% said Games were a nuisance, 60% afterwards
● 65% cited bad environmental impact, 47% afterwards
● 81% cited increased costs, 76% afterwards

The survey also showed positive achievements for the Games:

● 84% said the Games were a good thing for France (72% before)
● 78% said France’s influence increased (65% before)
● 72% said Games helped regional infrastructure (65% before)
● 61% said the Games helped the economy (54% before)

This reflects the success of the Games and as the post-Games was taken in September, it does not reflect the end-of-year announcement that the organizing committee finished with a financial surplus.

The survey showed 88% of people in the Ile-de-France region – which includes Paris – followed the Games closely, through attention to:

● 76%: competitions
● 65%: ceremonies
● 61%: following the Torch Relay
● 7%: checking the medal table
● 12%: non-sporting aspects

Interest in the Paralympic Games was also quite good, at 81%

● 69%: competitions
● 57%: ceremonies
● 42%: following the Torch Relay
● 8%: checking the medal table

Moreover, the survey reported no mass exodus from the area during the Games. Remembering that August is usually a vacation month in France, the survey showed 84% of residents stayed in the region during the Olympic Games and 86% during the Paralympics. Only 6% said they left the area during the Olympics and 4% during the Paralympics.

There was also heightened interest in the Games from those in the Ile-de-France than outside of the region. Post-Games reporting of interest in following the Games was up 3% from the May level for the Olympics and up 6.5% for the Paralympics.

Although there were more than 12 million tickets sold, the survey notes the biggest turnout was for the free street events, such as the cycling road races and marathons:

“Nearly one in five Parisians [18%] was a direct spectator of an Olympic competition, this proportion being largely achieved thanks to the events organised in public spaces, with the possibility of attending them free of charge, without a ticket (cycling races, marathon, triathlon, open water swimming, etc.). 14% of Parisians visited a Paralympic competition site as spectators.

“In addition to the competition sites, many fan zones (party zones) were set up in the various territories of the region. These party places were widely frequented by the people of the Paris region: they welcomed up to 7% of the people of the Paris region for the Olympic Games and 4% for the Paralympics.”

And public turnout for Games activities beyond the competitions and the Games themselves was strong:

“[M]any fan zones were set up by local authorities. Public stakeholders and sports associations thus offered activities around the discovery and practice of certain Olympic and Paralympic sports, or awareness-raising activities on the health benefits of sport. Many cultural events were also organized as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

“Thus, 21% of Paris residents indicated that they had participated in festive events organized on the occasion of the Games.”

The report concludes that the “Olympic magic” was real in the Paris region: “there was indeed a ‘territory’ effect – proximity, actions implemented to support the event, etc. – in monitoring the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

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PANORAMA: Bermuda Tourism drops ‘25 USATF Grand Prix support; Brazilian Kite Olympian saves drowning swimmer; 14-year Swiss doping ban!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games ● One of the greatest sports photographers in history, German-born Heinz Kluetmeier, passed away on Tuesday (14th) at age 82 after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease and a stroke.

He is remembered for more than 100 Sports Illustrated covers and brilliant photography that made him a legendary figure in the field. He started with the Milwaukee Journal as a teenager and went to Time Inc. at 28 to shoot for LIFE and Sports Illustrated. He might be best remembered for his 1980 Olympic Winter Games photograph of the U.S. men’s hockey team celebrating their upset win over the USSR, the “Miracle on Ice.”

How important was he? If he was shooting at an event, the word passed quickly among the other press and even participating athletes; “Heinz is here.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● “We are currently in communication and expect that in the near future the IOC Executive Committee will specify the conditions for admission to the 2026 Olympics, and this will be a signal for international sports federations.”

That’s Russian Deputy Sports Minister Alexander Nikitin, who added, “Among them, there are those who so far refuse to comply with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, but they are in the minority.”

Most winter-sport federations continue to close the door to Russian and Belarusian participation, but the International Ski Mountaineering Federation has approved some to compete as “neutrals,” and the International Skating Union has approved allowing a very limited number of “neutrals” to compete only in Olympic qualifying events, in case the IOC agrees to allow them for 2026.

● Commonwealth Games 2030 ● “Glasgow 2026 is set to act as a bridge to a bright future for the Commonwealth Games – an exciting first step in the CGF’s journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly co-created, flexible and sustainable model for the future that inspires athletes, delivers tangible legacy benefits, minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact.”

That’s Commonwealth Games Federation chief Chris Jenkins (WAL), opening the door for discussions on a 2030 centennial Commonwealth Games, now that Glasgow (SCO) has agreed to stage a compact and subsidized 2026 Games.

The CGF’s approach follows the lead of the International Olympic Committee’s “Olympic Agenda 2020,” with an emphasis on existing venues for accommodations and competitions and welcoming co-hosting concepts among locations with a country or even across countries to ensure the most cost-efficient event possible.

● World University Games ● The Winter WUG in Turin continues through the 23rd, with Ukrainian biathlete Bohdan Borkovskyi won the first gold of the Games in the 15 km Short race on Tuesday morning in 38:40.9. Finn Patrik Kuuttinen was well back second in 39:06.4.

Through two days, the U.S. claimed its first medal, a bronze in the men’s Freestyle Dual Moguls by Jackson Crockett.

● Anti-Doping ● Swiss Sport Integrity handed down a 14-year ban on an unnamed doctor from Bern, concluding a case which first surfaced from media reports in January 2018:

“As already communicated at the time in a statement by the Antidoping Switzerland Foundation (now Swiss Sport Integrity), criminal charges were brought after several years of investigations into the matter. In a penalty order dated July 5, 2022, the doctor was declared guilty of several violations of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Sport and Exercise. …

“The Bernese doctor has been found guilty by the Swiss Sports Tribunal of repeated distribution (Art. 2.7 Doping Statutes), attempted administration (Art. 2.8), possession (Art. 2.6) and use (Art. 2.2) of prohibited substances. The doctor had supplied testosterone, growth hormones and tamoxifen to so-called “sports friends” and other persons. Furthermore, he had repeatedly attempted to administer or distribute erythropoietin and testosterone to an elite athlete.”

The penalties are a 14-year suspension, a fine of CHF 14,000 and costs of proceedings of CHF 29,000 (CHF 1 = $1.10 U.S.).

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced that the National Anti-Doping Organizations in Namibia, Samoa and Senegal have resolved issues highlighted in their compliance reports and that Panama has corrected the technical flaws in national legislation concerning the World Anti-Doping Code. All four are no long being “watched” for possible compliance sanctions.

Compliance issues have been identified with Pakistan, Uruguay and Uganda and all three have been formally alleged to be non-compliant, subject to an appeal due by 3 February 2025.

● U.S. Center for SafeSport ● The Associated Press reported on a message from SafeSport chief Ju’Riese Colon to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. National Governing Bodies that former investigator Jason Krasley – arrested on rape charges on 10 January and later freed on bond – which included:

“I am angry and so disappointed. I’m sad for our organization and the impact this may have on athletes. And I’m sure many of you, as well as your members, are feeling a range of emotions as well. This work is so hard, and to know that someone could have not only fooled us, but also law enforcement, is just sickening.”

The cases which Krasley worked on – he joined SafeSport in 2021 – are being audited for errors or omissions; Colon noted, “While we do not have any reason to believe he committed any wrongdoing while at the Center, the audit may result in the Center re-opening cases.” The organization’s hiring process is also being scrutinized.

● Alpine Skiing ● Emerging Swiss start Camille Rast took her second win of the season in the Slalom at Flachau (AUT), taking the overall lead this season!

Never better than 20th before – last season – Rast, 25, won her fourth medal of the season (those are the only medals she has won), coming from eighth after the first round, with the second fastest second run to finish at 1:55.03, just better than teammate (and two-time Olympic medalist in the event) Wendy Holdener (1:55.19) and Sweden’s Olympic Giant Slalom champ Sara Hector (1:55.41). American Paula Moltzan was sixth overall (1:55.76).

● Archery ● “In an Olympic context, it could be held in the urban park which is now a part of every Summer Games, and which hosts BMX freestyle, skateboarding, and other youth oriented sports. It’s not really been explored yet – and there are some obvious safety and spectator issues – but it’s just possible that something like that may be on the horizon some way into the future.”

Can you imagine archers, with live arrows, shooting in field style – at foam targets in the shape of animals – while walking through an Olympic mega-venue?

John Stanley, a British digital communications specialist and archer, explored the concept of field archery as a future Olympic possibility in a fun story that emphasizes the untamed nature of shooting along a walking course in an open setting: field, forest, hills and streams. He notes that it does not have the contained nature of target archery, but it is more challenging in its own way.

He asks, is field archery the future? Not yet.

● Athletics ● The USATF Bermuda Grand Prix, held in 2022 (9 April), 2023 (21 May) and 2024 (28 April) is not listed on the USATF calendar for 2025 and appears dead.

The Royal Gazette daily reported Wednesday that the meet’s major sponsor, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, decided not to fund it in 2025 for lack of a demonstrable return:

“The primary goal was to leverage the heightened global attention during this period. Following the conclusion of the 2024 activation, our Business Development team evaluated the event’s impact and future potential and explored alternate partnership models. The assessment determined that the evolving post-Olympic landscape posed significant challenges to achieving the desired return on investment for spring 2025.”

USATF lists two Grand Prix events for 2025, in Los Angeles (7-8 June) and New York (29 June).

“The AIU has banned Faith Chepchirchir Kiprotich (Kenya) for 3 years from 23 December 2024 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone). DQ results from 29 September 2024″

Chepchirchir, 23, ran 31:04 in a road 10 km in 2023 (no. 34 for the year) and has run the Half Marathon in 1:10:32 in January of 2024.

● Sailing ● “I went in at 5:40 pm to do the last test on the camera, it was a cloudy day, wind conditions were not the best, but I decided to test the support that had arrived, it was the first day using this material, I put the camera to record and went towards the coast.

“After sailing a few metres, I heard a cry for help and saw the girl who was drowning. I quickly approached her with the kite, tried to calm her down and asked her to climb on my back. She was very tired and without strength. I used the equipment to bring her to the beach safely, where the lifeguards carried out the first aid on the seashore and thankfully everything went well.”

That’s Brazilian Dr. Bruno Lobo, 31, an orthopedic physician, Paris Olympian (7th) and two-time Pan Am Games champion in the Formula Kite class, who rescued a woman off of San Luis on 10 January and brought her back safely.

He reported the incident on Instagram, sharing the video shot with his camera on the kite:

“The day God used me as an instrument to save this young woman, all honor and glory to Him. Be warned about the dangers of the sea, rivers and any place you don’t know because the current in some places tends to be very strong!”

Fantastic; the video is short and absolutely worth a look.

● Snowboard ● The fourth of five Parallel Slalom World Cups was in Bad Gastein (AUT), with 2021 Worlds runner-up Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) getting her first win of the season, beating Japan’s Tsubaki Miki in the final.

But Miki, 21, the 2023 World Champion in the Parallel Giant Slalom, was hardly a loser, as she clinched the seasonal Parallel Slalom title with 360 points to 226 for Sabine Payer (AUT). In her four meets, Miki won two and was second twice, with one more event left on the schedule.

Italian men got their third win in four Parallel Slaloms this season, with 38-year-old two-time Olympian Aaron March getting the win – his fourth career World Cup gold – over three-time World Champion Andreas Prommegger (AUT).

American Cody Winters won the Small Final for third over Austria’s Alexander Payer; it’s Winters’ first career World Cup medal!

● Wrestling ● Watch out for the wrestling apparel, footwear and accessories firm RUDIS, founded in 2013 and located in Marysville, Ohio. On 31 December, the company announced a four-year sponsorship deal with USA Wrestling to supply all national-team gear and promote wrestling nationally from 2025-28, effective on 1 January.

On Wednesday (15th), RUDIS and United World Wrestling announced an eight-year tie-up, to promote and grow the sport worldwide. This bears watching.

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GENDER: U.S. House passes bill stopping transgenders in school sports; Senate outlook is cloudy at best

Florida Rep. Greg Steube speaking after the passage of H.R. 28 on Tuesday (Photo: C-SPAN video screenshot).

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≡ H.R. 28 PASSES HOUSE≡

By a mostly party-line vote, the U.S. House of Representatives agreed by 218-206 to approve the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025” on Tuesday.

The bill is quite explicit:

“Section 901 of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“‘(d) (1) It shall be a violation of subsection (a) for a recipient of Federal financial assistance who operates, sponsors, or facilitates an athletic program or activity to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.

“‘(2) For the purposes of this subsection, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”

The bill does allow for men to practice with women’s teams, a popular practice in multiple sports, notably at the collegiate level:

“Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a recipient from permitting males to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefit that accompanies participating in the athletic program or activity.”

This is the third time this bill has been introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Florida); it was passed by 219-203 in the last Session, but never saw action in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Two Democratic representatives voted for H.R. 28 this time, and one voted “present.”

The Senate is now controlled, 53-47, by Republicans, so the vote will get attention, but has a significant hurdle to clear, as 60 votes are required to close debate and advance legislation to a vote. So at least seven Democrats would be required to let the bill go forward.

The politics of this are difficult, as Democrats are generally against this action, but the issue of transgenders in women’s sport was a significant campaign issue for Republicans and Senators in swing states for the 2026 mid-terms might be looking at the consequences of their votes. Of the 33 seats up in 2026, only two – Georgia and Michigan – have Democrat Senators in states won by President-elect Donald Trump.

So, the bar may be high for H.R. 28 to advance, but there will be pressure. It has not yet been introduced in the Senate.

Steube said after the vote, “It’s absolutely absurd that we actually have to pass a bill that says only women can be in women’s sports.” He added in a statement:

“The House has delivered on its promise to protect women’s sports.

“Americans are united in our belief that men have no place in women’s sports, whether it’s breaking records, entering locker rooms, or stealing scholarship opportunities. Denying biological truth erases fairness in sports and puts women’s safety and opportunities at risk. Today’s passage sends a clear message to the Senate – protecting women and girls in sports is not negotiable.”

Title IX rules introduced by the Biden Administration that allowed access for transgenders in women’s locker rooms were struck down by a U.S. District Court order last Thursday (9th). Another set of Education Department regulations proposed in 2023 that would have created a new Title IX rule to force the inclusion of transgender men on women’s athletics teams was abandoned last December.

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LOS ANGELES FIRES: National Weather Service forecasts indicate the worst may be over; will the fires damage people who were not burned out too?

The Olympic and Paralympic flags on display at Los Angeles City Hall (TSX photo)

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≡ LOS ANGELES 2028 ≡

The good news started with the Tuesday morning Los Angeles-area forecast notes from the National Weather Service:

“Winds starting off generally a little lighter than expected as previous models were a little heavy handed for today.”

“Winds are mostly under 30 mph and confined to a corridor that runs from Acton to Oxnard and about 20 miles either side. This corridor still does not include the Palisades fire area as the wind axis still has a stronger east component than a north.”

While the “Red Flag Warnings” have continued and have all emergency service providers on a continued high alert, Wednesday morning’s forecast discussion – at 9:31 a.m. Pacific time – was considerably calmer in tone:

“Day 9 now of offshore flow and still getting some gusts into the 50s across some of the valleys of western LA and eastern Ventura Counties as well as the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.

“May see a 5-10 mph wind increase through the morning hours as is typical with offshore conditions, but weakening again in the afternoon and evening. Overall, we`re definitely on the back end of this long stretch of Santa Ana winds but winds expected to continue into Thursday morning before onshore flow finally returns by afternoon.”

This is great news for crews who are still battling the Palisades Fire (23,713 acres burned; 19% contained) and the Eaton Fire in and around Altadena (14,117 acres burned; 45% contained), still both active and requiring enormous efforts to overcome.

None of the named venues for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles have been directly impacted by the fires and the one site that was threatened – Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades – has not been touched.

Golf Channel host Rex Hoggard said in a Monday interview:

“I spoke with a member today at Riviera and he said the club is fine. The golf course didn’t receive any damage and the clubhouse hasn’t received any damage. But everything around it is devastated. This member told me they are still in evacuation mode. People can’t get anywhere close to the golf course. Even if the golf course is fine and can logistically pull it off, I think it would be such a drain on the resources of that community I don’t know how you have it there.”

The Genesis Invitational has teamed with Fanatics to create a themed “LA Strong” T-shirt, available for $35 with proceeds going to the American Red Cross and the L.A. Fire Department Foundation.

The chatter now is about what to do with the tournament, scheduled for 13-16 February 2025. It could be canceled, postponed or moved and there are endless possibilities, and questions about resources available to support the event in case it does go forward.

Similar discussions have now arisen about the Academy Awards, scheduled for 2 March at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, which was not threatened by the fires at any point. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a statement on Monday, including:

“The 97th Oscars will still be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m.”

Amid a report from a British tabloid that discussions about cancellation are taking place, The Hollywood Reporter noted Wednesday:

“Any change to the Oscars ceremony itself would require significant consultation between the Academy and its longtime broadcasting partner ABC. And it is currently the prevailing sentiment within the Academy’s leadership that the show should go on — in a dignified manner that would help to raise funds for and celebrate fire relief efforts.”

The story also stated that four members of the Academy’s own Board had lost homes in the fires.

Observed: The fire devastation is real, brutal and catastrophic. And the sentiment to cancel everything and just mourn is completely understandable.

Is a professional golf tournament important next to the fire damage? No.

Are the Academy Awards important when Altadena – 20 miles northeast – lies in ruins? No.

BUT: What about the hundreds – if not thousands – of people whose lives will be impacted by the cancellation or movement of these events?

Beyond the pro golfers and the movie stars, there are the technicians, ushers, parking service staff, caterers, camera crews, telecommunications support staff and a lot more who work in and around these events – let’s not forget the hotels, restaurants and shops at which auxiliary events are held – and whose lives are impacted if they DO NOT happen.

Too often, these folks are forgotten.

Safety cannot be compromised, but there are lots of folks who were not impacted by the fires who will be impacted if the rest of Los Angeles shuts down.

This brings us to the clown posse – individuals, organizations and news media – who question whether the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, along with other L.A.-area events coming more quickly, should be canceled.

No.

In the coming months and years, the Los Angeles area will host the NBA All-Star Game in 2026 (Intuit Dome), matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2026 (SoFi Stadium), Super Bowl LXI (2027 at SoFi Stadium) and the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

On Tuesday, Bank of America and U.S. Soccer announced a sponsorship which will include a first-ever “U.S. Soccer House” during the 2026 World Cup, reported to be located in the Los Angeles area.

Events are coming to Los Angeles, not leaving. And these events bring with them jobs, spending and visits to the area, all good for the local economy and the people in it.

The Paris 2024 organizing committee reported it had 4,200 staff members at the time of the Games, and the LA28 organizing committee has, at present, less than 200. A lot of jobs are coming, all related to the Games, not to mention operations by related organizations such as National Olympic Committees, International Federations, broadcasters, sponsors and others.

The vast majority of the people who will make these programs go are locals. The events they work at need to be supported too.

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LOS ANGELES FIRES: Wind warnings for Tuesday and Wednesday; Chula Vista training center reaches out; FIG offers support

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≡ LOS ANGELES 2028 ≡

“Particularly dangerous situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning in effect 4 am Tuesday until noon Wednesday due to damaging northeast to east winds and low humidities. …

“There will likely be damaging winds gusting between 55 and 70 mph across portions of the red flag warning area from early Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning, leading to the PDS Red Flag Warning upgrade. areas in the Red Flag Warning (especially during the PDS time frame) will have a high risk for large fires with very rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long range spotting.

“While dangerous PDS Red Flag Fire weather conditions are likely with this event early Tuesday morning into Wednesday morning, this wind event is not expected to be as strong and destructive as last week`s windstorm.”

That is from the U.S. National Weather Service on Monday afternoon, with the warnings for high winds again – less than last week – that could cause more damage, especially from the Palisades Fire, which is under better control, but still dangerous.

This fire has threatened Riviera Country Club, slated as the site for golf for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but without any damage so far. The UCLA campus has gone to remote learning just in case the easterly winds move toward the campus.

The LA28 organizing committee posted a message of support on X last week:

“To LA, our city, our community, our home –

“We are eternally grateful to the firefighters, first responders, and everyday Angelenos working around the clock to keep us safe from the devastating wildfires.

“Our hearts are broken, but we are resilient and so proud to be part of this united and kind community.”

There was also a link to a page with more links to fire, housing and Red Cross sites.

The fires are also a problem for athletes, with so many in the L.A. area, and disruptions to training schedules. Brian Melekian, the President of the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, south of San Diego, posted a statement which included:

“Sport may not seem the highest priority right now, but we understand the need and comfort of routine, for athletes training for collegiate championships, professional competition, and international events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“For athletes affected here in Southern California, we are here to offer you a place to train, eat and rest. We can provide you a community to feel safe in the company of a caring environment. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

“There are tough and challenging times, and we are steadfast in our desire to be there for you: tomorrow, or any time in the near future.”

The Chula Vista facility opened in 1995 as a U.S. Olympic training facility but is now independent and has facilities for more than a dozen sports, plus housing and dining.

A survey of International Federations Web sites found one salute to Los Angeles, from the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique:

“The whole world has been shocked by the news of wildfires in Los Angeles and the huge scale of devastation they have left in their wake.

“The FIG commends the work of all those involved in emergency and rescue work in order to protect the lives of those at risk due to these catastrophic fires.

“’Gymnastics is a huge sport in the US and USA Gymnastics has thousands of members in Los Angeles,’ said FIG President Morinari Watanabe.

“’It is so sad to see the level of destruction across the region at the start of a new year. Our thoughts are with the gymnastics family, our friends at the Organising Committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the entire population of the region at this difficult time. The FIG will do everything it can to support affected gymnasts in the region.’”

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PANORAMA: More than 100 Paris medals returned for repair; lots of Russian “whereabouts” violations; U.S. after 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup

French swimming bronze winner Yohann Ndoye Brouard pictured the conditoin of his Paris 2024 Olympic medal on X on 28 December 2024.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The French online site La Lettre reported Monday that more than 100 Olympic medals have been returned for replacement to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee in the past four months.

The story states that three senior executives from the Monnaie de Paris – the French Mint – have left or are leaving their posts, and the Mint did not comment on the medal returns, “and threatening La Lettre with a complaint for defamation.”

The Paris organizers and the Mint have promised to replace any defective medals.

● Winter World University Games 2025: Turin ● The 11-day Winter WUG opened in Turin on Monday, with 2,564 participants from 54 countries, competing in 11 sports and 92 events at six host cities in the Piedmont region.

The program has expanded to include Paralympic events in some sports; competitions will continue through the 23rd.

● International Olympic Committee ● In an interview with Agence France Presse, Morinari Watanabe (JPN), the head of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) explained that his idea to spread the Olympics to five cities at once, competing on a 24-hour cycle is simply an opening to a larger discussion:

“Whether it happens or doesn’t happen is not so important – we must open discussions and make new ideas. I give the first time some crazy idea, but I think young people have more ideas. My job is to open the door.”

He added that taking this approach would be the best for the athletes:

“It would be done across different time zones so they wouldn’t need to compete early in the morning or late at night. When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, so you could have the marathon and the athletics events there.”

And it would make the Games local to all regions of the world: “Most people enjoyed the Paris Olympics, but looking at it from Asia it felt like something far away.”

The IOC Presidential election will take place on 20 March at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.

● Russia ● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency reported that it had 282 “whereabouts” violations in 2024, continuing a large number in that category. There were 375 in 2022, then down to 242 in 2023, now back up again.

RUSADA reported 102 doping violations in 2024 (these are violations, not the same as sanctions), an improvement from 2022 (135) and 2023 (150).

The agency also reported 141 applications for Therapeutic Use Exemptions in 2024, a significant increase from 2023 (117) and 78 in 2022.

World Curling extended the ban on Russian and Belarusian team through the end of the 2024-25 season. As for the future:

“The Board are continuing to monitor Member Association and athlete concerns and are monitoring the actions of other sporting bodies relating to the conflict and potential return to competition and reserve the right to revisit their decision if required.”

● Fencing ● Interesting continuation of a 2022 and 2024 program from USA Fencing, the 2025 Listening Tour:

“Whether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, referee or club owner, this tour is your opportunity to have meaningful, face-to-face conversations with USA Fencing’s leadership. [CEO] Phil [Andrews] and other members of the USA Fencing team are eager to hear from members across the country, and we’ve made it easy for everyone to participate with stops at some of the largest fencing events of the year – and even a virtual option.”

Five in-person events are scheduled for New York (February), Charlotte (February), Cleveland (March), Los Angeles (April) and Milwaukee (June), all but one tied to a major national competition. An online-only meeting is slated for June.

No way to know how many National Governing Body leaders go face-to-face with their membership around the country, but it’s an idea worth doing in every sport.

● Football ● “As soon as they do, we’ll put our bid in. And we’re going to win it.”

That’s U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone at the United Soccer Coaches Convention, confirming that the U.S. and Mexico will bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

She said the federation is waiting for FIFA to provide the bidding documents so they can get started. U.S. Soccer initially intended to bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, but deferred to 2031 as the FIFA World Cup for men will be held in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. in 2026.

Brazil was selected as the host for 2027.

● Ski Mountaineering ● More of the same on the final day of the ISMF World Cup in Sahdag (AZE), as the winners of the Vertical Race won again in Monday’s Individual Race.

Swiss star Remi Bonnet won his third World Cup race of the five held this season, taking the men’s Individual in 1:28:23.8 to 1:31:51.1 for France’s Samuel Equy. The women’s race was closer, with France’s Axelle Gachet Mollaret winning – also her third in five World Cup races this season – in 1:30:35.8 to 1:32:12.6 over teammate Emily Harrop.

In the six races in Sahdag, the Swiss won all three men’s races and the French won all three women’s races. Overall, the French won seven of the 12 available medals, to five for the Swiss.

● Speedskating ● American stars Jordan Stolz and Brittany Bowe posted multiple wins at the U.S. Winter World Cup Qualifier in Kearns, Utah, with seven-time World Champion Stolz – still just 20 – taking four races by decisive margins.

On Friday, he won the men’s 500 m in 34.21, ahead of Cooper McLeod (34.61), then took the 1,000 m in 1:07.10, with McLeod at 1:07.97.

Stolz followed up on Saturday with a win in the second 500 m in 34.14 to 34.86 for Zach Stoppelmoor, and finally a 1,500 m victory in 1:43.39, with Emery Lehman second in 1:44.50.

Olympic Team Pursuit bronze medalist Ethan Cepuran won the men’s 5,000 m on Friday by more than 17 seconds in 6:20.39 and the 10,000 m in 13:34.40, by more than 34 seconds. He got a third win in Sunday’s first Mass Start race, in 8:04.61, ahead of Lehman (8:04.64).

Bowe, a six-time World Champion, claimed wins in the women’s 500 m and 1,000 m over two-time Worlds medalist Kimi Goetz: 37.93 to 38.08 in the 500 and 1:13.83 to 1:13.90 in the 1,000.

But Goetz came back to win the 1,500 m over Bowe on Saturday, 1:54.14 to 1:54.19. National team member Greta Myers won the 3,000 m in a lifetime best of 4:03.68 and the first Mass Start race in 9:29.13. Giorgia Birkeland won the 5,000 m in 7:29.83.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. Metro sees $200 million in Federal grants possible, pursuing $3 billion more for 2028 Games

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

A lengthy memorandum prepared for now-canceled Wednesday meeting of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency’s Ad Hoc 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee once again stressed:

“Funding for the essential Games-specific projects is currently the most significant challenge facing Metro and the [Games Mobility Executives] partners.”

Metro, the lead agency for most of the public transit needs for the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, has been in an all-out sprint to obtain funding support from Washington for six primary areas of action:

● Games Enhanced Transit Service ~ added buses to support Games spectators;
● Mobility Hubs ~ to connect communities with the Games bus services;
● Countywide bus-only lanes;
● Key station support and light-rail improvements;
● Wayfinding support;
● Heat mitigation.

There has been some good news, as the report explained:

“In 2024, staff has been working with the appropriate congressional committees to explore how the FY2025 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development [THUD] bill might include funding for mobility-related projects and initiatives tied to the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Staff is pleased that the U.S. Senate’s FY2025 THUD bill included $200 million for Games-related mobility projects. Likewise, staff are encouraged that Congressman Robert Garcia [D-Long Beach] circulated a letter on August 9, 2024, signed by 17 members of the House, urging House leaders to include a similar amount of funding in their FY2025 THUD spending measure.

“Over the next several months, staff will work with House and Senate stakeholders to ensure that the $200 million for Games-related mobility projects is included in the final FY2025 THUD bill adopted by Congress and signed into law by the President.”

Metro is continuing to press for much more money for the Fiscal Year 2026 – 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026 – as the memo details:

(The references to GME, or Games Mobility Executives, is to a working group of government and transit agencies, and the LA28 organizers.)

“Metro has and will continue to work with the federal government to include funding for the GME priority workstreams in the FY2026 Budget. Most recently, on November 21, 2024, the Metro Board conveyed a letter addressed to incoming President Donald Trump urging his administration to include $3.2 billion for GME priority workstreams in the FY2026 Budget that will be issued early next year.

“The requests outlined in this correspondence and in accompanying fact sheets include funding for legacy and essential Games-specific projects, such as the [Games Enhanced Transit Service] and [Games Route Network]. Funding for the essential Games-specific projects is currently the most significant challenge facing Metro and the GME partners.

“This is analogous to the challenges faced by the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. This was resolved, in part, by Congress appropriating funding identified in the FY2002 Budget released by then-President George W. Bush. Staff will work with the Metro Board, our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation, and key stakeholders to support our FY2026 Budget funding request.”

A further level of clarity is being sought by Metro vis-a-vis the LA28 organizing committee, with a formalization to come later this year:

“Metro is preparing to be the primary mobility service provider for the 2028 Games spectators and workforce. Metro has dedicated resources and aligned with the preliminary roles and responsibilities identified in the [Games Mobility Executive coordination group] RACI [Responsible, Accountable, Consult, and Inform matrix].

“However, to bring greater certainty and commitment from LA28 so that Metro can continue planning and delivering the projects and services for the 2028 Games transportation, Metro and LA28 are working together to develop and execute a Memorandum of Understanding by the summer of 2025.”

The Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games received Federal transportation funding support of $1.3 billion from the U.S. government. While the LA28 organizers are fully responsible for the transportation of Games participants – athletes, coaches, officials, news media – it is not responsible for spectator transportation.

Due to the fires still burning in the Los Angeles area, Metro’s Ad Hoc committee meeting on the 2028 Games was canceled, but the agenda and presentations are available.

Responses to Metro’s massive Request for Proposal for architectural and engineering services to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games program in 2028 are due tomorrow (14th). Metro staff, in its report for Wednesday’s meeting, promised more details on the bus support systems soon:

“Metro staff is preparing a [Games Enhanced Transit Service] Strategic Roadmap to fully respond to the Board Motion in April 2025 with greater detail … The GETS Strategic Roadmap will identify off-ramps and scenarios for different levels of funding that may materialize in the future, including the FY25 and FY26 budget requests.”

There is concern within Metro whether the incoming Trump Administration will support the funding requests; the Biden Administration did not include them in its funding process. But the reports indicate that the planning is advancing to see how much can be done with what is or will be available.

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LANE ONE: Los Angeles is hurting, but the 2028 Olympics has not been hurt; we’ll know more by Wednesday

Devastation from the Palisades Fire where a home once stood (Photo: Cal Fire).

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≡ THE LOS ANGELES FIRES & 2028 ≡

I was born and spent my first 59 years in Los Angeles. The horrific images of fire and devastation from the Palisades Fire are of places I know well and of where friends live, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

This unimaginable destruction has come to an area – Southern California – which has paid much more attention to earthquakes than fire. The 1971 San Fernando quake (6.6) killed 65 and the 1994 Northridge quake (6.7) killed 57 and caused as much as $40 billion in damage.

But there is also damage being inflicted by mis-information and dis-information on multiple sides, including about the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Having been a Vice President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the transformational 1984 Games and been deeply involved in 20 multi-day, multi-site events in my career, there is no doubt in my mind of this:

The devastating 2025 Southern California fires pose no threat to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The most ridiculous commentary I have seen so far is from an Egyptian “investigative journalist” who posted a 10 January story headlined, “LA is burning—should it still host the 2028 Olympics?”

The story goes on to show a list of the 20 largest fires in California history and claim that seven of the top 20 were in July, when the 2028 Games will take place. The list actually shows two, both in Northern California counties from 500-600 miles north of Los Angeles. Maybe he was absent from some math classes, and California geography probably wasn’t a priority subject in Egyptian schools.

This kind of trash has shown up multiple times in multiple places over the last few days, but there are some truths that can be reported about the fires and the 2028 Games. Let’s try this again:

The devastating 2025 Southern California fires pose no threat to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At least so far. The historically high Santa Ana winds that propelled the Palisades and Eaton fires into storms – 70 to 100 miles per hour in places on 7 January, when the fires exploded – have calmed as this is written on Sunday evening (12th). There is concern about winds increasing to as much as half that speed late Monday (13th) and on Tuesday (14th). By mid-day Wednesday (15th), conditions should resume a more normal shape and the biggest dangers for fire spread will have subsided.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued a updated alert, rolling back an evacuation order to an evacuation warning on the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire that was moving toward the Brentwood section of west Los Angeles and nearing the UCLA campus, site of the Olympic Village in 2028. It’s not moving that way at present, and if this week’s winds can be managed, the danger will likely be over.

There are other reasons why any hysteria over the 2028 Games and the Palisades and Eaton Fires is misplaced:

● Not one of the planned venues for the 2028 Games has been directly impacted by the fires. The only one close to the fire area is Riviera Country Club, slated to host golf, which is in the Palisades area. But it has not been hit as yet.

● The reason Los Angeles can host the 2028 Games is its wealth of facilities. If Riviera were to be impacted, there are more than a dozen other championship courses in the area. For the 1984 Games, only three new venues were built, for cycling, swimming and shooting; two are still in use and the third was turned into a multi-venue complex for a half-dozen sports.

For 2028, nothing is being built and for almost every venue, there are others not being used that could be if desired. Even the irreplaceable UCLA Village was one of two villages in 1984: the other was at the University of Southern California and it’s still there.

● By the way, the no. 1-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team was scheduled to play Penn State at Pauley Pavilion on campus on Wednesday. On Sunday, it was announced that the game has been moved to the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State, just in case and in part due to continuing poor area air quality due to the fires. No problem.

● The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a long way off, relative to the impact of the fires. At Riviera Country Club, the focus is not on 2028, but on the annual PGA Tour’s Genesis Open, scheduled for 13-16 February. The PGA Tour said Thursday, “At this point, it is premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational.”

And well prior to 2028, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open will be held at Riviera. But no one is talking about that, right?

● The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, now slated for temporary installations for archery, BMX cycling and skateboarding is in Encino and could be threatened. But the totally temporary nature of the 2028 sports means there is virtually no infrastructure needed, at all.

However, there will be impacts on the 2028 Games from the fires, no doubt. Some of these will include:

● The LA28 organizers will see the costs for insurance for the Games rise significantly (by millions), partly from increased risks, but also because major insurers will be spending billions to pay policy holders from the fires.

● Costs will be added for the organizing committee for fire prevention and readiness for the Games, and local fire chiefs will offer no breaks or leniency on permitting and emergency readiness for the temporary installations needed for the Games.

● Los Angeles will rebuild, and the politicians have already started pointing to 2028 as a time to show off the recovery. California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) told NBC’s Meet The Press today:

“Not to be naively optimistic, [having the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Games] only reinforces the imperative moving quickly.”

And Newsom, who actively campaigned against President-elect Donald Trump, praised him:

“President of the United States, Donald Trump, to his credit, was helpful in getting the Olympics to the United States of America, to get it down here to L.A. We thank him for that. This is an opportunity for him to shine, for this country to shine, for California and this community to shine.”

He added that a recovery plan is in the early stages of development: “We’re already organizing a ‘Marshall Plan,’ we already have a team looking to reimagine L.A. 2.0 and we’re making sure everyone is included, not just the folks on the coast, the people here who were ravaged by this disaster.”

What the prophets of disaster forget – they weren’t here, but I was – is that the area recovered quickly after the 1994 Northridge quake. A section of the Santa Monica Freeway – a key artery – collapsed, but was restored within three months, earlier than expected. The Northridge area required much longer to recover, but it has; anyone who has seen the lines at Brent’s Delicatessen in recent weeks can bear witness. The scale of the fire destruction in the Palisades will require years, but it will come, albeit with much frustration and pain.

The politics of the fires will burn considerably longer than the fires themselves. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was out of the country last Tuesday and has received considerable anger about the fires; a petition against her has gathered more than 100,000 signatures. Perhaps more damaging was a post on X by Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who was himself evacuated from his home:

“Maybe the lesson we learned out of this catastrophe in California is to now vote not based on left or right or D versus R but perhaps based on competent or no experience in operating a job !! We have to elect based on competence…yes competence matters.”

Bass, 71, is up for re-election in 2026 and how the rebuilding from the fires is handled will be a key campaign point. She has, up to this point, been quite popular for a dedicated fight against the top issue in the area: homelessness.

The 2028 Games may be challenged by any number of issues, not the least of which are wars, trade tensions, politics of all kinds and interference from all sides. And please do not forget about earthquakes.

But, unless the winds come back in a big way on Monday and Tuesday, the 2025 fires in Southern California will not be one of them.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Former WADA V.P. asks Norway not to pay dues; U.S. ski star Macuga wins Super-G, Vonn fourth in St. Anton!

The newest U.S. ski star, Lauren Macuga, seen here in 2024 after her first top-10 World Cup finish (Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2004: Athens ● A request for proposal has been issued by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for the repair of the iconic roof of the Olympic Stadium and the adjacent velodrome.

Both designed by Spanish starchitect Santiago Calatrava, reports of continuing failures of the stadium roof led to support from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, which will pay for the project, with an expected cost of more than €78 million (€1 = $1.03 U.S.).

The job is complicated by the requirements that the roof repairs do not shut down the facilities and allow events to continue, and to be completed within 14 months. Bids are due in mid-February.

The roof was declared unsafe in 2023 due to rust, and removing it was considered, but it will now be restored.

● Anti-Doping ● Following the decision of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy to withhold its 2024 dues contribution of $3.625 million, former WADA Vice President Linda Helleland, a member of the Norwegian Parliament, asked the Minister of Culture Lubna Jaffrey to do the same in 2025.

Norway paid NOK 2.2 million in dues to WADA in 2024, (~$191,708 U.S.); Helleland was a WADA Vice President from 2016-19.

● Russia ● Doping continues to be an issue in Russia as the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) reported 102 doping violations in 2024 (these are violations, not the same as sanctions).

This is an improvement on the number from 2022 (135) and 2023 (150). Among the positives, steroids, diuretics and meldonium were the largest contributors. RUSADA collected 11,070 samples in 2024, up from 11,091 in 2023 and 11,1053 in 2022.

Although not an exact comparison, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency posted 35 sanctions in 2024, and 40 in 2023.

● Alpine Skiing ● Triple Olympic medalist Federica Brignone (ITA) won her third race of the season at the FIS women’s World Cup in St. Anton (SUI), this time in the Downhill on Saturday, the 30th career World Cup gold, but first-ever Downhill gold!

She started 14th and took the lead at 1:16.08, and no one could get close. Czech star Ester Ledecka, the surprise 2018 Olympic Super-G winner, started 27th and came in second at 1:16.26, but was passed by Swiss Malorie Blanc, 21, who won her first World Cup medal in 1:16.15 for the silver.

American Lindsey Vonn, 40, competing in her first Downhill since 2019, finished a very creditable sixth (1:16.66), starting from the 32nd position. It’s her best finish in a Downhill since March of 2018. Fellow American Lauren Macuga continued her solid season in ninth (1:16.87).

Sunday’s Super-G was even better, as Macuga, 22, starting 17th, roared through the course and took the lead at 1:17.51, replacing Stephanie Venier (AUT: 1:18.19), who took the lead as the no. 15 starter. And no one got close.

Italy’s Brignone, who started seventh, took third at 1:18.43 and Vonn, starting 31st, finished fourth in 1:18.75.

It’s the first-ever World Cup medal and win for Macuga, who scored her first top-10 finish last season at Zauchensee (AUT) and was fourth this season in the Beaver Creek Downhill on 14 December. Now, she’s a World Cup winner.

At the FIS men’s World Cup in Abelboden (SUI), France’s Olympic Slalom champ Clement Noel got his third win of the season – all in his specialty – moving from third to first on the second run with a combined time of 1:51.53. He had to sweat out the two skiers who were faster on the first run, but leader Manuel Feller (AUT) failed to finish and Linus Strasser (GER) faded to 23rd and finish fourth overall. It’s Noel’s 13th career World Cup win.

Defending World Cup champion Marco Odermatt (SUI) won his third World Cup Giant Slalom in a row on Sunday, winning by 0.02 seconds over countryman Loic Meillard (2:27.75). River Radamus was the top American in 10th (2:29.93). After 17 of 38 events this season, Odermatt now has a 730-574 lead on Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, trying for a fourth consecutive seasonal title.

● Athletics ● The men’s and women’s races at the USATF Cross Country Championships in Lubbock, Texas were both won decisively, with margins of nine and 23 seconds. Tokyo Steeple Olympian Benard Keter won the men’s 10 km race in 29:43, well ahead of Joseph Berriatuna (29:52) and Anthony Camerieri (29:59).

Carrie Ellwood won the women’s title by 23 seconds in 34:22, with Cailie Logue second (34:45) and Katie Camarena third (35:13). Both races had very small fields: 27 for the men and 12 for the women.

Sweden’s 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Perseus Karlstrom dominated the USATF 35 km Walk Championships in Santee, California, winning in 2:27:19 – his third-fastest ever – well ahead of Mexico’s Ever Palma (2:37:46). Third was Tokyo Olympian Nick Christie (2:45:31), the 2025 U.S. champion, ahead of Jordan Crawford (2:46:20).

Mexico took the top places in the women’s race, with Valeria Ortuno the winner at 2:51:33 and Nadia Gonzalez (3:02:49) second. The U.S. winner was Katie Burnett at 3:05:10, beating Rio Olympian Miranda Melville (3:05:20) and two-time Olympian Maria Michta-Coffey (3:09:57).

● Badminton ● The top seeds took the Singles titles at the BWF World Tour Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur, with China’s Yu Qui Shi defeating Anders Antonsen (DEN), 21-8, 21-15, in the men’s final and Se Young An (KOR) sweeping aide second-seed Zhi Yi Wang (CHN), 21-7, 21-7.

Korea got a second win in the men’s Doubles, with Won Ho Kim and Seung Jae Seo taking down China’s Bo Yang Chen and Yi Liu, 19-21, 21-12, 21-12. Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto (JPN) won the women’s Doubles over Yi Fan Jia and Shu Xian Zhang (CHN), 17-21, 21-15, 21-15, and Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supisara Paewsampran (THA) won the Mixed Doubles, 21-13, 19-21, 21-18 over Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang (CHN).

● Biathlon ● France dominated the IBU World Cup in Oberhof (GER), winning three of the four individual races!

Paula Botet won her first World Cup medal in the women’s 7.5 km Sprint, winning in 22:52.0 (0 penalties), over Maren Kirkeeide (NOR: 23:23.9/1). Then four-time Worlds medalist Lou Jeanmonnot won the 10 km Pursuit in 31:14.9 (1), for her third win of the season! Kirkeeide was second again (31:33.0/2) and Beijing 2022 silver winner Elvira Oeberg (SWE: 31:41.1/1) was third.

France’s double Beijing 2022 gold medalist Quentin Fillon Maillet got the third win, taking the 10 km Sprint in 23:36.2 (0) to lead a French sweep, with Fabien Claude (23:51.1/0) second and Emilien Jacquelin (23:59.3/1) in third. It was the 17th career World Cup gold for Fillon Maillet.

Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid took the men’s 12.5 km Pursuit, leading a Norse sweep, in 33:25.5 (2), just ahead of Tarjei Boe (33:30.7/1) and young brother Johannes Thingnes Boe (33:45.2/3).

Finland (Tero Seppala and Suvi Minkkinen) won the Single Mixed Relay over Fillon Maillet and Potet, 39:17.1 (5) to 39:22.9 (8). Sweden out-dueled France to win the Mixed Relay, 1:04:24.1 to 1:04:36.8.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● German sledders continued dominating the IBSF World Cup in St. Moritz (SUI), as double Olympic champ Francesco Friedrich and Beijing 2022 runner-up Johannes Lochner tied for the Two-Man gold, both at 2:12.21; Lochner made up 0.05 on the second run to get the tie. Adam Ammour made it a sweep for Germany in third (2:12.28); Frank Del Duca and Carsten Vissering finished eighth in 2:13.50.

In the Four-Man on Sunday, Lochner’s sled was in the lead after the first run, but Friedrich had the best second run and won, 2:09.13 to 2:09.36. Del Duca was 16th (2:11.60).

The Germans swept the Two-Woman race, with 2023 World Champion Kim Kalicki (and Leonie Fiebig) winning in 2:16.85, ahead of Olympic champs Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi (2:16.90) and Lisa Buckwitz and Neele Schuten (2:17.27). The U.S. went 4-5 with Elana Meyers Taylor and Sadie McMullen (2:17.84) and Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones (2:17.87).

The women’s Monobob was canceled due to warm weather conditions and will be held on 24 January instead, also at St. Moritz.

In Skeleton, Britain’s 2023 World Champion Matt Weston got his second straight win and took the overall lead with one race to go in 2:14.61, ahead of Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (2:15.15). Austin Florian of the U.S. was fifth in 2:15.95.

Three-time European champ Janine Flock got a second straight win in the women’s racing and took the seasonal lead, in 2:18.65, ahead of Kim Meylemans (BEL: 2:18.83) and Brazil’s Nicole Rocha Silveira (2:18.92). Americans Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro finished 7-9 in 2:19.80 and 2:19.87.

In the Mixed Team race, Jacqueline Pfeifer and Axel Jungk (GER) won in 2:23.91, just ahead of the American pair of Ro and Florian (2:24.04).

● Fencing ● Italy’s 2018 World Champion, Alessio Foconi claimed his sixth career FIE men’s Foil World Cup gold in Paris (FRA) on Saturday, defeating 2016 Olympic silver winner Alexander Massialas in the final, 15-10.

Massialas had won eight out of nine World Cup finals coming, but Foconi was too strong. For the American, it was his 18th career World Cup medal.

Italy won the team title, 45-44 against Japan, with the U.S. (Chase Emmer, Nick Itkin, Massialas, Gerek Meinhardt) getting one of the bronze medals.

A new American star arrived at the FIE women’s Foil World Cup in Hong Kong, as 15-year-old Jaelyn Liu – the 2023 U.S. National Junior Champion – won the women’s title, defeating Martina Sinigalia (ITA) in the final by 15-12. Liu got by Italy’s 2014 Worlds runner-up Martina Batini in the semis and won her first international medal! Liu moved from 93rd to 6th in the FIE standings with the win.

Italy won the team event over the U.S. (Delphine Devore, Lee Keifer, Lauren Scruggs, Maia Weintraub), 45-27.

At the FIE Sabre Grand Prix in Tunis (TUN), Korea’s Sangwon Park took the men’s title with a 15-12 win over France’s Sebastien Patrice. It’s the first career Grand Prix gold for Park, 24.

The women’s gold went to Japan’s two-time World Champion, Misaki Emura, a 15-13 winner over Michela Battiston of Italy.

● Freestyle Skiing ● New Zealand’s 20-year-old Luca Harrington won his second FIS World Cup Big Air in a row in Krieschberg (AUT), scoring 187.75 to edge home favorite and 2021 World Junior champ Matej Svancer (178.75) and Leo Landroe (NOR: 178.50).

Italy’s 17-year-old Flora Tabanelli got her first career World Cup gold in the women’s competition, winning with 175.50, ahead of Finn Anni Karava (173.50), who won her first World Cup medal at age 24. Tabanelli is also the only skier to medal in all four Big Air events this season!

● Ice Hockey ● For the 14th time in 17 editions, the IIHF Women’s U-18 World Championship in Vantaa (FIN) came down to the U.S. and Canada in the final, with the Canadians posting a 3-0 victory for their eighth title in this tournament.

The team were scoreless in the first period, then Calleigh Tiller got a power-play goal at 8:06 of the second period, followed by a second at 9:03 of the third by Dorothy Copetti. The U.S. could not score and the Canadians got an empty-netter from Stryker Zablocki at 18:23 of the final period. Marilou Grenier turned away 14 shots in goal for Canada, who had 29 shots against Morgan Stickney.

The U.S. edged Sweden, 2-1, in their semi, while Canada sailed by the Czech Republic, 4-2. The Czechs took the bronze, 2-1, in the third-place match.

In the 14 finals with the U.S. and Canada in this tournament, each has won seven.

● Luge ● Reigning World Champion Max Langenhan (GER) got his second win of the season in the FIL World Cup in Altenberg (GER), taking the men’s title by 1:48.210 to 1:48.440 over countryman and two-time Olympic champ Felix Loch. Jonny Gustafson was the top American, in 13th (1:49.804).

Olympic relay bronze medalists Martins Bots and Roberts Plume (LAT) got the gold in the men’s Doubles for their second win this season, edging three-time Olympic winners Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (GER), 1:23.900 to 1:24.023. Americans Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa finished sixth in 1:24.405.

Worlds bronze medalist Madeleine Egle (AUT) took the women’s Singles, winning both runs and finishing at 1:45.642, ahead of Beijing 2022 runner-up Anna Berreiter (GER: 1:45.792) and Merle Fraebel (GER: 1:45.905). Ashley Farquharson was the top American, in sixth (1:46.108).

The women’s Doubles was the fourth straight win for Austrians Selina Egle and Lara Kipp, finishing in 1:25.077, just beating two-time World Champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER: 1:25.474) and Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby (1:25.633). It was the third medal of the season for the Americans; teammates Maya Chan and Sophia Gordon, were eighth (1:26.309).

● Ski Mountaineering ● At the second ISMF World Cup of the season, in Shahdag (AZE), French star Emily Harrop got her 18th career World Cup gold in the women’s Sprint 2:28.2, beating Marianne Fatton (SUI: 3:02.5) and Celia Perillat-Pessey (FRA: 3:08.3).

France’s five-time World Champion Axelle Gachet-Mollaret won the Vertical Race in a rout in 22:08.0, ahead of Johanna Hiemer (AUT: 23:00.6) and Harrop (23:10.5).

The 2019 World Champion, Arno Lietha, led a Swiss 1-2 in the men’s Sprint, winning in 2:27.7, barely ahead of teammate Robin Bussard (2:28.5).

Four-time World Champion Remi Bonnet (SUI) won the men’s Vertical Race in 18:09.2, a half-minute ahead of Christof Hochenwarter (AUT: 18:39.2).

The Individual race will be held on Monday.

● Snowboard ● The home fans were happy at the FIS World Cup Big Air in Krieschberg (AUT), as Austria’s two-time Olympic champion Anna Gasser took her 13th World Cup win over Japan’s Reira Iwabuchi, 167,75 to 157.75. British teen star Mia Brookes – 17 – won the bronze at 148.00.

China’s Wenlong Yang got his first career World Cup win in the men’s final at 182.50, just ahead of Japan’s 19-year-old Taiga Hasegawa (180.25) and Kira Kimura (20: 168.75).

Italy’s Maurizio Bormolini, 30, took his sixth career FIS World Cup win and his second of the season in the Parallel Giant Slalom in Scuol (SUI), out-dueling Austrian Dominik Burgstaller in the final. Burgstaller, 23, won his first career World Cup medal!

● Tennis ● The appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency of the “No Fault or Negligence” ruling given to Italian star Jannik Sinner will be heard on 16 April in Lausanne. The Independent Tennis Integrity Agency ruled in August that the two low-level positives for the steroid Clostebol at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California came from an over-the-counter spray purchased in Italy and applied by his physiotherapist to heal a small wound.

Where the ITIA excused the two positives at Indian Wells, WADA is asking for a suspension of 1-2 years.

The case, and Polish star Iga Swiatek’s one-month suspension for an August positive for trimetazidine – again from an over-the-counter product – have riled the tennis world with questions of whether the doping process is being taken seriously enough in the sport.

● Water Polo ● Defending champion Spain won the World Aquatics men’s World Cup in Bucharest (ROU), taking the final from four-time winner Hungary, 15-9.

Spain, second in its group, won its play-in game, 14-9, over Serbia, then beat Croatia (15-14) and Montenegro (15-8) to reach the final. The Hungarians won Group A, then beat Georgia, 21-10, in the quarters and Greece, 20-10, in the semis.

The U.S. lost to Montenegro in the quarters by 15-8 and eventually finished seventh.

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LOS ANGELES FIRES: IOC’s Bach says Gary Hall Jr.’s 10 Olympic medals will be replaced; swimmer shares video of destroyed home site

U.S. Olympic swim star Gary Hall Jr. on the podium at Athens 2004 (Photo: GoFundMe appeal page)

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≡ SCENE & HEARD ≡

“We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces. Currently the full focus must be on the fight against the fires and the protection of the people and property.

“We have also learned that a great Olympian, Gary Hall Jr., has lost his medals in the fire. The IOC will provide him with replicas.”

That’s from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) on X early this morning, Pacific time, with good news for American swim star Gary Hall Jr. amid the continuing fires in Southern California.

The hardest-hit area has been Pacific Palisades, where Hall was renting a home which was destroyed when the Palisades Fire exploded on 7 January and has consumed 23,713 acres and 5,000 structures as of Sunday morning.

On a GoFundMe page for Hall Jr., his situation was described:

“Gary Jr. lost his home and his livelihood in the devastating Palisades Fire on January 7th. Gary saw flames out his window while he was at home before collecting his dog, Puddles, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious wooden piece his daughter Gigi gave him and drove towards the ocean as quickly as possible.

“He was forced to leave behind everything else he owned, such as irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and more. He has also most likely lost his ten Olympic medals, but nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals. Gary was renting a home located right in the middle of the Palisades Fire which had a pool where he taught swim lessons to children through his business, Sea Monkeys Swimming.”

He eventually got to San Diego to stay with family last Wednesday. On Saturday, he posted a short video and added:

“Here it is. Or rather, here it isn’t. My home, minus the home. Not gonna lie, it was tough to see this. National Guard is still keeping residents out of the area. I’ll head over with a shovel when they open it up and go digging for gold, like the California prospectors from a couple centuries back.

“Thank you again to so many people. I feel the love. It means so much. Please allow me time to respond to those who’ve reached out. I’ve been a bit distracted lately.”

The GoFundMe appeal has had excellent response, with $73,620 raised from a $50,000 goal as of Sunday morning.

Bach’s support to replace the Olympic medals will set the IOC staff to work; Hall Jr. won 10 medals from 1996 through 2004:

Atlanta 1996 (4): Gold medals in the men’s 4×100 m Free, men’s 4×100 m Medley, silvers in the 50 m and 100 m Freestyles.

Sydney 2000 (4): Golds in the 50 m Free and 4×100 m Medley, silver in the 4×100 m Free, bronze in the 100 m Free.

Athens 2004 (2): Gold in the 50 m Free, bronze in the 4×100 m Free.

Now 50, Hall also won six medals (3-3-0) in the FINA World Championships and three Pan American Games medals (1-1-1) from 1995 to 2007. He was a showman on the deck, often with a shadow-boxing routine that made him a popular figure.

He posted an Instagram video on Saturday showing the complete destruction of the home, with added graphics reading:

“Heartbroken
“Thank you to all who have reached out expressing sympathy and support”

He added in the text section:

“Having love is more important than having things. All worldly possessions are gone. Home is gone. Business is gone. The support from the community is so appreciated. Thank you to all who have generously contributed to the GoFundMe campaign to help me get back on my feet.”

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PANORAMA: L.A. Council’s Park pans “under-investment” in infrastructure ahead of ‘28; two final options for LA28 surfing

Los Angeles City Council member Traci Park on an appearance on NBC4 Los Angeles (screen shot).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Los Angeles 2028 ● “So much of our beloved Palisades is just gone.”

That’s Traci Park, the Los Angeles City Council member for the 11th District, which includes fire-destroyed Pacific Palisades on the far-western edge of the city, on Wednesday in an interview with KNBC (channel 4).

Asked about the response from residents and business owners who have lost homes, offices and shops, she acknowledged anger, frustration and not knowing what the future will bring. She added:

“It is also frustration that stems from chronic under-investment in our critical infrastructure and our public safety partners.

“Here in the City of Los Angeles, we just recently received a standard-of-coverage report that indicates that here, we need at least 62 new fire stations, in the City of Los Angeles, to meet just our average daily need.

“We do not have the staffing and the resources that we need on a daily basis; the demands we are putting on our public safety resources is absolutely untenable, and we can’t continue this way.

“We have 100 fire engines and ambulances out of service at the mechanic’s yard because we don’t have mechanics to repair them.”

Park is the Chair of the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and added:

“We are not staffed to deal with this level of emergency, or this number of emergencies spread around a geographic footprint like we have in this City and the County of Los Angeles. And as we look forward to the [FIFA] World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028, this is a painful and tragic reminder of how much work we have ahead.”

Surfing site TheInertia.com reported on the December general meeting of the International Surfing Association, with confirmation that the surfing site for 2028 will be either Huntington Beach in Orange County or Lower Tresles at the north end of San Diego County.

The ISA is asking for an increase in the number of competitors in the existing Shortboard events from 48 to 72 for 2028, and has asked for Longboard to be added, with 32 athletes, to the crowded schedule with 35 or 36 sports already on the program and 11,242 athletes expected, without any further additions.

● Anti-Doping ● While the U.S. government has declined to pay its 2024 dues to the World Anti-Doping Agency, Russia reported that it sent its 2023 government dues to WADA of about $1.21 million, according to Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev:

“We sent WADA the fee for 2023 on December 19. This is more than €1.1 million. Given the difficulties with international transactions, the receipt is expected in January. We are closely monitoring the situation.”

The Russian news agency TASS reported Russia’s 2024 dues at $1,408,094.

● Russia ● The Russian government adopted a plan for national sports development for the next five years, with the first goal to return its athletes to international competitions. According to TASS:

“Among other tasks is the formation of a positive image of Russia in the international sports community as a state with high sporting achievements and an active fight against doping. The development of international sports cooperation must be ensured on conditions that ensure equal and mutually beneficial multilateral cooperation, as well as full protection of the national interests of the Russian Federation.

“The Russian national team has been tasked with entering the top three in the unofficial medal count of the Olympics by 2030.”

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, who headed the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee, will head the effort.

● Athletics ● For those who use the World Athletics scoring tables for comparing performances across events, a new edition has been published for 2025 and is available for download from the federation Web site.

● Ice Hockey ● The U.S. advanced to the semifinals of the 17th IIHF Women’s U-18 World Championship, being played in Vantaa (FIN).

The American women won their three group games by a combined 14-0 to win Group A, and Canada took Group B at 3-0 (16-3 on goals). In the playoff quarters, the U.S. squashed Slovakia, 9-1 and Canada crushed Japan by 17-0.

In the Saturday semis, the U.S. will play Sweden (3-1), with the Americans winning the group game, 3-0. Canada will play the Czech Republic, having won their group game by 5-0. The gold medal final will be on Sunday.

● Swimming ● Gary Hall, Jr., a 10-time Olympic medalist in 1996-2000-2004, had to evacuate his home in the Palisades area of Los Angeles due to the raging fires on Tuesday and lost the house, likely including his medals.

A GoFundMe page to support Hall collected 41,753 of a $50,000 goal by 4 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday and included:

“Gary Jr. lost his home and his livelihood in the devastating Palisades Fire on January 7th. Gary saw flames out his window while he was at home before collecting his dog, Puddles, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious wooden piece his daughter Gigi gave him and drove towards the ocean as quickly as possible.

“He was forced to leave behind everything else he owned, such as irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and more. He has also most likely lost his ten Olympic medals, but nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals. Gary was renting a home located right in the middle of the Palisades Fire which had a pool where he taught swim lessons to children through his business, Sea Monkeys Swimming.”

Hall Jr., now 50, won two Olympic relay golds in 1996, Sydney 2000 golds in the 50 m Free and the 4×100 m Free Relay, and the 50 m Free at Athens 2004. He also won three World Championships relay golds in 1994 and 1998.

● Water Polo ● The World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup is underway, with the men’s Division I tournament in Bucharest (ROU) and the U.S. as one of three group winners.

The Americans went 2-0 in Group C, beating Japan by 19-17 and Romania by 10-7. The U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals and will play Montenegro (1-1) in the lower bracket and with a win, the survivor of Croatia-Spain. The upper bracket features Hungary vs. Georgia and Greece vs. Japan. The gold-medal game is on Sunday (12th).

The women’s Division I tourney, with the U.S., starts on 14 January.

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MEMORABILIA: St. Louis 1904 Olympic gold medal already at $168,209 at auction, with a week to go!

Amazing: a well-preserved 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold for the 110 m hurdles, won by Fred Schule of the U.S., now on auction! (Photo: RR Auction)

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≡ RR AUCTION ONGOING ≡

A beautifully-preserved gold medal from the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis was expected to bring as much as $150,000 in the ongoing RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia that will end on 16 January.

It has already zoomed past that with a week to go, drawing 14 bids so far and standing at $168,209!

St. Louis was the first Olympics to use the now-traditional gold, silver and bronze-medal scheme for the top three placers. This specific medal was presented to winner Fred Schule of the U.S., who led an American sweep.

Minted in New York, the medal is in excellent condition and includes part of its original, four-color ribbon and gold clasp, and is offered in its original, worn, leather case, reading “Medal for Olympic Games, Universal Exposition, St. Louis U.S.A., F. J. V. Skiff, Dir. of Exhibits, Jas. E. Sullivan, Chief.”

The response to the medal has been remarkable, said RR Auction chief operating officer Bobby Eaton, “It is the BEST 1904 medal to ever come to auction.”

The 384-item auction has eight other items already at $10,000 or more; auctions usually draw the heaviest interest very close to the end. But so far:

● $27,500: 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympic torch (one of 33 made)
● $22,987: 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal for women’s wrestling
● $22,000: 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic gold medal for ski jumping
● $16,500: 1994 Albertville Winter Olympic torch (one of 130 made)
● $15,700: 2012 London gold medal for men’s volleyball
● $13,200: 1956 Stockholm Olympic equestrian gold medal
● $11,000: 1908 London Olympic gold medal for field hockey
● $10,000: 1932 Los Angeles Olympic gold medal with box

The auction also includes a 2024 Paris Olympic torch, now at $8,860 after eight bids, and a lot more. A unique, four-torch collection from the late Phil Coles, an International Olympic Committee member from Australia, from Rio 2016 and Winter Games from 2002-2018-2022 is currently at a modest $3,025!

Bidding ends on 16 January and you must be registered to bid.

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GENDER: Federal Court strikes down Biden Administration Title IX rules allowing locker room access by “gender identity”

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≡ COURT REPORT ≡

“Put simply, there is nothing in the text or statutory design of Title IX to suggest that discrimination ‘on the basis of sex’ means anything other than it has since Title IX’s inception – that recipients of federal funds under Title IX may not treat a person worse than another similarly-situated individual on the basis of the person’s sex, i.e., male or female.”

That’s from a 15-page order from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, released Thursday, striking down a U.S. Department of Education rule which expanded Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 to allow “gender identity” as the basis for discrimination claims.

Granting a motion for summary judgement from the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia West Virginia and others, Judge Danny Reeves further wrote that the entire rule submitted by the Department of Education was invalid and unconstitutional (citations omitted):

● “As this Court and others have explained, expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head. While Title IX sought to level the playing field between men and women, it is rife with exceptions that allow males and females to be separated based on the enduring physical differences between the sexes.”

● “The Final Rule would leave 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681(a)(1)-(9) and 1686 intact while adding regulations that mandate access to showers, locker rooms, and sexual education classes, among others, consistent with an individual’s gender identity.

“But this approach simply does not make sense. Confirming the arbitrary nature of these new regulations, the Department has offered no rational explanation for the stark inconsistencies that will result if the Final Rule is allowed to go forward.”

“The Court remains persuaded that the Final Rule is arbitrary and capricious. The Department does not provide a reasoned explanation for departing from its longstanding interpretation of Title IX.

“Although it relies primarily on [Bostock vs. Clayton County], the Supreme Court was clear that the decision was limited to the context of Title VII and did not purport to address ‘bathrooms, locker rooms, or anything else of the kind.’ Given the Court’s express disclaimer and the striking differences between Title VII and Title IX, Bostock is a very shaky place for the Department to hang its hat.”

● “[T]he new regulations say that recipients cannot separate the sexes (thus inflicting more than de minimis harm) for purposes of other ‘living facilities’ such as bathrooms, toilets, or showers.

“In support, the Department cites ‘case law, research, testimony and comments from stakeholders, and evidence from schools’ many years of practical experience’ indicating ‘that preventing a person from participating in a program or accessing a sex-separate facility consistent with their gender identity subjects them to harm.’

“Assuming this is true, doesn’t it also subject such persons to harm when they are prevented from participating in the social fraternity or sorority consistent with their gender identity? Or when they are prevented from residing in a living facility consistent with their gender identity? It seems clear that the answer is ‘yes,’ which indicates that Title IX does not encompass the issue of gender identity at all.”

The District Court holding can be appealed, of course, but with the Biden Administration in its waning days, the decision is unlikely to be disturbed. This decision followed the withdrawal in late December of Education Department regulations proposed in 2023 that would have used a new Title IX rule to force the inclusion of transgender men on women’s athletics teams:

“The Department recognizes that there are multiple pending lawsuits related to the application of Title IX in the context of gender identity, including lawsuits related to Title IX’s application to athletic eligibility criteria in a variety of factual contexts.

“In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time. Therefore, the Department hereby withdraws the Athletics NPRM and terminates this rulemaking proceeding.”

The incoming Trump Administration has indicated no interest in either set of proposed rules.

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ANTI-DOPING: USADA’s Tygart explains that WADA cannot impact U.S. hosting of events due to non-payment of government dues

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≡ COMPLIANCE CONSEQUENCES ≡

Wednesday’s announcement that the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has not paid its $3.625 million dues for 2024 (covered here) was met with a response from the World Anti-Doping Agency that the U.S. would lose its seats on the WADA Executive Committee and the Foundation Board.

The refusal primarily stems from the continuing tug-of-war over the January 2021 positives of 23 star Chinese swimmers, who received no provisional suspensions – as required by the World Anti-Doping Code – and were ruled by the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency to have ingested the prohibited heart medication Trimetazidine from contaminated food served to them at a hotel, and therefore no sanctions of any kind.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement that no U.S. athlete would be impacted by the non-payment of government dues.

However, our story went further, examining the question of whether WADA could hold USADA to be non-compliant, and therefore impose sanctions that could include a prohibition on Olympic Games or world championships being held in the U.S. during such time as the U.S. would be out of compliance.

Not so says Tygart, in a Thursday interview, who explained that this exact issue has – in fact – been discussed in recent months within WADA:

● In September 2024, WADA initiated a consultation process concerning “proposed additions to the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code, which address the matter of voluntary withholding of funding by a government.”

● A document defining terms and possible consequences – including “limitations on the relevant country bidding for major events, as well as restrictions on its government representatives attending major events and sitting on Code Signatory boards/committees etc.” – would require changes to the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the proposals did not advance and were shut down. No changes to the Code were made on this issue.

Tygart explained further, “A private organization – WADA – does not have the authority to require a sovereign country to pay it,” and a WADA working group which considered this specific issue within the last couple of years rejected the imposition of sanctions – by WADA – on athletes competing and on hosting Games, world championships or other events which had already been awarded.

That means there is no threat of a WADA action, holding the U.S. in non-compliance, which would threaten the holding any upcoming world championship or the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, or the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Tygart noted a key legal difference in the compliance area regarding dues payments by governments:

“Non-compliance for an anti-doping organization … for not running an effective program or covering up cases, whatever, that’s a different matter. But for purposes of non-payment by a government is not in the compliance structure. …

“The compliance scheme does not cover non-payment by governments to WADA.”

There are also technical questions about whether the U.S. would have to leave its seats on the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board due to non-payment as WADA has opined, but these do not impact athletes or events.

This is a good news for those considering a worst-case scenario in the continuing war of words between WADA, USADA, the U.S. government and the Congress, but does not end the discord.

The International Olympic Committee’s added language in its Olympic Host Contract with the Salt Lake City organizers for 2034 still stands, however, allowing termination of the award of that Games if:

“the Host Country is ruled ineligible to host or co-host and/or to be awarded the right to host or co-host the Games pursuant to or under the World Anti-Doping Code or if, in any other way, the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the World Anti-Doping Code is hindered or undermined.”

That clause was not part of the host agreement for the LA28 Games.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. track & field had an even better year overall than in Paris, according to Track & Field News’ world rankings

U.S.’s Rai Benjamin wins the men’s 400 m hurdles over Tokyo champ Karsten Warholm (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics)

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≡ T&FN WORLD RANKINGS ≡

The United States men’s and women’s track & field team had a brilliant Paris Olympic Games, winning 34 total medals and dominating the meet, with 14 golds, with Kenya next with four.

But that was one meet. A review of the full season by the most-respected rankings in the sport showed that 2024 was even better for America’s track & field athletes.

That would be the Track & Field News world rankings, first reported in 1948 and using a simple formula to rank the top ten competitors in each event, according to (1) honors won; (2) win-loss record and (3) sequence of marks.

The 77th edition, recapped in the magazine’s January Annual Edition, demonstrated the year-long success of U.S. athletes. Using 10 points down to one for rankings 1-10, the scores for 2024 showed:

Men:
● 1. 229, United States
● 2. 92, Ethiopia
● 3. 83, Kenya
● 4. 77, Jamaica
● 5. 46, Italy
● 6. 42, Norway
● 7. 32, Great Britain
● 8. 31, Germany
● 9. 29, Canada, France and Spain

Women:
● 1. 219, United States
● 2. 102, Kenya
● 3. 95, Ethiopia
● 4. 83, Great Britain
● 5. 60, Jamaica
● 6. 57, Netherlands
● 7. 49, Australia
● 8. 44, China
● 9. 36, Germany
● 10. 30, Canada

Combined:
● 1. 448, United States
● 2. 187, Ethiopia
● 3. 185, Kenya
● 4. 137, Jamaica
● 5. 115, Great Britain
● 6. 77, Germany
● 7. 73, Netherlands
● 8. 70, Italy
● 9. 62, Australia
● 10. 59, Canada

This is amazing. In the men’s rankings, the U.S. had at least one athlete in 16 of 21 events and had five ranked no. 1: Noah Lyles (100), Quincy Hall (400), Grant Holloway (110 hurdles), Rai Benjamin (400 hurdles) and Ryan Crouser (shot).

The American women had ranking athletes in 15 of 21 events and four winners: Gabby Thomas (200), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400 hurdles), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) and Valarie Allman (discus),

Both the U.S. men and women scored more points in the rankings in 2024 than in 2023, although the women’s total was up by just three. The U.S. men have been the top scorer in 75 of the 77 T&FN World Rankings all-time; the U.S. women have been on top from 2011 on, making 2024 the 13th year in a row (no 2020 rankings due to Covid).

So when the publicity about the U.S. being the no. 1 team in the world comes up, it’s actually true.

In terms of individual awards, the men’s Athlete of the Year was vault star Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, with Benjamin no. 2 and the U.S. Athlete of the Year. Hurdles star McLaughlin-Levrone was the women’s Athlete of the Year, worldwide and for the U.S.

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PANORAMA: WADA reviewing Ozempic and Wegovy; Gold Coast trying to pull ‘32 Olympic swimming from Brisbane; Barbosu headed to Stanford!

Hungary's swimming superstar Katinka Hosszu

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, an relentless promoter of his city, is now proposing to have the 2032 Olympic swimming competition – a key sport for the host country – held in Gold Coast instead of Brisbane.

Tate suggests the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which held 10,000 spectators for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as the venue for Brisbane 2032, instead of a temporary pool in the to-be-built, 17-18,000-seat Brisbane Live arena.

Speaking at the Aquatic Centre this week, he told reporters, “We estimated the roof for here, and 10,000 seating, you’re looking at about $150 million. A temporary pool arena [in Brisbane], you’re looking at $2.5 billion. Do the sums.” (A$1 = $0.62 U.S.)

Tate ignores, of course, that the proposed arena is designed as a legacy facility for the downtown Brisbane area, of which the 2032 Olympic Games would simply be one event. Also, from the organizing committee’s point of view, it would get substantially more ticket revenue from a 17-18,000-seat arena than from a 10,000-seater. The arena is to be built with government funds.

The Queensland government is awaiting a review of Olympic facilities, due in March, principally to decide what to do about a track & field stadium and ceremonies site.

● World Games ● Voting for the World Games Athlete of the Year for 2024 opens on 9 January, with the top-10 vote getters on 22 January advanced to the final round, with continued voting until 31 January.

This is for sports and events on the World Games program, comprised of competitions which are not part of the Olympic Games. Among the 22 nominees are two American entries: Allison Hoeft and Sydney Martin for Cheerleading and Vanita Krouch for Flag Football, where she quarterbacked the U.S. women’s squad to the 2024 Worlds gold, her third title.

One of the favorites will be Canada’s Phil Wizard (Philip Kim), the Paris 2024 gold medalist in men’s Breaking.

● Anti-Doping ● Fascinating story at triathlete.com noting that the World Anti-Doping Agency continues to review the high-profile anti-obesity and anti-diabetes drug semaglutide, known best by its market names Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for weight loss).

Dr. Olivier Rabin (FRA), the WADA Senior Director for Science and Medicine observed that the impact of the drug on food intake and glucose uptake in cells could create advantages for triathletes:

“If you can improve your weight-to-power ratio, you’re going to have a benefit in cycling, running, and possibly in swimming as well.”

WADA is in an evaluation phase with the drug, begun in 2024. Rabin explained, “We are collecting information and looking at this. We’re going to analyze urine and blood samples and we’ll see, as we have for other substances, whether we observe a pattern of abuse.”

The story, by Elaine K. Howley, is thorough and offers a clear profile of what semaglutide does and does not do, as it known today. But the research is continuing.

● Alpine Skiing ● A mid-week Slalom in the men’s FIS World Cup, in Madonna di Campiglio (ITA), with Bulgaria’s Albert Popov, 27, claiming his first career World Cup gold and second career medal.

He was only eighth after the first run, but had the fastest second run in the field by 0.21 and passed everyone to win in 1:45.22. He was well clear of Swiss star Loic Meillard, second after the first run, but 10th-fastest on the second (1:45.66). Benjamin Ritchie was the fastest American, in eighth – coming from 22nd after run no. one – in 1:46.14.

● Athletics ● Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service has filed a charge of manslaughter against the UK Athletics governing body and 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships executive Keith Davies for the death of UAE thrower Abdullah Hayayei in 2017.

Hayayei had the metal protective discus cage fall on him during a training session at the Newham Leisure Centre in July 2017, in advance of the Paralympics Worlds in London. He died at the scene.

UK Athletics was charged with “corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence” and Davies, now 77, with “gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence.” Both are to appear in court on 31 January.

● Gymnastics ● As if the tale of the Paris Olympic women’s Floor Exercise bronze medal isn’t strange enough, here’s a new twist.

Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu, 18, handed the Olympic Floor bronze by the Court of Arbitration for Sport over American Jordan Chiles, is headed to compete in the U.S. NBC Sports reported that Barbosu announced a commitment to Stanford and could compete for the Cardinal next season (2025-26).

Chiles, 23, is continuing her collegiate career at UCLA and is a junior this season, and so could also be competing next season as well. Although both would be at California schools, UCLA is now in the Big Ten Conference and Stanford is in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

While Chiles was awarded the Floor bronze after the competition and Barbosu was declared the bronze winner by the Court of Arbitration, the matter has been appealed by multiple parties to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

● Ice Hockey ● Ice Hockey Australia returned the hosting of the IIHF men’s World Championship in Division II, scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand from 27 April to 3 May due to the participation of the Israeli team.

Ice Hockey Australia did not mention Israel in a statement about its decision:

“The decision was primarily made to ensure the safety and security of athletes, volunteers, spectators, and other participants.

“IHA does not shy away from making this decision with safety at the forefront. IHA is not in a position to comment on global issues outside the sport of ice hockey and did not intend for an internal email to be shared broadly.”

Israel qualified in Group A, with Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Serbia and the UAE.

IHA President Ryan O’Handley wrote in an internal message to his board:

“Anti-Israel protests and activities (in Melbourne) have escalated significantly since we were awarded the championship and there are now significant concerns regarding safety and security of the event.

“Victoria Police advised us that there was a high chance of an incident occurring during the championship due to the escalating anti-Israel sentiment in Melbourne.

“Our decision is based entirely on the fact that the safety and security of participants, the venue and precinct staff, and the general public cannot be assured to a reasonable level due to the current environment in Melbourne.”

However, a spokeswoman for the Victoria Police said, “We understand that people are concerned following this incident. However, there are currently no known or specific threats to any Victorian organisation, infrastructure or event and police encourage people to go about their daily business.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked about the situation and replied during a television interview:

“This is a decision made by Ice Hockey Australia. They’re not a body, I’ve got to say, I’m familiar with and it’s not a sport I’m familiar with, like most Australians. But we should be opposed, and are, as a country to any form of racism, but particularly to antisemitism.”

The IIHF will look to find a new host for the same dates; Group B is being played in New Zealand.

● Swimming ● Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu, now 35, announced her retirement from competitive swimming on her Instagram page, leaving as one of the star swimmers of the 21st Century:

“Now, as I look back on my career, I feel a sense of immense fulfillment. Medals and records are precious, but what remains most deeply is my undying love for swimming.”

A four-time Olympian, she won three Olympic golds in Rio, in the 100 m Backstroke and the 200 and 400 m Medleys, won nine World Championships golds from 2009-19 and 17 World short-course titles from 2012-18. Nicknamed “The Iron Lady” for her ability to swim seemingly endless events at a world-class pace, she won an astonishing seven individual events at the 2016 World 25 m Champs!

She set long-course world records in the 200 and 400 m Medleys, and her 200 m mark still stands. Hosszu also fought with the Hungarian federation, over its treatment of her and other athletes and was a fierce advocate of athlete rights.

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ANTI-DOPING: U.S. did not pay its ‘24 World Anti-Doping Agency dues, loses ExCom and Board seats; a threat to 2026 World Cup, LA28?

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

/Updated/The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said in a Wednesday statement:

“Today, it was announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has withheld its 2024 dues payment of $3.6M from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). USADA fully supports this decision by the White House ONDCP as the only right choice to protect athletes’ rights, accountability, and fair competition.

“Unfortunately, the current WADA leaders left the U.S. with no other option after failing to deliver on several very reasonable requests, such as an independent audit of WADA’s operations, to achieve the transparency and accountability needed to ensure WADA is fit for purpose to protect athletes.

“Since the exposure of WADA’s failed handling of the 23 Chinese swimmers’ positive tests that gave China and its athletes special treatment under the rules, many stakeholders from around the world, including athletes, governments, and National Anti-Doping Agencies, have sought answers, transparency, and accountability from WADA leadership.”

This is the latest inflammation in a continuing feud between the U.S. and WADA that dates back to the first Trump Administration, and seems to have no end in sight.

WADA confirmed to Agence France Presse in a statement:

“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that it did not receive the agreed contribution to WADA’s 2024 budget from the Government of the United States by the deadline of 31 December 2024.

“Under Article 6.6 of the WADA Statutes, Public Authority representatives from a country which has not paid its dues are ineligible to sit on the Foundation Board or the Executive Committee. Therefore, on 1 January of each year, any Foundation Board or Executive Committee member representing a country that has not paid its annual contribution for the previous year automatically loses their seat.”

The U.S. owes its agreed-on 2024 WADA dues of $3.625 million and did not pay by the end of 2024, primarily over the continuing tug-of-war over the January 2021 positives of 23 star Chinese swimmers, who received no provisional suspensions – as required by the World Anti-Doping Code – and were ruled by the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency to have ingested the prohibited heart medication Trimetazidine from contaminated food served to them at a hotel.

USADA chief executive Travis Tygart has been leading the charge against WADA, and has found allies in the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Congress, with a House sub-committee hearing held in June featuring swimming stars Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt.

But his statement noted that the issues with WADA go back further:

“The U.S. has been the highest government payor to WADA since WADA’s inception in 2000 and has been a staunch supporter of having an effective global anti-doping system to protect athletes competing at the highest levels. However, the authority to withhold payment to WADA was initially put in place under the first Trump Administration in conjunction with Congress when WADA’s ineffectiveness was exposed in the Russia state-sponsored doping scheme.

“As a result of WADA’s failure during this sad saga that ultimately saw Russia rob hundreds of athletes from the U.S. and other countries at the highest levels of competition, Congress passed the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which President Trump signed into law in 2020. Also, the Trump Administration and Congress granted ONDCP the authority to withhold payment from WADA in the event that it did not act in a fair, effective, and transparent manner.”

Tygart noted in his statement that the non-payment of dues will not impact U.S. athletes:

“The current non-payment of the 2024 dues to WADA will have no impact on U.S. athletes’ right to compete in the United States or around the world. The WADA statutes are crystal clear that the non-payment of voluntary dues does not affect athletes in any way even if the 2024 U.S. payment is never paid.

“The non-payment will have no impact on the current anti-doping program in the U.S. and USADA will continue to robustly implement its WADA Code program so that all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes’ rights are protected.”

However, that is only part of the story. WADA has sent the matter of prior USADA and Office of National Drug Control Policy issues to its Compliance Review Committee. If – and it’s a big if – WADA should hold the U.S. to be non-compliant, it would be subject to a series of sanctions which could include loss of flag and anthem at international competitions, and a ban on being able to hold regional or world championship events of International Federations which are bound to uphold the World Anti-Doping Code.

(Update: USADA chief Tygart explained in a later interview that this will not happen under current rules; click here for details.)

This is not a far-off scenario, but could have near-term consequences, as the U.S. will host five significant world championship events in the next year:

06-15 Mar. 2025: IBSF (bobsled and skeleton) World Championships in Lake Placid, New York

25-30 Mar. 2025: ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Massachusetts

14 Jun.-13 Jul. 2025: FIFA Club World Cup, in 11 U.S. cities

26-28 Sep. 2025: World Athletics Road Running Championships in San Diego, California

10 Jan. 2026: World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida

It is worth noting that FIFA itself is organizing the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Further down the road is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, also potentially impacted – although years away – by this issue, and the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

WADA’s next Executive Board meeting is scheduled to be held online, on 27 March 2025, which would be during the Figure Skating Worlds in Boston. But emergency meetings could be held at any time and a recommendation from the Compliance Committee could come anytime.

Observed: This is a mess and only getting worse. It may not get any better until the IOC Presidential Elections are held – also in March – and a new leader is identified.

In the Olympic Movement today, everything inevitably seems to come back to the IOC, which, incidentally, provides half of WADA’s annual budget.

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LANE ONE: Football and men’s basketball in line for 90+% of all NCAA revenue sharing if House settlement agreement confirmed

College sports now is all about football; here, the 2020 Rose Bowl Game (Photo: Wikipedia via Itsschneebly).

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≡ COLLEGE REVENUE SHARING ≡

College football is, by several measures, the no. 2 sport in the U.S. and the men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament – “March Madness” – is one of the most popular events in the country, with television rights sales in the billions of dollars.

And that’s where almost all of the money coming from the big sports universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big XII and Southeastern Conference are going to go. Athletes in the money-losing sports such as fencing, golf, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, track & field and wrestling will get next to nothing.

That’s the reality and it’s being talked about openly now. The House vs. NCAA class-action settlement could be approved in April and will bring with it a formula for schools to share revenue with its players. The Bradley law firm note on the case explained:

“[T]he preliminarily approved settlement establishes a 10-year revenue-sharing plan, allowing NCAA conferences and their member schools to share 22% of annual revenue with student-athletes.

“This revenue-sharing plan is permissive, not required. Most importantly, schools can also opt into an athlete pay model of sports revenue, which is capped at $22 million annually for each school (for all athletes in a given school’s athletic program, at the school’s discretion).

“This salary cap is the next step in moving college sports closer and closer to ‘pro-style’ sports, with schools under this model now having to choose where and how to distribute that $22 million figure. The revenue-sharing figure is expected to grow up to $32.9 million by the end of the 10-year revenue-sharing agreement.”

The next question is who gets the money, and the answer has been provided. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal interviewed Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt and Deputy Director Jonathan Botros in mid-December (Texas Tech is a Big XII school) concerning its projected $20.5 million revenue share:

“Hocutt and deputy AD Jonathan Botros said Tech will distribute about 74% to football players, 17-18% to men’s basketball, 2% to women’s basketball, 1.9% to baseball and smaller percentages to other sports. In dollar amounts, it’s about $15.1 million to football, $3.6 million to men’s basketball and less than $500,000 each to the other teams.”

The “other teams” among Tech’s 17 sports include men’s and women’s cross country and track & field, golf and tennis, and women-only teams in soccer, softball and volleyball. So, two sports will get about 92% and the other 15 – including women’s basketball and men’s baseball – will get 8%.

This is a Title IX lawsuit over discrimination between men’s and women’s programs waiting to happen, and lawyers are already looking into it.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, who has covered this area closely, spoke with the leadership at Ohio State, which has the most athletic revenue in the country at $279.5 million in 2023, about their distribution plans:

● OSU will offer 91 more scholarships than it does now and expects to maintain all 36 of its athletic teams. Of the 91, 58 will be targeted for women, in order to meet Title IX requirements.

● For revenue sharing, the plan is to “stratify” the sports into groups, “presumably tiering them based on their revenue generation as a way to determine for each the allocation of resources, including the portion of athlete-revenue distribution.”

● Athletic Director Ross Bjork said that the distribution would be “proportionally” based, with factors including a “male-female split” and a “market-based approach” using objective indicators such as attendance, viewership on television, social-media traffic and so on.

Dellenger wrote that “For schools offering the maximum $20.5 million of rev-share pool money, the formula means that football rosters would receive $13-16 million and men’s basketball rosters $2-4 million, according to estimates.” That doesn’t leave much.

And if that wasn’t already enough of a problem, Dellenger explained that the projected money for football … is not enough! A school-affiliated, athlete fund-raising collective executive told him:

“If you’re not spending close to $20 million all-in on your football roster, you’re not going to be in the top 20 of schools. That’s where we are trending.

“The trick is, what’s that [House settlement-created] regulatory body going to look like to justify the $7 million for your football roster?

Dellenger’s story goes on to explain that further fund-raising will be needed specifically to support football, creating valid – as opposed to the current name-image-likeness deals that are really “pay-for-play” payments – corporate and personal sponsorships and name-image-likeness deals that actually have some marketing value.

As much as $3-7 million a year for football alone is projected by some; Dellenger wrote that an SEC-school collective official told him, “We already do $2 million in real deals. We can maybe push it to $4 million.”

The Texas Tech mission statement reads:

“As a public research university, Texas Tech advances knowledge through innovative and creative teaching, research and scholarship. The university is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. The university is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation and world.”

The Ohio State University mission statement:

“The university is dedicated to:

“● Creating and discovering knowledge to improve the well-being of our local, state, regional, national and global communities;

“● Educating students through a comprehensive array of distinguished academic programs;

“● Preparing a diverse student body to be leaders and engaged citizens;

“● Fostering a culture of engagement and service.

“We understand that diversity and inclusion are essential components of our excellence.”

Neither speaks to fielding professional football or basketball teams, or athletic programs of any kind. We now have a tail wagging the dog, so to speak, at least at Texas Tech, where the university is spending $14.71 million to support athletics in institutional operating funds and debt service. Does that support its mission? Ohio State says its athletics program does not receive taxpayer funding.

What started as extra-curricular activities more than a century ago have now become, for football and men’s basketball, professional sports teams. This is a problem for the universities themselves, and only the universities themselves can solve it.

The Sports Examiner has shared its own solution, back in April, but the House vs. NCAA settlement – whose name plaintiff, Grant House, was an Arizona State swimmer – will only concentrate collegiate sport into football, basketball and some leftovers.

LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee Chair Casey Wasserman said in a December forum:

“You add $20 million of expense to the athletic department. What’s the first thing you cut? … Olympic sports, non-revenue sports. You cut the sports that cost money that don’t generate revenue.

“A lot of schools will hang in, not just in California, but in the country, until 2028, until the games are in L.A. And after that, you’re going to see a lot more schools have SEC numbers of teams than former Pac-12 numbers of teams. The days of 25 and 30 teams are over. So now you’re going to have 15 to 17.”

The NCAA’s statistical overview of sports sponsored on campuses shows that the average number of teams at Division I schools has increased only marginally since women’s sports were added in 1981-82: from an average of 17.5 to 19.1. That’s it. And in 1981-82, that was roughly 10 men’s teams and seven women’s teams. Today, it’s 8.5 men’s teams on average and 10.6 women’s teams. And with the House settlement, the numbers are going to go down.

This problem is a challenge not to athletes, coaches or athletic departments. The NCAA is, in reality, the university presidents, and they have to fix this. That assumes they want to; two more numbers to indicate how small an issue athletics may really be:

● Ohio State’s overall, fiscal 2025 budget includes $9.9 billion in spending.
● Texas Tech’s overall, fiscal 2025 budget includes $3.1 billion in spending.

Do school presidents really care about the cost of athletics? Only 46 schools had athletics costs of $100 million or more in 2023 and another 21 spent $50 million or more, all at billion-dollar, major universities.

Who cares is the issue and if the schools don’t, the President and the Congress might. And what happens then?

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Paris 2024 chief Estanguet nominated for IOC; “Jedi” Robinson is U.S. Soccer’s men’s Player of the Year

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet (FRA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● To the surprise of no one, the IOC Executive Board nominated Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet (FRA) for election to the organization as an independent, individual member.

Estanguet, 46, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in canoeing, headed the highly successful organizing committee and will enjoy an easy confirmation at the 144th IOC Session in Greece in March.

● Association of Summer Olympic International Federations ● ASOIF welcomed a new President on 1 January as Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) chief Ingmar De Vos (BEL) took over for Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti, the former head of the International Tennis Federation, who served for 12 years as ASOIF leader.

ASOIF also admitted as Associate Members, in the new Olympic cycle from 2025-28, federations representing the added sports for Los Angeles 2028: the International Cricket Council (ICC), the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), World Lacrosse and World Squash.

● Alpine Skiing ● Impressive support for young skiers from American World Cup veteran and Beijing 2022 Olympian River Radamus, 26, who announced Tuesday he will fund all U.S. U-16 skiers who qualify for the Federation of European Ski & Snowboard Associations FESA Alpine Ski Cup.

Six U.S. skiers can qualify, with an entry requirement of $3,000 each that Radamus will handle; he explained, “I’m trying to do my part to ensure the sport becomes less expensive as these athletes climb the ladder.”

Qualifying is from 5-10 January in Burke, Vermont and the FESA Alpine Ski Cup will be from 28 February to 10 March in France. Radamus’ support will come in coordination with his ARCO Foundation and the World Cup Dreams Foundation.

● Boxing ● USA Boxing posted a list of the top five gyms in the nation according to the most wins in USA Boxing National Tournaments. Did you guess two of the five are from Hawaii?

● 1. 76: WestSide Striking (Waianae, Hawaii)
● 2. 51: Real Deal Boxing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
● 3. 44: HR Boxing (Waianae, Hawaii)
● 4. 32: Team Cartel Elite Boxing (Toledo, Ohio)
● 5. 26 wins: Relentless Boxing Academy (Round Rock, Texas)

The win totals are a product, of course, of entries in specific tournaments, but are still an eye-opener. Hawaii? Wow.

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norway’s Andreas Kirkeng, competing for the University of Denver, won two events at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage, Alaska, that finished on Tuesday.

Kirkeng, the defending champ, finished a very close second in the first-day men’s 10 km race to John Steel Hagenbuch of Dartmouth, 21:23.4 to 21:24.2, then won the Classical Sprint race over defending champ Luke Jager, 2:55.49 to 2:55.93. Kirkeng then won the 20 km Mass Start in 50:47.5, with defending champion Hagenbuch second in 50:58.0 and Jager at 50:59.2.

Tuesday’s Freestyle 1.4 km Sprint was taken by Michael Earnhardt in 2:51.95, ahead of Walker Hall (Utah: 2:52.48).

There were four different women’s winners, with Kate Oldham taking the 10 km in 24:29.8 over Kendall Kramer (24:41.0), but Kramer came back to win the 20 km Mass Start in 58:17.2, beating Swede Erica Laven (58:19.6).

Laven, competing for the University of Utah, won the Classical 1.4 km Sprint in 3:25.03, well clear of Estonia’s Mariel Pulles (3:29.64). But Pulles won the second  (Freestyle) Sprint, on Tuesday, in 3:11.63 to 3:11.6 for Laven and 3:13.67 for Oldham.

● Football ● U.S. Soccer announced that defender Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, 27, as its 2024 men’s player of the year. A star back for Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League, he suited up for the U.S. in 11 matches – starting all 11 – and is the first defender to win since Oguchi Onyewu in 2006.

Robinson received a weighted total of 55% of the vote, ahead of nominees Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic and Tim Ream.

● Table Tennis ● After losing both Olympic champions – Chinese stars Zhendong Fan and Meng Chen – from the World Table Tennis tournament circuit to heavy participation rules, the International Table Tennis Federation created a task force “to gather feedback from players and review existing regulations.”

A five-member team, which includes Athletes Commission co-Chair Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND), will meet with athletes and coaches and hold a forum at the upcoming Singapore Smash beginning 30 January. Their report will come following the Singapore event, which closes on 9 February.

The current rules require top-10-ranked players to compete in the high-profile World Table Tennis events with only two events off; Fan and Chen preferred voluntary retirement after their Paris wins to what they considered a grueling schedule and fines of $5,000 per tournament missed.

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ATHLETICS: Kenya, India and Russia lead the 481-deep AIU ineligible list for worldwide track & field at the end of 2024

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≡ DOPING IN ATHLETICS ≡

The Athletics Integrity Unit is the independent arm of World Athletics which is charged with keeping the sport free from doping, manipulation and other ills, and has been busy with (mostly) doping sanctions over the past year.

It published its list of ineligible persons as of 31 December 2024 it runs to 29 pages of small type, in a spreadsheet format, listing 481 people from 75 national track & field federations who are temporary or permanently ineligible to compete in the sport.

There are some familiar countries at the top of the list, with 15 federations with 10 or more people excluded:

● 119: Kenya
● 108: India
● 73: Russia
● 26: China
● 20: Turkey

● 18: Italy
● 18: South Africa
● 17: Ukraine
● 16: United States
● 15: Morocco

● 14: Ethiopia
● 11: France
● 10: Belarus
● 10: Kuwait
● 10: Nigeria

World Athletics has 214 federations, so 139 had no one on the list!

But Kenya continues to be the leading offender and has had significant issues, requiring the AIU to warn Athletics Kenya of a possible suspension, leading to a government promise at the end of 2022 to provide $25 million U.S. in funding over five years for anti-doping programs.

But there were budget cuts in 2024, with Kenyan President William Ruto promising International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER) during an October visit that funding for ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya) work will be available.

But that has not stopped the AIU from continuing to suspend Kenyans. On Tuesday, Faith Chepchirchir was provisionally suspended on a charge of using the prohibited steroid Norandrosterone. Chepchirchir, 23, has a road 10 km best of 31:04 from 2023, which ranked her 34th in the world that year.

India is also a problem, at no. 2, and the AIU provisionally suspended Archana Jadhav, 29, a former national women’s 1,500 m champion, for using Oxandrolone.

And in comparison to the AIU ineligible list from two years earlier – 31 December 2022 – the numbers are way up for the two largest offenders:

Kenya: 119 as of 31 Dec. 2024 vs. 54 at 31 Dec. 2022 (+65)
India: 108 as of 31 Dec. 2024 vs. 65 at 31 Dec. 2022 (+43)

Russia, which had the most ineligibles – 92 – at 31 December 2022, is down to 73 as of the end of 2024.

The U.S. has two stars whose eligibility will be restored in 2025 and it will be fascinating to see if they return and how they perform.

Distance star Shelby Houlihan was banned for four years after testing positive for the steroid Nandrolone in December 2020. She appealed, but was suspended from 14 January 2021 and will be eligible once again on 14 January 2025. Now 31, she was a 2016 Olympian in the 5,000 m and a finalist in the 2017 Worlds at 5,000 m (11th) and 2019 Worlds at 1,500 m (fourth). She is still the American Record holder in the 1,500 m at 3:54.99 from 2019, and is no. 2 at 5,000 m (14:23.92 in 2020).

Randolph Ross, 24, won the NCAA men’s 400 m title in 2021 in a world-leading 43.85 and won an Olympic 4×400 m relay gold in Tokyo, but was suspended for three years as of 22 June 2022 for “whereabouts” failures. He will be eligible again as of 30 June 2025, and with the U.S. Nationals being held very late this year (31 July to 3 August), he could try for the World Championships team if he gets a qualifying mark.

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PANORAMA: Noah Lyles’ tribute to Ralph Mann; Johnny Gregorek retires; 31 years since the attack on Nancy Kerrigan

Noah Lyles (left) with the late Ralph Mann in 2024, from a Lyles’ YouTube video saluting Mann’s contribution to his success.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Deaflympics ● Sad news that Ralph Fernandez (USA), the chief executive of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) passed away suddenly at age 60 on Sunday (5th).

He was a Deaflympian himself in cycling, winning a silver in the 1,000 m Sprint in 1985. A tireless coach, he stayed involved with cycling for decades and was the ICSD technical director for road and mountain bike from 2010-17.

He designed the ICSD logo in 2004 and was the ICSD’s Information Technology Officer since 2011. He was the organization’s Sports Director beginning in 2023 and became the chief executive in 2024. He received the ICSD Medal of Honor, at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics.

● Athletics ● A touching video tribute from triple World Champion and Paris 2024 100 m gold medalist Noah Lyles on YouTube, to 1972 Olympic 400 m hurdles silver winner and sports performance guru Ralph Mann, who passed away at 75 on 2 January:

“An Olympian and former world Record holder But that’s not why I know him. I know Ralph because he is the crazy scientist that helped me and my coach turn me into the athlete I am today.

“He brought a new way of thinking to my starting blocks that help me to become a great 60m runner and 100m Olympic Champion. I will forever be grateful for the love and support he showed me and for sharing his craft I will forever remember you. RIP Ralph and THANK YOU”

Lyles included some videos of he and Mann working together in 2024, specifically on his start. Lyles plans to open his 2025 season on 2 February at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston.

Johnny Gregorek, a 3:34.35 1,500 m man (2023) and 3:49.98 indoor miler (2019), announced his retirement on Saturday at age 33. He made two U.S. World Championships teams in the 1,500 m, in 2017 (ninth) and 2022 (eighth in his semi). He won the Pan American Games silver in the 1,500 m in 2019. He finishes as no. 12 all-time in the indoor mile and no. 4 all-time U.S. indoor.

He’s the son of John Gregorek, a Georgetown star who made the U.S. Olympic in the Steeple in 1980, but did not compete in Moscow due to the U.S. boycott. He was a 1984 Olympian in the Steeple, but did not advance out of the heats, and did not make the 1988 team. He had bests of 3:35.3 and 3:51.34 – both from 1982 – and 8:18.45 for the Steeple, in 1984.

● Figure Skating ● Monday marked the 31st anniversary of the infamous attack on reigning U.S. figure skating champion Nancy Kerrigan, struck with a baton at Detroit’s Cobo Arena after she finished a practice session, on 6 January 1994.

Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, engaged by Jeff Gilooly, ex-husband of star skater Tonya Harding and Shawn Eckardt, in order to injure Kerrigan and remove her from the ongoing U.S. national championships and the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer (NOR),

While Harding, the 1991 national champion, won in Detroit, Kerrigan was not able to skate, but was named to the 1994 Olympic team anyway. Meanwhile, U.S. Figure Skating Association was convening a hearing panel over Harding’s conduct, but had run out of time vis-a-vis the Olympic women’s figure skating competitions, which began on 23 February.

To prevent any interference with her participation in Lillehammer, Harding filed suit in her home state of Oregon to restrain the U.S. Olympic Committee from holding a hearing to remove her from the Olympic team. Kerrigan won the Olympic silver and Harding finished eighth.

Eventually, Gilooly, Stant, Eckardt pled guilty to varying charges and Harding pled guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution, but avoided prison. She resigned from the U.S. Figure Skating Association and was eventually banned for life.

The U.S. Congress took note of the incident, including Harding’s suit in Oregon, and passed what became known as the “Tonya Harding Rule” in its 1998 amendments to the Amateur Sports Act of 1978:

“In any lawsuit relating to the resolution of a dispute involving the opportunity of an amateur athlete to participate in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the Pan American Games, a court shall not grant injunctive relief against the Corporation [USOC] within 21 days before the beginning of such games if the Corporation, after consultation with the chair of the Athletes’ Advisory Council, has provided a sworn statement in writing executed by an officer of the Corporation to such court that its constitution and bylaws cannot provide for the resolution of such dispute prior to the beginning of such games.”

● Gymnastics ● The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation Disciplinary Commission Panel imposed sanctions on four Azerbaijani coaches and officials, but suspended any ban on the Azerbaijan federation. Considering charges of athlete abuse, the panel responded to a 2020 complaint, which was followed by an investigation in 2023:

Former Rhythmic team coach Mariana Vasilieva was suspended for eight years from gymnastics activities (and for life as a coach) for “various mistreatments and physical abuse against athletes, including beating for weight gain; for requiring athletes to perform or train when they were not fit to do so, so as to put the gymnasts’ wellbeing and health at risk; for orally abusing and weight-shaming athletes; for withholding monies and/or rewards of athletes; for depriving and/or preventing athletes from having contact with their families and/or other private communication by depriving them of their mobile phone.”

Two others received sanctions for “hitting a gymnast with a phone” and “harassing a gymnast about her weight” and received suspended sentences of 2-3 years. The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation received a ban of six months, which was suspended for 12 months pending a review and upgrading of its safeguarding procedures, with a first report due by 31 March. A fine of CHF 30,000 was also imposed.

● Ski Jumping ● The final leg of the 73rd Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen (AUT) ended with a showdown between two Austrian stars, with 2015 champion Stefan Kraft in the lead.

And Kraft added to his lead by winning the first jump off the 142 m hill, scoring 154.8 points. Countryman Daniel Tschofenig – who won the second leg in Garmisch (GER) – got off a big jump in round two, scoring 159.0 points and putting him in the lead at 308.6 points, with Kraft getting the final jump.

But Kraft’s ending jump was impeded by a 10-delay due to high winds and then ranked only eighth in the round – 148.4 points – and left him third on the day (303.2), with teammate Jan Hoerl completing a sweep in second place (306.5).

All together, Tschofenig was crowned the Four Hills champion, at 1,194.4 points, barely ahead of Hoerl (1,1.93.0) and Ktaft, the 2015 winner (1,190.3). In fact, it was the first Austrian win since Kraft in 2015 and Austrians swept all four legs, something which has not happened since Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi won all four events in 2019. Austria last won all four events in 2012.

It took until the ninth event of the season in the women’s World Cup for someone other than Katharina Schmid (GER) or Nika Prevc (SLO) to win, but Austria’s Eva Pinkelnig came through on Monday’s jumping in Villach (AUT) in the 98 m hill for victory.

The 2023 Worlds runner-up, Pinkelnig, 36, picked up her 16th career World Cup gold by moving from second to first in the second round, scoring a combined 244.1 points. Second was Schmid, who was only seventh after round one, but was second to Pinkelnig in round two and took the silver at 237.0. Prevc led after the first round, but her fourth-place finish in the second round moved her down to third overall (236.7).

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