HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo cancellation would not implode most sports federations; Tokyo 2021 speculation reaches new lows; Diacks probe continues

February 1, 2021

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told the World Economic Forum via teleconference last Friday:

“We are holding the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. I am determined to achieve the games as a proof of human victory against the pandemic, a symbol of global solidarity and to give hope and courage around the world.”

Although only a small part of his 25-minute address, Suga’s comments are important, because as long as the Japanese government remains committed to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is almost sure that the events will happen.

International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates of Australia spoke in detail with Sky News Australia show host Chris Smith about the Tokyo Games last Thursday, explaining the approach to the preparations for the Tokyo Games in 2021:

“We spent the first three months identifying all of the scenarios, from the worst-case scenario of Covid continuing to be there and there won’t be a vaccine, and it’s on that basis that our planning is still taking place, because we’ve had a second wave of Covid as you know in winter.

“So, we’re planning on the basis that it will take place without a vaccine. We have planned something like 40-odd countermeasures and we’ll just decide which ones we need from our ‘tool kit’ as it were. We will be releasing next week a series of we call them, ‘playbooks’ – 20 pages – which say for the athletes on the Australian team, we’ll give them instruction on what is required from them before they go to the Games, to use that as an example.

“They must undertake testing – saliva and nose – within 72 hours of traveling to Tokyo, like we’ve now introduced in Australia for people coming here. They’ll be tested on arrival. Then they’ll be tested, if they continue to be negative, every four days.”

Coates noted there will be no quarantine required. “They will be limited just to the Olympic Village and the transport to their venue for competition and training. That’s it. No going downtown. We’ll have lockdown, virtually.”

On whether spectators will be admitted – domestic, foreign or both – Coates said the decision will taken in April or May, saying “we should leave those decisions as late as possible.”

“But if the very worst comes to the worst of course federations would suffer. Some budgets would have to go. But by and large federations would not declare themselves bankrupt.”

That’s from Andrew Ryan, Executive Director of the Association of summer Olympic international federations (ASOIF), in an interview with Reuters last Thursday (28th). Ryan noted that about half of the 28 summer Olympic federations took loans from the IOC, totaling about $40 million.

Said Ryan, “It is always thought that the international federations are all very dependent on the Olympic revenues. But if you took an average across all federations [other than FIFA] about 30 percent comes from the Olympic Games.

“The ones with the exposure are the bigger federations that burn a lot of money from their reserves. That is where the risk lies. If a total catastrophe happened there would be painful cuts to budgets and difficult choices to make. But I don’t think there are federations thinking ‘it is all over for us’ if it was not to happen.”

Ryan is being optimistic; check on our exclusive analysis of International Federation finances from May 2020 here.

Former Dentsu executive Haruyuki Takahashi, who controversially received $8.2 million to spend on lobbying during Tokyo’s bid campaign in 2013, then joined the executive committee of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and suggested last June that the Games should be further delayed after being postponed to 2021, has opened his mouth and stuck his foot in it again.

He told the Wall Street Journal last week that

“It’s up to the U.S. I hate to say it, but Thomas Bach and the IOC are not the ones who are able to make the decision about the Games. They don’t have that level of leadership.”

He called instead of U.S. President Joe Biden to make a positive statement. The International Olympic Committee replied with a statement:

“It is regrettable that Mr. Takahashi does not know the facts. First: It is USOPC that decides about the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic team. Second: USOPC has never left a doubt about their participation. Therefore, his comments are obsolete.”

No word about when Takahashi last had a drug test.

Japan’s Kyodo News Service posted a story on Saturday that the French judge reviewing allegations of vote-buying by the Tokyo has deemed the Japanese investigation that cleared former Japanese Olympic Committee head and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda “flawed.”

Takeda was questioned about a payment of about $2 million for bid lobbying paid to a company called Black Tidings, essentially a front for Papa Massata Diack (SEN), the son of then-IOC member and IAAF President Lamine Diack (SEN). The Japanese investigation cleared Takeda, but the story noted that

“In the eyes of the French investigators, their Japanese counterparts’ probe was unsatisfactory, with the preliminary judge quoted by the sources as telling Takeda that Japanese prosecutors ‘failed to question all the witnesses or seize documents’ that had been requested from the French side.”

Said Takeda in 2017, “It is true that I signed off the contract with Black Tidings as the final decision-maker, but I was not involved with the selection of all the consultants.”

The French probe into potential vote-buying on behalf of Tokyo in 2013, with the Diacks as the center of attention, is continuing.

FoxBusiness.com posted a story on Thursday from its “Cavuto: Coast to Coast” show that Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis “met with the International Olympic Committee” last Wednesday.

In the 4:27 interview with anchor Neil Cavuto, Patronis did not mention who he spoke with. No surprise there.

During his news conference last Wednesday, IOC chief Bach was asked about Patronis’s letter; he said he was unaware of it.

The IOC made a major commitment, announced last Wednesday, to sustainability, promising to “reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent, by 2030″ and by 30% by 2024.

This will not be done by eliminating or reducing its activities, but “[t]his will be mainly done through the Olympic Forest project, which is part of the Great Green Wall – an existing UN-backed initiative to combat desertification in Africa’s Sahel region. These offsets will make the IOC climate positive by 2024, meaning that it will be removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits.”

Whether this is real sustainability or simply trading theoretical “credits” can be discussed, but the IOC’s statement also included:

● “All upcoming Olympic Games, including Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, have committed to carbon neutrality.”

● “From 2030 onwards, each Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG) will be contractually obliged to:

– minimise and compensate its direct and indirect carbon emissions; and

– implement lasting zero-carbon solutions for the Olympic Games and beyond.”

This raises real questions for each upcoming Games organizing committee, in providing the correct experience to athletes, officials, staff members and attendees: Will the ubiquitous bottles of seated water or isotonic drinks available to athletes and staff at each venue be replaced with some kind of common dispenser and does this open the possibility of sabotage, especially regarding doping? Will all paper records, start lists and results be eliminated, and what happens if one or more electronic systems go down? What about concessions, or is food service at venues to eliminated? How about souvenirs, even something as simple as a list of entries, for spectators? Is such information to be unavailable to those without smartphones or other electronic devices? Does recycling count for carbon neutrality?

These are only some of the questions to be considered by Games organizers, especially for the more massive summer Games. The answers will very likely determine, in a significant way, what the future Games experience is like for everyone involved.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● Good news for WADA, as it announced new contributions from the governments of Cyprus, France, Greece and Poland of $195,501 for scientific research and investigations and intelligence activities.

The IOC will match, as it has promised, these contributions dollar-for-dollar, bringing the added funding to $391,000. The initiative to raise additional funds for research and investigations has attracted donations from China, Egypt, India and Saudi Arabia, with a total impact of $5.58 million.

A defamation suit brought by three retired Russian biathletes – Olga Zaitseva, Yana Romanova and Olga Vilukhina – against Russian doping whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov has been withdrawn from a New York court in view of changes in state law.

The Russian TASS news agency reported that the three women, who retired in 2017, had been banned for life by the IOC, but filed successful appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They sued Rodchenkov for defamation in 2018, but their efforts became much more difficult after New York’s 2020 changes to its expanded protections afforded (retroactively) to defendants in lawsuits brought based on the exercise of free speech rights, known as “anti-SLAPP” laws (SLAPP stands for “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation”).

Said Scott Balber, the U.S.-based attorney for the three plaintiffs, “To this end, we will continue to pursue all avenues open to us in European courts to defend the reputations of all three biathletes.” Rodchenkov, who is under U.S. protection, continues to wanted in Russia, which has unsuccessfully asked for his extradition.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) announced, in cooperation with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) his selections for the “Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics” last Wednesday (27th).

Wicker had already announced that Olympians Brittney Reese (track & field/long jump) and John Dane (sailing) would be appointed. His final two nominations were for former U.S. Olympic Committee President (and IOC member) Bill Hybl and Metro Denver Sports Commission founder Robert Cohen.

Hybl is currently the Chair of the U.S. Olympic Endowment, and was President of the United States Olympic Committee from 1991-92 and 1996-2000. He was a member of the IOC from 2000-02. His longtime experience with the Olympic Movement at the executive level brings a dimension lacking in the make-up of the Commission so far.

Cohen is the head of IMA Financial Group and was a founder of the Metro Denver Sports Commission. He currently serves on the United States Olympic Museum Board of Directors and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation.

This brings the total number of Commission nominees to 12, with only Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) remaining to appoint the final four members. According to the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, the Commission’s report is due at the end of July, but an extension of this date and funding for a staff are being arranged.

● Athletics ● The postponement of the Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021 created casualties. Those include the Weeks twins, now Lexi Jacobus and Tori Hoggard, both of whom were NCAA champions at Arkansas. At age 24, they both announced their retirements on Instagram on 8 January, and both will pursue careers in pharmacy.

Lexi cleared a lifetime best 4.70 m (15-5) to make the U.S. Olympic Team in 2016 and won for NCAA titles, while Tori was the 2019 NCAA champ, with a best of 4.61 m indoors (15-1 1/2).

Wrote Hoggard, “After much thought and prayer, I have decided to retire and switch my focus to my professional career in pharmacy. For those of you who don’t know, I took a year off after I graduated from the U of A to commit wholeheartedly on training for the Olympics … The Olympics were postponed a year, but I decided to start my 4-year pharmacy program and train simultaneously. …

“This last year has proven that it is impossible to commit 100% to both school and training. I found myself physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. … While it was an extremely difficult decision to make, I am confident I am making the right one.”

Said Jacobus, “I think I am ready to close this chapter and wholeheartedly open the next
one. The decision was not an easy one, but it is the best decision for me in this point in my life.”

● Football ● Japan withdrew from the 18-24 February SheBelieves Cup tournament to be played in Orlando, Florida due to concerns over the coronavirus. Argentina was quickly named as the replacement team and will face Brazil in the opening game.

The U.S. and Canada are the other teams in the tournament.

● Weightlifting ● IOC chief Bach said during his news conference last week:

“With regard to the International Weightlifting Federation, there, our – again – great concerns are about the apparent weakening of their anti-doping rules and about also other governance issues. But concentrating on the anti-doping rules, we had to note that obviously, IWF wants to change the anti-doping rules which were the basis for the approval of the IOC for their qualification system [for Tokyo]. This is really something upsetting, and even more so that all this happened without any consultation with the IOC.”

The IWF replied in a posting on Friday (29th), which included:

“The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) notes with deep concern the recent news that raised serious concerns about an apparent weakening of the anti-doping rules by the IWF seeking to change these rules approved by the IOC as part of its qualification system for Tokyo 2020 with the qualifications already in place and without any consultation with the IOC.

“Faced with these public considerations, the IWF is obliged to make some clarifications. The IWF categorically denies any action that violates the standards set by the IOC.”

In fact, the 2021 edition of the IWF’s anti-doping rules do contain a couple of important changes, especially in the penalties section:

● Sec. 12.5 of the 2018 rules list specific sanctions for three or more doping violations by a member national federation in a calendar year, from three up to nine. The 2021 rules, in sec. 12.3, changed this to four violations within any 12-month period and lowered the highest fine amount from $500,000 to $300,000.

● Sec. 12.7 of the 2018 rules, which allowed almost unlimited penalties for “conduct connected or associated with doping or anti-doping rule violations [that] brings the sport of weightlifting into disrepute,” was eliminated.

Also on Friday, the European Weightlifting Federation posted a statement heavily criticizing the IWF, including:

“We have also noticed that the IWF Executive board has changes the anti-doping rules and made them weaker, in a way that most probably will make it easier to nations with a doping problem to avoid reactions. The changes are in our opinion a direct neglection of the demands from the IOC to work even harder to defeat doping. This neglection is totally unacceptable and we are shocked that the IWF Executive board does not understand this.

“We are really afraid that the demonstration of lack of understanding within the IWF executive board will be a disastrous message to the world. …

“The entire board should resign, and an interim executive board, should be put in charge until a new executive board are elected.”

Weightlifting’s future is in peril.

● At the BuZZer ● Best Tweet of the week has to go to Chad Gunnelson, coach at the University of Dubuque in Iowa. Over a photograph of U.S. President Joe Biden signing executive orders, @CoachGunny wrote:

“BREAKING NEWS – President Joe Biden signs executive order stating field events must have equal air time on all track and field broadcasts.”

Plenty of replies, some of which were just as clever:

● “Hoping there’s also a clause to report English measurements along w metric in all field event results. *especially US college results.”

● “Also, in that Executive Order, I think, it, also, stated that each lap of the 10,000m, Steeple Chase, and 5,000m are to be aired.”

There were also some replies appeared to take Gunnelson’s original Tweet seriously! Nooo…

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For our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: Crouser wins again at 74-4 1/4; Bowe ices two World Cup titles, Denmark defends World Handball title

Rich Perelman

January 31, 2021

tsx pix 2019-726 crouser, ryan pre 750 — Shot put superstar Ryan Crouser (USA)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● With just a couple of weeks to go to the 2021 World Championships in Italy, the Slalom specialists warmed up with two very competitive races at Chamonix (FRA).

Saturday’s race was a showcase for home favorite Clement Noel, who had the third-fastest first run and then fell all the way back to 15th on the second run. But even that was enough to give him the win and all of the leaders faltered. His combined time of 1:38.58 was 0.16 seconds better than Swiss Ramon Zenhaeusern (1:38.74), who was second on the first run and 22nd on the final, and Austria’s Marco Schwarz (1:38.77), who was fastest and then 24th.

Things were just as confused on Sunday, as Norwegian veteran Henrik Kristoffersen led after the first run and then fell back “only” to sixth and held on for the win in 1:37.81. Zenhaeusern moved up from 11th after the first run and had the second-fastest second run to finish second in 1:38.09. Swiss Sandro Simonet went from 30th to third by having the fastest second run in the field.

The women’s tour was in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) for two Super-G races, with 2016 World Cup overall winner Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) looking very much like a possible champion once again with her third victory of the season.

Her 1:15.70 run was enough to hold off Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR: 1:16.38) and Canadian Marie-Michele Gagnon (1:16.63) for the second win in the last three races in the circuit. The second Super-G, scheduled for Sunday, was postponed to Monday due to heavy fog on the race course.

● Athletics ● The second American Track League meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas was held on Sunday, with Ryan Crouser again scaring the world indoor shot record and re-writing the all-time list.

After his 22.82 m (74-10 1/2) indoor world record last year, Crouser opened with 21.40 m (70- 1/2), a distance no one reached on the day. He then exploded to 22.66 m (74-4 1/4), the equal-third-best throw in history and what proved to be the winning toss.

He wasn’t done, with throws of 22.19 m (72-9 3/4), 22.26 m (73-0 1/2), 22.65 m (74-3 3/4 ~ no. 5 ever) and 22.43 m (73-7 1/4 ~ no. 10 ever). The all-time indoor list (! = secondary throws in series):

22.82 m Ryan Crouser (USA) ‘21 (74-10 1/2) ~ 24 January
22.70 m Crouser! ‘21 (74-5 3/4) ~ 24 January
22.66 m Randy Barnes (USA) ‘89 (74-4 1/4)
22.66 m Crouser ‘21 (74-4 1/4) ~ 31 January
22.65 m Crouser! ‘21 (74-3 3/4) ~ 31 January
22.60 m Crouser ‘20 (74-1 3/4)
22.58 m Crouser ‘20 (74-1) ~ 5 December
22.55 m Ulf Timmermann (GDR) ‘89 (73-11 3/4)
22.48 m Crouser! ‘21 (73-9) ~ 24 January
22.43 m Crouser! ‘21 (73-7 1/4) ~ 31 January
22.40 m Adam Nelson (USA) ‘08 (73-6)
22.33 m Crouser ‘19 (73-3 1/4)

Said Crouser afterwards:

“I was actually really happy with today. I came back after the big throw last week, and that’s difficult to do, coming off a big throw. It’s really easy – when you know there’s more there – to force it, and I threw a really consistent series, all but one over 22, with a couple throws in the 22.60s.

“Consistency-wise, this week was better. I didn’t feel quite as good, I would say, as I had hoped; the first meet of the year kind of took a little bit out of me, so I’m excited to see where I can go from here. I had the energy last week and had the execution today, so we’re off next weekend, be back in two weeks and hopefully we can put those together.”

There were other highlights and four world leaders:

● American Bryce Hoppel confirmed his world-class status and breezed to a win in the 800 m in 1:44.37, making him the no. 6 performer in history and no. 2 all-time U.S. Wow!

● Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the women’s 200 m impressively in 22.40, now equal-9th fastest ever.

● Heather MacLean of the U.S. scored a world lead in the women’s mile in 4:27.54.

● American vault star Sandi Morris claimed the women’s world lead in the vault, clearing 4.81 m (15-9 3/4) on her first try, then trying 4.96 m (16-3 1/4), but missing three times.

The World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meet in Karlsruhe (GER) on Friday (29th) saw nine world-leading marks, the most impressive of which was France’s Renaud Lavillenie with a 5.95 m (19-6 1/4) clearance in the vault. Americans Matt Ludwig (5.80 m/19-0 1/4) and Cole Walsh (5.72 m/18-9 1/4) were second and third.

Elliot Giles (GBR) won the men’s 800 m in 1:45.5 (hand time) and Juan Miguel Echevarria (CUB) won the long jump at 8.18 m (26-10). Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith won the 60 m in 7.08, and Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech won the 3,000 m in 8:41.98.

Vienna (AUT) was the scene of a good meet on Saturday, with notable women’s world leads in the 400 m by Femke Bol (NED: 50.96) and in the 800 m, by 18-year-old Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) in 1:59.03, a world U-20 indoor record.

Lavillenie extended his world lead in the vault on Sunday, cleaning 6.02 m (19-9) at a smaller meet in Tourcoing (FRA). In Dusseldorf (GER), world-record holder Mondo Duplantis won at 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) and then missed on one try at a new world mark of 6.19 m (20-3 3/4).

● Badminton ● The 2020 BWF World Tour Finals was finally held – a little late – in Bangkok (THA) over the weekend, with $1.5 million in prize money at stake. But it was worth waiting for. It looked for a while like the results would follow those of the two prior World Tour events in Thailand, but not everyone was in on the plan.

The men’s all-Denmark final pitted Viktor Axelsen – on a 29-match win streak – against Anders Antonsen, but it was Antonsen who persevered to a 21-16, 5-21, 21-17 victory that the winner said even surprised him! Same in the women’s final, where Rio Olympic champ Carolina Marin (ESP) had won two straight finals matches against no. 1-ranked Tzu Ying Tai (TPE), but Tai fought back from a first-set loss to win, 14-21, 21-8, 21-19.

Recent form held in the Doubles matches, as Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang (TPE) won their third straight title, this time over Indonesian stars Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, 21-17, 23-21. The all-Korean women’s final saw So-Hee Lee and Seung Chang Shin flip the script on the Toyota Thailand Open winners, So-Yeong Kim and Hee-Yong Kong, by 15-21, 26-24, 21-19.

Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapirsee Taerattanachai also won for the third straight tournament, defeating Seung-Jae Seo and YuJung Chae (KOR) for the second straight week by 21-18, 8-21, 21-8.

The Singles winners took home $120,000 in prize money to $60,000 for the losing finalists. The Doubles winners got $126,000 to $60,000 for the losing finalists.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The 2020-21 IBSF World Cup series concluded on Sunday in Innsbruck (AUT), with seasonal champions crowned in five disciplines.

To the surprise of no one, the two-man race was won by seasonal (and Olympic) champ Francesco Friedrich of Germany, who won for the 11th time in 12 races this season (he was second in the other). This time, with Alexander Schueller as brakeman, he won with 1:43.08, easily ahead of Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis (LAT: 1:43.80) and Russians Rostislav Gaitiukevich (1:43.90). On the season, Friedrich overwhelmed the field with 2,685 points to 2,453 for countryman Johannes Lochner (GER), with Dominik Dvorak (CZE: 1,880), to win his fourth career World Cup title.

Friedrich won his third 4-man World Cup title and completed a perfect season with a tight, 1:42.08-1:42.30 win over Austria’s Benjamin Maier, who won medals in all four events this season. Canada’s Justin Kripps was third (1:42.47) and won medals in three of the four events. For the season, Friedrich piled up a perfect 900 points, ahead of Maier (830) and Kripps (794).

The U.S. broke through in the final two-women race of the season for a 1-2 finish, with Kaillie Humphries and Lolo Jones combining to win in 1:47.07, followed closely – by 0.04 – by Elana Meyers Taylor and Lake Kwaza (1:47.11). Austria’s Katrin Beierl and Jennifer Onasanya finished third (1:47.13), but became the first Austrian winners of the seasonal World Cup title! Beirel piled up 1,506 points to finish ahead of Kim Kalicki (GER: 1,431) and Olympic champ Mariama Jamanka (GER: 1,363).

The women’s Monobob will make its Olympic debut in 2022, and continued its World Cup racing with a second seasonal win for Australia’s Breeana Walker, who won in 1:50.84, ahead of American Meyers Taylor (1:51.07) and Melissa Lotholz (CAN: 1:51.22). Three more races remain on the season.

In Skeleton, Russia’s Alexander Tretiakov won for the third time this season at 1:45.59, 0.23 ahead of Britain’s Craig Thompson (1:45.82: first medal of the season) and Samuel Maier (AUT: 1:45.86, first medal of the season). The amazing Martins Dukurs (LAT), now 36, won his 10th career World Cup title with 1,456 points, ahead of Alexander Gassner (GER: 1,396) and older brother Tomass Dukurs (LAT: 1,226) in third.

Russian Elena Nikitina won the women’s Skeleton competition over seasonal winner Janine Flock (AUT) by 1:47.73-1:48.12, with Kimberley Bos (NED: 1:48.37). Flock had three wins and medals in all eight events on the season; her 1,695 points was well ahead of Tina Hermann (GER: 1,515) and Bos (1,326).

● Football ● /Updated/The U.S. Men’s National Team opens its 2021 campaign vs. Trinidad & Tobago at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday evening, cruising to a 4-0 lead at half and a 7-0 final.

The U.S. squad, using solely Major League Soccer players, took control immediately with first career National Team goals for Jonathan Lewis in the second minute and Jesus Ferreira in the ninth minute. Paul Arriola scored in the 22nd minute and then again in the 41st minute. Ferreira scored once and assisted on the three others. The U.S. had 77% of the possession and a 12-0 advantage on shots in the half.

The second half was more of the same. Miles Robinson scored his first career National Team goal with diving header in the 52nd minute. Lewis got a second goal with a right-footed rocket in the 55th minute, and Ferreira got his second in the 62nd minute. The U.S. finished with 72% of the possession and 19-2 on shots.

With the win, the U.S. is 20-3-4 all-time against Trinidad and Tobago and 15-0-1 in games on U.S. soil.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The FIS Freestyle World Cup tour was in Raubichi (BLR, near Minsk) for the fifth stop out of seven on the Aerials circuit, but with the same result in the men’s competition: a win for Russian Maxim Burov.

Burov scored 126.24 to best teammate Stanislav Nikitin (124.43) with Canadian Lewis Irving (118.14) third. American Christopher Lillis finished sixth.

The women’s Aerials was a 1-2 finish for the U.S., with Megan Nick (89.88) taking her second career World Cup victory, beating Australian Laura Peel (AUS: 89.04) and Winter Vinecki third (88.12). There are two more Aerials events remaining on the season.

The eighth of 11 Ski Cross events was slated to be in Feldberg (GER) on Sunday, but was cancelled.

● Handball ● For the 26th time in 27 editions of the IHF men’s World Championship – beginning in 1938 – there was an all-Europe final, with Denmark defending its world title via a tight, 26-24 victory in Cairo (EGY).

The Swedes were in the final for the first time since 2001, emerging from a 3-0-2 record in the first two stages. They crushed Qatar, 35-23, in the quarterfinals, and then defeated France, 32-26 in the semifinals, thanks to 11 goals from Hampus Wanne.

The Danes breezed through the group and main stages at 5-0, scoring 169 goals and giving up 116 (+53). They barely got by host Egypt in the quarterfinals, winning by 39-38 in extra time, with Mikkel Hansen scoring a team-high 10 goals. Things were almost as tight in the semis against Spain, a 35-33 win as Hansen had 12 goals to lead all scorers.

In the final, the teams were tied at 13-13 at halftime, and 20-20 with 17 minutes to go. But Jacob Holm scored three goals in four minutes to give the Danes a 23-20 lead that they never relinquished. Hansen led the winners with seven goals, followed by Nikolaj Nielsen with five and Holm with four. Wanne led Sweden with five scores.

Hansen was named Most Valuable Player, for the fourth time in his career, also in 2011-15-18. He scored 48 goals in seven games and had 26 assists. The All-Star team included wings Wanne and Spain’s Ferran Sole Sala, backs Hansen, Jim Gottfridsson (SWE) and Mathias Gidsel (DEN), with Ludovic Fabregas (FRA) as line and Andreas Palicka (SWE) as keeper.

Spain won the bronze medal with a 35-29 win over France in the third-place match.

Denmark’s two straight World Cup wins follows France’s two straight titles in 2015 and 2017; Romania (twice) and Sweden have also won back-to-back titles.

● Luge ● The 50th FIL World Championships was in Koenigssee (GER) this weekend, with Germany dominating as expected.

There was a huge upset in the men’s Singles, with Roman Repilov of the “Russian Luge Federation” – courtesy of the Court of Arbitration for Sport – winning his third Worlds gold by 0.62 seconds over favorite Felix Loch (GER), the six-time Singles champion, 1:37.810-1:37.872. Austria’s David Gleirscher was third (1:38.027). Olympic silver winner Chris Mazdzer (1:38.682) was 10th and the top American.

The men’s Sprint saw another upset, with 23-year-old Nico Gleirscher (AUT) – the younger brother of 26-year-old David Gleirscher – winning his first World Championships medal – a gold – in 38.375 seconds. That was just 0.041 seconds better than Russian Semen Pavlichenko (38.416) with David Gleirscher third (38.417). Tucker West was the top American in 12th (39.031).

German pairs won four of the six medals in Doubles. Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won their third straight and fourth overall Worlds title, ahead of countrymen Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, 1:39.931-1:40.086, with Latvia’s Andris and Juris Sics third (1:40.591). The U.S. pair of Mazdzer and Jayson Terdiman was 16th (1:41.816).

Wendl and Arlt came back to win the Doubles Sprint in 39.126, just ahead of Sics and Sics (39.140) and Eggert and Benecken (39.161). For Wendl and Arlt, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Doubles gold medalists, this was their third Worlds Sprint title and sixth Worlds Doubles golds of all types.

The women’s races belonged to Germany, which swept all six medals in the two distances. Julia Taubitz won both the standard race and the Sprint for her first two Worlds golds in individual events. Taubitz timed 1:41.132 in the standard distance to win over four-time World champ Natalie Geisenberger (1:41.447) and Dajana Eitberger (1:41.604). Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney of the U.S. finished sixth and seventh.

The women’s Sprint saw Taubitz win in 39.101, ahead of Anna Berreiter (39.112) and Eitberger (39.300); Britcher was seventh.

Austria won the Team Relay (2:43.139) over Germany (2:43.177) and Latvia (2:43.571).

● Nordic Skiing ● An American skier hasn’t won the Cross Country World Cup title since the legendary Bill Koch did it back in the 1981-82 season. But it might happen again.

A full schedule was on tap in Falun (SWE), with the amazing Jessie Diggins of the U.S. claiming her fourth win of the season in the 10 km Freestyle race (23:35.9), winning by 2.1 seconds over seven-time World Champion Therese Johaug (NOR), with Swede Ebba Andersson third. American Rosie Brennan was eighth.

Sweden’s Linn Svahn, best known as a sprinter, won the 10 km Classical Mass Start race in 25:57.1, ahead of Yulia Stupak (RUS: 25:57.6) and Johaug (25:58.0), with Diggins seventh (26:05.4). Svahn came back on Sunday to take the Classical Sprint over Anamarija Lampic (SLO) and Swedish teammate Jonna Sundling.

Diggins now has a 1,174-904 lead over Stupak in the seasonal standings, after 22 of 32 races.

The men’s racing saw the accustomed results as seasonal leader Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) won the 15 km Freestyle and 15 km Classical Mass Start, with Norwegians taking the other medals. Simen Hegstad Kruger was runner-up in the 15 km race, ahead of teammate Sjur Rothe, while Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo led Pal Golberg in second and third in a blanket finish in the Mass Start race, both just 0.4 behind.

This was Bolshunov’s first appearance after he slashed and then slammed into Finnish anchor Joni Maki at the finish of the 4×7.5 km relay in Lahti (FIN) the week prior, sending Maki to the ground. Bolshunov’s team was disqualified and two criminal reports were filed against the Russian star to local police.

Klaebo, a two-time World Cup overall champ, came back to win the Classical Sprint over Oskar Svensson (SWE) and teammate Havard Taugbol.

The Nordic Combined World Cup tour was in Seefeld (AUT) for the annual “Seefeld Triple,” with jumping off of the 109 m hill and racing at 5 km, 10 km and 15 km. And it might have been the season-decider for Norway’s defending World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Riiber, who won all three!

Riiber won the 15 km and 10 km races over former World Cup champ Akito Watabe of Japan, with Vinzenz Geiger (GER) and Ilkka Herola (FIN) third and third. The first race was a photo finish as Riiber and Watabe were both timed in 11:32.2., but Riiber won by 33.3 on Saturday. On Sunday, Riiber’s win was over Herola, with Watabe third, by just 1.3 and 3.2 seconds. On the season, Riiber leads Geiger by 940-554 with Watabe third (540).

The men’s Ski Jumping tour was in Willingen (GER) for the annual “Willingen Six,” which ended up being shortened to just three events due to the weather. The actual World Cup jumps were on the weekend, with this season’s star, Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud, winning both to extend his seasonal lead to 1,206-888 over German Markus Eisenbichler. Norway’s Daniel Andre Tande was second on Saturday’s jumping off the 147 m hill, followed by Poland’s Kamil Stoch. On Sunday, Pole Piotr Zyla claimed the silver and Eisenbichler the bronze.

The women’s jumpers were back in action in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) off a 142 m hill, with Austria’s Marita Kramer winning both events, first over Silje Opseth (NOR) and Ema Klinec (SLO) on Saturday and then Sara Takanashi (JPN) and Opseth on Sunday.

● Shooting ● After a long layoff, the ISSF Grand Prix circuit has started up again, this time in Rabat (MAR), with competition continuing through this week. The Skeet finals were held on Sunday, with Rashid Hamad (QAT) winning over Saif Bin Futais (UAE) in the men’s final by 54-52 in the final round.

The women’s title went to Russian Alina Fazylzyanova, who out-scored teammate Zilia Batyrshina, also by 54-52.

● Snowboard ● The FIS Snowboard World Cup was in Moscow (RUS) for Parallel Slalom racing for men and women and happy results for the home team.

Dmitriy Karlagachev won the men’s race over Zan Kosir (SLO) and Edwin Coratti (ITA) for his first career World Cup medal and first win. The women’s race was taken by Austrian Daniela Ulbing for her first medal of the season, but with seasonal leader Sofia Nadryrshina (RUS) second and Ramona Theresa Hofmeister (GER) third.

● Speed Skating ● The second and final ISU World Cup of the season was again in Heerenveen (NED) in a sequestered format to protect against the coronavirus. But that did not stop American Brittany Bowe from racking up more wins … and two more seasonal titles.

After winning the 1,000 m and 1,500 m last week, Bowe clinched the seasonal title at 1,500 m on Saturday. “The time doesn’t lie,” she said, “I could tell I pushed myself harder than last week, Antoinette [de Jong] going before me. She had an awesome 300 m first split and all three of the splits I saw of her were faster than I did last week, so I knew I had to put the paddle down and go for it.”

Bowe finished in 1:53.455 to give her the season sweep, finishing ahead of Dutch star de Jong (1:53.813) and the legendary Ireen Wust (NED: 1:54.228). The win was the 29th World Cup title of Bowe’s career.

She followed up with a second straight win (and a seasonal title) in the 1,000 m on Sunday, winning in 1:13.960 over Russia’s Angelina Golikova (1:14.054) and Dutch sprint star Femke Kok (1:14.475). Bowe’s perfect score of 120 out-paced Jorien ten Mors (NED: 97) and Kok (96).

In the 500 m sprint, Kok completed a perfect season with wins in the third and fourth World Cup races. She won on Saturday in 37.233, from Golikova (37.290) and Vanessa Herzog (AUT: 37.409), with Bowe 10th in 38.031. On Sunday, Kok won in 37.333, with Russians Golikova and Daria Kachanova going 2-3 in 37.372 and 37.637. Kok finished at 240 points, with Golikova second (216) and Olga Fatkulina (RUS) third with 177.

Russian Natalia Voronina won the 3,000 m in 3:56.853 from de Jong (3:58.908) and Irene Schouten (NED: 4:00.153). Schouten won the season’s series at 108, with de Jong second but also at 108 and Voronina at 94.

Schouten won all three of the women’s Mass Start races for a perfect total of 300, trailed by Canadian Ivanie Blondin (270) and Russian Elizaveta Golubeva (236). They were 1-2-3 in Saturday’s seasonal finale, with Schouten winning at the line by 8:21.750-8:21.770-8:22.030.

In the men’s racing, the 500 m sprints were won by Pavel Kulizhnikov (RUS: 34.475) on Saturday and Ronald Mulder (NED: 34.555) on Sunday. The seasonal winner, however, was Dutchman Dai Dai N’tab, who scored a total of 200 points, ahead of Canada’s Laurent Debreuil (182) and Mulder (180).

The men’s 1,000 was won by Kai Verbij (NED: 1:07.355), ahead of teammate Thomas Krol (NED: 1:07.581) and that was enough to give Verbij the seasonal crown although he and Krol both scored 114 points. The Dutch swept the seasonal honors with Hein Otterspeer third (83 points).

Dutch star Krol also swept both week’s races the 1,500 m in the men’s division, winning this time in 1:43.428 to 1:44.222 and 1:44.759 for teammates Kjeld Nuis and Patrick Roest. Krol (120 points), Nuis (102) and Roest (102) finished as the top three for the season.

Roest won the 5,000 m in 6:05.959, well ahead of Nils van der Poel (SWE: 6:08.393) to give him a sweep of the two races this season and the World Cup title. Dutch legend Sven Kramer was second (97 points) with Russian Sergey Trofimov (96) third.

In the Mass Start races, Belgium’s Bart Swings won the men’s seasonal title with 302 points, ahead of Livio Wenger (SUI: 280) and Jorrit Bergsma (NED: 270), with Americans Joey Mantia seventh (228) and Ian Quinn in ninth (213). Bergsma won the double-points finale on Saturday in 7:43.470, ahead of Swings (7:45.080) and Wenger (7:45.210), with Mantia fourth (7:45.260).

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THE TICKER: ASOIF chief calls for “spartan games” in Tokyo! Rule 50 recommendations coming to IOC in April; Biathlon report rips former chief Besseberg

Rich Perelman

January 28, 2021

tsx pix 2020-723 tokyo one year to go 750 — The Olympic Flame inside the new Olympic Stadium in Tokyo (Photo: Tokyo 2020)

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Way back in 1977, Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games chair John Argue wrote that the Los Angeles bid for the 1984 Games had to take into account the $1 billion-plus loss suffered by the Montreal Games in 1976.

Argue wrote in the introduction of the Los Angeles responses to questionnaires from the International Federations: “Arrangements are to be spartan.”

After the enormous financial, logistical and aesthetic success of the ‘84 Games and the succeeding explosion in the size and cost of the Olympic Games since, no one ever thought those words would be spoken again.

Wrong.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Francesco Ricci Bitti, the Italian head of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) said:

“At the moment, we’re positive that the games will be held.

“They will be different games. But we, the federations, are open to accepting these changes. They will be spartan games, with all of the usual services reduced.

“There will be all the counter measures which we are studying sport by sport. We need to be ready to have games that won’t be COVID-free.

“That’s the situation at the moment. All of the negative things are speculation right now. In Olympic circles we are very positive. We strongly want these games.”

The moral: No matter the subject, never say never, because truth is stranger than fiction. Argue, who passed at age 70 in 2002, is smiling.

In addition to all the coronavirus questions, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach also commented during Wednesday’s news conference on the status of the ongoing review of the “no protests allowed” section of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.

“We have been informed today in the Executive Board by the Chairwoman of the Athletes’ Commission, Kirsty Coventry [ZIM], about the progress in their study with the athletes worldwide. You know, they did this in two steps: there was a qualitative part and then the quantitative part, and this quantitative part is being constructed based on the advice of independent experts who know about how to organize these kind of inquiries and consultations.

“There was a great, as we have heard, international participation from around more than 3,000, if not 3,500 athletes from all across the globe, across all the Olympic sports. And now these answers will be evaluated by, and with these independent experts; they will then present the results of this evaluation to the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Then, based on these findings, the Athletes’ Commission will come with recommendations and proposals to the IOC Executive Board, mostly in April with regard to this Rule 50 discussion.”

● Athletics ● The 2015 World Champion in the 110 m Hurdles, Russian Sergey Shubenkov was alleged to have tested positive for a prohibited substance in a post on the News.ru Web site which was quickly repeated on social media.

Shubenkov, 30, refuted the charge on his Instagram account, stating:

“All information that I took furosemide, which was discovered in a [doping] sample, is brazen defamation invented by an unknown ‘source’. It never happened. Meanwhile, news feeds rushed to ardently repost this fake news without checking where it came from.

“Indeed, I received a letter from the [Athletics Integrity Unit]. It was not about furosemide at all; I cannot disclose the details of this confidential letter due to legal concerns. I will only emphasize that I am not subjected to any restrictions and train as normal.”

The AIU’s Twitter feed has not mentioned Shubenkov at all.

● Biathlon ● A long-awaited report on possible pro-doping activities by former President Anders Besseberg (NOR) and Secretary General Nicole Resch (GER) of the International Biathlon Union was published on Thursday.

The report of the External Review Commission “concluded that both Mr Besseberg and Ms Resch have cases to answer for breach of the IBU’s rules, based on their apparent protection of Russian interests, particularly in the anti-doping context, without good justification.”

The publicly-posted version of the report is clear:

“This final report of the independent IBU External Review Commission (the Commission)
identifies what the Commission considers to be evidence of systematic corrupt and
unethical conduct at the very top of the IBU for a decade (2008 to 2018) and more, by a
president (Anders Besseberg, IBU President 1993 to 2018) who appears, in the view of
the Commission, to have had no regard for ethical values and no real interest in protecting
the sport from cheating. Enabled by a complete lack of basic governance safeguards that
left integrity decisions in the sole hands of the President and his allies on the IBU Executive Board, with no checks and balances, no transparency, and no accountability
whatsoever to keep them honest, Mr Besseberg’s proclaimed commitment to clean sport
was, in the Commission’s view, a charade. …

“The long list of proven doping cases that is set out at Section 6A.4 of this Final Report reveals not only that blood doping and steroid abuse were widespread within the Russian national biathlon team in the period 2008 to 2014, but also that the Russian conspirators intervened at every stage to cover up that doping and to enable the cheating to continue.”

Although redacted in parts, the report logs significant details of how Besseberg and Resch assisted Russian athletes in avoiding doping positives, including testimony from Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Moscow Laboratory for the Russian Anti-Doping Agency who was at the center of the Russian doping program.

The report also notes significant concerns over funds received by Besseberg from Russia, with the amounts redacted; these have been estimated in news reports as up to $300,000, along with sexual favors.

Another section notes how Resch was “groomed” by Russian sports officials through gifts and extra attention to help support Russian athletes entwined in the doping process, including potential positive tests prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (RUS).

The Russian Biathlon Union apparently also tried to “buy” votes in the 2014 IBU elections, but this was not followed up with any investigation or sanctions. In addition:

“The [World Anti-Doping Agency] I&I investigation report stated that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that at the 2016 IBU Congress members of the Russian delegation offered and potentially paid unknown IBU Congress members between €25,000 and €100,000 each to vote in support of their bid to host the 2021 World Championships in Tyumen.”

Near the end of the report and before a 23-page section that was completely redacted, the report includes a comment on the holding of the 2018 IBU World Championships in Russia, despite the overwhelming evidence of state-sponsoring doping there:

“Once again, the facts set out in this section of the report repeat the clear pattern of Mr Besseberg [redacted] doing everything possible to stifle debate and avoid holding Russia to account for its doping misconduct. Once again, there is no evidence that they truly cared about a clean sport, or about the concerns raised by their athletes, coaches, and even their main media partner, the EBU.”

Both Besseberg and Resch are the subjects of continuing criminal investigations in Norway and Austria, respectively, and both have denied any wrongdoing; no charges have been filed against either.

The report turns further decisions regarding biathlon over to the IBU’s independent Biathlon Integrity Unit.

● Football ● FIFA declared that the process to select the cities and venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States would be completed in 2021, if the pandemic conditions allow.

Individual meetings with the interested sites will begin in February (maybe), with site visits in July (maybe). The candidate cities include:

● Canada: Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto

● Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey

● United States: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first under the new format of 48 teams.

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics announced a 2021-25 agreement with FloSports, the ubiquitous online channel for Olympic (and other) sports to show numerous events not now available:

“Beyond providing enhanced access to USA Gymnastics Premier Events, FloSports’ content will also include rarely-featured access to events across all disciplines, and never-before-broadcast grassroots events featuring some of the best up-and-coming athletes in the country. Scheduled programming will include various state and regional championships, Level 9 Eastern & Western Championships, National Elite Qualifiers, USAG Development Program Championships, USAG Collegiate Championships, and numerous Rhythmic, Trampoline & Tumbling, and Acrobatic events. Programming will be available through FloSports’ dedicated gymnastics channel, FloGymnastics.”

There’s money in this for USA Gymnastics, which also announced where it will be spent:

“As a key part of the partnership, FloSports and USAG have committed to making a significant annual investment directly toward supporting athlete health and wellness initiatives. FloSports believes in building a supportive infrastructure for young athletes and is committed to assisting with their development by providing additional funds to augment existing USAG programs. This year, the funds will be used to bolster USA Gymnastics’ existing mental health programming by increasing awareness around mental health, providing additional services for National Team members and providing educational resources for the larger gymnastics community.”

● The Last Word ● Olympic critics will cringe at the news that the Hungarian Olympic Committee voted on Thursday to explore the possibility of a bid for the 2032 Olympic Games.

Budapest had been an interesting candidate for the 2024 Games, but its withdrawal due to the threat of a public referendum led directly to the agreement to have Paris host the 2024 Games and Los Angeles to be host in 2028.

In the meantime, Budapest has been one of the capitals of Olympic sport, hosting major events including the FINA World Aquatics Championships in 2017 and will be the host of the World Athletics Championships in 2023.

This adds to a long list of countries which are interested in 2032, including Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Qatar, the Netherlands, Turkey and possibly multi-city bids from China and North and South Korea. To their dissatisfaction, even naysayers will conclude that’s a good sign for the future of the Games.

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LANE ONE: IOC chief Bach: “We are not speculating on whether the Games are taking place, we are working on how the Games will take place”

Rich Perelman

January 27, 2021

tsx pix 2021-127 bach news conference 750 — International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany (Photo: Screenshot of IOC video news conference)

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“Our task is to organize Olympic Games, not to cancel Olympic Games. And our task is to make [sure] the Olympic dreams of the athletes are coming true.”

That’s where International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) placed the focus following a meeting of the IOC Executive Board by videoconference on Wednesday. He reiterated in response to a question:

“[W]hat we are saying is we have to concentrate on the essentials. And the essentials are the field of play and a fair and safe competition. Everything else has to have second priority, but we want not to destroy any Olympic dream of any athlete.”

Bach detailed the current status of the Tokyo situation, starting with “we are fully concentrated on, and committed to, the successful and safe delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.” And he addressed the chatter over cancellation directly in some lengthy, but very well-prepared opening remarks:

“The organization of Olympic and Paralympic Games, as such, is already an extremely complex challenge. But this complexity is multiplied when it comes to organize postponed Olympic Games for the first time ever, and this under the conditions of pandemic.

“So, there is no blueprint for this, and we are learning every day. This fight against the virus – as you all know from your personal circumstances – this fight against the virus is a tough one. But we are fighting this fight for, and like, Olympic athletes. This means, with full determination, with a will to win, with hard work every day and with all the physical and mental strength we can have.

“There, if we have to address the different issues, nobody – nobody – at this moment can predict the health situation in 206 National Olympic Committees for the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games from late July to September this year. Not even the most prominent scientists in this area.

“This leads, you may say naturally, but it leads you can also say, unfortunately, you could say of course, this leads to many speculations. But all these speculations are hurting the athletes in their preparations who have already to overcome the challenges in their daily training and competition with all the restrictions they are facing, either in their country or when it comes to traveling.

“So there is speculation about cancellation, about a ‘Plan B,’ about everything. Some even make the proposal to postpone the Olympic Games in Tokyo to the year 2032. I want to say, ‘good luck,’ if you would have to discuss this with an athlete who is preparing for the Olympic Games 2021.

“There are some proposals to move it to another city, which everybody who knows about the complexity of Olympic Games, is not possible, in such a short period of time. So, for all these reasons, we are not losing our time and energy on speculation, but we are fully concentrated on the Opening Ceremony on the 23rd of July this year, so we are not speculating on whether the Games are taking place, we are working on how the Games will take place.

“That means, we have to put Covid countermeasures together for every possible scenario. And in this, we are relying on the advice of all the different authorities there: the Japanese government, the health authorities, the World Health Organization , we are talking with the manufacturers of vaccines, with all the experts. And also from these consultations, we can conclude it is too early to tell which of the many Covid countermeasures will finally be the appropriate one when it comes to the time of the Games.

“We just have to ask for patience, and understanding, and we are asking for this patience, you know, from the athletes, from the National Olympic Committees, the IFs, the Japanese people, the organizing committee; everybody. We have to be patient and diligent in the same way.

“So, soon we will be able now to release the first version of the so-called ‘playbooks’ for the Games, which will explain the measures for the different stakeholder groups to protect themselves and to protect others. These playbooks will be first, in the first version, will be presented to the National Olympic Committees and to the chef de missions in the beginning of February. There, they all – the NOCs, the athletes, everybody – can trust that we are providing the facts and our planned countermeasures as the situation develops and according to the situation, what is needed.

“The priority is always the same: safe and secure Games, by everybody. And in this we are gaining even more confidence from the effectiveness of the countermeasures which are being applied right now in sports events across the world. We have seen this during the winter season: more than 7,000 events have been organized by the International Federations, with 175,000 Covid tests, and only 0.18 [percent] were positive. The competitions could be run, could be organized and none of the competitions developed into hotspots or anything like this.”

Asked if holding the Games is actually irresponsible, Bach emphasized the facts on the ground today:

“It is clearly not irresponsible. We are able and in a position to offer the relevant countermeasures and this already starts with the figures you were giving, you are speaking about 10,500 athletes, we took already the measure that these 10,500 athletes will not be there in the Olympic Village at the same time by reducing the staying of the athletes to five days in principle and having a kind of a ‘wave’ system. The same will, of course, apply to their coaches and officials and others, so this is one of the measures we have been undertaking.

“Take Handball now [the IHF men’s World Championship is ongoing]. In Egypt, a country which is considered to be a high-risk country, and you have 3,000 people in a bubble and this being organized in a couple of weeks only, or a couple of months. While we have much better conditions, we could prepare much longer, and we have much better conditions because again the Olympic Village, because we have with the National Olympic Committees partners who can take care of their teams from now on already, and they do with many of the athletes and many other issues more. So if we think it would be irresponsible and if we would think the Games could not be safe, we would not go for it.”

Bach could not state when a decision might be made about spectators at the Games, and asked for patience. There were also some other issues of importance, especially as he noted “We had also to address the very sad stories with regard to two international federations again.”

● “This concerns [the international boxing federation] AIBA; there, we are still very much – very much – concerned about the lack of progress in AIBA with regard to the requested reforms of management, of governance, and also of refereeing and other issues and we will inform AIBA about these concerns immediately.”

● “With regard to the International Weightlifting Federation, there, our – again – great concerns are about the apparent weakening of their anti-doping rules and about also other governance issues. But concentrating on the anti-doping rules, we had to note that obviously, IWF wants to change the anti-doping rules which were the basis for the approval of the IOC for their qualification system [for Tokyo]. This is really something upsetting, and even more so that all this happened without any consultation with the IOC.

“There, we will request a clear explanation and have already put this topic on the agenda of the next Executive Board meeting, which will take place in February.”

Bach expressed satisfaction with the decree of the Italian government on assuring the autonomy of the Italian National Olympic Committee on the management of its own finances. Asked if the IOC was “really ready to suspend the Italian Olympic Committee in case of non-compliance of the Italian government?” Bach answered back:

“The answer … is yes. We were ready. There is no doubt. We have there to apply the same rules, and have to treat everybody in the Olympic Movement and all the NOCs equally.”

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the forthcoming Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics should take note of that answer.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Florida offers itself as Tokyo replacement (?); new USOPC Board opening; USA Swimming splits Trials in two

Rich Perelman

January 26, 2021

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● One of the great benefits of observing the Olympic Movement is the laughs you get from announcements like this, from Jimmy Patronis, the Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida, in an open letter to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach (GER), which included:

“Today, I am writing to encourage you to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo, Japan to the United States of America, and more specifically to Florida.

“With media reports of leaders in Japan ‘privately’ concluding that they are too concerned about the pandemic for the 2021 Olympics to take place, there is still time to deploy a site selection team to Florida to meet with statewide and local officials on holding the Olympics in the Sunshine State. I would welcome the opportunity to pitch Florida and help you make the right contacts to get this done. …

“Whatever precautions are required let’s figure it out and get it done. Please contact my office at 850-413-4900 to schedule a meeting.”

Never mind that Florida has had 1.66 million reported cases of the coronavirus and 25,445 deaths compared to 368,143 cases for all of Japan (and 5,193 deaths). But credit Patronis for grabbing a headline and looking out for more tourism for his state.

Maybe he should invite Bach to be his guest on 7 February at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for the NFL’s Super Bowl LV?

More seriously, BBC sports editor Dan Roan considered the actual Tokyo 2020 situation ahead of tomorrow’s IOC Executive Board meeting by videoconference:

“Organisers appear furious with the suggestion that the Japanese government has already secretly decided to cancel the Games, and some insiders insist the motivation of the anonymous source behind the story is to destabilise the country’s coalition government with a general election on the horizon.

“Whether the story proves accurate or not, the problem the authorities have is that last year there were similar denials, and expressions of confidence, right up until the day before a seemingly inevitable postponement was confirmed.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC is accepting applications for a suddenly-open Independent Director post after the resignation of Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former Surgeon General of the United States from 2014-17, who has been tapped by U.S. President Joe Biden to serve in the same post once again.

Murthy joined the USOPC Board in February 2020, meaning his term will not expire for another three years. The USOPC invitation to submit applications notes that candidates:

“The Nominating and Governance Committee is seeking candidates with the qualifications described in the “Position Description and Qualifications” document. Qualified applicants must be persons of the highest personal and professional integrity who have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment and who will be most effective, in conjunction with other members of the Board, in collectively serving the long-term interests of the USOPC and our athletes.”

Applications will be accepted until 1 February.

● National Olympic Committees ● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency released an eight-page comment on the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision in its appeal of sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency, howling about the outcome, but saying it considers the matter closed and will not appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

“As RUSADA has already stated publicly, it strongly disagrees with the findings in the CAS Award regarding the alleged data manipulations, which – in RUSADA’s view – are based on a flawed and one-sided assessment of the facts and were not sufficiently proven. RUSADA regrets that the Panel did not take into account the detailed submissions and evidence submitted by RUSADA and the intervening parties over the course of the arbitral proceeding. …

“In light of these important rulings by the Panel rejecting or significantly reducing the excessive sanctions requested by WADA, and putting the interests of Russian athletes and Russian sport first, as well as taking into account the need for legal certainty, RUSADA has made the decision not to challenge the CAS Award before the Swiss Supreme Court, despite the fact that it disagrees with many of the central findings and statements contained in the award’s reasoning.”

The CAS Award was published on 14 January 2021 and it appears that there is a 30-day period for appeal; WADA has been silent on whether it will appeal the decision to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

The Italian government announced Tuesday a decree to assure the autonomy of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) in order to stave off potential sanctions from the IOC:

“In order to ensure the full operation of the Italian National Olympic Committee and its autonomy and independence as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the text gives CONI its own organic endowment of personnel, including management.”

The Italian government had set up a “Sport e Salute” organization in 2019 that was to manage CONI’s finances, among other functions, but this ran afoul of the IOC’s rules on the autonomy of the National Olympic Committee in each country to run its own programs. Possible sanctions could have included a loss of use of national flags and anthems for Tokyo and beyond, as has been done with the Russian NOC due to the suspension of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

● Alpine Skiing ● Racing continued into the week on the FIS Alpine World Cup tour, with events on Monday and Tuesday.

The men’s Super-G in Kitzbuehel was held on Monday, with Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr claiming the win in 1:12.58, just 0.12 in front of Marco Odermatt (SUI) and 0.55 ahead of Matthias Mayer (AUT).

A Slalom was held in Schladming (AUT) on Tuesday, with Swiss Marco Schwarz moving from sixth to first on the second run and winning in 1:44.04, a healthy 0.68 ahead of France’s Clement Noel (1:44.72) and teammate Alexis Pinturault (1:44.86).

The women’s World Cup was in Kronplatz (ITA) for a Giant Slalom, with France’s Tessa Worley claiming the victory in 2:11.38, decisively ahead of Swiss Lara Gut-Berhami (+0.27) and home favorite Marta Bassino (+0.73). Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. was fourth, 1.08 seconds behind the winner and missing the podium by 0.35.

● Athletics ● The VirginMoney London Marathon announced a massive plan on Monday to create a hybrid race on 3 October with a goal of 100,000 participants.

Building off of the 37,966 who completed the “virtual” race in 2020, plans for a 50,000-person race on the streets will be complemented by a 50,000-person “virtual” race for a total of 100,000.

The largest-ever in-person race was in 2019, with 42,549 finishers. Some 457,861 applied to run in 2020, with the in-person race scratched due to the pandemic. But given the number of “virtual” runners in 2020, a 100,000-finisher total appears to be within reach.

The New Balance Grand Prix indoor meet, always held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts, is being moved this year since the venue is being used for Covid-19 vaccinations. The new site for the 13 February event is now the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex in Staten Island, New York. At least for now.

● Gymnastics ● The USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case has moved into its fourth calendar year, with total legal fees in the case now at $13,063,518 as of 31 December 2020.

Of this total, some $7,297,803 in fees and $252,383 in expenses have been paid by USAG’s insurers, with no end in sight.

A court-ordered settlement conference is ongoing under the supervision of Bankruptcy Court Judge James Carr, but with no breakthrough as yet.

At the end of 2020, USA Gymnastics showed (not including its insurance receivable to cover sex-abuse claims) $10.4 million in assets, including $7.3 million of cash on hand.

● Handball ● The 27th IHF men’s World Handball Championship is now ready for the knock-out round, with the quarterfinals to start tomorrow (27th):

● Upper bracket: Spain (4-0-1) vs. Norway (4-1) and Denmark (5-0) vs. Egypt (3-1-1)
● Lower bracket: France (5-0) vs. Hungary (4-1) and Sweden (3-0-2) vs. Qatar (3-2)

The semifinals will be played on the 29th and the final and third-place matches on 31 January.

The top scorers in the tournament so far include Qatar’s Frankis Marzo with 53 goals, followed by Sander Sagosen (NOR: 50) and Andy Schmid (SUI: 44).

● Modern Pentathlon ● Just days after the UIPM removed the 2021 World Championships from Minsk (BLR) due to the continuing political unrest in the country, the event was awarded to Cairo (EGY), already a popular World Cup host city.

The dates of 7-13 June remain the same, and Egypt will host the World Junior Championships in Alexandria in July.

● Swimming ● USA Swimming announced that the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska will be split into two “waves” due to the continuing pandemic:

“As of January 20, 2021, 1,305 (unique) athletes had qualified for the Olympic Trials since the qualifying window opened on Nov. 28, 2018. Given the current environment, and the need to address concerns related to over-crowding in the athlete areas, warm-up pool and athlete seating areas, the decision was made to divide the event into two.”

The first section of the Trials will be held from 4-7 June 2021 and the second from 13-20 June.

Essentially, the new format creates a qualifying event for the main Trials, with new qualifying standards posted for each. Those swimmers who have reached the “Wave II” standard will compete directly in the second meet, while those who have reached the “Wave I” standard will compete for two spots in the Wave II competition in each event.

The new format will add perhaps “50-60 athletes per event in the four months leading into the Olympic Trials, generating a final field of approximately 750 total athletes.”

● Weightlifting ● The under-siege International Weightlifting Federation has postponed its planned revision of its constitution from late March of this year to 29-30 April 2021 in order to debate and vote on an entirely new constitution:

“In place of the constitutional amendments originally envisaged, the independent members of the Reform and Governance Commission have now proposed an entirely new document that replaces the current IWF Constitution. This approach has been welcomed by the IWF Executive Board.”

“Based on a comprehensive look at the IWF’s governance by the independent members of our Reform and Governance Commission, it became clear that amendments would not be enough to bring us up to the highest standards and meet the targets suggested to us by the IOC. Instead, complete revision is called for and that is what we will now deliver,” said IWF Interim President Dr. Michael Irani (GBR).

The elections for new officers will be held as scheduled on 26-27 March 2021. American Ursula Papandrea, who was briefly the federation’s Interim President after the resignation of former long-time chief Tamas Ajan (HUN), is running for President, and there are reports of Jinqiang Zhou, head of the Chinese Weightlifting Federation, also running, but a confirmed list of candidates has not yet been released.

The International Olympic Committee has indicated its disapproval of the IWF’s financial, governance and anti-doping situation and is reviewing its place on the 2024 Olympic program.

● At the BuZZer ● The NBCSN cable sports channel will be shuttered at the end of 2021, according to an announcement by NBCUniversal last Friday (22nd). The announcement included:

“The company said programming that aired on the cable channel will eventually be broadcast across other platforms within NBCUniversal, including the cable channel USA Network and the streaming platform Peacock. As part of the change, USA Network will air NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games and NASCAR races.”

No mention was made about the extensive coverage of European football matches, or cycling events such as the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, or occasional coverage of the Wanda Diamond League track & field events.

What does that mean for NBC’s “Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA”? Its ratings are certainly much lower than NBCSN, but one long-time observer felt that the channel will survive, at least for now: “Not about the ratings in this instance.”

NBC has been clear since the launch of the Olympic Channel on cable in July of 2017 that the goal was to support the network’s Olympic commitment. Mark Lazarus, then head of NBC Sports said at that time, “The launch of the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA reinforces our unwavering commitment to the Olympic Movement and our valuable relationships with the IOC and USOC.” Lazarus has since been promoted to Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

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LANE ONE: IOC chief Bach on the offensive, says “the prospects are good” for Tokyo Games to be held, perhaps without spectators, and what else?

Rich Perelman

January 25, 2021

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Already dealing with doubts about whether the Tokyo Games will actually take place, the short story in The Times (London) last Thursday (21st) claiming the Japanese government had privately concluded that the event could not take place sent the International Olympic Committee into an all-out offensive on Friday (22nd).

In addition to refuting the story on Twitter, the IOC came out with a seven-and-a-half minute video news release on Friday which featured IOC President Thomas Bach speaking from Lausanne about the situation. He noted that conference calls were held that day with the National Olympic Committees and the IOC membership. And he was resolute about the Games:

● “Six months ahead of the Games the entire Olympic Movement is looking forward to the Opening Ceremony on 23rd July. I had the opportunity today to speak there with all 206 of the National Olympic Committees of the world and they are all fully committed, they are looking forward to these Games.

“We are enjoying the full support of the Japanese government and we had another consultation with all the IOC Members yesterday. Everybody is really determined to make these Olympic Games in six months from now the light at the end of the tunnel in which at this moment we are all still in. But all the prospects are good, we are working hard, and these Games, the first priority will be to make them safe and secure for all participants.”

● “We have been talking with our Athletes’ Commission and they are in regular contact with
the entire athletes community across the globe, and they have all confirmed to us that
the athletes, while being in difficulties at this moment with their training, with the
competition, with the qualification in some sports even, but they are all enthusiastic.

“They are preparing for these Games, they are looking forward to these Games, and I will take the opportunity also in a couple of days to speak with the athletes community also
personally, and to get then a first-hand impression on their attitude. But we know how
passionate Olympic athletes are and this is why we know they will be flexible enough and
they will adjust to this situation we are all in now, and then they will enter the Olympic stadium on 23rd July with full pride and sending an important message not only to the world of sports, but to the entire world – a message of resilience, of Olympic passion and of Olympic values like solidarity and peace.”

● “We are working to prepare for all the potential scenarios we may face in July-August this year and this is a wide range. So we are putting together a huge toolbox of measures and then we will decide at the appropriate time which of the tools we need to address the situation.

“This goes from immigration rules, from quarantine rules, over to social distancing in the Olympic Village, to the question of rapid testing methods, to the question of vaccination, to the question of spectators. How many? Can there be spectators? How will life in the Olympic Village be organized?

“So it’s really a huge undertaking but we are very much encouraged in this because we can see already now that big sports events, even World Championships, are happening and being organized in a safe and secure way, even without having access to any kind of vaccination. So everybody can rest assured our first priority is a safe and secure Olympic Games and when we are talking about the measures there can be no taboo for securing safe and secure Olympic Games for every participant.”

The last sentence is the most important: “there can be no taboo for securing safe and secure Olympic Games …”

This crystalizes the position of the IOC and, for now anyway, the Tokyo organizers and the Japanese governments involved in the Games. If there is any possible way to hold the Games, it will be held:

● If without foreign spectators, fine.

● If without any spectators, fine.

● If without sponsor hospitality, tickets and sales programs, fine. This is also true for commercial partners of the International Federations and NOCs.

● If the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony are whittled down to a limited number of athletes, or even just a flagbearer from each country, fine.

● If there are athletes or teams which cannot be qualified for the Games in some sports due to complications of the pandemic, fine. There may be teams substituted to fill the spots, or just as likely, some slots will be left open (and reduce the athlete population).

● Athletes are already being limited to entry into the Olympic Village five days ahead of their first day of competition and to leave a maximum of two days afterwards; this may be slimmed down even further to keep the Village population down. Fine.

At its core, the Olympic Games in the 21st Century is a television show, with a cast of thousands. As long as the Games is held – and televised – most of what the Games is today is preserved.

Look for the IOC and Tokyo 2020 to seek further opportunities for reduce the number of people at the Games where possible. This could apply not simply to spectators, but because the international television signal from all of the Tokyo venues will – for the first time – be available to rights-holding broadcasters in real time in their own home studios, the number of on-site broadcasters could be significantly reduced.

The IOC’s plan to share post-event news conferences online, in real time, could reduce the number of writers coming to cover as well (but not photographers).

The Tokyo organizers, with the approval of the IOC, could also ask all of the International Federations to forego their usual Congresses at the Olympic Games as well (some have done so already).

There will be further costs attendant to these changes, of course. But in the context of the Japanese national governmental budget for 2021 of 106.6 trillion yen (about $1.03 trillion U.S.), the added costs of $700 million for the postponement to 2021 are certainly manageable. Same for the $1.0 billion costs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, out of a budget of more than $68 million.

The experience of the postponement in 2020 and the tumult caused by the story in The Times last week points to one crucial truth: any retreat from having the Games of the XXXII Olympiad will come from the Japanese, not the IOC.

What we see now is that to hold the Games under any circumstances will be declared a victory for Japan itself, for the Tokyo organizers, and the IOC. Keep that in mind as we approach what Tokyo 2020 chair Yoshio Mori has called – on many issues – “a very difficult decision from February to March.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: World Indoor shot record for Ryan Crouser; Chloe Kim and Jamie Anderson score Snowboard golds, two skating wins for Brittany Bowe!

Rich Perelman

January 24, 2021

tsx pix 2021-124 brittany bowe 750 (isu) — American speed skating star Brittany Bowe (USA). (Photo: ISU)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s racing at Crans-Montana (SUI) was a showcase for 2018 Olympic Downhill champ Sofia Goggia and continued the breakthrough season for American Breezy Johnson.

Two Downhills and a Super-G were on tap, and Goggia won both, giving her medals in all five Downhills this season and four golds. She won the first in 1:10.20, just 0.20 in front of Czech star – and fellow 2018 Olympic gold medalist – Ester Ledecka (CZE: 1:10.30), with Johnson third in 1:10.67. It’s the fourth straight bronze medal in a World Cup Downhill for Johnson, who had never won a World Cup medal coming into the season.

Goggia followed up with a second win in 1:27.75, 0.27 seconds ahead of Lara Gut-Berhami (SUI) and 0.60 in front of Elena Curtoni (ITA). Johnson finished fifth in 1:28.64, missing a medal by just 0.30. These results keep Goggia in front in the seasonal Downhill points table with 480 after five races, with Johnson second at 285.

Gut-Berhami, the 2016 World Cup overall champion, won Sunday’s Super-G, ahead of Austrian Tamara Tippler and Italian star Federica Brignone. It was Gut-Berhami’s 28th career win, of which half have been in the Super-G.

The men’s speed racers were in Kitzbuehel (AUT), with weather affecting the expected schedule. Friday’s Downhill was the 14th career World Cup gold for Swiss star Beat Feuz, and came 370 days after his last win, at Wengen (SUI) on 18 January 2020. Feuz’s 1:53.77 time was just 0.16 better than home favorite Matthias Mayer (1:53.93), with Italy’s Dominik Paris third (1:54.33).

Saturday’s Downhill had to be postponed to Sunday and the Super-G to Monday (25th). No problem for Feuz, however, who won again in 1:55.29, 0.17 better than France’s Johan Clarey and 0.38 in front of Mayer.

● Athletics ● The first American Track League meet, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, drew a star-studded field hungry to compete, and they did not disappoint.

Ryan Crouser did what he almost always does: throw well past 22 m, but he exploded for a world indoor shot put record of 22.82 m (74-10 1/2) in the first round, besting the old 22.66 m (74-4 1/4) mark set by Randy Barnes (USA) at the Sunkist Invitational in 1989!

He reached “only” 21.03 m (69-0) in the second round, surpassed Barnes’s mark again in the third round, at 22.70 m (74-5 3/4), then fouled in the fourth and fifth rounds. He finished at 22.48 m (73-9) and now owns the two best indoor throws in history and four of the top six.

“Quite a start for me for 2021,” Crouser said afterward. “It feels like it’s been a long road to get back. I felt like I had a ton of energy on the first throw. I just wanted to relax and feel the rhythm. You was just really patient on that.

“I feel like there’s more there: first meet, first throw. The consistency was pretty good. We’re in heavy training right now, I’m excited for when we taper down.”

In addition to Crouser, world-leading marks were set in:

● Men/60 m: 6.48, Trayvon Bromell (USA)
● Men/400 m: 45.03, Fred Kerley (USA)
● Men/60 m Hurdles: 7.35, Grant Holloway (USA)

● Women/300 m: 35.92, Gabby Thomas (USA)
● Women/400 m: 51.76, Quanera Hayes (USA)
● Women/60 m Hurdles: 7.86, Tonea Marshall (USA)

Holloway ran away from the field on the way to a clear win; his 7.35 equals his all-time best from 2019 and the equal-fourth-fastest ever. His 7.38 in the heats was also a world leader and was the equal-15th fastest ever at the time.

Thomas’s 300 m win moves her to no. 7 all-time, and no. 2 all-time U.S. Among the other women’s winners was Vashti Cunningham, in the high jump at 1.90 m (6-2 3/4).

At College Station, Texas, Texas A&M frosh Athing Mu continues to impress, winning the women’s 600 m at the Texas Aggie Invitational in 1:25.80, shattering the collegiate mark of 1:26.56 by Delisa Walton-Floyd (Tennessee) from 1981! Even so, it’s not as fast as Mu’s 1:23.57 from 2019, the no. 2 performance ever.

Baylor junior K.C. Lightfoot backed up his collegiate record of 5.94 m (19-5 3/4) with a win at 5.90 m (19-4 1/4). He missed three times at 5.05 m (19-6 1/4).

● Badminton ● The $1,000,000 Toyota Thailand Open finished on Sunday with some of the same results as the Yonex Thailand Open a week ago, especially in the men’s and women’s Singles.

Another match between no. 1-ranked Tzu Ying Tai (TPE) and Spain’ 2016 Olympic Champion Carolina Marin ended with another Marin win, this time in straight sets by 21-19, 21-17. The men’s Singles title was won again by Dane Viktor Axelsen, this time in an all-Denmark final against Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghaus, 21-11, 21-7.

More of the same in the doubles finals, as Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang took the men’s title for the second week in a row, again over a Malaysian pair, but this time it was Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh, 21-13, 21-18. In Mixed Doubles, the Thai duo of Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai took their second straight title, beating Seung-Jae Seo and YuJung Chae (KOR) by 21-16, 22-20.

The only new winners in this week’s tournament were So-Yeong Kim and Hee-Yong Kong (KOR), who won the women’s Doubles over So-Hee Lee and Seung-Chan Shin (KOR), 21-18, 21-19.

● Biathlon ● The IBU World Cup stopped in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy, for the last competition before the World Championships in Slovenia in February.

The women’s competition marked the first World Cup without a Norwegian winner. Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser won the 15 km Individual event and was third in the 12.5 km Mass Start as the only women’s double medalist. France’s Julia Simon won the Mass Start event for the second straight week, followed by Swede Hanna Oberg and Hauser. Ukraine’s Yuliia Dzhima won her country’s first World Cup medal of the season – men or women – in the 15 km and Anais Chevalier (FRA) was third. Seasonal leader Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (NOR) was 31st and 7th in the two races, but is still in front.

Seasonal men’s leader Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR) won his fourth race of the season in Sunday’s 15 km Mass Start (35:44.2), trailed by France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet (+31.3) and Slovenia’s Jakov Fak (+44.2). Russian Alexander Loginov won the 20 km Individual race on Friday (48:41.8), almost a minute ahead of Sturla Holm Lagreid (NOR: +58.5) and Fillon Maillet (+1:10.6).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The IBSF World Cup reached its penultimate stop in Koenigssee (GER), for a full slate of races, but with the usual results: Germany in the winner’s circle.

Superstar Francesco Friedrich piloted the winning men’s 2-man and 4-man sleds once again: that’s 10 of 11 in the 2-man this season and 3 for 3 in the four-man. Countryman Johannes Lochner, his most consistent challenger – and the only pilot to beat Friedrich this season – was second for the sixth time this season in the 2-man, 1:38.69-1:38.89, with Benjamin Maier (AUT) third. Friedrich won the 4-man race over Maier for the second straight week, with Lochner third.

Germany’s Kim Kalicki, who had won medals in five of the prior six races in the 2-women sled, won for the first time this season, edging teammate Stephanie Schneider, 1:41.71-1:41.96. American Elana Meyers Taylor, riding with Sylvia Hoffman, finished third in 1:42.17; Kaillie Humphries and Lauren Gibbs of the U.S. were sixth (1:42.30).

Humphries and Meyers Taylor ran 1-2 in the women’s Monobob races, which will debut in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Humphries won her second race of the season, won both runs and was 0.62 better than Meyers Taylor. Germany’s Schneider was third (+0.75).

For the second consecutive stop, Germans swept the Skeleton races, with Alexander Gassner winning for the second time in a row, and Jacquelline Loelling winning her third medal in the last four races.

Gassner was second-fastest on both runs, totaling 1:39.88, just good enough to get by PyeongChang Olympic champ Sung-bin Yun (1:39.92) and Russian Alexander Tretiakov (1:40.01). Loelling won her 12th career World Cup gold, coming back from third-fastest after the first run to fastest on the second. Her total time of 1:42.30 was 0.47 better than Anna Fernstaedt, a first-time medalist this season, and 0.63 ahead of overall leader Janine Flock (AUT), who finished third (tied with Canadian Jane Chanell). American Katie Uhlaender was seventh (+1.25).

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Colombia, 6-0, on Friday in Orlando, Florida to sweep the two-friendly series by a combined 10-0 score.

The game got out of hand early, with Catarina Macario scoring her first National Team goal just three minutes in. Megan Rapinoe scored in the 33rd minute and on a penalty just before halftime for a 3-0 advantage. The three second-half goals came from Lynn Williams (60th minute), Lindsey Horan (73rd) and Midge Purce (86), her first National Team score.

The U.S. had 67% of the possession and out-shot the visitors by 33-2. Next up is the SheBelieves Cup, also in Orlando from 18-24 February.

● Freestyle Skiing ● A massive Ski Cross program was held at Idre Fjall (SWE) from 20-24 January, with three competitions each for men and women at the site of this year’s World Championships next month.

The first race was a tight final with French star Bastien Midol crossing first, ahead of Viktor Andersson (SWE) and Francois Place (FRA). But the Saturday and Sunday races both belonged to Canadian Reece Howden, 22, who won his third and fourth career World Cup golds. On Saturday, he finished ahead of Swiss Jonas Lenherr and German Niklas Bachsleitner, and on Sunday, it was Swiss Ryan Regez taking silver and Lenherr collecting the bronze.

Howden, the seasonal points leader, has now won four of the seven races this season.

Four-time World Championships medalist Fanny Smith (SUI) has been even more dominant on the women’s side, winning the first and third races for her fourth and fifth wins in the seven races this season. She won the first race (on the 20th) over Canada’s Marielle Thompson and Swiss Talina Gantenbein, and Sunday’s slide, just ahead of Alizee Baron (FRA) and Thompson.

Saturday’s racing saw Baron win her second career World Cup gold, beating teammate Marielle Berger Sabbatel and Smith to the line.

The Aerials competition in Moscow (RUS) was a showcase for Russian star Maxim Burov, the 2019 World Champion, who won his fourth straight event without a loss this season. He was a clear winner, scoring 126.24, with American Christopher Lillis second (116.74) and Swiss Noe Roth third (103.54).

The U. S. picked up a win in the women’s Aerials, with the aptly-named Winter Vinecki winning her first-ever World Cup medal! Already a noted marathoner and triathlete, the 22-year-old from Michigan scored 94.11 to edge Australia’s Laura Peel (92.72) and Marion Thenault (CAN: 90.59).

● Handball ● The 27th IHF men’s World Championship continues in Egypt, with the group stage complete and the second round almost complete, and the competition heading to the quarterfinals starting on the 27th.

The winners in the group stage included Hungary, Spain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Portugal, Sweden and the “Russian Handball Federation.” In the second round, Hungary and Spain are poised to advance to the knock-out round in Group I, but will finish play on Monday. In Group II, defending champ Denmark is through to the knock-outs, and Monday’s play will determine the second qualifier among Argentina, Croatia and Qatar.

In Group III, France finished undefeated at 5-0 and qualified with Norway (4-1) for the quarterfinals. Sweden (3-0-2) and host Egypt (3-1-1) advanced from Group IV.

● Luge ● The next-to-last World Cup of the season was in Innsbruck, Austria, with mostly the same results: German victories.

German superstar Felix Loch kept his record perfect in the standard races this season with his eighth straight win in 1:39.771, coming from second on the first run to the fastest on run no. 2. He finished just 0.006 better than first-run leader Semen Pavlichenko (RUS) and 0.216 faster than third-placer Johannes Ludwig (GER).

Loch had won one of the two Sprint races coming into the weekend, but managed a bronze this time, with Pavlichenko winning over Italy’s Kevin Fischnaller, 32.341 to 34.421. Loch timed 32.428.

The Doubles provided a huge shock with a win by Italy’s Ludwig Rieder and Patrick Rastner, who had the fastest first run and second-fastest final run to edge the Latvian brothers Andris and Juris Sics, 1:19.436-1:19,517, with seasonal leader Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller third (1:19.520). For Rieder and Rastner, it was their second medal of the season, as they won a bronze in the season-opening Spring race in Innsbruck last November!

Andris and Juris Sics won the Doubles Sprint, ahead of Steu and Koller, with Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken (GER) third.

The women’s race saw a GeGlennrman 1-2 as Natalie Geisenberger won for the second week in a row, 1:19.728-1:19.810 over Julia Taubitz, maintaining Geisenberger’s seasonal lead. American Summer Britcher was third (1:20.014) for the first U.S. medal of the World Cup season; teammate Ashley Farquharson was eighth.

Taubitz came back to win the Sprint, 30.041-30.070 over Geisenberger, with Dajana Eitberger completing the German sweep in third (30.132). Britcher was fourth, Farquharson was seventh and Emily Sweeney eighth for the U.S.

The sliders head to Koenigssee (GER) next week for the World Championships.

● Nordic Skiing ● The FIS Cross Country World Cup continued in Lahti, Finland, after a two-week break following the Tour de Ski, with Norway’s stars returning to the startling line in a big way.

Distance superstar Theresa Johaug won her third gold of the season, in the 15 km Skiathlon, with a 7.5 km Classical and 7.5 km Freestyle leg. She led a Norwegian sweep, followed by Helene Marie Fossesholm and Heidi Weng, but Johaug finished 28.1 seconds ahead of everyone. American Jessie Diggins, the seasonal leader, was fifth, and leads with 991 points over teammate Rosie Brennan (824 points) and Yuliya Stupak (RUS: 802).

The men’s 30 km Skiathlon (15 km Classical + 15 km Freestyle) was another Norwegian sweep, but this time of the top four places, with Emil Iversen first across the line in 1:10:18.4, followed by Sjur Roethe (+0.4), Paal Golberg (+6.6) and Simen Hegsted Krueger (+9.5). It was Iversen’s second medal of the World Cup season and his first win.

The Nordic Combined World Cup was also in Lahti, jumping off the 130 m hill and in a 10 km race, with 2017-18 World Cup champ Akito Watabe (JPN) claiming his first win of the season, by 10.8 seconds over seasonal leader Jarl Magnus Riiber of Norway. Japan’s Ryota Yamamoto was third (+25.1).

The men’s Ski Jumping World Cup, again in Lahti, was a showcase for the best moustache in winter sports – that’s Robert Johansson of Norway – who scored 265.9 on the 130 m hill to best Germans Markus Eisenbichler (264.2) and Karl Geiger (264.0). Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud still has the seasonal lead by 1,006-796 over Eisenbichler.

The women’s Ski Jumping World Cup tour was in Ljubno (SLO), for the first competition in more than a month, this time off a 94 m hill. Norway’s Eirin Maria Svandal, 19, won her first World Cup gold, scoring 244.2 to edge Ema Klinec (SLO: 242.8) and Marita Kramer (AUT: 238.1).

● Snowboard ● The first and only scheduled Halfpipe event of the season was held in Laax (SUI), along with the first of three events in Slopestyle.

Japan’s Yuko Totsuka, the 2019 Worlds silver medalist, won the Halfpipe at 95.25, 1.5 points up on three-time World Champion Scotty James (AUS: 93.75) and well ahead of teammate Ruka Hirano (JPN: 88.25).

PyeongChang Olympic champ Chloe Kim of the U.S. won the women’s event (and the seasonal title) with a score of 89.75, easily defeating Japan’s Mitsuki Ono (76.50) and Sena Tomita (75.75). It was Kim’s third win at Laax and eight career World Cup gold.

The U.S. also got a gold in the women’s Slopestyle from veteran Jamie Anderson, 30, who collected her 10th World Cup victory. Her second-try jump scored 84.35 and was the best of the day, ahead of Australians Zoi Sadowski Synnott (82.96) and Tess Coady (74.18).

The men’s Slopestyle event was won by Swede Niklas Mattson, his second career World Cup win. He scored 84.28 to out-pace Leon Vockensperger (GER: 78.90) and Norwegian veteran Marcus Kleveland (78.30).

The Snowcross World Cup season finally got started in Chiesa in Valmalenco (ITA), with two events each for men and women. The last two World Cup champions, Italy’s Michela Moioli and Czech Eva Samkova won the two races, with American Faye Gulini second in both. Samkova finished third on Saturday and Julia Pereira (FRA) was third on Sunday.

The men’s Snowcross races were won by Glenn de Blois (NED) on Saturday, his first World Cup medal, at age 25. He edged Eliot Grondin (CAN: 19), who won his second career World Cup podium, and Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA), who took his third career World Cup medal. American veteran Hagen Kearney was fourth.

● Speed Skating ● The ISU World Cup season opened in a sequestered environment for the first of two straight weeks in Heerenveen (NED), with the Dutch sweeping the men’s events, but American Brittany Bowe taking the women’s 1,000 m and 1,500 m.

Bowe, now 32, a three-time World Champion, won the 1,500 m in 1:53.881 over Dutch stars Irene Wust (1:54.575) and Antoinette de Jong (1:54.710), then won the 1,000 m on Sunday ahead of Dutch skaters Jorien ten Mors and Femke Kok, 1:13.607-1:13.943-1:14.076.

Said the winner: “I came into that race really confident. But you never know what you’re going to get or give at World Cup level. For that to be the fastest time I ever did in Thialf, it goes to show that I’m really strong.”

“We had to wear masks in training and only at times where we gave full effort were we allowed to take it off. You just kind of adapt and go. Anytime I started feeling sorry for myself, I would think of the Canadians who had no ice [the Calgary Olympic Oval was shut down in September due to a mechanical malfunction]. Someone’s always got it worse than you.”

Kok won the 500 m over Russian Angelina Golikova, 37.809-37.304, with Bowe finishing 14th. In the 3,000 m, Irene Schouten led a Dutch sweep in 3:57.155, follow by de Jong and Joy Beune, and Schouten won the Mass Start race, ahead of Canada’s Ivanie Blondin.

The men’s sweep by the Netherlands included wins for Dai Dai Ntab at 500 m, Thomas Krol at 1,000 m and 1,500 m (American Joey Mantia was seventh), then Patrick Roest and Sven Kramer finishing 1-2 in the 5,000 m. The Mass Start race was won by Arjan Stroetinga (NED); Mantia finished 15th.

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THE TICKER: Japanese government denies Games cancellation decision, for now; EOPAAA Commission deadline likely extending; USWNT vs. Colombia tonight

Rich Perelman

January 22, 2021

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● In the aftermath of Thursday’s report in The Times (London) that Japan’s ruling coalition had internally decided that the Tokyo Games cannot be held, all of the stakeholders dismissed the report, more or less.

Kyodo News reported Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai telling reporters:

“We would like to fully deny [The Times report] by saying there is no such fact.

“Of course we have to take into account the situation abroad, and we will decide on whether to actually hold the event at some point, but until then, the Japanese government will do what needs to be done.”

While saying “we will decide on whether to actually hold the event at some point” is hardly a ringing assurance that the Games will be held, a further statement was released, with more vigorous language:

“Some news reports circulating today are claiming that the Government of Japan has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus. This is categorically untrue.”

The IOC added that “Together with its Japanese partners and friends, the IOC is fully concentrated on and committed to the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this year.”

The International Paralympic Committee issued a lengthy statement, which added some interesting details:

“The IPC, IOC, Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and all delivery partners are fully committed and focussed [sic] on delivering safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. This position has not changed and has been confirmed once again today by the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese government. …

“In early February, the IOC, IPC and Tokyo 2020 will publish the first editions of Playbooks targeting Games stakeholders. These Playbooks will start to explain exactly how we aim to deliver this summer’s event and outline the personal responsibilities each person attending the Games must follow to ensure safe and secure Games.”

Also on Thursday, Kyodo posted comments from Dick Pound (CAN), the senior member of the IOC concerning spectators at the Games:

“The question is, is this a ‘must-have’ or ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s nice to have spectators. But it’s not a must-have.

“Nobody can guarantee (that the Olympics will go ahead as planned). But I think there’s a very, very, good chance that they can, and that they will. …

“In the end, the decision will be based on risk. And the bottom line, they say, is that it’s better to have the games, even if there are no spectators, than it would be to cancel them because there are no spectators.

“I think the IOC and the organizers are committed to going ahead with the Games, if at all possible. And so they’re not going to cancel unless there’s a consensus among the government, health authorities and the IOC that it would be too dangerous.

“But at the moment, the plans are in place. All the indications are that we should go ahead. There’s no reason why the Games can’t go on.”

That’s probably the best summary of where we are right now. Forgotten in the news cycle of the last 24 hours are the likely prophetic 12 January comments of Tokyo 2020 chair Yoshiro Mori – a former Prime Minister of Japan – regarding spectators, foreign spectators and even the Games:

“I think we will have to make a very difficult decision from February to March.” It’s still January; stay tuned.

As if Thursday’s frenzy over The Times story wasn’t enough, Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui told reporters on Wednesday:

“The whole world is facing unprecedented times. Japan should assume the role of negotiating with the IOC while aiming for 2024.

“The worst-case scenario is to cancel the Olympics. I think that Paris is also facing extreme difficulties for preparations as the host of 2024, so the Games should be pushed back by four years each.”

That would obviously also impact Los Angeles for 2028, and multiple countries with interests in a 2032 Games.

The national Mainichi Shimbun carried a discussion with Japanese Olympic Committee Executive Board member Kaori Yamaguchi – a five-time World Judo Championships finalist at 52 kg – on Wednesday, which included:

“It’s a matter of how you think the games should be. They could probably be held if you’re willing to go through with them in whatever form is possible. I could say that (the games should be postponed) last year because it was just postponement. It was hard to extend contracts with sponsors and so on, to put the games off by a year. This time, the discussion is about whether to hold the games at all, instead of whether to suspend or postpone. Even if I said the games should be canceled, my statement would do nothing but confuse athletes. I think it should be clarified early who will decide this question by what process and by when.”

She added, and this was prior to Thursday’s story in The Times:

“In sports communities as well as in politics, Japanese organizations have a unique character. The prevailing atmosphere has it that talking about this (whether to hold the games) equals ‘being defeatist’ and people avoid the discussion because they don’t want to be considered weak.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics remains with 10 named members out of the authorized 16, with four members yet to be named by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and two by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).

The Commission’s report is due by the end of July, but indications are that the deadline will be pushed back to allow enough time for a thorough process to be concluded. No funding was included in the enabling legislation and this is being worked through now as well. Given the busy schedule of the current Congress, it may be some time before the details are confirmed.

The USOPC tweeted a reply to The Times story about cancellation of the Tokyo Games:

“We have not received any information suggesting the Games will not happen as planned, and our focus remains on the health and preparedness of Team USA athletes ahead of the Games this summer.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● Potentially good news for WADA, as the change of U.S. administrations has impacted the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

The director had been Jim Carroll, whose highly-critical report of WADA last year caused a highly-publicized split over the payment of dues by the United States of $2.71 million. But all mention of Carroll was deleted from the agency’s Web site after Wednesday’s inauguration.

Assuming better relations with a new director (and the U.S. dues), WADA will then be able to enter discussions about its concerns with the extra-territorial jurisdiction element of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019.

● Fencing ● The return of Russian opposition leader Alexsei Navalny to Moscow last Sunday (17th) was met with a court order that he be jailed for 30 days.

Forbes reported comments from Kremlin critic Bill Browder, a U.S. hedge-fund manager:

“‘Western governments, particularly the U.S., have realized that Putin holds his money through oligarchs,’ Browder said over the phone on Monday. ‘The best way of hitting Putin is to hit the oligarchs closest to him.’

“In a tweet Monday that quoted Vladimir Ashurkov, an ally of Navalny, Browder circulated the names of potential billionaire targets, including Roman Abramovich (net worth: $13.9 billion), who is the owner of the Chelsea Football Club, and former Arsenal stakeholder Alisher Usmanov (net worth: $16.2 billion).”

If Usmanov’s name sounds familiar, it should. He’s the President of the FIE, the international federation for fencing. He was also the buyer of the original, 1892 copy of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s Olympic manifesto last February for $8.8 million, which he donated to the Olympic Museum.

● Figure Skating ● A correction to Tuesday’s Heard at Halftime post, which noted that Todd Eldredge won five U.S. national titles. He actually won six, in 1990-91-95-97-98-2002.

The most ever is seven, by Roger Turner (1928-34) and Dick Button (1946-52).

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team will be back in action tonight, playing Colombia in the second of two matches, once against at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Game time is 7 p.m. Eastern time, to be shown on ESPN2.

The U.S. won Monday’s match, 4-0, thanks to three goals from Sam Mewis and one by older sister Kristie Mewis.

The first game of 2021 for the U.S. Men’s National Team was announced, against Trinidad & Tobago on 31 January, also at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, at 7 p.m. Eastern time. A limited audience of 4,500 will be permitted in the stadium.

“In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European “Super League” by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations (AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasize that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation. Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.”

This statement was posted on the UEFA Web site yesterday, drawing a line in the sand vis-a-vis a proposed European “Super League” that would include 20 clubs, with 15 permanent members such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool. This would be a multi-billion-dollar league, playing 18-23 games per year, compared to a minimum of six in the existing UEFA Champions League.

This is all about money, of course, and FIFA and the continental confederations are out to protect their own competitions – which benefit national federations rather than clubs – and the FIFA World Cup, a competition between national teams.

● Ice Hockey ● A member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council indicated that Belarus would receive compensation for losing the co-hosting rights for the 2021 IIHF men’s World Championship.

Petr Briza (CZE) told sport.cz: “These are not sanctions, but a compensation for the Belarusian organizers. This is clearly written down in the agreements. We are waiting for a report and analysis [of the decision to abandon Minsk as a site] from the office of the IIHF Secretary General, which will define the volume of expenses and [financial] consequences of this decision in the coming weeks.”

An offer from Lithuania for co-hosting with Latvia will not be considered according to IIHF President Rene Fasel, who told the Russian TASS news agency, “We are already in discussions with Denmark, Latvia and Slovakia. We had experience in Denmark and Slovakia in 2018 and 2019.”

Fasel said that the decision on the arrangements for the 2021 Worlds will be discussed by the IIHF Council on the 26th or 27th of January.

● Modern Pentathon ● The question of Belarus and world championships has reached modern pentathlon, which had scheduled its 2021 Worlds in Minsk. UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER) said in a Friday statement that “the [Executive Board] voted to move the UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Minsk to a future date because of a growing concern that the present instability in the host nation could jeopardise the success of UIPM’s flagship competition.”

The plan is to hold the 2021 on the same dates of 7-13 June, but at another site. The federation also committed itself to awarding a future Worlds to Minsk, when conditions are stabilized.

● Skiing ● After the December cancellation of the 2021 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard World Championships in China, new sites were needed. FIS announced this week that the Freestyle Ski Cross and Snowboard SnowCross Worlds will be held from 11-13 February in Idre Fjall, a favored spot for World Cup competitions.

On Wednesday, the planned replacement Worlds for the other Freestyle and Snowboard events in Calgary (CAN) was also cancelled. A replacement for the replacement – scheduled for 24 February to 11 March – has not yet been announced.

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THE LATEST INTEL: Bach says Tokyo Games will go on; The Times (London) reports Japanese govt. ready to go to 2032

Rich Perelman

January 21, 2021

In an interview published by Japan’s Kyodo News Service early Thursday morning (21st) – Tokyo time – International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) said:

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

“This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful. …

“You may not like it but sacrifices will be needed. This is why I’m saying, safety first, and no taboo in the discussion to ensure safety.”

A few hours later, The Times (London) reported:

“The Japanese government has privately concluded that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus, and the focus is now on securing the Games for the city in the next available year, 2032.”

The two-paragraph story attributed the decision to a “senior member of the ruling coalition” and emphasized that a delicate way out of the hosting duties is being discussed, which would no doubt also end the hosting of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well.

As of 5 p.m. Pacific time, the IOC has not posted any statement on its Web site, or on its Twitter feed. What is true is that any decision to cancel must come from the Japanese and would require a coordination of the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the organizing committee, not only with the IOC, but with the hundreds of venues, sponsors and contractors who would be left in limbo by the abandonment of the Games this year.

The IOC does have significant event-cancellation insurance, but the impact of missing a Games would wreak financial havoc with most of the International Federations and many of the National Olympic Committees, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

Conveniently, the IOC Executive Board is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, 27 January. Stay tuned …

LANE ONE: Canadian calls for a Beijing 2022 boycott echo Jimmy Carter almost exactly 41 years ago

Rich Perelman

January 21, 2021

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Just by chance, last week’s comments by the chief executive of the Canada Olympic Committee against a boycott of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in China came almost exactly 41 years after U.S. President Jimmy Carter forcefully proposed a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games.

In the case of Canada, it’s both principle and personal. There is continuing concern among Canadian ministers and Members of Parliament over the crackdown on Hong Kong, and the persecution of the Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region, labeled as “genocide” by outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (19th).

Then there is this:

“How can we even contemplate sending the cream of our athletes, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looking on, and watching them gleefully enter Beijing’s Olympic Stadium for glitzy opening ceremonies while Canadians remain behind bars in a Chinese prison?”

That’s from Alan Freeman, a former Assistant Deputy Minister in Canada’s Department of Finance and now an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa, writing last October.

The “Canadians behind bars” refers to the “two Michaels”: Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat who was working as an adviser for the International Crisis Group think tank, and businessman Michael Spavor. They were detained by the Chinese government in 2018 shortly after Canadian police picked up Huawei Technologies’ Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.

Freeman noted that “the British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, suggested that if evidence continues to mount that the rights of Uyghur Muslims are being trampled, the U.K. will consider boycotting the Games. ‘Generally speaking, my instinct is to separate sport from diplomacy and politics, but there comes a point when this is not possible,’ Raab told a parliamentary committee.

“In Australia, where anti-China sentiments are even more ingrained than in Canada, Parliament will soon be asked to support a boycott of the Games. ‘The time has come for the freedom-loving countries to say to Beijing: ‘Enough is enough,’‘ according to an Australian Liberal senator, Eric Abetz. He also wondered why individual Australian athletes would want to lend their credibility to such a regime.”

These are elected officials and ministers talking, not athletes. Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive David Shoemaker told CTV News in a statement issued last week (13th):

“We have concerns about what we are hearing is occurring in the host country and we know the Government of Canada is addressing these issues on a government-to-government basis.

“The Canadian Olympic Committee believes that sport has a unique power to bring the world together, to create dialogue and build understanding through important people-to-people connections. …

“Past Olympic boycotts such as Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 punished athletes, further entrenched governments in their positions, and achieved little else. If the end goal is to see a change, we believe a boycott would be counterproductive.”

Yesterday, 20 January, marked exactly 41 years since U.S. President Carter told NBC’s Bill Monroe on “Meet the Press”:

“Neither I nor the American people would support the sending of an American team to Moscow with Soviet invasion troops in Afghanistan. I’ve sent a message today to the United States Olympic Committee spelling out my own position: that unless the Soviets withdraw their troops within a month from Afghanistan, that the Olympic Games be moved from Moscow to an alternate site or multiple sites or postponed or canceled. If the Soviets do not withdraw their troops immediately from Afghanistan within a month, I would not support the sending of an American team to the Olympics. It’s very important for the world to realize how serious a threat the Soviets’ invasion of Afghanistan is.”

In Carter’s letter to the USOC, he noted:

“In the Soviet Union international sports competition is itself an aspect of Soviet Government policy, as is the decision to invade Afghanistan. The head of the Moscow Olympic Organizing Committee is a high Soviet Government official.

“The Soviet Government attaches enormous political importance to the holding of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, and if the Olympics are not held in Moscow because of Soviet military aggression in Afghanistan, this powerful signal of world outrage cannot be hidden from the Soviet people, and will reverberate around the globe. Perhaps it will deter future aggression.”

Nelson Ledsky, head of the Olympic Task Force in the U.S. State Department said at the time: “There is something repellent about Soviet troops in Afghanistan at the same time flights of doves are being let loose in Moscow.”

In a speech a few months later, Carter quoted from the 1980 edition of the Handbook for Party Militants in the Communist Party:

“The idealogical struggle between East and West is directly involved in the selection of the cities where the Olympic Games take place. The decision to award the Olympic Games to the capital of the world’s first socialist state is convincing testimony of the general recognition of the historic importance and correctness of the foreign policy course of our country, and of the enormous service of the Soviet Union in the struggle for peace.”

A study of government documents related to the boycott, compiled in 1982 by Ray Morrison at the University of Illinois, noted that alternatives had been proposed:

“Some U.S. athletes proposed that they be allowed to participate in the Moscow Games, but not take part in the opening, closing or medal ceremonies.

“The National Olympic Committees of several European countries suggested that the Games be held in Moscow but without the usual political trappings. All nations would march under the Olympic flag, all athletes would wear the same uniform, no national anthem would be played, and no flags would be raised at the medal ceremonies. The I.O.C. decided to allow teams the option of not using the national flags or anthems at Olympic ceremonies, but ruled out the other suggestions.”

In retrospect, the 1980 Olympic boycott did not move the Soviets to retreat from Afghanistan, and the retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles by most of the Warsaw Pact countries kept their athletes home (but also prevented performances by what would have been the most thoroughly-doped-up teams in history).

So the question is raised about how governments can show their displeasure with Olympic hosts while still supporting their athletes?

It’s actually quite difficult if you look at the Olympic Charter (2020 edition), which requires National Olympic Committees such as Canada, in Rule 27.6:

“The NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind, including but not limited to political, legal, religious or economic pressures which may prevent them from complying with the Olympic Charter.”

Let’s say the Canadian government required its 2022 Winter Games team to wear a uniform that included “Free the two Michaels.” That would run afoul of Rule 27.6 quoted above as well as the already-under-scrutiny Rule 50.2, which states:

“No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

Banning Chinese athletes from competing in Canada would no doubt be looked at as grounds for suspending the Canadian Olympic Committee due to government interference with the Olympic Charter.

It’s a difficult position that the International Olympic Committee has, in fact, been unable to solve since the infamous 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin; awarded to the city during the Weimar Republic, but then held under the Nazi government by the time the event took place. And political issues bedeviled the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Games and could have carried on to the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea if not for vigorous diplomacy by then-IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain.

Beyond the usual economic and diplomatic sanctions, a country can prevent any of its government officials from attending a Games. Or require its domestic broadcaster to include messages about its view of the host in its coverage. Or fly a special flag at its embassies and consulates in the host country, or in countries around the world during the Games. It could issue postage stamps or coins calling for change in China (these actually would have some serious worldwide implications!). A special Olympic pin, perhaps? All of these are beyond the scope of the IOC, which will not appreciate these gestures, but also cannot do anything about them.

The IOC Executive Board may need to consider the Beijing 2022 political situation in its upcoming deliberations about any changes to Rule 50.2 of the Charter. Even the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s own request for allowing protests at the Games does not handle this situation cleanly:

“It calls for the IOC and IPC to update guidelines to allow for peaceful actions that specifically advocate for human rights and racial and social justice, and distinguishes those acts from to-be-defined ‘divisive demonstrations’ – including, but not limited to, currently prohibited acts of hate speech, racist propaganda, political statements and discrimination.”

Any of the above-noted actions by Canada that are aimed at the 2022 Winter Games would certainly be condemned by China as “divisive” and “political statements” and possibly by its allies as well.

It’s an unhappy place for everyone: athletes, officials, governments such as Canada which allocate millions of dollars annually to support its Olympic athletes, the IOC, the Beijing organizers, the winter-sport federations, and of course the Chinese government, which has its own ideas about what right and wrong are from their perspective.

In his “Meet the Press” interview back in 1980, Carter said “I do not want to inject politics into the Olympics” – just as he was doing so – and suggested Greece as a permanent site for the Games. That’s not going to happen, but perhaps the best post-2022 hope for more tranquility might be IOC chief Thomas Bach’s reform of the Games bidding process which has eliminated head-to-head votes, but instead develops host selections through discussions that lead to a simple confirmation by the IOC membership.

Bach has said he prefers this approach in order to ensure there are “no losers.” The IOC itself may be among those being saved as well, if it can get past the Covid-ravaged Tokyo Games and the now-in-controversy Beijing Winter Games in 2022.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE BIG PICTURE: Former USOC Executive Director Baaron Pittenger passes at 95

Rich Perelman

January 20, 2021

tsx pix 2021-120 pittenger, baaaron 1987 (750) — Baaron Pittenger, Jr. (1925-2021). (Photo: USOC Fact Book 1987)

Baaron Pittenger, Jr., whose long career in sports included two stints as Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee, passed away at age 95 on 15 January 2021.

The notice of his death was posted by the Swan-Law Funeral Directors in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He followed his wife of 72 years, Anne, who passed in September 2019 (at 92) and their son, Baaron III, who died of cancer in 2016 at 55. He is survived by his daughter-in-law Sara Thompson Pittenger, and grandson Baaron Steven Pittenger.

Pittenger came to the USOC in 1977 after a very successful career in collegiate athletics, having served as the Sports Information Director at Brown University from 1955-59 and at Harvard University from 1959-70, then as Associate Director of Athletics from 1970-77.

He was hired by Executive Director Don Miller to come west to Colorado as the USOC moved from its long-time New York office on Park Avenue to abandoned Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. Pittenger was initially the Director of Special Events, but quickly was assisting former Olympic decathlon champion Bob Mathias in the renovation of the base.

“It was a mess,” Pittenger recalled to the Denver Post in 2008. “There was chain-link fence with barbed wire all around the area. The base had been abandoned for a while, and many of the buildings were unusable. There was an awful lot of work to be done to refurbish the usable buildings just to bring them up to reasonable standards.

“In one instance, the light fixture in a building we were looking at suddenly caught on fire. That pretty much was the state of things.”

Not only did the base become functional as office space, it was turned into the United States Olympic Training Center and has been continuously expanded to include dining, sports medicine and National Governing Body headquarters.

Beyond the rehabilitation of the base, Pittenger was the organizer of the first National Sport Festival in 1978, a project designed to give American athletes a summer competition in the United States and a taste of what an Olympic or Pan American Games experience would feel like. Some 1,803 athletes attended the first Festival, expanding to 2,125 in Colorado Springs in 1979, televised to a national audience on NBC, which had the U.S. rights to the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

By 1981, Pittenger had become the USOC’s Assistant Executive Director, responsible for many more departments and remained in that position when Don Miller retired in 1985 and was replaced by George Miller (no relation). When the latter resigned in August 1987, Pittenger became Executive Director through the end of the year when Harvey Schiller took over as Executive Director.

But Schiller returned to his prior post as Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference on 21 January 1988 and Pittenger once again became Executive Director.

This time, he served all of 1988 and 1989, with Schiller returning to take over at the beginning of 1991.

Pittenger was competent, very competent. Approachable. Gentle. Considerate. Calm. A very good listener. A consensus builder. More comfortable behind the scenes than in front of a camera, although he was good when needed. Clear-thinking, he said “no” often, but always with a kind manner.

The USOC was in a significant growth period during his tenure as interest in the U.S. of all things Olympic grew following the success of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid and the revolutionary 1984 Games in Los Angeles. His National Sports Festival had expanded dramatically into the United States Olympic Festival, held in larger U.S. cities such as Houston, Raleigh-Durham, Oklahoma City and Minneapolis.

Pittenger left the USOC and became Executive Director of USA Hockey from 1990-93, and chaired the USOC’s anti-doping committee from 1994-2000 before really retiring in Colorado Springs.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 15 July 1925, but raised in Connecticut, Pittenger had come a long way since attending Penn State (‘47) and then working as a reporter in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Hartford, Connecticut, before moving to Brown. He was a member of the NCAA Public Relations Committee from 1959-65 and chair of the committee in his last two years.

Those who knew Pittenger described him as a “great gentleman”; his easygoing, understated manner overshadowed his insight and ability to create a cohesive executive team while asserting a calming influence on the U.S. Olympic Movement during a time of great change.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: German doping doctor gets 58-month sentence; 146 more IWF doping cases; U.S. women footballers d. Colombia, 4-0

Rich Perelman

January 19, 2021

(For our review of last weekend’s competition highlights, click here.)

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Doping ● The German physician at the center of the cycling and Nordic skiing doping investigation known as “Operation Aderlass” was found guilty and sentenced last Friday (15th) to four years and 10 months in prison.

Dr. Mark Schmidt, 42, admitted that he had been operating a doping program in multiple sports since 2012. CyclingNews.com reported:

“In a Munich court, the 42-year-old was found guilty on 24 counts of using doping methods and a further two counts of prohibited use of drugs.

“He was also fined €158,000 [~$190,965 U.S.] and banned from practicing medicine for a further three years. Four of his helpers were also sanctioned – two with suspended prison sentences and two – including Schmidt’s father – with fines of between €5,000-10,000.”

The ring was broken during the 2019 FIS World Nordic Skiing Championships when Austrian police raided team hotels and German authorities later raided Schmidt’s office in Erfurt.

The World Anti-Doping Agency tweeted:

“Assisted by WADA, Operation Aderlass was a joint investigation led by the Austrian Criminal Police Office and German Prosecution Office, targeting a criminal group involved in a blood doping scheme in different sports across several European countries. …

“WADA encourages and supports Governments in using their legislative powers to strengthen the global anti-doping system as it relates to the athlete’s entourage and this is a clear example of strong, sensible legislation working for the protection of clean sport and athletes.”

As if the International Weightlifting Federation needed any more bad news, the International Testing Authority – which now runs the IWF anti-doping program under contract – announced on Monday that it was working through a staggering total of 146 new doping cases.

These are an outgrowth of the January 2020 documentary, “Lord of the Lifters” aired on the German ARD channel and the subsequent investigation led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren.

The ITA announced specific actions in three cases. Thai lifter Rattikan (Siripuch) Gulnoi – the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist at 58 kg – charged with an anti-doping violation; she is already provisionally suspended. Lifters Dumitru Captari (ROM: European Champion at 77 kg in 2017) and Nijat Rahimov (KAZ: 2015 World 77 kg winner and 2016 Olympic 77 kg champ) have been charged with urine-swapping violations dating from 2016. Both of them are also under provisional suspension.

According to the statement, “The review of these 146 files discovered in the wake of the McLaren report is progressing and the ITA should be able to complete it and resolve the pending matters by spring 2021.”

The Swiss Federal Tribunal released details of its decision to vacate the Court of Arbitration for Sport judgement and eight-year suspension of Chinese swimmer Yang Sun on Friday, explaining:

“[T]he arbitrator had taken up the cause of animal protection in the contested tweets. In principle, an arbitrator can also defend his convictions on social networks, but with the restraint required of judges. The choice of words and the repeated use of violent expressions is problematic in the specific case. In his tweets, the arbitrator castigates a Chinese practice of dog slaughter and denounces the consumption of this meat at a local festival in China. Some expressions refer to the skin colour of certain Chinese people he targets. In addition, the arbitrator also made the said remarks in tweets after his appointment as president of the panel of arbitrators deciding in the Sun Yang case. In view of all the relevant circumstances, the Federal Supreme Court therefore considered that the doubts as to the impartiality of the arbitrator were objectively justified.”

The arbitrator in question was Italian Franco Frattini, and the Swiss Federal Tribunal ordered that “The CAS will therefore have to render a new award in a different composition of the panel in the doping case against Sun Yang.”

The watered-down sanctions against Russia ordered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport were further exploited last week as Reuters reported:

“Russian athletes on Thursday proposed playing patriotic folk song ‘Katyusha’ at international sporting events for the next two years, while Russia’s national anthem is banned over doping violations.

“’Katyusha’ is a song that gained huge popularity during World War Two and, according to some accounts, inspired the name of the Soviet Union’s Katyusha rocket launchers.”

Written in 1938, the Wikipedia entry about the song describes it as:

“The song is about a Russian woman called Katyusha. Standing on a steep riverbank, she sends her song to her beloved, a soldier serving far away. The theme of the song is that the soldier will protect the Motherland and its people while his grateful girl will keep and protect their love.”

So while the Russian anthem in banned, a possible substitute is a patriotic song from World War II. If the U.S. was in the same situation, would the “Battle Hymm of the Republic” be appropriate?

● Athletics ● U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials winner Aliphine Tuliamuk, 31, gave birth to a baby daughter Zoe Cherotich Gannon on 13 January.

She and fiancé Tim Gannon planned the pregnancy and she expects to race at the Tokyo Games.

● Bobsled ● Sunday’s third women’s World Cup Monobob race at Park City, Utah was won by Jamaica’s Carrie Russell (1:49.08), who had been second on Saturday. American Nicole Vogt was second, 19/100ths behind, after winning the first two races. Brazil’s Marina Silva was third (1:49.83), winning her third medal in three races, after a second and third.

● Figure Skating ● /Updated/ The U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada are continuing this week with junior competitions. Nathan Chen’s victory in the men’s Singles was his fifth in a row – at age 21! – and moves him into very elite company. Five straight wins had not been done since Dick Button won seven in a row from 1946-52. It had been done three times prior to World War II, by Sherwin Badger from 1920-24, by Roger Turner from 1928-34 and Robin Lee from 1935-39. Todd Eldredge won six titles, but not in a row, from 1990-91-95-97-98-2002.

Alexa Scimera Knierim won her fourth Pairs title; three with now-husband Chris Knierim and her first this year with new partner Brandon Frazier, who won his second title (with Haven Denny in 2017).

Four titles in Pairs has been done multiple times before; the most recent was by Kyoko Ina, who won five non-consecutive titles as recently as 1997-98 and 2000-01-02; the first two were with Jason Dungjen and the last three with John Zimmerman.

U.S. Figure Skating agreed to pay $1.45 million to settle a 2019 suit by former skater Adam Schmidt over sexual abuse from famed coach Richard Callaghan. This is in addition to the $1.75 million settlement that Schmidt received from the Onyx Ice Arena in Michigan, where he trained.

The federation and Callaghan were sued last July by former skater Craig Maurizi over abuse from the 1970s and 1980s.

Callaghan was suspended by U.S. Figure Skating in 2018, with further investigation now in the hands of the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team opened its 2021 season with an easy win in a friendly with Covid-thinned Colombia in Orlando, Florida, by 4-0.

The American women took charge quickly, as Sam Mewis scored on a left-footed shot from the middle of the box in the fifth minute, off a cross from the left side from Megan Rapinoe. After numerous missed chances, Carli Lloyd took a left-side cross from Lindsay Horan in the middle of the box and headed the ball to Mewis – standing in front of the foal – who finished with a header of her own in the 33rd minute for a 2-0 edge.

The U.S. had 63% of the possession in the first half and an 11-0 advantage in shots.

Mewis got a hat trick with a penalty kick in the 46th minute after Lindsey Horan was brought down in the box following an aggressive charge into the Colombian half on the second-half kickoff. Kristie Mewis – Sam’s older sister – added a fourth goal in the 86th minute, left-footing an end-line laser from Carli Lloyd into the goal.

The U.S. ended with 64% possession time and a 22-0 shutout on shots. It was the 38th career shutout for American keeper Alyssa Naeher, and one of the easiest.

It was the first U.S. home game since March of 2020, and the U.S. women now have a 33-match unbeaten streak and 49-game home unbeaten streak, and a 6-0-1 all-time record against Colombia. U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski is now 12-0-0 to start his tenure, which began in October, 2019.

The U.S. will play Colombia again on Friday – also in Orlando – beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time and televised on ESPN2.

CONCACAF announced on Thursday that the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament for Tokyo will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico from 18-30 March, with initial play in two groups:

● Group A: Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic
● Group B: Honduras, Canada, El Salvador, Haiti

The top two in each group will advance to the semifinals, and the two semifinal winners will qualify for the Tokyo Games. These are U-23 teams, although with the delay of the Games for a year, players under 24 will be eligible for the Olympic Tournament, with three overage players also allowed.

This item was reported by the Russian News Agency TASS; it speaks for itself:

“The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that it is illegal to fire employees for attending a football match under condition that the employee agreed to take an unpaid day off, the court’s press service told TASS.

“‘The Supreme Court studied the case of a Yeisk resident who was dismissed for missing a working day for travelling to attend a football match. According to the court’s decision, if the employee warned the manager in advance and, even more so, agreed to take an unpaid day off, it should not count as a missed day of work. In this case, the planned and organized trip to a football match is a sound reason to leave the workplace before the end of working hours,’ the agency was told.”

Does this apply to other sports?

● Ice Hockey ● “Due to safety and security issues that are beyond the IIHF’s control, the IIHF Council confirmed today that the decision to move the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from Minsk, Belarus is unavoidable. The decision was reached by Council following the conclusion of an extensive due diligence process.”

The International Ice Hockey Federation’s announcement on Monday removes the 2021 men’s Worlds from Belarus in view of the continuing unrest there after the controversial election of Alexander Lukashenko to a sixth term last August. The Latvian government notified the IIHF last September that it would not co-host the tournament with Belarus.

Pressure was also applied to the IIHF by at least three of its sponsors, including automobile maker Skoda, personal care products maker Nivea and car additive company Liqui Moly, said they would cancel their involvement if games were played in Belarus.

The change leaves the tournament in Riga (LAT) as planned and the federation could choose to hold the event there, or add co-hosts, possibly in Denmark (which hosted in 2018), Slovakia (host in 2019) or elsewhere. The event is scheduled for 21 May to 6 June.

● Swimming ● Twice Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller turned himself in to authorities last Thursday (14th) and was formally charged with one felony and two misdemeanors related to his presence during the riots at the U.S. Capitol on 6 January. He was reported to have been released without bond.

Errata: Reader – and FINA Bureau member – Dale Neuburger corrected our Thursday story which stated that Keller’s five Olympic medals were in relays. In fact, Keller won three relay medals (two gold) and scored bronze medals in 2000 and 2004 in the 400 m Freestyle.

● U.S. Collegiate Sport ● Lots of reporting last week on one of the early cases of a college athlete earning money from her name/image/likeness: freshman volleyball player Chloe Mitchell of Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, Michigan, an NAIA school.

The NAIA rules were changed in October to allow name/image/likeness payments and in Mitchell’s case, it had nothing to do with volleyball. She has 2.7 million followers on TikTok. She earned the huge following from videos during last Spring while she was renovating a shed in her backyard. The story noted that her father, Keith, “co-founded a company and mobile application with his daughter called PlayBooked that helps athletes connect with social media sponsors — a tool that his daughter says has been a big advantage.”

She got a first sponsor in the beverage packing reduction/printing company Smart Cups – for $3,000 – and with the new rules, is no longer worried about losing her volleyball eligibility. The story notes that:

“Mitchell exemplifies what may become a common trend among future college athletes: balancing school, sport and significant, but modest, social media side hustles — rather than the full-time scenarios athletic administrators have historically warned of.”

The NCAA expected to adopt new rules this month, but announced a delay last week after a warning of possible anti-trust action by the U.S. Department of Justice.

● XXII Commonwealth Games: Birmingham 2022 ● Ian Ward, the leader of the Birmingham (ENG) City Council said on Friday (15th):

”We can’t be certain what is going to happen going forward – indeed, the Olympic Games that were postponed to the summer of this year are now looking in some doubt again – so we can’t be certain.

“Who knows what will happen next? There may be another variant to the virus and we may all be back to square one.

“But I’m going to take an optimistic view and optimistically look to the future and the hosting of the Commonwealth Games, as a benefit not just for Birmingham but for the whole of the region.”

With the 2022 Games still a year and a half away, any decision on a cancellation or delay is a long ways off, but even 2022 events are now being considered for review. BirminghamLive reported that £218 million [~ $297 million U.S.] of public money is being spent on the 2022 Games.

● At the BuZZer ● The latest chuckle among the U.S. track & field cognoscenti is “Have you heard about Michigan’s Tom Brady?”

No, not the Super Bowl-winning quarterback who played at Michigan from 1996-99, but a sophomore in Ann Arbor, who debuted with a win at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational on Saturday with a lifetime best of 7:58.06 at 3,000 m.

So when you hear about Tom Brady and Michigan, be sure to ask about which one!

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LANE ONE: Ex-IOC member Gosper thinks United Nations could help “in arbitrating whether the Games go ahead or not”

Rich Perelman

January 18, 2021

Rule 58 of the 2020 edition of the Olympic Charter reads:

“The authority of last resort on any question concerning the Olympic Games rests with the IOC.”

Rule 7.2 states, “The Olympic Games are the exclusive property of the IOC which owns all rights relating thereto, in particular, and without limitation …”

Which makes the recent comments by Australia’s Kevan Gosper, an important and trusted member of the International Olympic Committee from 1977 to 2013, twice an IOC Vice President and now an Honorary Member, all the more amazing. On Saturday (16th), he said on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio program, “The Ticket“:

“If you are looking for a third party that recognises this has gone beyond an issue just related to sport, or just related to national interests … then there could be a case to go to the United Nations and seek their involvement in arbitrating whether the [Tokyo] Games go ahead or not.

“It’s in the interests of the general health of the athletes, administrators, viewers, and the rest of the world because we are talking about something that is potentially going to involve representatives of 205 countries.

“We’ve done this before in the IOC, we’ve gone to the United Nations to give us assistance.

“We did that with the set-up of the refugees representation at the Games, we did it — and I was personally involved — with getting East Timor up even though they weren’t a national entity to take part in the Sydney Games, and we are not strangers in our relationships with the United Nations.

“There are only two players in this — Tokyo and the IOC — and frankly with all of the uncertainties and the extra costs it’ll only take one of them to blink and then the whole thing will come unstuck.”

Gosper, now 87, is not someone to be taken lightly. An Olympic track & field silver medalist from 1956 in the 4×400 m relay, he also competed in 1960, and was the Chair and Chief Executive of the massive oil firm Shell Australia from 1980-91.

Gosper knows the IOC and knows his comment will stir reaction:

“Always there will be a pushback because the IOC and John Coates [an Australian IOC vice-president and Tokyo Coordination Commission chair] exemplifies this, he doesn’t like any outside interference but this is not interference.

“This I would believe is a resort to good advice, good counsel and maybe good decision-making, which takes the stress out of the only two parties who are involved at the moment.

“We must credit the Japanese for the way they’ve held their nerve. I think if it wasn’t Tokyo in charge we might have had a closed shop by now.”

True enough. Japan’s fortitude and perseverance are admirable, and if you read athlete posts on social media, they desperately want the Tokyo Games to happen if acceptable, safe circumstances are possible.

So what about the U.N.?

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) wrote in 2016 about the organization’s relationship with the United Nations, including:

“Although IOC had been granted Permanent Observer status by the General Assembly in 2009, this first-ever memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and IOC [in 2014] created a formal framework for collaboration in many important areas where sport can promote social integration and economic development. Such areas include quality education, health, the empowerment of women and girls, and peacebuilding. Under this framework, IOC, together with National Olympic Committees, international sports federations, Organising Committees and individual athletes, will work together with Member States, Special Envoys, Special Advisers and Goodwill Ambassadors, as well as United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes.”

Deciding whether an Olympic Games can or should be held is not listed.

Former IOC marketing chief Michael Payne, still very much in touch with what happens at Olympic House in Lausanne, responded on Twitter:

“The UN has been a useful ally to the Olympics over the years, but think it might be a bit if a stretch to imagine the covid bug is going to respect the [U.N.-adopted] Olympic Truce.”

In fact, Bach has been crystal clear on who will advise the IOC and Japan on what happens with the Games. He said so last March when the decision to postpone the Games from 2020 to 2021 was announced:

“What made us taking this decision were the developments, with the dynamic spreading of the coronavirus [in Africa]. We have always, from the very beginning, communicated that we are monitoring the situation day by day and 24 hours a day and that we will adapt there to any changes and that we will follow the advice of the World Health Organization.”

That’s it. Who will help the IOC and Tokyo decide what to do? W.H.O., indeed. The United Nations has no role on this, nor should it.

Bach himself will see to that. As he told reporters during a news conference in early March of 2020: “I can assure you I will not get tired and to repeat the statement I made: the IOC is fully committed and we are not participating in any kind of speculation.”

The decision to postpone the Games was announced on 24 March of 2020. The Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to start on Thursday, 25 March 2021. The situation in place then will determine whether the Opening Ceremony takes place on 23 July.

Bach knows it. The Tokyo organizers, and the local and national governments know it. And as Gosper said, they are the ones who count.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Chen storms to fifth U.S. men’s figure skating title; world TJ record for Zango; Maroulis wins Nice 57 kg gold by 40-1!

Rich Perelman

January 17, 2021

tsx pix 120918 chen nathan isu gp final (ISU) 750 — Five-time U.S. National Champion Nathan Chen (Photo: ISU)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

International sport has not returned to a full schedule, but at least this week was refreshingly busy, with quite a bit of late-finishing action in the U.S.!

● Alpine Skiing ● After Tuesday’s Slalom win for American star Mikaela Shiffrin in Flachau (AUT), the FIS Alpine World Cup tour for women was supposed to head for Maribor in Slovenia, but was moved to Kranjska Gora instead for two Giant Slalom races.

Italy’s Marta Bassino had won two of the prior three GS races this season, with Shiffrin winning the other and Bassino was all in for this weekend’s races. She immediately took the lead in Saturday’s race with the fastest time on the first run and then was second-fastest on the second by just 0.05 to win easily, 2:11.90-2:12.70 over France’s Tessa Worley and Swiss Michelle Gisin. Shiffrin was fourth on the first run, but only 12th on the second and finished sixth.

On Sunday, Bassino trailed after the first run by 0.30 as Shriffin skied brilliantly and had the lead. But the Italian came back with the fastest second run in the field and won again in 2:18.06, with Gisin moving from third to second overall (2:18.72). Shiffrin faded on the second run, with the 15th-fastest time, and was sixth again, as Meta Hrovat (SLO) ended up third.

The men’s tour was supposed to be in Kitzbuehel (AUT) for Slalom races on the weekend, but these had to be moved to Flachau. Home favorite Manuel Feller won Saturday’s race for his first career World Cup gold, followed by France’s Clement Noel and Marco Schwarz (AUT). Sunday’s race was another first career gold, this time for Norway’s Sebastian Foss-Solevag, with Schwarz second and World Cup overall leader Alexis Pinturault (FRA) third, his fifth medal of the season.

● Athletics ● The first world record of 2021 came in a small meet in Aubiere, France as Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso triple-jumped 18.07 m (59-3 1/2), the first ever to surpass 18 m indoors.

He was already the easy winner at 17.70 m (58-1) in the fifth round, then zoomed to 18.07 m for the eighth-best jump in history, moving him to no. 6 on the all-time list. Zango, 27, was the 2019 World Championships bronze medalist and improved on the 17.92 m (58-9 1/2) mark by his coach, Teddy Tamgho (FRA), in 2011.

At the Texas Tech Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas, 2019 USATF Nationals bronze medalist K.C. Lightfoot set a U.S. collegiate indoor record by clearing 5.94 m (19-5 3/4) on his first try. That’s one centimeter better than the 5.93 m (19-5 1/2) by Chris Nilsen (South Dakota) cleared in 2020 and places Lightfoot, a junior at Baylor, no. 10 on the all-time U.S. list.

● Badminton ● The BWF World Tour finally kicked off in Bangkok this week, at the Super 1000-level Yonex Thailand Open.

Although far from complete, the field still included many of the sport’s stars, and the women’s final was a tantalizing clash between no. 1-ranked Tzu Ying Tai (TPE) and the 2016 Olympic champ, Spain’s Carolina Marin. Now fully recovered from injury, Marin dominated the match, winning in straight sets by 21-9 and 21-16.

The men’s Singles final was a straight-sets win for world no. 4 Viktor Axelsen (DEN) over no. 8 Ka Long Angus Ng (HKG) by 21-14, 21-14.

Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang (TPE) won the men’s Doubles over V. Shem Goh and Wee Kiong Tan (MAS) in three sets and Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu won the women’s Doubles in straight sets over Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai.

The Mixed Doubles final was a showdown between the top two seeds, with home-standing and top-seeded Thais Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapirsee Taerattanachai winning over Indonesia’s Praveen Jordan and Melati Oktavianti, 21-2, 20-22, 21-18.

● Biathlon ● The second week of racing in Oberhof (GER) was another good for Norway, which has dominated the World Cup this season.

The two men’s races were won by the brother Boe, with Johannes Thingnes Boe – the younger – winning the 10 km Sprint by 12.4 seconds over countryman Sturla Holm Laegreid, with Arnd Peiffer (GER) third. It was the third win of the season for J-T Boe.

His older brother, Tarjei Boe, took the 15 km Mass Start event on Sunday with a final loop surge, winning in 37:41.9, just 3.6 second up on Felix Leitner (AUT) and Benjamin Weger (SUI: +7.8). J-T Boe continues as the seasonal leader.

Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff won her third straight World Cup race with a 9.3-second win in the women’s 7.5 km Sprint, even with one shooting penalty. Italian star Dorothea Wierer won the silver, with Lisa Theresa Hauser (AUT) third.

France’s Julia Simon broke through to win the women’s 12.5 km Mass Start race on Sunday for her second career World Cup gold, ahead of Franziska Preuss (GER: +3.9) and Swede Hanna Oberg (+11.7). Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland continues to lead the seasonal standings.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The sixth of eight stops on the 2020-21 World Cup Tour was in St. Moritz (SUI), but no matter the venue, the results are usually the same: Germany sweeps the 2-man, 4-man and 2-women races, with Francesco Friedrich taking both men’s title.

Teaming with Alexander Schuller this time, Friedrich drove the winning 2-man sled for the ninth time in 10 races this season. Their total of 2:11.92 was well ahead – in bobsled terms – of runner-up Johannes Lochner (with Florian Bauer: 2:12.37) and Canadian star Justin Kripps (with Cameron Stones: 2:12.84).

In the 4-man, Friedrich had the fastest time on both runs, and won with a 2:09.56 total, some 29/100ths up on Benjamin Maier (AUT) and Kripps was third again (+0.49), with Lochner fourth (+0.54).

The 2-women racing was won by Germany’s Stephanie Schneider, riding with Leonie Fiebig, in 2:16.54, just 8/100ths ahead of American Elana Meyers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman (2:16.62), with Melanie Hasler (SUI: 2:16.73) third. It was Schneider’s second win of the season. American Kaillie Humphries, driving with Lauren Gibbs, finished seventh.

The women’s Monobob will make its Olympic debut in Beijing in 2002 and the IBSF has a new World Cup Series running in the event. Three events were scheduled this week in Park City, Utah, with Nicole Vogt (USA: 1:48.55) winning on Friday, ahead of Marina Silva (BRA: 1:49.70) and Riley Compton of the U.S. (1:49.94). Vogt won again on Saturday (1:48.24), with Jamaica’s Carrie Russell (1:49.18) second and Silva (1:49.64). Results from Sunday’s race were not yet available.

At Innsbruck (AUT) on Thursday, Canada’s Melissa Lotholz and Cynthia Appiah went 1-2 at 1:54.26 and 1:54.68, with Karlein Sleper (NED) third in 1:54.86.

In St. Moritz (SUI), U.S. star Humphries – the reigning Olympic champ in the two-women sled, won in her seasonal debut in 2:22.35, barely ahead of German Laura Nolte (2:22.55) and Swiss Martina Fontanive (2:22.64). American Meyers Taylor was fifth in 2:22.78.

In Skeleton, also in St. Moritz, German Alexander Gassner won his first World Cup gold in his 44th race, finishing in 2:16.85, just 0.01 ahead of Latvian superstar Martins Dukurs (2:16.86), with 2018 Olympic champ Sung-Bin Yun (KOR) third in 2:17.32. Germany’s Tina Herrmann won her first race of the season, besting seasonal leader Janine Flock (AUT) by 2:20.68-2:21.00, with Jacqueline Loelling (GER) third (2:21.54).

● Figure Skating ● The U.S. National Championships was held at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with familiar faces on the top of the podium.

Superstar Nathan Chen, the four-time defending champion – and still just 21 – led the Short Program scoring by more than six points, 113.92-107.79, over Vincent Zhou, with Jason Brown third (100.92). He then crushed everyone on Sunday, scoring 208.36 points in the Free Skate to win by almost 31 points with a monstrous total of 322.28.

Vincent Zhou (age 20), the 2017 World Junior Champion, finished second for the third time in this event, was second in the Free Skate and second overall, with 291.38. Jason Brown finished in the top three for the fourth time in the last five years, winning the bronze medal at 276.92, with Yaroslav Panoit fourth (266.97).

The women’s title was a second national championship for Bradie Tennell, who won both the Short Program and the Free Skate by wide margins. She scored 79.40 in the Short Program, the best by more than three points and then took the Free Skate with a 153.21 score, almost nine points ahead of Amber Glenn. Tennell’s total of 232.61 easily outscored Glenn (215.33), who jumped from fifth place to second – her best finish ever at the Nationals – thanks to her Free Skate score.

Second after the Short Program, two-time defending champion Alysa Liu – still just 15 – fell to fourth in the Free Skate and ended up fourth overall. Karen Chen was fourth in the Short Program and third in the Free Skate and won the bronze medal.

In Pairs, Alexa Knierim won her fourth U.S. title, but first with new partner Brandon Frazier. But the new combo were the best ever at the Nationals, setting new highs for scores in the Short Program, Free Skate and total: 77.46, 150.64 and 228.10, respectively.

Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson were second in the Short Program, third in the Free Skate and second overall (for the second straight year) at 205.29. Defending champs Ashley Cain-Gibble and Timothy LeDuc were third, at 200.52.

The 2018 and 2019 Ice Dance national champs, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, won their third title, scoring 224.56 to edge two-time winners, Madison Chock and Evan Bates (222.93). Hubbell and Donohue came from second after the Rhythm Dance to win the Free Dance to win the title. Kaitlin Hawayak and Jean-Luc Baker scored 212.55 points to win their third straight Nationals bronze medal.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The second Aerials meet of the season was on in Yaroslavi (RUS), with Russia’s reigning World Champion Maxim Burov the favorite off of his season-opening win in Finland in December. He did not disappoint, winning both on Saturday and Sunday, for his seventh and eighth career World Cup titles.

He led a 1-2 Russian finish on both days, ahead of Pavel Krotov, 127.60-120.81, on Saturday, with Noe Roth (SUI) third and American Justin Schoenefeld fourth. On Sunday, Burov scored 125.34 to best Stanislav Nikitin by just 1.36 points (123.98) with Lewis Irving of Canada third (120.36).

The women’s Aerials started as a showcase for Australia’s Laura Peel, the 2015 World Champion, who won her second World Cup gold of the season in a tight duel with American Ashley Caldwell, 96.59-96.23, with Russian Liubov Nikitina third (93.41). On Sunday, it was American Megan Nick on top, winning her third career World Cup and first gold! She scored 89.88 to best Alla Tsuper (BLR: 89.82) and 17-year-old fellow American Kalia Kuhn (87.25), who won her first-ever World Cup medal and earned the U.S. half of all women’s medals on offer!

● Handball ● The 32-team IHF men’s World Championship continues in Egypt, with two-thirds of the first-round group games completed. The nine remaining undefeated teams (2-0) include host Egypt, Sweden, Portugal, France, defending champion Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Argentina and Qatar. The first round will conclude on the 19th.

● Judo ● French and Korea judokas dominated the Doha Masters, the first event of the International Judo Federation’s World Tour for 2021. The opener drew a big field of 398 fighters from 69 countries.

France’s heavyweight superstar, 10-time World Champion Teddy Riner won the +100 kg division, defeating Russian Inal Tasoev in the final, and moving closer to defending his Olympic title in Tokyo.

French women won four classes, with Amandine Buchard at 52 kg, four-time World Champion Clarisse Agbegnenou at 63 kg, Madeleine Malonga at 78 kg and Romane Dicko at +78 kg. Korea took home golds in the three lightest-weight men’s divisions, with Won Jin Kim at 60 kg, Baul An at 66 kg and Changrim An at 73 kg. Japanese fighters reached seven finals, but only Tsukasa Yoshida (women/57 kg) and Yoko Ono (women/70 kg) managed wins.

● Luge ● The racing in Oberhof (GER) had familiar faces on the top of the podium, but included a surprise!

Of course, Germany’s Felix Loch dominated the men’s Singles races, winning in 1:25.380 ahead of Austrians Jonas Mueller (+0.247) and David Gleirscher (+0.443). It was Loch’s eighth win in the nine World Cup races of the season.

But in the women’s Singles, 2014-18 Olympic gold medalist Natalie Geisenberger finally broke through with a win after finishing second in eight straight races this season! Her combined time of 1:22.121 was just better than Madeleine Egle (AUT: 1:22.349) and German Anna Berreiter (1:22.357). Summer Britcher of the U.S. was seventh.

Austrians Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller were the unexpected stars of the Doubles racing early in the season, winning the first three races, but finally managed a fourth win in Oberhof. Their 1:21.682 total fended off German stars Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:21.691) and Latvia’s Andris and Juris Sics (1:21.698).

● Nordic Skiing ● While the cross-country skiers had the weekend off, the Nordic Combined World Cup continued in Val di Fiemme (ITA), with two more wins for seasonal leader (and defending World Cup champ) Jarl Magnus Riiber of Norway.

Jumping off a 104 m hill and in 10 km cross-country races, Riiber won for the fourth and fifth time this season – out of seven total races so far – finishing 8.4 seconds ahead of Finn Ilkka Herola on Saturday (with German Vinzenz Geiger third), and then by just 0.1 seconds over five-time World Cup seasonal winner Eric Frenzel (GER) and Geiger in a mass finish. The top six all finished within one second!

In Ski Jumping, the World Cup tour landed in Zakopane (POL) to jump off the 140 m Wielka Krokiew hill, with 22-year-old Marius Lindvik scoring his third career World Cup victory. His 296.5 total was enough to edge Anze Lanisek (SLO: 294.2) and Norway’s Robert Johansson (292.9). Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud remains the seasonal leader.

● Snowboard ● Amid many cancellations, the mid-week Parallel Slalom races were held in Bad Gastein (AUT) last Tuesday (12th) with Russia’s Sofia Nadyrshina taking her second straight win this season.

She finished ahead of German Cheyenne Loch in the final, while Selina Joerg (GER) claimed her third medal in four races on the season with a bronze-medal match victory over Julie Zogg (SUI). The men’s race was won by Italy’s Aaron March for his second medal of the season; he defeated Dmitry Loginov (RUS) in the final, while Andreas Prommegger (AUT) out-lasted Igor Sulev (RUS) in the third-place match.

● Speed Skating ● The European Championships were held in Heerenveen (NED) on Saturday and Sunday, the first major event of the season, with Heerenveen being used as a central location for sequestering athletes for multiple meets to come.

To the surprise of no one, Dutch skaters prevailed, with Patrick Roest winning the 1,500 m and 5,000 m on the way to the All-round title with 147.745 points, ahead of teammate Marcel Bosker (149.806) and Norway’s Sverre Lunde Pedersen (149.828), who won the 500 m.

The Sprint title (500 m x2, 1,000 m x2) was another Dutch 1-2, with Thomas Krol winning (137.955, won both 1,000 m races), ahead of Hein Otterspeer (138.645), with German Joel Dufter third (138.770).

In the women’s All-round, Dutch stars Antoinette de Jong and Irene Schouten were 1-2 at 159.303 and 160.056, with de Jong winning the 1,500 m and Schouten taking the 3,000 m. Czech star Martina Sabilkova was third (160.320) and won the 5,000 m.

The women’s Sprint was “only” a 1-3 finish for the Dutch, as Jutta Leerdam won with 149.385 points, winning the second 1,000 m race to clinch the title. Russian Angelina Golikova took the silver (149.855) and won both of the 500 m sprints. Femke Kok (NED) was second in both 500 m races and third in both of the 1,000 m races and finished third overall (149.870).

● Swimming ● It wasn’t a normal edition of the Tyr Pro Series, but the first meet in the series was held in two sections, in San Antonio, Texas and Richmond, Virginia. A large contingent of the U.S. National Team was in San Antonio, but that didn’t mean that best marks weren’t posted in Richmond.

At the top of the list was Emily Escobedo in the 100 m Breaststroke, who timed 1:01.11, just better than Olympic star Lilly King (1:07.14) in San Antonio, and then again in the 200 m Breast. Escobedo won in Richmond in 2:23.46, with King winning in 2:25.83.

In San Antonio, University of Florida star Kieran Smith won three events, taking the 200 m Free, 400 m Free and the 200 m Medley. Zane Grothe was the distance star, winning both the 800 m and 1,500 m Frees, double Olympic champ Ryan Murphy won the 100-200 m Backstrokes, and Nic Fink doubled in the 100-200 m Breast finals.

Beyond King’s two women’s Breaststroke wins, 18-year-old Backstroke superstar Regan Smith won the 100 m Butterfly in addition to the 100 m Back, Ally McHugh compiled an impressive distance double with the 400 m Medley and the 1,500 m Freestyle, with open-water star Haley Anderson second in the latter. Anderson won two other distance swims: the 400 and 800 m Frees.

Multi-event winners in Richmond included Ashley Twichell in the 400-800-1,500 m Frees and 16-year-old Josh Parent in the 400 m Free, 1,500 m Free and 400 m Medley for three wins each. Escobido won the 200 m Medley in addition to her Breaststroke victories. The other two-event winners included Justin Ress in the 100 m Free and 100 m Back, and Catie DeLoof in the 50-100 m Frees.

● Wrestling ● The 47th Henri Deglane Grand Prix in Nice (FRA) featured a bevy of strong teams competing for the first time in 2021, including a significant contingent from the U.S. And the American wrestlers did not disappoint, winning an impressive total of 15 medals over the weekend, all in the Freestyle divisions.

The U.S. won four men’s divisions, with Nick Suriano taking the 57 kg crown over Islam Bazarganov (AZE) by 7-1; Yianni Diakomihalis won at 65 kg in an all-American final over former Worlds 70 kg medalist James Green, 5-0; the 79kg World Champion Kyle Dake took a default win at 74 kg as Georgia’s Daviti Tlashadze was injured and Rio Olympic champ Kyle Snyder won at 97 kg with an impressive 14-3 thrashing of Georgian Givi Matcharashvili.

Reigning World Champions Beka Lomtadze (61 kg) and Geno Petriashvili (125 kg) – both from Georgia – won their divisions.

Three Americans won bronze: Tom Gilman at 57 kg, Zahif Valencia at 86 kg and Nick Gwiazdowski at 125 kg.

The American women were completely dominant, winning four of six divisions; in fact, two of the finals were U.S. vs. U.S. finals. Rio Olympic champ Helen Maroulis showed she is back from concussion issues, winning at 57 kg by scores of 13-0, 10-0, 13-0 and 4-1 in the final against German Laura Mertens.

The all-American finals came at 62 kg, where Kayla Miracle defeated Macey Kilty, 8-2, and at 68 kg, where World Champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock out-pointed Forrest Molinari, 6-1. Sarah Hildebrandt stomped Evin Demirhan (TUR) by 13-2 at 50 kg, but Swede Sofia Mattsson won over World Champion Jacarra Winchester, 8-4, at 53 kg.

Turkey dominated the Greco-Roman divisions, winning six of the 10 classes: 55 kg (Serif Kilic), 60 kg (Kerem Kamal), 63 kg (Abdurahman Altan), 72 kg (Selcuk Can), 77 kg (Fatih Cengiz), and 82 kg (Emrah Cus).

● Coming Attractions ● The U.S. Women’s National Team will make its 2021 debut with a friendly against Colombia on Monday and Friday, with both games at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Monday’s game is at 7 p.m. Eastern time, and will be shown on FS1.

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THE TICKER: Arbitration panel “all about the athletes” to trim WADA sanctions on Russia; Rio 100mH champ McNeal suspended; U.S. withdraws from Handball Worlds

Rich Perelman

January 14, 2021

tsx pix 2020-114 double bladed axe 750 — As the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision in WADA vs. RUSADA shows, saying "it's all about the athletes" cuts two ways!

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● WADA vs. RUSADA ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport released its 186-page decision in the World Anti-Doping Agency vs. Russian Anti-Doping Agency case today (14th), with the three-member panel essentially using an “it’s all about the athletes” reasoning to significantly narrow the WADA-requested sanctions on Russian athletes.

The panel repeatedly cited a requirement of “proportionality” in the decision, noting that athletes affected by the 2011-15 doping program are most often not those competing now:

“Although the history of improper conduct which has ultimately led to these proceedings is long and serious, the Panel considers it would be disproportionate to impose severe restrictions on the next generation of Russian athletes. In particular, as the doping schemes addressed in the McLaren Reports occurred between 2012 and 2016, the Panel considers it very unlikely that any athletes who will be participating in the Youth Olympic Games were involved in those schemes.”

The decision then dismissed sanctions on Russian athletes for the Youth Olympic Games, holding those teenagers to be innocent in the context of the RUSADA scandal and then pushed aside sanctions against participation in continental events such as the European Championships on hyper-technical grounds, holding that participation bans on “‘events organized by Major Event Organizations’ lacks the specificity that is desirable in an Award of this nature.”

Regarding the Olympic and Olympic Winter Games, the Panel interpreted the WADA sanctioning rules to impact participation only to the next editions of the Olympic and Winter Games and since the Tokyo Games were postponed to 2021 and the Beijing Winter Games are in 2022, only a two-year sanction – instead of four, that would have extended to Paris 2024 – is required.

As concerns athletes, the arbitrators simply fell back on the refrain of “it’s all about the athletes” and no one should be kept from participating if at all possible:

“[T]he Panel finds that the [International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories] permits the exclusion of Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel as a Signatory Consequence for [National Anti-Doping Organization] non-compliance, subject to a requirement that consideration be given to mechanisms for those persons to be permitted to compete (including in a neutral capacity).

“For reasons given below, the Panel is of the view that it would be excessively burdensome and inappropriate in the circumstances to require Russian Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel to bear the onus of proving they were not affected in any way by the manipulation of the Moscow Data in the manner proposed by WADA in its proposed Notice to Signatories (Exhibit C-51). Nonetheless, the Panel considers it is necessary and appropriate to impose requirements for Russian Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel to compete in a neutral capacity (though a less restrictive one than that proposed by WADA).”

The decision emphasized the impact of competing as a neutral athlete vs. under their country’s flag as highly impactful and a severe sanction in itself. So in addition to banning those athletes or coaches already restricted or excluded from competing – either under doping suspensions or under a general exclusion as World Athletics has done for Russian track athletes – “the Panel is satisfied that the ISCCS expressly provides a basis for the Panel to then impose conditions of neutral participation.”

This was emphasized in a concluding paragraph, no. 791:

“The Panel finds that it is appropriate to impose a modified and less restrictive version of the [Neutral Participation Implementation Criteria] to that proposed by WADA. The Panel considers that the conditions under which Russian athletes may participate should allow some limited association with the name (for example, ‘Neutral Athlete from Russia’) and colours of their homeland where necessary, but subject to restrictions as to the use of the Russian flag, national symbols and the Russian national anthem in a sport, recognition or awards capacity. This accommodates a balance between the WADA submission that the purpose of the consequences is that the athlete will not be associated with Russia, and the opposing concern that clean athletes should not be affected by neutrality conditions for any longer than is justified.”

It’s all about the athletes.

Comment: This is an abominable exercise in pretzel-making, as the Panel acknowledged and then ignored, Article 10.2.5 of the International Standard for Code Compliance:

“10.2.5 Above all else, the Signatory Consequences imposed should be sufficient to maintain the confidence of Athletes, other stakeholders, and of the public at large, in the commitment of WADA and its partners from the public authorities and from the sport movement to do what is necessary to defend the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping. This is the most important and fundamental objective, overriding all others.”

The Panel decision regarding Russian participation, deciding on its own instead of by reference to the governing text above, that neutral status – “with some limited association” – to the national flag and colors, is the most preferable outcome is ludicrous. The focus in the decision was strictly on the impact on entrants from a country which systematically subverted the anti-doping process for years – and may still be doing so – and completely ignored the impact on participants from other countries, who are wholly unsure of whether they are competing against doped-up competitors. The WADA Code requires this to be included in the calculation of consequences and the arbitrators simply ignored it.

As suggested on this site in December, this decision should be appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. There is time to do so, as the 30-day filing deadline is likely from the release of the full decision, which was today (14th).

It’s up to WADA now.

● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Rio 100 m hurdles gold medalist Brianna McNeal (USA) on 13 January for “Tampering with any part of Doping Control.”

No other details were provided, but a full charge should be filed soon. McNeal was suspended for a year in 2017 for missing three tests within a 12-month period, and could, as a two-time loser, be suspended for up to eight years.

McNeal has had a tough time since winning Olympic gold in Rio, having also false-started out of the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar last October.

Things have gone from bad to worse for South African long jump star Luvo Manyonga. He was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit on 23 December 2020 for “whereabouts” failures, and now, TheSouthAfrican has reported that he has lost his Nike sponsorship and has gone missing.

Now 29, Manyonga was World Champion in 2017, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist and a favorite for Tokyo. The news story included an unattributed comment:

“Nike pulled the plug on Luvo. He is broke and owes a lot of people money. Nike has zero tolerance for drug abuse. The boy got paid big money every month, but he messed things up. He got nice sports gear on top of the big money they paid him every month.”

Paralympic star Blake Leeper is back in action, filing a new application with World Athletics to be allowed to use a new set of prostheses to compete with “able-bodied” athletes.

His attorneys posted a news release on Tuesday (12th), reaffirming his appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal of a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision against him and in favor of World Athletics for disallowing his use of the prostheses with which he ran a sensational 44.38 400 m in the 2019 USA Track & Field Championships.

The decision noted that his prostheses gave him an advantage in that they heightened his body beyond the Maximum Allowable Standing Height (MASH) rule used for Paralympic competitions. Leeper’s lawyers complained that the MASH rule was not developed considering “Black disabled athletes of African heritage,” and was therefore racially discriminatory.

Now, he is using a new set of prostheses which still does not meet the MASH rule, but:

“The new prostheses are the same type as the [running-specific prosthetics] that Mr. Leeper previously used, but are set so that his so-called MASH height would be 6 feet, 1 inch (185.42 cm), approximately one-and-a-half inches shorter than his prior RSPs. Mr. Leeper has worked with his coaches and training team since the CAS decision, re-learning to run at this lower height using these RSPs. However, the height is still higher than that permitted by the MASH rule, and Mr. Leeper cannot learn to run competitively at any lower height, which is unnatural for him.”

Leeper is asking for an expedited – and expected to be negative – ruling from World Athletics, so that it can be appealed quickly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● Gymnastics ● Rio gold and silver medalist Laurie Hernandez announced her return to competition on her Twitter feed on Tuesday (12th), for the Winter Cup Challenge in Indianapolis on 27 February.

One of the stars of the U.S. team in Rio in 2016, Hernandez – then 16 – won gold as a member of the U.S. team, then took a silver medal on Beam. She left the sport and now 20, is making a comeback, looking toward a possible berth on the U.S. team for Tokyo.

● Handball ● The 27th IHF men’s World Championships got going in Egypt – without spectators or media – with Egypt scoring a 35-29 win over Chile in Group G in the opener on Wednesday (13th).

Although the U.S. had expected to compete in its first Worlds since 2001, it was announced on Tuesday (12th) that the American team had withdrawn as tests “indicated that a majority of our players and staff members tested positive for the virus. Each affected individual is now in quarantine and unable to travel to Cairo.”

The tournament rolled on and Switzerland took the place of the U.S. in Group E and won its first match, 28-25, over Austria on Thursday (14th).

Russia made its first appearance in a World Championship since the CAS decision trimmed the WADA sanctions on participation (see story above). The Russian Handball Federation team tied with Belarus, 32-32, on Thursday. The team wore a familiar red uniform, but the word Russia was not seen, although there were plenty of sponsor logos. The logo of the Russian Handball Federation was on the front of the jersey, but without any text.

● Ice Hockey ● The continuing tussle over whether half of the 2021 IIHF men’s World Championship will be held in Belarus led to a meeting earlier this week between the federation and the political leaders of the country, including President Alexander Lukashenko.

A posting on the IIHF Web site included a question-and-answer session with federation chief Rene Fasel (SUI), who noted “Under the current circumstances, a visit with the government was absolutely vital for the IIHF to address its concerns directly to the Belarus President, concerns that related not only to the organization of the tournament but to the whole situation in Belarus.”

The outcome? Fasel reported:

● “[T]he IIHF is deeply concerned over the capability of the organizer in Minsk to deliver the tournament safely in a COVID-19 environment, there is an ongoing investigation by the IIHF into the Belarusian Ice Hockey Association President, and there is unrest within the country that has significantly impacted tournament preparations and raised a number of justifiable concerns from teams, fans, and government officials.”

● “We came in with specific requirements that the government should fulfill in order that the World Championship can take place in Minsk. Among these was a pledge to find peaceful solutions towards improving the socio-political situation within the country, and to allow all Belarusian athletes the opportunity to return to and compete in their respective sports.

“Most importantly, the Belarusian government agreed to an open and constructive dialogue with the opposition to take the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship out of the political focus and to use sports as a mean to bring people together. We acknowledge that our requests are outside sport and going into the direction of politics, but we feel the end results of our requests were necessary to ensure a safe championship.”

Fasel also referenced the recent past as a reason to try and salvage Minsk as a co-host of the tournament:

“We are not naive to think that hosting a World Championship in Minsk will solve all problems in the country, but that does not mean we cannot explore whether the IIHF can use some degree of influence to initiate positive change in the country’s future.

“Back at the Olympics in PyeongChang 2018, while it led to historic meetings between them, a Unified Korea team did not solve the problems or magically change relations between the two countries of Korea and DPR Korea. But was it worth it? Absolutely.”

The Latvian co-organizers have indicated they will not participate in a joint hosting with Belarus. Fasel said a special IIHF Council meeting is being scheduled and that the situation is being monitored, with no back-up plan in place … yet. The Worlds are scheduled for 21 May-6 June.

● Swimming ● At 6-6, two-time Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller stands out in a crowd, and among the crowd during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on 6 January, he was captured on video inside the Capitol itself. His identify was noted in a Monday (11th) story on SwimSwam.com.

The former star swimmer was charged with obstructing law enforcement engaged in official duties, unlawfully entering Capitol grounds and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Keller, now 38, won five Olympic and five World Championships medals between 2000-08, all on relays. He was a member of the winning U.S. teams in the 4×200 m Freestyle relays at the 2004 and 2008 Games. He has been a commercial real estate professional in the Colorado Springs, Colorado area, but separated from the firm he was associated with after his appearance on videos of the riot confirmed his presence.

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland released a statement yesterday before Keller’s identity was confirmed, but which stated that the organization needed to “wait for law enforcement to confirm the identity of the individual and determine necessary action, and then evaluate any appropriate actions of our own.”

A USA Swimming statement noted: “It is very simple and very clear. Mr. Keller’s actions in no way represent the values or mission of USA Swimming. And while once a swimmer at the highest levels of our sport – representing the country and democracy he so willfully attacked – Mr. Keller has not been a member of this organization since 2008.”

● Weightlifting ● The International Weightlifting Federation is in a mess, in part because it dismissed American Ursula Papandrea Garza as Interim President following the ouster of Tamas Ajan (HUN) last year.

Her efforts led directly to significant findings in the McLaren Global Solutions report, especially her demand – reluctantly followed – to provide IWF documents and electronic files to the investigators.

Her dismissal alarmed the International Olympic Committee, which noted its positive working relationship with her, and now Papandrea has announced her candidacy for the IWF Presidency, to be voted on in March.

She declared in a Thursday announcement:

“When I took over as Acting President of the IWF, I knew some of the vital and necessary changes could not wait until a new permanent President was appointed.

“What I have discovered is a toxic culture of corruption, self-interest and doping that prioritises maintaining the status quo.

“The governance of the IWF has tarnished the reputation of our great sport almost beyond repair and its Olympic status remains under threat.

“The current board comprises of members with a catalogue of misdemeanours, sanctions violations and red flags that lacks the genuine will to support the essential changes the organisation needs in order to survive.

“Only when we remove those who have been complicit in corruption within the organisation can weightlifting restore its integrity and rebuild its status in world sport.”

“I have seen with my own eyes how deeply corrupt the IWF is and a root-and-branch transformation is essential to give our great sport a chance to recover.

“When Board Members, who should have the sport’s best interests at heart, ignore the counsel of the IOC and block all attempts at reform, it underlines the scale of the challenge ahead.

“Only when the old guard and their methods have been completely removed and barred from future involvement in weightlifting at any level can we transform the IWF’s culture and provide confidence for our athletes, our coaches, our staff and our fans.

“Be under no illusions – the future of weightlifting is at stake – and if elected I will invoke the real change required to ensure we set the standards for good practice in international sports governance to make us fit for purpose in future.”

The IOC will be watching closely and the Olympic future of weightlifting may be at stake.

● Wrestling ● “The intent of the series is to provide unrestricted access for every college coach and recruiter to the single-highest concentration of high school talent, with every match available online through host broadcaster Trackwrestling.”

In a brilliant demonstration of what can be done to support young athletes and preserve the “pipeline” of college wrestling, USA Wrestling announced its High School National Recruiting Showcase, to take place from 26-28 March at a site to be named.

All current state champions are automatically invited, as are National Prep winners, and prior state winners can qualify through regional competitions – National Recruiting Showcase Qualifiers – to be held earlier in March.

This is an outstanding example of offering athletes an opportunity to make up for the lost opportunities of their high school seasons in terms of exposure to college coaches for potential scholarships and other opportunities. It’s an idea probably worth keeping and likely should be expanded to other sports.

● The Last Word ● When considering the situation of Olympic sports compared to the National Football League, it hardly seems that the NFL needs much help. But last weekend, the NFL teamed with the kid-focused Nickelodeon Channel, owned by ViacomCBS, to offer a special edition of the Chicago vs. New Orleans playoff game on Sunday (10th).

The production started with a SpongeBob SportsPants Countdown Special and then offered a special, Nickelodeon-themed version of the game, with its own announcers, Nickelodeon-themed graphics, a special halftime show and other elements.

The result? According to SportBusiness.com, the game ”drew an average audience of 2.061 million viewers, marking the channel’s largest audience since 2017 and up 245 per cent from Nickelodeon’s comparable programming window a year ago” and was heavily cited on social media during its Sunday afternoon window.

It’s a worthwhile lesson for all sports marketers for the future.

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For our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

LANE ONE: Appointment of Edwin Moses and Han Xiao gives EOPAAA Commission 10 of 16 members needed; where are the others?

Rich Perelman

January 13, 2021

tsx-pix-72618-han-xiao-senate-hearing-2-750x500 — USOPC Athletes' Advisory Chair Han Xiao in Senate testimony

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Hurry up!

Amid all the tumult in Washington, D.C. these days, Tuesday (12th) was a significant day for the in-formation Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. Four new members were announced by House Energy & Commerce chair Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey):

● Edwin Moses, the legendary two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400 m hurdles and Emeritus Chair of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency;

● Han Xiao, the Chair of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council;

● Patty Cisneros Prevo, a three-time Paralympian in basketball in 2000-04-08 and winner of gold medals in Athens and Beijing;

● Karin Korb, a 2000 and 2004 Paralympian in tennis.

This brings the named members of the Commission to 10, with six appointments remaining: two from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and all four from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington).

Already named were Olympians John Dane (sailing) and Brittney Reese (track & field) by Wicker and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, Paralympian Melissa Stockwell, and former Department of Defense Inspector General Joe Schmitz by retired Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon).

But with a report due to the Congress by the end of July 2021, the clock is already ticking. Beyond simply naming the Commission members, there are staff to hire, a meeting must be held not later than 30 days after the naming of the last member and at least one public hearing must take place (or more if desired).

The Commission’s responsibilities are set out in the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 (“EOPAAA”: Public Law 116-189):

(1) “a review of the most recent reforms undertaken by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee;”

(2) “a description of proposed reforms to the structure of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee;”

(3) “an assessment as to whether the board of directors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee includes diverse members, including athletes;”

(4) “an assessment of United States athlete participation levels in the Olympic and Paralympic Games;”

(5) “a description of the status of any United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee licensing arrangement;”

(6) “an assessment as to whether the United States is achieving the goals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games set by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee;”

(7) “an analysis of the participation in amateur athletics of (I) women; (II) disabled individuals; and (III) minorities;”

(8) “a description of ongoing efforts by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to recruit the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the United States;”

(9) “an evaluation of the functions of the national governing bodies (as defined in section 220501 of title 36, United States Code) and an analysis of the responsiveness of the national governing bodies to athletes with respect to the duties of the national governing bodies under section 220524(a)(3) of title 36, United States Code; and”

(10) “an assessment of the finances and the financial organization of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.”

(Sec. 220524(a)(3) requires NGBs to “keep amateur athletes informed of policy matters and reasonably reflect the views of the athletes in its policy decisions”)

Xiao’s inclusion in the Commission is especially important in view of his impressive testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security in July, 2018. Many of the suggestions he made there were included in S. 2330, the bill which became law in October 2020. However, one item was not included and could come up again in the Commission:

“I recommend establishing an autonomous Inspector General’s Office, reporting to Congress and the AAC. The role of this office would be to hear athlete concerns confidentially, without fear of retaliation, about the governance and operation of the USOC and NGBs, to independently investigate issues in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and to determine necessary corrective actions.

“Establishing this office and providing additional oversight would contribute greatly to a necessary cultural shift within our movement toward a focus on serving our country’s athletes.”

Some of these functions were included in an expansion of the “Athlete Ombuds” office in the final bill, but without the wider investigative authority of an Inspector General, or the reporting to the Congress. Well, Schmitz was the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2002-05; his insight will be helpful.

What else could the Commission consider? Perhaps:

● Should members of U.S. “national” teams or Olympic teams be paid a salary – or “training stipend” or whatever you want to call it, from the time from the Games until the next “national team” event such as a World Championship, is named?

USA Swimming already does this and more, in its Quad Athlete Support Program – and doesn’t enough credit for it – offering monthly stipends of $3,244 for its medal-class performers as well as smaller amounts to college and even high school swimmers.

● The USOPC runs training centers in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Lake Placid, New York and has agreements for training center usage at 11 other sites in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Utah. Are these good uses of money vs. other possibilities?

● Current law does not allow the USOPC to itself operate as the permanent National Governing Body in Olympic sport. For some of the small sports, with limited budgets, does it make sense to allow the USOPC to absorb and operate them, in order to conserve resources? It already does some of this in Paralympic sport.

● Further to the question of NGBs and training, USOPC critics alternate between red and purple when discussing the number of USOPC staff. Is the number of people employed too high, too low or just right? The USOPC’s Form 990 tax return for 2019 showed 567 employees during the year, plus 660 volunteers.

● The USOPC has seen significant declines in its public fund-raising, from – according to its financial statements – $37.2 million in 2014, $32.6 million in 2016, $23.3 million in 2018 and $8.8 million in 2019. If significantly increased, wouldn’t this allow more payments and services for athletes, from elite to grass roots?

At the same time, the USOPC’s corporate sponsorship revenue, from its share of IOC sponsorships and its own, have been all over the place: $185.0 million in 2014, $103.8 million in 2016, $144.9 million in 2018 and $134.9 million in 2019. The USOPC has not been able to create any significant, new revenue sources for itself since the 1990s; that’s a problem.

● In part, the lack of new donations and revenue are the result of a modest communications presence and profile for the USOPC and Olympic sports across the U.S. Even with the introduction of the Olympic Channel – Home of Team USA cable channel by NBC in 2017, media – and public – attention to U.S. Olympic athletes remains spotty at best.

In terms of followers on Twitter – certainly an inexact measure, but instructive on order of magnitude – the TeamUSA feed has 1.9 million followers. But that’s well behind Major League Soccer (3.3 million), the National Hockey League (6.3 million), Major League Baseball (8.7 million), the National Football League (25.9 million) and the National Basketball Association (32.0 million). That’s a gap that needs to be closed, at least a little.

● The International Olympic Committee is not happy with the ability of the U.S. Congress to dissolve the USOPC Board of Directors or to de-certify a National Governing Body – such as USA Gymnastics – in the EOPAAA statute. The World Anti-Doping Agency is unhappy with the extra-territorial jurisdiction aspect of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019. Should these be amended?

Today (13th) marks the 44th anniversary of the issuance of the landmark report of the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports from 1977. A product of two years of work, it was the foundation of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which solved the long-running power struggle between the NCAA and the Amateur Athletic Union and centralized the U.S. Olympic Movement as the responsibility of the United States Olympic Committee.

Led by Executive Director Mike Harrigan – now retired, but a valuable and under-appreciated resource in this area – that Commission also had major business, governmental and sports stars including, but not limited to Donna de Varona, Rafer Johnson, Micki King, Willye White, Bill Toomey, Dr. Ernie Vandeweghe, House members Jack Kemp, Ralph Metcalfe (the Olympic 100 m silver winner in 1932 and 1936), Bob Michel and Norm Mineta, and Sen. Ted Stevens, for whom the bill was named for years later.

They created a structure which continues to work today, but not as well as the original Commission intended. Harrigan has explained why in private and public comments over the years, but the new Commission would do well to learn what went right and what went wrong over the last 44 years from one who knows.

But the clock is ticking; Sens. Cantwell and Wicker, what are you waiting for? Hurry up!

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: It’s 2021 or bust for Tokyo; LA28 sponsor agency sold; fabulous mascot for troubled IHF Worlds in Egypt; Shiffrin wins again!

Rich Perelman

January 12, 2021

tsx pix 2021-111 ihf wch-horus mascot 750 — Horus, the mascot for the 2021 IHF men's World Championships in Egypt!

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● It’s 2021 or bust for the Tokyo Games, as organizing committee chief Yoshio Mori – a former Prime Minister of Japan – said on Tuesday that it is “absolutely impossible” to consider a further postponement due to the coronavirus.

Kyodo News reported Mori explaining that “putting off the games again is not an option because many officials who have played a key role in the preparations are loaned from other organizations, including the Tokyo metropolitan government.”

“I think we will have to make a very difficult decision from February to March,” said Mori, adding that “Having even a slight sense of uncertainty impacts everything. All I can say is that we will go ahead with our preparations. There will always be morning even after a long night. Let’s work together to overcome this major challenge.

“Believing in that, to give joy and hope to many people, we will do our best until the end.”

Mori has been consistent in saying that the Games must be held in 2021, or be cancelled.

A Kyodo poll over the new year showed continued anxiety over the Games in Japan, colored by a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country. Some 14.1% supported the Games being held in Tokyo in 2021, with 44.8% preferring postponement and 35.3% suggesting cancellation.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● A 51% interest in the sports hospitality, sales and sponsorship firm Legends is reportedly being sold to private equity firm Sixth Street.

Sixth Street’s total stake will be valued at more than $685 million, with original owners the New York Yankees and Jones Concessions, affiliated with the Dallas Cowboys. The management at Legends is expected to remain in place.

Legends is part of the sponsorship sales team for the 2028 Olympic Games, in an agreement with the 2028 organizers in Los Angeles and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. According to the October 2018 announcement, Legends will help “develop, identify, and secure sponsorship opportunities for the Los Angeles 2028 and Paralympic Games” and create “a comprehensive sales and marketing plan for LA28 and Team USA.”

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties joint venture between LA28 and the USOPC has announced one sponsorship, from Delta Airlines, so far. The pandemic has significantly set back the pace of announcements, although sponsorship discussions have continued.

Los Angeles lost one of its most devoted promoters and a key supporter of the city’s Olympic history with the unexpected passing of former City Councilman Tom LaBonge on 7 January.

Just 67, LaBonge was a key behind-the-scenes player in the run-up to the 1984 Olympic Games as the chief deputy to Councilman John Ferraro, who served as City Council President during that time. The two worked quietly to ensure consistent City planning and operations support – reimbursed by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee – for the organization of the Games, often made difficult by bombastic statements and requests from then-Police Chief Daryl Gates.

LaBonge succeeded Ferraro as Council member for the Fourth District, serving from 2001-15 and was a proud booster of his city and its activities locally, nationally and internationally. He vibrantly supported Los Angeles bids for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games – both shot down by the U.S. Olympic Committee – and the 2024 Olympic bid that eventually turned into the award of the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in 2018.

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, who knew LaBonge well, wrote that “For LaBonge, every day in Los Angeles was a touchdown pass” and “In Tom LaBonge’s mind, the city was the center of the universe, with more niceties than negatives, a place full of hope.”

Special thanks to reader Patrick Escobar, a fellow LAOOC alumnus, who wrote of LaBonge, quite rightly, “He loved this City and its people and will be greatly missed.”

● XXV Olympic Winter Games: Milan-Cortina 2026 ● Former RAI television executive Antonio Marano has joined the Milan-Cortina Foundation 2026 and will take over the commercial marketing division.

SportBusiness.com reported that “sales of sponsorships would be sold not just on their commercial value, but based on the values that Olympism and the Paralympics represent to modern Italy.”

The 2026 domestic sponsorship target is currently shown as €500 million (~$607.7 million U.S.) with three levels of participation expected. This compares with the much larger summer Games sponsorship targets of €1.1 billion (~$1.34 billion U.S.) for Paris 2024 and about $2.5 billion for Los Angeles 2028.

● Alpine Skiing ● American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin was back in the winner’s circle on Tuesday (12th) with an impressive win in the Slalom at Flachau in Austria.

She screamed through the Hermann Maier Weltcupstrecke on the first run, clocking the fastest time in the field at 54.04, although just 0.08 ahead of Swiss Wendy Holdener. Shiffrin had to pour on the gas to win, however, as Austrian Katharina Liensberger took the lead with a 53.74 second run.

Shiffrin was quite as fast, but her 53.88 finish was second-fastest on the second run and gave her a 1:47.92-1:48.11 win over Liensberger, with Holdener third (1:48.35). American Paula Moltzan was ninth (1:50.71).

Every time Shiffrin wins, she writes history. This was her second win of the season and 68th of her career, keeping her to third all-time in total wins behind Ingemar Stenmark (SWE: 86) and American Lindsey Vonn (82). It also extends Shiffrin’s all-time record for most Slalom wins, now 45. It was also her 100th World Cup medal.

“I definitely wasn’t thinking about records today,” said Shiffrin. “I just wanted to ski well. This slope has kind of tripped me up the last several years. I just wanted to ski strong. It was really fun.”

● Athletics ● Ukraine’s 2019 Worlds silver medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, still just 19, got her 2021 season off to a great start by equaling her World U-20 Record at 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) in an indoor meet in Kiev (UKR) last Saturday (9th).

Teammate Yulia Levchenko was second at 1.95 m (6-4 3/4). Also on the books for 2021 is a 2.30 m (7-6 1/2) world-leader indoor for Russia’s Mikhail Akimenko in Yekaterinburg (RUS) on the seventh of January.

Suspensions of quality Kenyan runners for whereabouts failures continues with sanctions against 24-year-old Alfred Kipketer, the 2014 World Junior Champion and a 2016 Olympic finalist, who ran 1:42.87 in 2016 and 1:44.50 in 2019.

Kipketer missed four tests in less than 11 months between 27 November 2018 and 11 September 2019. It’s his first doping suspension and he will be ineligible to compete for two years, from 26 November 2019 to 25 November 2021.

● Badminton ● While doping gets most of the attention concerning “integrity” in sports, the spectra of match-fixing is very much on the minds of law enforcement and federation officials.

The Badminton World Federation made a significant statement last Friday, announcing decisions arising from whistleblower complaints.

Eight Indonesian players who competed at lower-level tournaments were investigated for match-fixing, with three banned for life – Hendra Tandjaya, Ivandi Danang and Androw Yunanto – and the other five were suspended from six to 12 years each, and fined between $3,000 and $12,000 each.

The allegations stemmed from activities at the 2015 Scottish Open and the 2017 New Zealand Open and 2017 U.S. Open and bribes were accepted for matches at the 2016 Hong Kong Open and Macau Open and the 2017 Syed Modi International Championships in India, Thailand Open, Chinese Taipei Open, New Zealand Open and Vietnam Open. The bribe amounts varied from 4 to 14 Indonesian rupiah, worth $284 to $995 U.S.

The sentences were handed down on 22 December 2020 and can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days.

● Football ● Former U.S. World Cup star and interim U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone will run unopposed for a final year of the term started by Carlos Cordeiro in 2018.

The USSF Annual General Meeting will be held online on 27 February. Parlow Cone was elected as Vice President on February of 2019, then moved up to President when Cordeiro resigned last March. An election for President is required under USSF rules at the next annual meeting following a non-elective change. A vote for a four-year term will be available in 2022.

Parlow Cone has been working to settle the suit between the U.S. Women’s National Team and the federation and closed the working conditions portion of the dispute at the end of 2020. But the USWNT is now appealing the judgement against it by the U.S. District Court over its “equal pay” action.

Further, the collective bargaining agreement between the USSF and the women’s team ends late this year and the men’s team has not had a new work agreement since 2018. But having continued stability with a former star player at the helm is a clear benefit for the federation.

The 2021 schedule continues to expand, as the USSF announced the dates and teams for the sixth SheBelieves Cup, to be held in February in Orlando, Florida.

Brazil, Canada and Japan will join the U.S. in playing six matches at Exploria Stadium from 18-24 February, to be televised on FS1 and TUDN.

● Handball ● The 27th IHF World Championship for men begins on Wednesday in Egypt and runs through the end of January, with 32 teams from five confederations set to play at four different venues.

European teams are expected to dominate the tournament, with defending champ Denmark a slight favorite over 2019 runner-up Norway, 2020 European Champion Spain, a French squad which has won four of the last six World titles, 2020 European runner-up Croatia and 2007 World Champion Germany.

The organizers have bowed to pressure from the European Handball Players Union and are allowing no spectators at any games and no live coverage by news media!

This is the first world championship competition being held since the World Anti-Doping Agency’s sanctions against Russia were trimmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Far from removing Russia from competing, the Russian team is in Egypt – as a wild-card selection – and ready to start its first match on 14 January. However, its uniforms will only include the Russian Handball Federation logo, without any text and it will be recognized as the “Russian Handball Federation” instead of “Russia.”

The U.S. is playing in the IHF Worlds for the seventh time, but for the first time since 2001, but is in a difficult draw in Group E with Norway, Austria and France.

About the only happy thing about the 2021 IHF Worlds is the use of the ancient Egyptian deity Horus as the tournament mascot. A familiar figure in Egyptian commercial usage, the mascot uses a falcon’s head; worshipped into the Roman period, Horus was the god of kings and the sky.

● Ice Hockey ● The question of what to do about Belarus as a co-host of the 2021 IIHF men’s World Championship tournament was front-and-center on Monday as a federation delegation met with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Said IIHF chief Rene Fasel (SUI): “The situation today is different than it was in 2014 when we despite some resistance had a perfectly organized World Championship. We were all there and can remember it well. The circumstances in Belarus have been different since last summer. We are here to address the situation and to find constructive solutions.”

Protests against Lukashenko started before the 2020 elections last August and intensified after Lukashenko was declared the winner for a sixth consecutive, five-year term. The European Union imposed sanctions last October against government officials accused of political repression and vote rigging. Marches have continued into 2021 and Latvian officials – co-hosts for the 2021 IIHF Worlds – have said they will not co-host the tournament with Belarus.

Fasel is leading an International Ice Hockey Federation delegation to Minsk – planned as the site of the games in Belarus – and said on Monday:

“As part of a careful evaluation of Minsk’s capability to co-host the World Championship, we are discussing the issues with different groups and are grateful for the possibility to meet with representatives of the Belarusian government and the Organizing Committee to hear their inputs to ensure a balanced approach. The process has started this morning and will be continued with more meetings in Minsk and with discussions within the IIHF Council.”

The IIHF Worlds are scheduled for 21 May-6 June 2021. Belarus athletes have also sounded the alarm on political interference with their training and competition programs related to the protests against the government and the International Olympic Committee is investigating the issues with concern.

● Nordic Skiing ● Further to the issue of Russian participation in world championship events, the Russian Ski Federation told the Russian TASS news agency that for the upcoming Nordic Skiing World Championships – Cross Country, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping – in Germany in late February and early March, Russian athletes would compete under the flag of the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).

Further, Russian competitors will wear uniforms designating them as “National Athletes of Russia” and if a Russian wins an event – highly likely in cross country – the FIS anthem will be played instead of the Russian anthem.

This is not what the World Anti-Doping Agency had in mind with its sanctions against Russia, but these were trimmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● Wrestling ● Another Iranian wrestler may be executed for alleged crimes in 2015.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Mehdi Ali Hosseini, 29, was charged with murder during a brawl in 2015 and may be executed shortly. This follows the killing of Greco-Roman wrestler Navid Afkari in September for crimes allegedly committed during an anti-government protest in 2018.

Protests against an execution of Hosseini have come from inside Iran; organizations outside the country have asked United World Wrestling and the International Olympic Committee to ban Iran from international competition. Neither has done so, in part because these actions are not directly related to sports but to civil or political issues.

A United World Wrestling statement posted on Monday (11th) included:

“We are currently still gathering information. At this stage, it appears that this a criminal case only, with no sports-related background. So far, we have learned from the Iranian Wrestling Federation that Mehdi Ali Hosseini was a regional level wrestler, who did not participate in national or international level competitions. United World Wrestling will not comment on this case before it has a clear picture of the situation.”

● At the BuZZer ● The World Anti-Doping Agency issued a “Guidance Note” concerning “substances of abuse” – recreational drugs – in conjunction with the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code.

Bad news for fanciers of cocaine, heroin, meth-amphetamine and THC, the active element of marijuana, as the Code states:

“if the Athlete can establish that any ingestion or Use occurred Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sport performance, then the period of Ineligibility shall be three months Ineligibility. In addition, the period of Ineligibility calculated under this Article 10.2.4.1 may be reduced to one month if the Athlete or other Person satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by the Anti-Doping Organization with Results Management responsibility.”

That’s hardly the same as a four-year sanction for steroids, but much more than simply inconvenient. Much more.

On Tuesday (12th), the Court of Arbitration for Sport held that a doping specimen from Canadian equestrian athlete Nicole Walker which showed positive for a metabolite of cocaine at the 2019 Pan American Games was grounds for her disqualification and of her fourth-place squad in the Team Jumping competition.

Now she knows, and you do, too.

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LANE ONE: “If the U.S. becomes a rogue state I think we will start looking at whether the Games in Los Angeles should proceed”

Rich Perelman

January 11, 2021

la 2028 emblems set-10 2020-110 781x500 — A July poll said Americans like the 2028 Olympics being in Los Angeles by 78-4%!

Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Canadian Olympic swimmer Richard W. “Dick” Pound became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1978 and has been one of the most important, influential and consequential players in international sports ever since.

In a story posted on Friday (8th) by Steve Keating of Reuters, he dropped a bomb on the U.S. Olympic Movement and potentially the hosting of the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles in 2028:

“We will have to wait and see but at some point if the U.S. becomes a rogue state I think we will start looking at whether the Games in Los Angeles should proceed.

“They are not performing their obligations under the convention and they’re trying to destabilize not only the structure but funding of WADA and that’s not acceptable behaviour especially since they participated in all the decisions for continental funding right from the beginning.”

When Pound speaks about Olympic matters and especially about doping, listening is required. Not only is the senior member of the International Olympic Committee, but was one of the architects of the World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] when it was formed in 1999, through 2007, with its headquarters in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec.

His reference to U.S. obligations not being followed stems from a report last June by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy which openly suggested that American representation on the WADA Executive Committee should be calibrated to its 2020 dues contribution of $2.71 million, which is the largest annual dues payment by any government (the IOC pays 50% of WADA’s annual budget, matching the combined governmental dues dollar-for-dollar).

WADA’s reply pointedly noted: “In February 2020, nations of the Americas region met in Ecuador for their annual inter-governmental meeting American Sports Council (CADE) to discuss mutual anti-doping interests, including representation on WADA’s Board and ExCo for the two-year period following the meeting. Unfortunately, the U.S. chose not to attend that meeting.”

and

“WADA cannot be governed solely by the few richest countries. Athletes who compete against U.S. athletes come from all over the globe and in fairness to U.S. athletes, we want to ensure their competitors are subject to the same stringent rules as they are. To make sure that happens, there needs to be representation from all regions of the world.”

The U.S. ONDCP report was issued under the authority of Jim Carroll, who was Acting Director of the $35 billion agency from 2018-19 and Director since 31 January 2019. As a Trump appointee, his future is unclear at best.

Pound also brought up the recently-passed “Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020,” which includes sec. 220552:

“Effective on the date of enactment of a joint resolution described in section 220551(2)(A) with respect to the board of directors of the [U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee], such board of directors shall be dissolved.”

The Congress can also, by the same means, de-certify a U.S. National Governing Body [NGB]. Pound remarked:

“The Congressional legislation focusing on the U.S. Olympic Committee gives Congress the power to rule over the board of directors is on the statute books and is clearly a violation of the Olympic Charter, kind of like it is in Italy at the moment.

“All these things are not just going to go away just because it is the U.S.”

The Italian reference is to laws being considered in that country to take control of the Olympic-sport finances away from the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and given to a recently-formed government agency. IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) told reporters last September, “At the beginning of the month we had to write a letter to the minister of sport expressing these serious concerns. With this law CONI is not compliant with the Olympic Charter,” which insists on the autonomy of National Olympic Committees to operate Olympic sport in their countries.

Further in the doping context is the recently-passed Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019, which establishes U.S. criminal penalties for those assisting doping, but which also allows for “extra-territorial jurisidiction,” allowing the U.S. Department of Justice to go after violations of the law taking place anywhere in the world. This is an issue for WADA, which issued a strong statement against this provision after passage in November.

But Pound did not mention this in his comments to Reuters.

The threat against the 2028 Games in Los Angeles is hardly imminent. Said Pound:

“Not so much at this point because the principal effort now is trying to make sure that we find a way to have the Games in Tokyo. But as that picture evolves this kind of thing [about LA28] is going to bubble up to the surface.”

Let’s be clear, the Los Angeles organizers are not only completely innocent in all this, they are little more than bystanders. Pound’s concerns are with the U.S. government on both the WADA dues and Congressional power to vaporize the USOPC Board, as well as the Rodchenkov Act.

Under enormous pressure from the U.S. Congress over the Nassar abuse scandal in gymnastics, the USOPC has been publicly supportive of the “Empowering Olympic” Act, although chief executive Sarah Hirshland sent a letter to the Senate Committee considering the bill in November 2019 that included:

“The USOPC should be the sole entity with authority to terminate NGB recognition in order to eliminate any confusion surrounding NGB accountability. Additionally, the International Olympic Committee has made clear that Congress assuming the power to dissolve the USOPC board would violate the Olympic Charter and endanger our recognition by the IOC as a National Olympic Committee.”

A proposed amendment to remove the offending language was defeated, but the fight may not be over. Pound is nothing if not clever, and his comments – given the timing – may be aimed at the in-formation Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. Only six members of this group have been named – out of 16 – and its report is due, under the statute, by the end of July 2021! It could recommend a change to the statute, and the power to displace the USOPC Board will only be activated on 30 October 2021.

Naysayers will point out that Pound, now 78, will retire from the IOC at the end of the year in which he turns 80, which is 2022. IOC chief Bach will be re-elected in 2021 – he is running unopposed – and will serve into 2025, at which point it would be too late to do anything about the 2028 Games. However, Bach has shown little tolerance for national governmental breaches of the Olympic Charter, but there are many who believe the U.S. – as the IOC’s key commercial partner – would not be touched.

Unlikely? Yes. Certain? No, especially since the issue could be taken up by the IOC in the fourth quarter of 2021 – post-Tokyo – with, astonishingly, another “safe hands” host city likely available in the Queensland (Australia) 2032 bid, already well advanced and which could possibly be activated for 2028. And penalizing the U.S. with the loss of an Olympic Games would send an in terrorem message to the rest of the Olympic Movement which will be remembered for generations.

As for the IOC’s finances, they would be untouched by the removal of the 2028 Games from Los Angeles to elsewhere, and could open the door for a consolation prize of a Salt Lake City hosting of the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, to be decided in 2022 or 2023.

Shaking your head in disbelief? Don’t; this is the Olympic Movement, where the unbelievable, the unthinkable and the impossible – whether on the field or off – is commonplace.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Jessie Diggins makes history with Tour de Ski win; Friedrich and Loch slide to European titles; Norway 4-for-4 in Biathlon World Cup

Rich Perelman

January 10, 2021

tsx pix 2021-110 diggins, jessie TdeSki 750 — She did it! Jessie Diggins becomes the first American to win an individual FIS World Cross Country Championships gold!

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● The FIS World Cup tour is happily settling into a groove, with three events during the past week.

The men’s tour included a night Slalom in Zagreb (CRO) on the 6th (Wednesday), won by Linus Strasser (GER), his second career World Cup win and fifth career medal. He stood only eighth after the first run, but skied well enough on the second run to record the fifth-best time and as the leaders faded, he finished 0.10 seconds ahead of Manuel Feller (AUT). Fellow Austrian Marco Schwarz was third.

Three days of technical races in Adelboden (SUI) followed on the weekend, with identical 1-2 finishes for the Giant Slalom races on Friday and Saturday: wins for France’s overall World Cup leader Alexis Pinturault, followed by Filip Zubcic (CRO) by 1.04 seconds and 1.26 seconds, with Swiss skiers Marco Odermatt and and Loic Meillard third. These were Pinturault’s third and fourth wins of the season, all in Giant Slaloms.

Sunday’s Slalom saw Marco Schwarz (AUT) get his third career World Cup gold – and first in two years – by just 0.14 over Strasser, with a rare British World Cup medal for Dave Ryding in third.

The women’s tour was in St. Anton (AUT) for a Downhill and Super-G. Italy’s Sofia Goggia continued her mastery of the Downhill, winning for the second time in the three races this season (she was runner-up in the other). Austria’s Tamara Tippler won her sixth career World Cup medal and first in a Downhill in second and American Breezy Johnson continued her long-hoped-for ascent into medal class with her third bronze in the third Downhill of the season.

Sunday’s Super-G was a showcase for former World Cup overall champ Lara Gut-Berhami (SUI), followed by Marta Bassino (ITA: +0.16) and Swiss star Corinne Suter (+0.20).

● Biathlon ● The IBU World Cup picked up again in Oberhof (GER) for the first of two weeks of racing, with Norway sweeping all the men’s individual medals, but “only” three of the six women’s medals.

Seasonal leader Johannes Thingnes Boe led a family 1-2 with a win over his older brother, Tarjei Boe (+10.8), in the 10 km Sprint, with this season’s new star, Sturla Holm Lagreid, third (+21.6). Then Langreid took the 12.5 km Pursuit by 15.6 seconds over Johannes Dale with Tarjei Boe third (+25.4), with J.T. Boe eighth. It was Langreid’s fourth win of the year, the most so far.

The women’s races showcased Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff, who won both the 7.5 km Sprint and 10 km Pursuit. She won easily in the 7.5 km Sprint by 29.6 seconds over Swede Hanna Oberg and 40.2 against Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser.

Eckhoff had a much tougher time in the 10 km Pursuit, squeezing past teammate and seasonal leader Marie Olsbu Roeiseland by just 0.5; the finish was close thanks to two shooting penalties for Eckhoff and none for Roeiseland. Hauser was third again, this time 43.0 seconds back.

The schedule continues next week with Sprint and Mass Start racing beginning on Wednesday.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The fifth of eight stops on the IBSF World Cup was in Winterberg (GER), which also doubled at the European Championships.

The scene of location meant little in terms of results: Francesco Friedrich won both men’s events and Germans dominated the women’s race. Friedrich – the double Olympic gold medalist from PyeongChang – won the two-man (this time with Thorsten Margis) for the eighth time in nine races this season. He was well ahead of fellow German Johannes Lochner (with Eric Franke) by 1:50.08-1:50.75, with Austrians Benjamin Maier and Markus Sammer third (1:50.93).

In the first four-man races of the season, Friedrich won again, besting Canada’s Justin Kripps and Maier, 1:48.13-1:48.70-1:48.89.

This was the first appearance for the North American sleds in the World Cup; the U.S. entries finished 14th (Codie Bascue) and 17th (Geoffrey Gadbois) in the two-man and tied for 14th (Bascue) and finished 16th (Gadbois) in the four-man.

The two-woman racing was won by Germany’s Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi, who won their third title of the season. They finished well ahead of teammates Kim Kalicki (with Ann-Christin Strack) and Mariama Jamanka (with Leonie Fiebig), 1:53.60-1:54.02-1:54.39. Austrians Katrin Beierl and Jennifer Onasanya tied for third.

North American sleds also competed for the first time this season: Canada’s Christine de Bruin (with Sara Villani) was fifth, followed by the U.S. sleds of Kaillie Humphries (with Sylvia Hoffman: 1:54.45) and Elana Meyers Taylor (with Lolo Jones: 1:54.48) in sixth and seventh.

In Skeleton, Russia’s Alexander Tretiakov won his second World Cup of the season, edging four-time winner Martins Dukurs (LAT) by 1:52.36-1:52.53, with Alexander Gassner (GER) third. Americans Austin Florian and Austin McCrary finished 15th and 20th.

Russia’s Elena Nikitina won her fourth European title in the women’s races, followed by Tina Hermann (GER) and Austria’s Janine Flock, the seasonal leader. Flock continued her streak of medaling in each race this season, now up to five. The top U.S. finisher was Katie Uhlaender in 13th.

● Luge ● The sixth of nine stops on the FIL World Cup circuit was in Sigulda (LAT) – and included the European Championships – but it looked like the rest, as German superstar Felix Loch won for the seventh time in eight races this season. He completed a 1-2 finish with countryman Johannes Ludwig for the third time in 2020-21, 1:35.884-1:36.104, with Dominik Fischnaller (ITA) claiming his fourth bronze medal.

The U.S. joined the circuit for the first time, with Tucker West, Chris Mazdzer and Jonathan Gustafson finishing 12-13-15.

The men’s Doubles saw Latvia’s Andris and Juris Sics win for the first time this season, slipping past Germans Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, 1:23.610-1:23.639. Martins Bots and Roberts Plume (LAT) finished third. The U.S. pair of Mazdzer and Jayson Terdiman finished 10th.

The women’s races saw Russian Tatiana Ivanova win for the second time this season; she’s the only non-German to win in the eight races. Just as amazing was German Natalie Geisenberger in second place; the four-time Olympic gold medalist has now been the runner-up in all eight races this season! Russian Victoria Demchenko was third; American entries Summer Britcher, Brittney Arndt and Ashley Farquharson were 10-12-14 in the standings.

● Nordic Skiing ● She did it!

True, the Norwegians – winners of the last seven editions – did not compete, but American Jessie Diggins was nonetheless brilliant, winning two stages and in the top three in six of the eight races of the 15th Tour de Ski to become the first U.S. skier to win the Tour.

Diggins held the lead off five medal performances in a row in the first five stages – 3rd-3rd-1st-1st-3rd, then headed to Val di Fiemme (ITA) for the final weekend, with Russian Yulia Stupak in hot pursuit. In the 10 km Classical Mass Start on Friday, Diggins finished ninth while Russian Natalia Nepryaeva won by 2.4 seconds over Katharina Hennig (GER) and 4.1 ahead of Swede Ebba Andersson.

Then came the 1.27 km Classical Sprint on Saturday, with neither Diggins nor Stupak making the final. Sweden enjoyed a sweep, with Linn Svahn winning her third event of the Tour de Ski, ahead of Maja Dahlqvist and Emma Ribom. Stupak (8th), Diggins (10th) and Rosie Brennan (12th) of the U.S. reached the semifinals.

The final leg was Sunday’s 10 km Freestyle Mass Start. The race belonged to Andersson, who won in 36:45.6, 9.2 seconds ahead of Diggins, with Delphine Claudel (FRA) third, some 32.6 seconds behind the winner. Brennan was seventh.

Add it all up and Diggins’s cumulative time of 3:04:45.8 was the winner by 1:24.8 over Stupak, 2:00.8 over Andersson, with Brennan sixth (+3:27.6).

“This is a lifelong goal…it really means a lot,” said Diggins, 29, afterwards. “We have had an amazing team atmosphere this whole time, amazing support, and help, and so many cheers from all around the world, so that really gave me wings up the hill today.”

The men’s Tour de Ski was dominated by Russia’s defending champion, Alexander Bolshunov, who won five of the eight races, was second twice and third once. At Val di Fiemme, he won the 15 km Classical Mass Start, was third in the Classical Sprint and second in the 10 km Freestyle Mass Start.

Francesco di Fabiani (ITA) was second and Alexey Chervotkin (RUS) third in the 15 km Classical Mass Start, and Swede Oskar Svensson was the Sprint winner, with Gleb Retivykh (RUS) second and Bolshunov third. On Sunday, Russian Denis Spitsov won, with Bolshunov second and France’s Maurice Manificat third. That finish helped propel the Frenchman to second overall in the Tour de Ski with Spitsov third and Russia taking places 3-7.

In Ski Jumping, the men finished the Four Hills Tournament on Wednesday, with Poland’s Kamil Stoch taking his third career title, but there was no time for rest. The tour moved to Titisee-Neustadt in Germany for jumping on Saturday and Sunday off the 142 m Hochfirstschanze. And Stoch was in great form again, scoring his third straight win on Saturday, outscoring seasonal leader Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR)and Pole Piotr Zyla, 281.6-277.6-270.8.

On Sunday, it was Granerud taking his sixth win of the season – and first of 2021 – with a 299.4-297.0 margin over teammate Daniel Andre Tande, with Austrian veteran Stefan Kraft (291.3) third.

● Snowboard ● The FIS World Cup resumed with the Big Air opener in Kreischberg (AUT). Canadian vet Max Parrot was the only one to score more than 80 points on two of his three runs and compiled 165.00 points to edge Sven Thorgren (SWE: 164.00) and Norway’s Mons Roisland (163.20). Roisland had the best individual score of the event, with a final-round 91.00.

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott won her second career World Cup – and first in Big Air – by edging Japan’s Kokomo Murase, 162.40-161.80, with 2018 Olympic champ Anna Gasser (AUT: 161.40) third.

The third Parallel Giant Slalom of the season was held in Scuol (SUI), with Russian Igor Sluev winning his first career World Cup race, by just 1:08.45-1:09.11 Pole Michal Nowaczyk, with Slovenia’s Tim Mastnak third.

The women’s PGS had another first-time winner in Russian Sofia Nadyrshina, who won by more than a second over German Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER), 1:11.81-1:12.86, with Swiss veteran Julie Zogg third (1:14.32). Hofmeister is the only medalist all in three races so far this season.

● Coming Attractions ● Of this special interest this week are the Doha Masters in Judo – with the return to competition of 10-time World Champion Teddy Riner (FRA), and the U.S. Figure Skating National Championships in Las Vegas!

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THE TICKER: More Tokyo virus concerns; Luvo Manyonga suspended for whereabouts; Tommy Lasorda passes at 93

Rich Perelman

January 8, 2021

tsx pix 2021-108 us wins iihf world juniors 750 (usah) — The U.S. celebrates a IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton! (Photo: USA Hockey)

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● A state of emergency was declared for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in view of escalating infections from the coronavirus. The International Olympic Committee provided a statement to the Kyodo News Service:

“The IOC has full confidence in the Japanese authorities and the measures they are taking.

“Together with our Japanese partners, we continue to be fully concentrated and committed to the safe and successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 this summer.”

Senior IOC member Dick Pound of Canada was less sure, telling the BBC, “I can’t be certain because the ongoing elephant in the room would be the surges in the virus.” The BBC story noted that “Pound added that competitors should be high up the priority list when it comes to getting vaccinated.”

Prediction: nothing is going to get decided until late March or early-to-mid April.

● Athletics ● Major announcement from the Athletics Integrity Unit of a provisional suspension of South Africa’s 2017 World Long Jump Champion Luvo Manyonga for “whereabouts” failures.

Manyonga, now 30, has been one of the favorites for Tokyo in the event, but could now face a lengthy suspension. “Whereabouts” failures often lead to two-year bans, but Manyonga was previously suspended for the use of Tik (a locally-used methamphetamine) for 18 months in 2012, potentially exacerbating any new penalty for several years.

“The 2021 USATF Indoor Championships, originally scheduled for Feb. 20-21 in Albuquerque, N.M., have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, USATF announced today (Friday).”

The 2020 Indoor was held in Albuquerque, but there will be no event this year. The World Athletics Indoor Tour is now scheduled to start on 24 January at the Tyson Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas (USA).

World Athletics released bid guides for three major upcoming events, including the 2023 World Relays and new Road Running Championships and the 2025 World Championships:

● The 2023 World Relays are projected to cost the host $3.5-4.0 million for a two-day event, with economic impact potential of $5.87 million, mostly from spending to organize the event. Really?

● The 2023 World Road Running Championships, built around the World Half Marathon Championships, is expected to run for a week and cost $2.0-2.5 million to stage, with a potential direct economic impact from tourism and event spending of $6.08 million.

● The 2025 World Championships, often whispered to preferably be placed in Africa, has a $70-80 million price tag, with potential direct economic impact of $104.1 million, mostly from tourism.

Expressions of interest are due by 1 March 2021.

Coach and NALAthletics.com founder George Perry had some time over the holidays to dig deeper into the Equity in Athletics database, which houses data on all collegiate athletic programs in the U.S.

His latest study is on the cost of performance at the NCAA Division I Championships, where he shows the cost-per-point from the 2019 meet. His presentation uses graphics, but he provided the tools for calculation in a text format. So here goes, from 59 schools that scored points in his database:

(Note that this is based on total costs – NOT net costs – of the men’s and women’s T&F programs taken together, with men’s and women’s points combined.)

● The most expensive cost-per-point schools:
1. $2.447 million per, for 3 points: Oklahoma
2. $1,703 million per, for 4 points: Nebraska
3. $525,601 per, for 7 points: Purdue
4. $479,242 per, for 5 points: Wichita State
5. $464,804 per, for 7 points: Missouri
6. $452,222 per, for 8 points: Auburn
7. $440,135 per, for 12 points: Michigan
8. $414,659 per, for 5 points: Georgia Tech
9. $362,497 per, for 13 points: Miami
10. $356,735 per, for 10 points: Iowa State

● The least expensive were the schools that scored the big points:
1. $48,821 per, for 38 points: North Carolina A&T
2. $59,160 per, for 27 points: New Mexico
3. $63,095 per, for 82 points: Florida
4. $69,084 per, for 63 points: Southern California
5. $70,529 per, for 70 points: Texas Tech
6. $75,171 per, for 83 points: Louisiana State
7. $88,270 per, for 52 points: Stanford
8. $91,444 per, for 13 points: Southern Mississippi
9. $91,859 per, for 67 points: Texas A&M
10. $94,770 per, for 37 points: Brigham Young

Of the schools which did not score an NCAA Outdoor Championships point in 2019, the largest investments in the sports – according to the school-provided data – came from Clemson (spent $4.715 million), Tennessee ($4.273 million), Mississippi (spent $4.261 million), Penn State ($4.107 million), and Duke ($3.976 million). Another 15 schools spent more than $3 million and a further 18 spent more than $2 million. Wow.

From just a single year’s set of data, it’s not possible to derive any meaningful trends, but it underscores – once more – that the leading sponsor of track & field in the United States is our universities.

Lee Evans, the 1968 Olympic champion in the 400 m in Mexico City, who later won a second gold in the 4×400 m relay, scored another major victory more than 40 years after his last race, when a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria reversed a ban imposed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

Evans, now 73, had been working as a coach for the Lagos State Government when suspended for allegedly giving banned substances to a Nigerian athlete. But in a decision apparently handed down last 21 December:

“The judge set aside the report of the AFN’s anti-doping committee fair hearing panel which sat on February 17, 2014, for being speculative, devoid of fair hearing and having been arrived at in a manner unknown to law.

“Justice Faji also awarded N46,430,000.00 in favour of the former Olympian, being the total money and special damages, which he ought to have earned within the four years that his appointment was unlawfully suspended.” That about $117,540 in U.S. dollars.

● Baseball ● Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda suffered a heart attack and passed away on Friday (8th) at age 93.

Most famous for managing the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976-96, Lasorda’s teams won two World Series, four National League pennants and eight division titles. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

He brought an infectious enthusiasm to his team – and to Los Angeles – that endeared him to Dodger fans and made him the target of abuse for others (which he often enjoyed). Less well appreciated was his lifelong devotion to the game of baseball.

He coached an underdog U.S. team to the Olympic title in 2000 in Sydney, Australia and was a key ambassador and promoter of the World Baseball Classic in its early editions in 2006 and 2009. On the international level, his impact was important and will be enduring.

● Coming Attractions ● The worldwide sports schedule is filling up a bit more.

U.S. Soccer announced that the U.S. Women’s National Team will play Colombia in two friendlies in Orlando, Florida on 18 and 22 January. The U.S. women last played against The Netherlands last November, winning 2-0.

The International Judo Federation announced a partial World Tour schedule for 2021, starting with the Doha Masters this weekend. The tournament will include the return of 10-time World Champion Teddy Riner (FRA) in the +100 kg category, looking for points for Olympic qualification for Tokyo. His nearly 10-year win streak of 154 matches was ended last February by Japan’s Kokoro Kageura in the Paris Grand Slam.

● Ice Hockey ● More on the amazing U.S. win by 2-0 over Canada in the final of the IIHF men’s World Junior Championship in Edmonton (CAN) on Tuesday (5th), which gave the Americans their fifth title.

Certainly the Canadians were favored, having won all four of their group games and outscoring their opponents, 41-4, and having given up one goal in their last four games. But the U.S., despite an opening loss to Russia, had shown considerable tenacity, especially in the 4-3 overtime semifinal win against Finland.

The U.S. took the lead just 13:25 into the game on a goal from Alex Turcotte, and stayed aggressive throughout the period, out-shooting Canada by 13-9. Canada had more action in the second period, with 10 shots on goal to seven for the U.S., but Trevor Zegras got the second goal of the game just 32 seconds into the period, putting the hosts on their heels.

The Canadians made a game effort in the third period, out-shooting the U.S. by 15-1 (!), but keeper Spencer Knight was perfect and maintained the shutout.

This was the fifth time that the U.S. and Canada had met in the World Junior final, and the fourth straight win for the Americans, also in 2004-10-17.

“We had a great start,” noted U.S. coach Nate Leaman. “We hadn’t had great starts our previous games. I thought the guys were tight, but today they were loose. They were loose all day. We had a really good first and then an excellent start coming out for the second. That second goal was really big. It just made it that much harder for Canada. They’re a great team. They pushed us in the third period, but we bent; we didn’t break. The bonus was that we got the first goal.”

Zegras was named the Most Valuable Player and was joined on the All-Star Team by Canada’s Devon Levi (goalie), Dylan Cozens (forward) and Bowen Byram (defense), plus defenseman Ville Heinola (FIN) and forward Tim Stutzle (GER). Zegras ended as the leading scorer with 18 points (7+11); Cozens had the most goals with eight.

● Nordic Skiing ● Two major skiing events are up this week, with Poland’s Kamil Stoch winning the famed Four Hills Tournament in ski jumping and Jessie Diggins possibly in line to become the first American to win the Tour de Ski.

At the Four Hills, Stoch – a three-time Olympic gold medalist – placed 2-4-1-1 to win his third career title. After winning in Innsbruck (AUT) on Sunday (3rd), he then won the final event at Bischofshofen (AUT) over Marius Lindvik (NOR) and Karl Geiger (GER) to finish with 1,110.6 points. Geiger was second at 1,062.5 and Poland’s Dawid Kubacki was third (1,057.8).

At the Tour de Ski, the men’s events have been dominated by Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov, who has won five in a row after finishing second in the opening Sprint. With two events left – both in Val di Fiemme, Italy, he has a 2:37 lead over France’s Maurice Manificat and 2:47 over Russian teammate Ivan Yakimushkin.

Diggins has a lead of 0:55 over Russian Yulia Stupak with two events left, and 1:42 over Swede Frida Karlsson. After a 1-2 finish with teammate Rosie Brennan on 3 January at Val Mustair (SUI) in the 10 km Freestyle Pursuit, Diggins and Brennan finished 1-2 again in the 10 km Freestyle race at Toblach (ITA) on Tuesday (5th) and the two were 3-4 on Wednesday in the 10 km Classical Pursuit in Toblach, with Stupak winning.

At Val di Fiemme on Friday (8th), Diggins finished ninth in the 10 km Classical Mass Start, with remaining races on Saturday (1.3 km Classical Sprint) and Sunday (10 km Final Climb Mass Start). No American has ever won the Tour de Ski.

This series, now in its 15th edition, has been dominated by Norwegian skiers, who dropped out in December after requesting that only five events be held (instead of eight) in view of the coronavirus.

● Water Polo ● An online petition launched by four former U.S. Olympians or alternates is calling for the dismissal of USA Water Polo Board Chair Michael Graff and chief executive Chris Ramsey, based on reports in the Orange County Register of their responses to allegations of abuse by a coach in 2017 and of a USA Water Polo official from 2009-15.

As of mid-day Friday, the petition had 661 signatures vs. the USA Water Polo membership total of about 45,000. The federation released a statement noting its concern over the veracity of the petition, including

“We have learned from a member of our staff that she was added as a signatory to this petition without her permission. In light of this, we have serious concerns about the agenda of the parties behind the petition and whether the parties purportedly supporting the petition in fact do so. As a consequence, we have launched an investigation regarding the petition.”

USA Water Polo’s annual meeting will be held on 30 January 2021; just as important – or more so – will be the reaction of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which is already keenly scrutinizing all of the National Governing Bodies for compliance with the U.S. Center for SafeSport requirements and procedures.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The “not in my backyard” or “NIMBY” syndrome is hardly limited to the U.S., as Agence France Presse reported a new lawsuit by opponents of the to-be-built media village for the 2024 Games in a portion of Georges Valbon Park in the Seine-Saint-Denis section of the city.

An environmental group and 12 park users filed the action against the Departmental Council of Saint-Denis, which approved the land sale for development. The project will create 1,300 homes and shops in the area, which needs housing. Some 32 acres (13 hec.) are to be cleaned up and converted to new parkland; the Georges Valbon Park is enormous, spanning 1,030 acres (417 hec.), compared to 840 acres for Central Park in New York!

AFP reported that “The summary suspension must be studied by the administrative court of appeal of Paris, competent for disputes related to the Olympic Games-2024.”

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LANE ONE: The top stories for 2021, from no. 5 to no. 1: will Tokyo really happen?

Rich Perelman

January 6, 2021

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We’re less than a week into 2021 and it’s already been a tumultuous year on ice, with the U.S. men upsetting Canada, 2-0, to win the IIHF men’s World Junior (U-20) Championship in Edmonton last night, and IIHF President Rene Fasel (SUI) conceded that the federation is looking at possible alternatives to Belarus as a co-host for the 2021 men’s World Championship in view of the continuing political unrest there.

Our preview of the year ahead has covered the expected stars of a Tokyo Games, including American stars Simone Biles, Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky, so let’s look ahead to our projected top-5 stories of 2021:

No. 5: The economy and revenue needs for Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and beyond

Thanks to the emergence of vaccines for the coronavirus, something resembling “normal” life is expected to return in 2021. But the calendar is moving ahead for organizing committees in Paris and Los Angeles for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games, and for other events.

The Paris organizers state they have raised about half of their €1.1 billion (~$1.35 billion U.S.) domestic sponsorship target and have about two years remaining to obtain the rest. Time enough, but will the business environment rebound strongly enough in Europe?

When Los Angeles was awarded the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad back in 2017, it seemed very far away. It’s about 7 1/2 years away now and drawing closer by the day. The LA28 sponsorship target is an ambitious $2.5 billion (in a $6.9 billion budget) with one sponsorship announced – Delta Airlines – so far. Look for more agreements to be announced post-Tokyo.

The success of LA28 in the commercial marketplace will have a significant ripple effect, possibly impacting the hosting of the 2030 Olympic Winter Games. The best candidate available is Salt Lake City, Utah – host in 2002 – and ready to go again. But choosing Salt Lake City now would negatively impact LA28’s marketing opportunities, but if the L.A. team scores big on the sponsorship front in 2021, it might agree to have Salt Lake City bid for 2030 instead of the expected 2034 date.

Here in the U.S., two 2022 events will be looking for more commercial support as soon as the Covid crisis recedes at all: the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. It’s not the easiest time to be selling.

No. 4: Doping: the cases just keep on coming

The World Anti-Doping Agency will have its hands full in 2021, just from issues remaining from 2020, as will the Court of Arbitration for Sport! Among these:

● The judgement of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 17 December that narrowed the WADA sanctions on Russia (specifically the Russian Anti-Doping Agency) has been vigorously denounced in many quarters. WADA can appeal this to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, but the 30-day filing period will close on 16 January. Will it pursue an appeal? It should.

● The impasse over payment of dues by the U.S. to WADA is still in discussions. A filing by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy last June criticized WADA and insisted that the U.S. should have more representation on the Executive Committee. WADA responded angrily in June, submitting a red-lined version of the U.S. ONDCP report rejecting its position and noting that the U.S. did not even submit any candidates for the Executive Committee at the last opportunity to do so.

About $2.71 million is at stake here, in a WADA budget of $43.4 million for 2021. Will the U.S. ONDCP position change with a new administration?

● The Court of Arbitration for Sport will be busy with further appeals of doping cases, including a remand of the Yang Sun case. The Swiss Federal Tribunal did not tinker with the CAS decision of 28 February 2020 of an eight-year ban for China’s triple Olympic swimming gold medalist, but ordered a re-hearing because of possible bias of one of the arbitrators. So the case has to be heard again.

Appeals have also been filed in two high-profile track & field cases from the Athletics Integrity Unit. World Athletics filed an appeal against the AIU’s no-fault finding for Bahraini sprinter Salwa Eid Naser in October, where she could have been suspended for up to four years for “whereabouts” failures.

World 100 m champ Christian Coleman of the U.S. has filed an appeal against an AIU decision that imposed a two-year ban for “whereabouts” failures. The hearing schedule for both cases has yet to be announced.

In addition to all this, WADA, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the rest of the anti-doping world will be watching what impact – if any – the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019 will have. WADA continues to be under pressure from the U.S. and others to amplify the “athlete voice” within its governance structure, but this could be quickly overshadowed if the U.S. Department of Justice decides to aggressively pursue doping prosecutions for actions outside of the country’s borders.

No. 3: Pipeline, protests, oversight and finance worries for the USOPC

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland noted in a recent news conference that the organization will be especially busy now with three Games coming in a four-year period: Tokyo in 2021, Beijing Winter Games in 2022 and Paris in 2024.

But that’s not even half of the challenges the USOPC is facing.

Leaving aside for now the looming financial peril if the Tokyo Games are not held, the USOPC has significant issues all around:

● The “pipeline” that produces many members of the U.S. Olympic Team – collegiate sports programs, especially the NCAA schools – has been endangered by financial stress and the coronavirus pandemic.

Stanford is cutting 11 varsity sports. Clemson and Minnesota drew headlines for cutting track & field, although Minnesota reinstated outdoor track only. USA Gymnastics began working with the Collegiate Gymnastics Association and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to find ways to save NCAA men’s programs.

Observed University of Arkansas Sport Management Professor Steve Dittmore: “[W]hile the Olympics needs college athletics, college athletics simply does not need Olympic sport, and the December 7, 2020 announcement from the IOC about inclusion of skateboarding, breaking, and surfing to the 2024 Paris Games should underscore this.”

The USOPC has responded, with the formation of a 34-member USOPC College Sports Sustainability Think Tank, but it will need to work fast.

● The USOPC formed a Council on Racial and Social Justice and has agreed to support its recommendations and “will not sanction Team USA athletes for respectfully demonstrating in support of racial and social justice for all human beings.” But what that means exactly to yet to be determined.

Moreover, the IOC Athletes’ Commission appears to be headed in another direction, as its chair, Olympic swimming champ Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) noted in a Twitter post:

“The IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) has received the statement from the Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice which elaborates on racial and social problems in their country. This statement will be taken into consideration among the other feedback it has received and continues to receive from the athletes of the other 205 NOCs. …

“While the consultation is still ongoing, from what we have heard so far through the qualitative process, the majority:

“emphasise the right of free speech which is respected at the Olympic Games, and
“express support for preserving the ceremonies, the [awards] podium and the field of play.

“Many have also recognised the practical question of how to choose between the opinions of hundreds of issues from different angles around the world. From the work we have done so far, we can see that it would be very difficult to make such a judgement without diving the athlete community across all 206 NOCs.” (Emphasis added)

If American athletes are protesting in force in Tokyo, what does the USOPC do, and what will be the reaction not just of the IOC, but of so many others in sport worldwide?

● Just as the Tokyo Games are scheduled to start, the work of the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics should be wrapping up. Created by the passage of the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, the 16-member group is tasked with reviewing the organization’s recent reforms, diversity, athlete participation, licensing agreements, goals, finances and performance of the National Governing Bodies, with its report due by the end of July 2021.

So far, only six of the 16 members – half of which have to be current or former athletes – have been nominated. It’s hard to know how the Commission is going to work, but it could ask for many more changes in the way the USOPC operates and spends its money.

● Which brings us to finances. If the Tokyo Games does not happen, the entire U.S. Olympic Movement is in trouble. The USOPC is supported primarily by the U.S. share of American television rights sales and IOC sponsorships. If Tokyo doesn’t happen, there will be a lot of trouble.

All of which adds up to a wild year ahead for Hirshland, USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons and the entire organization.

No. 2: What to do about Russia?

In the aftermath of the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to trim the WADA-imposed sanctions on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, the visceral reaction of many athletes and observers was to (1) decry the actual sanctions as little more than a “slap on the wrist” and to (2) continue to distrust Russian athletes as potential dopers.

The first demonstration of the “impact” of the CAS version of the sanctions will come on 14 January, when the Russian Handball Federation team – not “Russia” – will face Belarus in a group-stage match at the men’s World Handball Championships in Egypt. The uniforms can be in Russian colors – white, blue and red – and use the logo of the Russian federation, but without text. That’s a long way from banning Russia from any and all World Championships, as the WADA ban purported to do.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart has called it a “re-branding” as opposed to sanctions.

The International Olympic Committee voiced its concern in its terse comment on the CAS decision:

“The IOC has taken note of the CAS decision. It will now carefully evaluate the award and its consequences for competitions within the Olympic Movement, in particular with regard to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. In this respect, the IOC will consult with the International Federations and the International Paralympic Committee with a view to having a consistent approach in the implementation of the award.”

The vanguard among the federations has been World Athletics, which still has Russia on suspension since 2015, but has indicated it might allow a small number of Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in Tokyo. But that decision is still to come.

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has been diplomatic and low-key, simply insisting that “clean Russian athletes” should be able to compete. As noted above, WADA would do well to file an appeal on the CAS decision to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

No. 1: Will Tokyo happen?

This is the no. 1 question for 2021. The unprecedented decision to move the Games from 2020 to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic brought with it controversy and costs.

Japan has done a very creditable job of working against the virus, but the rate of infections has been rising of late. The country did allow limited fan attendance at professional baseball games in the fall of 2020, showing that it’s likely that the Games could be held with at least some fans in attendance.

But no one can predict what will happen in the early months of 2020. Will the vaccine reach enough people to allow more fans to attend? Will athletes be able to train, compete in qualification events and be able to get ready for an Olympic Games?

What is sure is that the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo organizers and the Japanese government will do everything they can to make the Games happen in some form. The overall budget now sits at ¥1.64 trillion or about $15.8 billion U.S. This is up from the ¥1.35 trillion (or ~$12.6 billion) figure expected for the Games to be held in 2020.

The organizers have pledged tight oversight to avoid the “three Cs” – confined spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings – among athletes and staff at the Games, especially at the Olympic Village. If such a plan can be implemented with confidence, and with requirements for pre-Games testing and reporting before admission to Japan, a Tokyo Games will take place.

But nothing is sure. Look for major go/no go points in late March and early April, with a definitive determination surely due by 14 April, exactly 100 days prior to the Opening Ceremony on 23 July.

This is going to be a year of surprises, wrong turns, strong words and unexpected – yes – joys. Quoting Star Trek engineer Montgomery Scott to whales expert Dr. Gillian Taylor in the 1986 classic, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: “Hold on tight, lassie. lt gets bumpy from here.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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For our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Salute to Rafer; is surfing the new Olympic star? Spikeless sprint shoes? U.S.-Canada in IIHF World Junior finale tonight!

Rich Perelman

January 5, 2021

tsx pix-asics metasprint 750 2021-105 — The Asics MetaSprint spikeless sprint shoe

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Vox Populi ● Many thanks to the many readers who sent holiday greetings and good wishes for 2021. It will be a momentous year worldwide and especially in sport. Some interesting comments:

● On our no. 10 story of 2020, the passing of Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson:

“As an Adapted P.E. teacher in the L.A. City schools, I had the honor of meeting Rafer at the many California Special Olympics events that I coached, mostly prior to my becoming a full time T&F coach in the early 1990s.

“The many testimonials regarding his humanity and humility as a person, was reinforced to me in my encounters with him at the time. An unforgettable experience and as I said, a true honor.

“In summarizing Rafer’s abilities, there are a number of caveats regarding the marks that he made as an athlete:

“In the high jump, aside from using the straddle technique, he had to take off from a dirt approach, rather than a springy all weather surface.

“All running events also were accomplished on dirt surfaces, a fact that has been widely ignored by the likes of T&FN as having significant bearing on records in all events, from the long jump through the 10k.

“The use of non fiberglass poles needs no further explanation.

“RIP the real Greatest of All Time, Mr. Rafer Johnson.”
~ Ron Brumel, Los Angeles, California

● Our no. 5 story was the confirmation of the events for Paris 2024, which includes surfing in Tahiti. @TrackSuperFan Jesse Squire’s tweet about surfing “Stealing entries from legitimate Olympic sports” drew this reaction from long-time (and highly-respected) Olympic observer Alan Abrahamson:

“Jesse – I love t/f too. But you know what a reasonable person would call your observation: ‘Locking the barn after the horse is out.’ Better we figure out different strategies than barking at surfing. Which is gonna be a big hit at the Games.”

and

“If I’m wrong – and if after wave-pool technology spurred by the boom of surfing at the Games hasn’t taken over Middle America – get back to me after surfing rocks it at 2020, 2024, 2028 Games.”

And after track coach Steve Ritchie stated “I’ll need to be convinced,” Abrahamson shot back:

“Well, you’ll have lots of time and opportunity. Lots of surfing coming up at the Games. Start California dreamin’ – it’s not just a sport, it’s a culture and a way of life and endless summer is a real thing that cannot and will not be denied.”

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The calendar has changed, but the debate over whether the Tokyo Games will be held continues unabated.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’s message for the new year underscored the determination to hold the Games:

“We can only thank our Japanese partners and friends for their great commitment and their determination, which is absolutely in line with our commitment and our determination to organise these Games in a safe and secure way for all the participants and to make these Olympic Games fit for the post-coronavirus world. We all will live unforgettable Games.”

He also emphasized the need for unity, and for calm:

“[W]hile preparing for Tokyo and Beijing, we all have to look into the further future. And that means: how we can even strengthen the role of sport for a more human-centred and inclusive post-coronavirus world.

“There we have learned one lesson. This one lesson is: we need more solidarity. We need
more solidarity within societies, and we need more solidarity among societies.”

Look for him to come back to this theme when the IOC Athletes’ Commission forwards its recommendations for changes to Rule 50 on allowable protests at the Olympic Games.

In Tokyo, the newest discussion point is the request by several prefectures – including Tokyo – for the declaration of a national state of emergency as the coronavirus inspection rate has spiked upwards.

Tokyo reported 1,337 infections last Thursday (31st), the most yet in an area of 9.27 million; by comparison, Los Angeles County – population 10.04 million – reported 18,404 new infections on 30 December, down from 20,664 the day prior.

A state of emergency would shut down many training facilities and raise again the question of whether the Games can be held. In truth, no decision will come until the end of March at the earliest, remember that the postponement in 2020 was announced on 24 March.

Former IOC marketing chief Michael Payne (GBR) tweeted on Saturday:

“If it comes to it, much easier and better to move to 2022 not 2032.”

Two Games in the same year? Youngsters should be reminded that the Winter and Olympic Games were always held in the same year from 1924 through 1992; the separate cycles began with the 1994 Winter Games in Norway.

● Athletics ● Much has been made of the improvement in shoe technology for distance runners, with records being set in most of the longer races in 2020. But the revolution in design is now in the sprints as well.

Asics introduced a spikeless sprint shoe – the Metasprint – in 2019 and put in on sale in 2020 for ¥39,600 (~$380 U.S., but seen on sale as low as $180) with surprising interest.

Japanese sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu, the country’s first sub-10 sprinter – 9.98 in 2017 – told the Asahi Shimbun he used them at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha and now prefers the shoe to the usual spiked sprint style.

The shoe uses specially-made carbon – of course – fibers that are arranged into honeycomb-shaped cells. The idea:

“Asics officials said spikes often stick obliquely in the ground, thereby requiring the runner to use extra force. Research led the developers to conclude that the propulsion force could be made more efficient if the ground were to be clutched not at ‘spots’ but along ‘lines.’

“An Asics study showed the time to run 100 meters would be 0.048 second faster if the spikes were removed and propulsion increased.

“Protrusions [on the sole are] arranged in a honeycomb structure, or a tight, honeycomb-like pack of hexagonal cells, were conceived as an embodiment of the ‘lines’ along which to grip the ground instead of at the points of the spikes.”

The newest study on the impact of high-performance shoes on distance running compared runners competing in major marathons in 2018 and 2019 – when the first “super shoes” became available – and:

“The men got faster by 1:12, and the women by 3:42. These improvements represented percentage gains of 0.8% and 1.6 percent.”

The research entailed data from 10 years of top-50 results from the major marathons in Boston, Chicago, London and New York from 2010-19:

“The results showed a strong stability of performance through 2018. … The top 50 men in the four marathons had an average time of 2:21:18. The top 50 women had an average time of 2:43:24.

“Then came 2019, and the average top 50 times dropped to 2:18:30 and 2:39:06. This represented a 2 percent improvement for men, and a 2.6 percent improvement for women.”

The researchers concluded that the performance enhancement comes from “(1) curved carbon-fiber plates; (2) a lighter and more responsive midsole material; and (3) thicker midsoles.”

● Biathlon ● Just as the tumult over covered-up doping results appeared to have subsided in biathlon, it flared up again over strange events in a Russian junior competition at the end of 2020.

Andy Brown, writing on the SportsIntegrityInitiative site, reported today (5th) that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is investigating the “mass withdrawal” of competitors from an event when it became known that doping-control officers had arrived.

The Izhevsk Rifle races for women was held in Chaykovsky – a town about 800 miles east of Moscow – from 24-27 December and a men’s event was held in Izhevsk itself (about 55 miles west) from 25-28 December. Russian cross-country skier Nikolai Pankratov commented on a Russian skiing Web site that numerous junior women withdrew after the Sprint race and that a day later, many of the men’s junior competitors withdrew.

Reports indicate that of the 69 starters in the women’s Sprint, 55 finished, with 12 withdrawals. In the men’s junior race on 28 December, 88 were entered, but only 21 competed. That these withdrawals are by junior athletes is especially worrying, since that is the first level where doping education and restraint should be taught.

Both RUSADA and the International Biathlon Union are looking into the situation further.

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Junior Championship will be decided today at the Rogers Centre in Edmonton, Canada, with the U.S. and Canada facing off at 9:30 local time.

In Monday’s semifinals, Canada dominated Russia, winning by 5-0 with goals from five different players, starting with Alex Newhook just 59 seconds into the game!

The U.S. edged Finland, 4-3, in a thriller. The teams were 1-1 after the first period, but the Americans ran out to a 3-1 edge with second-period goals from John Farinacci and Matt Boldy. But the Finns came back with goals in the 12th and 27th minutes of the final period to send the game into overtime. Arthur Kaliyev scored for the U.S. at 8:44 of the overtime and U.S. keeper Spencer Knight held on for the 4-3 final.

Canada is the defending champion from 2020 and has won this tournament 18 times. The U.S. won in 2018 – its fourth title – and last appeared in the final in 2019, losing to Finland. There have been four U.S.-Canada finals in this event – in 1997, 2004, 2010 and 2017 – with the U.S. holding a 3-1 edge, having won the last three.

● At the BuZZer ● Sad news of the passing of Germany’s Walther Troger, an enormously valuable member of the Olympic sports family for decades. He was 91.

A gentle but decisive man with a big laugh and a warm handshake, Troger served as the Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee of West Germany from 1970-92 and then as President of the unified German NOC from 1992-2002.

He was a member of the IOC from 1989-2010, but many of his most important contributions came as the IOC’s sports director from 1983-90. He took over after the unexpected death of Hungarian Arpad Csanadi a year before the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and helped to smooth out multiple disputes between the LAOOC and some of the International Federations. He did the same on the way to Seoul in 1988.

Troger was the Mayor of the Olympic Village for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and saw the tragedy of the Palestinian terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic delegation first-hand, and he was involved in the negotiations with the terrorists.

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LANE ONE: The top stories of 2021 from 10 to 6: Biles, Dressel and Ledecky expected to star in Tokyo! What happens to boxing and weightlifting?

Rich Perelman

January 4, 2021

tsx pix 2019-1013 biles, simone wch floor 750 (fig) — The greatest women's gymnast of all time: American Simone Biles (Photo: FIG)

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While the anxiety and strain of 2020 continues into the early months of 2021, this year promises to be much more exciting and we all hope it will be safer and saner. Unfortunately, many of the most difficult moments of 2020 will turn out to be the biggest stories of 2021. A preview of what’s coming, today from no. 10 to no. 6:

No. 10: The best year ever for U.S. Soccer … or the worst?

There is enthusiasm among American football – soccer – fans going into 2021, most especially for the re-emergence of the Men’s National Team, which has been irrelevant since its ignominious failure to quality for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

But the next generation of players has shown great promise, widely noticed by the big European leagues, which have been signing U.S. players in droves. New stars like midfielders Christian Pulisic (age 22), Weston McKinnie (22), Tyler Adams (21), Giovanni Reyna (18), Yunus Musah (18) and strikers Josh Sargent (20) and Niko Gioacchini (20) are all playing with top clubs and form the nucleus for the U.S.’s future.

These players are also all age-eligible for this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, open to those born after 1 January 1997 can play (U-24) with the exception of three older players. That makes the Tokyo Olympic tournament a possible coming-out party for the U.S.

An American squad last played in the men’s Olympic tournament in Beijing in 2008 and was eliminated in group play after a 1-1-1 record. The U.S. missed qualifying for London and Rio and making it to Tokyo would be an important step on the way to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament will be held in Mexico from 15-28 March, with two spots available for the Tokyo Games.

The top-ranked U.S. women are favored – as usual – for the Olympic title in Tokyo, having been eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2016 by a stubborn Swedish squad on penalty kicks. After storming to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship in France, the American women look almost unbeatable … but that was the case in 2016 as well, following their 2015 Women’s World Cup victory.

But while the U.S. women continue to steamroller their opponents on the field, the class-action suit by 28 women’s team members against the U.S. Soccer Federation continues. After a settlement was reached in December on the smaller working conditions issues, the way has been cleared for an appeal of the summary judgement decision by the U.S. District Court last May to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Judge R. Gary Klausner wrote:

“This approach – merely comparing what each team would have made under the other team’s [collective bargaining agreement] – in untenable in this case because it ignores the reality that the MNT and WNT bargained for different agreements which reflect different preferences, and that the WNT explicitly rejected the terms they now seek to retroactively impose on themselves.”

In the meantime, Interim U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone – herself a member of the 1999 Women’s World Cup champions – has championed a settlement with the women’s team, but must be reelected at the USSF Annual General Meeting, which will be held online from 26-27 February. She took over for Carlos Cordiero, who resigned in March 2020, but the federation’s rules require an election after a change in the presidency. Another election, for a four-year term, will be held in 2022.

Also on the table: the Women’s National Team’s collective bargaining agreement will conclude at the end of 2021. The men’s team has been operating on the agreement that expired in 2018. At some point, new agreements have to be reached.

It could the best of times, and/or the worst of times … at the same time.

No. 9: Simone Biles will cement her place as the greatest of all time, but what about the Nassar survivors?

It seems like ages ago that Simone Biles dominated the 2019 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart (GER), winning the All-Around, Vault, Beam and Floor golds, finishing fifth in the Uneven Bars and leading the U.S. to the team title.

But to make Olympic history, she’ll have to do even better.

The all-time record for the most medals in women’s gymnastics in a single Games is out of reach, since Soviet Maria Gorokhovskaya won seven in 1952 (2-5-0) when there were two team events. There is a total of six events now and five women have won medals in six (six-event program began in 1960):

● 1952: Vera Caslavska (CZE: 4-2-0) and Margot Korondui (HUN: 1-1-4)
● 1956: Agnes Keleti (HUN: 4-1-1) and Larisa Latynina (URS: 4-1-1)
● 1960: Larisa Latynina (URS: 3-2-1)
● 1964: Larisa Latynina (URS: 2-2-2)
● 1988: Daniela Silivas (ROM: 3-2-1)

But no one has won five golds as Biles did at the 2019 Worlds and no one has ever swept all six events on the program. Biles could do it, although she and the Uneven Bars have not always been on the best of terms.

More history: if Biles were to win six Olympic golds, she would be only the second woman to do it. East German Kristin Otto – thanks to some chemical-fueled advantages – won six in swimming in 1988 in Seoul.

While Biles chases history, the story of the Nassar survivors drones on without an ending in sight. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019 and the case looked like it might be heading toward closure in 2020 until the Committee of Abuse Survivors – formed to negotiate on behalf of all plaintiffs – rejected the $217.125 million settlement offer proposed at the end of September.

The case is now in a closed-door settlement negotiation ordered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana, under the direction of Judge James W. Carr. The most recent tactic has seen the Survivors Committee, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee trying to force the multiple insurers in the case to come up with a lot more money, but the insurers have shown no interest this far. No indication of a settlement has been seen and the situation could devolve into a legal free-for-all later in the year. This is far from over, unless Carr can somehow pull the Survivors and the insurers together.

No. 8: U.S. swim stars Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky look for history in Tokyo

U.S. viewers will have high interest in the swimming events, with American swimmers expected to make the California Gold Rush of the 1840s and ‘50s look small. At the front of the parade will be superstars Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky.

Dressel already owns two Olympic golds from Rio, from the 4×100 m Medley Relay and 4×100 m Freestyle Relay. The 6-3, former Florida star has emerged since as the top sprinter in the world and could look for history in Tokyo.

Barring injury, he will be the favorite in the 50 m Free, 100 m Free and 100 m Butterfly, and expected to swim in the 4×100 m Free, 4×100 m Medley and 4×100 m Mixed Medley relays, in which the U.S. will be favored. That’s a potential six gold medals. Only four athletes – Michael Phelps (USA/swimming, 2004/6 and 2008/8), Mark Spitz (USA/swimming: 1972/7), Kristin Otto (GDR/swimming: 1988/6) and Vitaly Scherbo (Unified Team/gymnastics: 1992/6) have done that or better.

Any more? Dressel has made no secret of his ambition to win more. His obvious chance is to help the U.S. in the 4×200 m Free relay, where the U.S. won gold in 2016 (but third at the 2019 World Championships). He could also try for the 200 m Free event, or based on his success at the 100 m Medley in the International Swimming League, perhaps the 200 m Medley?

Is the Olympic record – by Soviet Alexander Dityatin in gymnastics in 1980 and Phelps in 2004 and 2008 – of eight medals in a single Games within reach? Maybe.

On the women’s side, Ledecky will be trying to add to her career totals of five Olympic golds and one silver. Now 23, she was ill during the 2019 World Championships and “only” won three medals, taking the 800 m Free and earning silvers in the 400 m Free and 4×200 m relay. Could Otto’s mark of six (chemically-enhanced) golds from Seoul be within reach?

Ledecky will be favored in the 400-800-1,500 m Free events and if fully healthy, could well defend her 200 m Free title from Rio. Adding in a potential win with the 4×200 m Free relay, that could be five golds! But Ledecky is not a sprinter and is not a contender in other strokes. But if she looks right, could the U.S. coaches throw her into the 4×100 m Free relay as well? Maybe only in the prelims? Time will tell, but if she is fully fit – and with so much time to train in 2020 and into 2021 – Ledecky might be in a place no other female swimmer has yet approached.

No. 7: Stress test for the International Swimming League comes post-Tokyo

One of the lesser-noticed, but important, experiments in Olympic sport is the International Swimming League, which completed a Covid-shortened second season in a sequestered environment in Budapest (HUN) in November and December.

Founded and funded by Ukrainian energy billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin, the ISL has 10 teams with about 32 swimmers each, who compete in quadrangular meets in short-course (25 m) pools, leading the semi-finals and a final, to crown a team champion.

Although available on cable television in Europe and the U.S. for this season, and online for other countries, the league has drawn little attention beyond existing swimming fans. The seasonal cost was about $20 million for the first season and Managing Director and head of commercial operations Hubert Montcoudiol (FRA) and Jean-Francois Salessy (FRA), general manager of the Energy Standard Paris team, both quit in November last year, alleging missed payments, as have other suppliers to the league.

A start-up project of this type faces many challenges and late-pay, a woeful Web site and lack of interest from commercial sponsors are significant problems. Grigorishin has talked about the league being “post-modern” and looking for ways to involve fans as much as the swimmers – with betting, perhaps? – and has attacked both FINA and the Olympic Games as relics of the past.

Montcoudial, when still employed, echoed Grigorishin in knocking swimming itself. “When we talk about ISL, we don’t say it’s swimming. It’s not swimming, It is ‘sport-tainment’ and what we’re trying to do here is trigger a new kind of fanbase.”

If ISL fails as a business enterprise, even with its billionaire owner, it will signal yet again the difficulty for Olympic sports based on individual events to achieve the level of organization and appeal of team sports, or of individual sports with limited events around a common field of play, such as golf and tennis. Its 2021 plan is for a lengthy series of meets following the Tokyo Games, from fall through the spring of 2022. It’s an experiment whose outcome has wide ramifications for many sports.

The Athletics Association, whose motto is “We Are The Sport” would do well to watch ISL’s progress (or lack thereof) closely.

No. 6: Can the bad behavior federations in boxing and weightlifting survive?

The Olympic world was shattered by the devastating effects of the Covid-19 virus in 2020, but things were even worse for the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

The International Olympic Committee removed AIBA from its role as the governing body for boxing for the 2020 Olympic Games in June 2019. With debts of nearly $10 million in mid-2020, the federation membership elected Russian Umar Kremlev – the Russian Boxing Federation Secretary-General – as President on 12 December. He told the AIBA Congress:

“Getting rid of AIBA’s debt will be the first priority. As I promised when I announced my run for the presidency, I will clear this debt in the first six months. My administration will aim to raise $50 million within two years, all of which will be used to rebuild AIBA.”

The IOC has been less impressed. In November, a statement noted:

“The IOC [Executive Board] took note that the IOC recommendation to put the AIBA reforms and their implementation first has not been respected to date. For this reason, the IOC will consider the position of AIBA only after seeing that the reforms are being adopted and implemented.

“On this occasion, the IOC will also have to take into consideration the concerns which have been raised against some of the candidates for the AIBA presidency and their potential impact on recognition.”

Consideration of AIBA’s future role in the Olympic world will be discussed post-Tokyo.

Weightlifting sank even further in 2020, although the IWF is still responsible for Olympic competitions. Last year saw allegations of financial mismanagement and doping cover-ups leveled against former, long-time President Tamas Ajan (HUN), then the interim President, American Ursula Papandrea Garza was dismissed and ultimately replaced by Britain’s Dr. Michael Irani, with a constitutional Congress and new elections slated for 24-28 March.

The IOC hammered the sport by reducing its competitor quota for Paris 2024 to just 120 athletes, compared to 196 for Tokyo and 260 for Rio in 2016. The IOC Executive Board report for November noted, “In October 2020, the IOC EB expressed its concerns about the replacement of the Acting President and stressed the critical importance of continuing reforms within the IWF.”

Weightlifting is still in the Games, but barely. Continuing doping positives undermine confidence and the IOC noted that the sport itself seems to take reform too lightly. The IWF has yet to embrace athlete participation in its governance and the IOC took pains in its November statement to point out:

“[W]ith regard to governance, it has been noted that Maxim Agapitov last weekend won the presidency of the Russian Weightlifting Federation for a second term. He will also run for the European Weightlifting Federation presidency in April 2021, with an election due to take place in Moscow.

“When Agapitov was an athlete, he tested positive in 1994 and was banned for two years.”

Not good.

The top-five stories to watch in 2021? Coming in our next Lane One!

Rich Perelman
Editor

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HIGHLIGHTS: U.S. snow job as Cochran-Siegle wins in Bormio, bronze for Shiffrin in Semmering, Diggins & Brennan lead Tour de Ski!

Rich Perelman

January 3, 2021

tsx pix 2019-217 diggins, jessica 750 (skiing) — American Cross Country Skiing star Jessica Diggins: a second FIS World Cup seasonal title!

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● The U.S. Ski Team had a December to remember, and continuing into 2021!

Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who won his first career World Cup medal – a silver – in the 18 December Super-G at Val Gardena (ITA), collected his first World Cup gold in the Super-G in Bormio (ITA) last Tuesday (December 29).

Skiing eight in the order, he blasted through his run and overwhelmed the field, finishing in 1:29.43, a staggering 0.79 – for ski racing – ahead of runner-up Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT), with Adrien Sjersted (NOR) third. It was the first U.S. win in a World Cup Super-G since Bode Miller in December 2006.

Said the winner, “I skied well. I had a good approach and carried speed in a lot of sections … that middle section, I definitely skied with a good limit and just trusting that, trying to ski it smart. The speed I gained from there, I carried through the finish and had that gap.”

Cochran-Siegle, 28, skied well in the Wednesday Downhill, finishing seventh, his third career top-10 finish in a Downhill, behind winner Matthias Meyer (AUT). Kriechmayr finished second for the second day in a row by just 0.04, with Swiss Urs Kryenbuehl third, just 6/100ths behind the winner.

The women’s tour was in Semmering, Austria, with the Giant Slalom canceled due to weather and the Slalom held on Tuesday (29th). Swiss Michelle Gisin won her first career individual World Cup race, just edging Austria’s Katharina Liensberger (+0.11) and U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin (+0.57). Shiffrin led after the first run, but had some trouble on the second, posting only the ninth-best time to drop to the bronze.

The annual Snow Queen Trophy was up for grabs in Zagreb (CRO) on Sunday – in a Slalom – with overall World Cup leader Petra Vlhova (SVK) winning her fourth race of the season, ahead of Liensberger (+0.05) and Gisin (+0.22), with Shiffrin fourth (+0.27). The men will race in a Slalom on Wednesday (6th).

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Junior (U-20) Championships began on Christmas Day in Edmonton (CAN), with Canada (3 wins), Finland (2) and the U.S. (2) having won the last seven tournaments between them. The games are being held at Rogers Place, but with no fans allowed.

It’s going as expected, with Canada winning all four of its games in Group A, defeating Finland, 4-1, which was 3-1 overall.

In Group B, the U.S. finished 3-1, losing to Russia, 5-3, in its opener, then shutting out Austria (11-0), the Czech Republic (7-0) and Sweden (4-0). Russia finished 2-1 plus an overtime win, beating Sweden for second place in the group by 4-3.

In the quarterfinals, Canada shut out the Czechs, 3-0 and Russia defeated Germany, to set up their semifinal for Monday, a re-match of the 2020 gold-medal game. The U.S. sailed past Slovakia, 5-2, and will meet Finland, a 3-2 winner over arch-rival Sweden.

U.S. forward Trevor Zegras is the scoring leader with 15 points and is second in the tournament with six goals, just behind Canada’s Dylan Cozens (7, and 13 total points).

● Luge ● Felix Loch continued his march toward a seventh career World Cup title at the fifth FIL World Cup of the season, in Koenigssee (GER) over the weekend.

Loch (GER) won the men’s Singles race for the sixth time in seven tries this season; his cumulative time of 1:38.218 gave him a clear win over Russian Roman Repilov (1:38.503) and Johannes Ludwig (GER: 1:38.919).

That was one-third of the German sweep, as Julia Taubitz won her fifth race in seven tries this season in the women’s Singles, finishing in 1:41.02, ahead of teammate Natalie Geisenberger (1:41.712) and Australia’s Madeleine Egle (1:41.770). Geisenberger has finished second in all seven races this season and now has a 595-591 lead over Taubitz for the seasonal lead!

In the men’s Doubles, Germany’s Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won for the third time this season, ahead of teammates Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, 1:40.284 to 1:40.425. Seasonal leaders Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller (AUT) finished third in 1:40.754.

● Nordic Skiing ● American star Jessie Diggins made history in 2018 as she and Kikkan Randall won the first-ever U.S. gold in Cross Country Skiing by winning the Team Sprint in PyeongChang. While Randall has retired – and has beaten cancer – Diggins has continued and is showing she’ll be a threat in Beijing in 2022 as well.

While teammate Rosie Brennan has stolen the headlines with two World Cup wins earlier this season, Diggins has risen to the top of the year-opening Tour de Ski, an annual 10-day trek through the Alps in Switzerland and Italy:

● At Val Mustair (SUI) on the 1st, she finished third (+3.41) in the 1.4 km Freestyle Sprint, , behind Swede Linn Svahn and Anamarija Lampic (SLO: +0.54), with Brennan fifth.

● On Saturday (2nd), Diggins collected another bronze, this time in the 10 km Classical Mass Start, just 0.8 behind Svahn – who won for the third time this season – and Yulia Stupak (RUS: +0.7). Brennan wasn’t far behind, in sixth (+3.4).

● On Sunday, Diggins broke through to win the 10 km Freestyle Pursuit, leading Brennan (+5.6) for a 1-2 U.S. finish, with Frida Karlsson (SWE) third. It’s the sixth career World Cup win for Diggins, 29, and her first pursuit win. Brennan collected her fourth individual World Cup medal this season.

Said the winner: “Frida was amazing and I kept trying to push the poles and be there, but I kept thinking that every lap I’m going to get dropped. I was just hanging on by a thread and I just got really excited for the downhill. I thought that maybe I could hold on, and if not, then I blow up, but it was worth a shot.”

Put it all together and Diggins is leading the Tour de Ski after three of eight legs, by five seconds over Brennan and 10 over Karlsson. The Tour heads to Toblach (ITA) on Tuesday and Wednesday and finished in Val di Fiemme (ITA) on the weekend. No American has won the Tour de Ski; Diggins is the only one to ever finish on the podium: third in 2018.

In the men’s Tour de Ski, seasonal leader Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) took off, finishing second to Federico Pellegrino (ITA) in the Sprint, then winning the 15 km Classical Mass Start and 15 km Freestyle Pursuit. Bolsuhov won easily in the Mass start, some 23.5 seconds ahead of Dario Cologna (SUI) and crushed teammate Artem Maltsev by 53.5 seconds in the 15 km Freestyle Pursuit. His lead in the Tour de Ski is already 53 second over Maltsev.

In Ski Jumping, the 69th edition of the famed Four Hills Tournament got going in Obertsdorf (GER) off the 137 m hill, with Karl Geiger (GER) posting his first win of the season, just ahead of three-time Olympic champ Kamil Stoch (POL) and Marius Lindvik (NOR).

The second stage was in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) on the 142 m Grosse Olympiaschanze, with Poland’s Dawid Kubacki also winning for the first time in 2020-21, ahead of seasonal leader Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR) and Piotr Zyla (POL).

In Innsbruck (AUT) on Sunday (3rd), it was Stoch – looking for a third career Four Hills win – who took the event on the 128 m hill, ahead of Anze Lanisek (SLO) and Kubacki. With one stage left at Bischofshofen (AUT) on Wednesday, Stoch has the lead by 809.9-794.7-789.3 over Kubacki and Granerud.

The men’s and women’s Nordic Combined events in Otepaa (EST) were canceled due to the coronavirus situation in Estonia.

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LANE ONE: The top-10 stories of 2020, a year most of us would like to forget

Rich Perelman

December 30, 2020

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What a year we had in 2020, but with a lot we’d like to forget!

The coronavirus pandemic cast a long, worldwide shadow this year, but while the action on the fields of play was greatly diminished, the intrigue, politics and turmoil within the Olympic Movement accelerated, as seen in our selections of the top-10 stories of the year.

No. 10: Olympic icon Rafer Johnson passed at age 86

Much more than simply a sports star and a two-time Olympic medal winner, Rafer Johnson passed away on 2 December at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. He is best remembered for his dramatic 1960 Olympic decathlon win in Rome, following a silver-medal performance in Melbourne in 1956.

But his post-competition career was even more stellar. Johnson was a star in everything he did, as an actor, broadcaster, social activist, co-founder of Special Olympics California, a senior executive with Continental Telephone and on numerous civic committees and boards, including the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. He helped find Peter Ueberroth to run the 1984 Games, which saved the Olympic Movement from an uncertain future, then was asked to be the final torchbearer at the Opening Ceremonies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

As celebrated as Johnson’s 1960 Olympic win is, he’s still underrated as an athlete. Consider his lifetime bests from a career that ended in Rome, as a three-time world-record setter with a best of 8,683 (or 7,982 on today’s scoring tables):

● 100 m: 10.3 (1957); 400 m: 47.9 (1956); 1,500 m: 4:49.7 (1960); 110 m hurdles: 13.8 (1956);

● High jump: 1.89 m [6-2 1/4] (1955); vault: 4.10 m [13-5 1/4] (1960); long jump: 7.76 m [25-5 1/2] (1956);

● Shot: 16.75 m [54-11 1/2] (1958); discus: 52.50 m [172-3] (1960); javelin: 76.75 m [251-9] (1960).

In his Athletics International newsletter, British statistician Peter Matthews noted that “If you add up his individual pbs, his perfect score would be 8626. … Bear in mind that his high jump and pole vault pbs may appear very weak by today’s standards but they were achieved before the Fosbury Flop and fibreglass poles revolutionised those events.” Translation: a 1960 Rafer Johnson transplanted into the 21st Century could be a medal contender at Tokyo in 2021! He was that good.

No. 9: Financial implosion in collegiate athletics threatens Olympic-focused sports

The coronavirus pandemic severely impacted university sports programs, leading to cuts of hundreds of teams across many sports, with Olympic-focused sports being hit hard.

Stanford alone dropped 11 varsity sports, including fencing, field hockey, rowing, sailing, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling. Clemson dropped men’s cross country and track & field. Michigan State cut swimming & diving and Minnesota is dropping men’s indoor track, men’s tennis and men’s gymnastics. These are among the biggest athletic programs in the country, but which all face substantial spending deficits.

In September, the University of California, Riverside’s Budget Advisory Committee recommended eliminating intercollegiate athletics altogether.

If this financial crisis persists, the enormous “pipeline” of talent which fills the U.S. Olympic Team will be compromised. Cooperative efforts to combat this are already under way with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, multiple U.S. National Governing Bodies and individual sport groups which have formed associations to promote their sports on the collegiate level. This is a problem which has no easy or quick solution.

No. 8: U.S. Women’s National Team suit for “equal pay” fails in court

The high-profile 2019 class-action suit by the U.S. Women’s National Team against the U.S. Soccer Federation was supposed to demonstrate discrimination by the federation “for paying them less than male players on the [Men’s National Team] and subjecting them to unequal working conditions.”

On 1 May, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner’s decision declared that the women’s claims on unequal conditions could go to trial, but that the main claims were without merit, granting summary judgement on those issues.

He stated that for the women to prevail on an Equal Pay Act claim, they must show that they were paid less than the Men’s National Team for the same work. The evidence cited showed that payments to the Women’s National Team from 2015-19 was $24.5 million (in 111 games) vs. $18 million for the men (in 87 games), and on a per-game basis, was $220,747 for the women vs. $212,639 for the men. This did not include the payments to the women’s team for playing in the National Women’s Soccer League. Game over.

Klausner further noted “This approach – merely comparing what each team would have made under the other team’s [collective bargaining agreement] – in untenable in this case because it ignores the reality that the MNT and WNT bargained for different agreements which reflect different preferences, and that the WNT explicitly rejected the terms they now seek to retroactively impose on themselves.”

The plaintiffs and the USSF reached a settlement on the working conditions claims, in part so the Women’s National Team can now appeal Klausner’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021. But 2020 was a major letdown for what had been promoted as a major victory for women in the workplace for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions.

No. 7: To protest or not to protest?

The stunning 25 May death of George Floyd, owing to the actions of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, triggered a national and international reaction that raised the interest in demonstrations and protests during the Olympic Games in Tokyo and other events.

In January, the IOC Athletes’ Commission had issued guidelines around Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans protests at the Olympic Games. In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, the IOC Executive Board asked the Athletes’ Commission last June to survey athletes from the 206 National Olympic Committees on their view once again.

Although the Athletes’ Commission recommendations won’t be submitted until the first quarter of 2021, the likely outcome has already been telegraphed. A 10 December statement from Athletes’ Commission chair Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) included:

“While the consultation is still ongoing, from what we have heard so far through the qualitative process, the majority:

● “emphasize the right of free speech which is respected at the Olympic Games; and
● “express support for preserving the ceremonies, the podium and the field of play”

For its part, the USOPC stood behind its Council on Racial and Social Justice and will “allow for peaceful actions that specifically advocate for human rights and racial and social justice, and distinguishes those acts from to-be-defined ‘divisive demonstrations’ – including, but not limited to, currently prohibited acts of hate speech, racist propaganda, political statements and discrimination.” What that actually means in July and August of 2021 vs. the same period in 2020 is yet to be seen.

No. 6: Athletics world records fall, but was it the athletes or the shoes?

Although the world track & field schedule collapsed in 2020, it was one of the best in recent memory for records, especially in distance racing. New marks were installed for the men’s 5,000 m, 10,000 m and Hour on the track and the 5 km, 10 km and Half Marathon on the roads. For women, new marks came in the 5,000 m and Hour on the track, plus the Half Marathon on the road.

But was it the shoes? The introduction by Nike of its Vaporfly% series of shoes with multiple carbon plates that cushions the foot and returns energy to the wearer in 2019 caused World Athletics to issue multiple new regulations:

● In January, it prohibited soles thicker than 40 mm and limited interior “plates” to one only, and required that as of 30 April, “any shoe must have been available for purchase by any athlete on the open retail market (online or in store) for a period of four months before it can be used in competition.”

● In August, further rules clarified that “Approved shoes [must] be made available prior to an international competition for distribution to any uncontracted elite athlete” and cut the allowed plate thickness for track races to 20 mm up to 800 m and 25 mm for 800 m and above.

● In December, another amendment allowed “development shoes to be worn in international competitions and competitions sanctioned by Member Federations where World Athletics rules are applied, prior to their availability to other athletes, upon approval of the shoe specifications by World Athletics.”

This had been a controversy around Nike shoes in 2019 and 2020, but at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia (ESP) in early December, Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie set a stunning world record of 57:32 in adidas adizero Adios Pro, and Valencia Marathon winners Evans Chebet (KEN) and Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) also wore the adizero Adios Pro. So the race is on for the best shoe for Tokyo.

Not in doubt was the brilliance of Louisiana native Mondo Duplantis – who competes for Sweden – in the pole vault. He claimed new highs with world records of 6.17 m (20-2 3/4) indoors in Poland on 8 February and then 6.18 m (20-3 1/4) a week later in Glasgow. He chased the 1994 outdoor world best by Sergey Bubka (UKR) all summer, finally clearing 6.15 m (20-2) on 17 September in Rome. He won all 16 of his meets and had nine of the 10 highest jumps during the season, in which he was the year’s outstanding athlete.

No. 5: Paris 2024 events approved, adding “Breaking” to the program

The International Olympic Committee formally approved the events to be contested at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris in 2024. Added to the existing 28 “core” sports were four requested by the French organizers: Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing – to be held in Tahiti – and Break Dancing, known as “Breaking.”

The IOC rejected all 41 requests for additional by the existing-sport federations, meaning that events like cross-country running in Athletics, and the 50 m Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly in Aquatics were pushed aside. With baseball/softball and karate not picked by Paris, after having been included for Tokyo, the total number of events was reduced from 339 to 329. Moreover, an athlete quote of 10,500 is being strictly enforced for Paris, a reduction from the 11,092 expected to compete in Tokyo.

The bad-actor federations of weightlifting and boxing were punished. Weightlifting saw its competitor quota reduced to just 120 for Paris, after having 260 in Rio in 2016. Boxing was reduced to 252 in 13 weight classes vs. 286 in Tokyo.

As it was Paris 2024 that asked for the added sports and not the IOC, the latter’s hands are clean on the add-on sports, but as IOC chief Thomas Bach noted, “There is also a strong focus on youth.” The increasingly-desperate chase for a younger viewing audience for the Games was most especially apparent in the inclusion of “Breaking,” which has only appeared in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina and not in any of the continental Games. Whether these sports contribute to a wider audience won’t be known until after Tokyo.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about the experiment. Jesse Squire, whose Twitter handle is “@tracksuperfan” commented on an Olympic Channel surfing video asking to name a spin over a wave, replied “Stealing entries from legitimate Olympic sports.”

No. 4: Weightlifting descends into chaos

The power of the news media in international sport was demonstrated on 5 January, when the German ARD network documentary “Secret Doping – Lord of the Lifters” aired and accused 81-year-old International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ajan (HUN) of multiple offenses, with first-hand admissions of heretofore unknown doping of teen lifters in Thailand.

Ajan was forced to “step away” from the IWF Presidency on 22 January, with American Ursula Papandrea Garza installed as Interim President. But Ajan continued to conduct federation affairs until 15 April, even while the IWF hired Canadian law professor Richard McLaren to investigate the situation.

McLaren’s 4 June report described Ajan’s absolute control of the IWF, with allegations of vote-buying and doping results cover-ups (171 results in question), with as much as $10.5 million in IWF funds unable to be accounted for, and a lot more.

Although Ajan had left the scene, there was still considerable resistance to reform of the federation and on 13 October, Papandrea Garza was dismissed and replaced two days later by British physician Dr. Michael Irani, head of the IWF’s highly-suspect Medical Commission.

The IOC released a statement on 14 October that it was “very worried” about these developments and on 25 November noting “there have been some more concerning developments and further media reports [from ARD] indicating that the former President of the IWF, Tamas Ajan, intervened to delay the results management process of adverse analytical findings involving weightlifters from Azerbaijan.”

In his year-end message, Irani noted “cheating and malfeasance of others” and added “We must be determined to do better.” If they do not, the sport will be forced off the 2024 program and may never return.

No. 3: Congress passes the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020

One of the outcomes of the long-running Nassar abuse scandal in gymnastics was the 30 October passage of S. 2330, the “Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020.” The bill was primarily the work of Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and started with “USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee knowingly concealed abuse by Larry Nassar, leading to the abuse of dozens of additional amateur athletes during the period beginning in the summer of 2015 and ending in September 2016.”

It included significant reforms of the way the U.S. Olympic community will work in the future:

● The law allows the Congress, by Joint Resolution of both the House and Senate, to either (1) dissolve the USOPC Board of Directors and prescribe “adequate procedures” for the formation of a new Board, and (2) to terminate the recognition of a National Governing Body which “has failed to fulfill its duties.”

These powers do not come into effect until 30 October 2021, but if undertaken, are clear violations of the Olympic Charter’s prohibition again governmental interference in sport, and could lead to a suspension of the USOPC by the International Olympic Committee. In fact, these provisions violate the Charter now, but the IOC has many bigger fish to fry at present.

● Athlete representation on the USOPC Board and committees and on the boards and committees of National Governing Bodies was targeted at a minimum of 33.3%.

● The USOPC-funded “Office of Athlete Ombuds” was defined to offer “independent advice to athletes at no cost about the applicable provisions of this chapter” and especially with regard to disputes over participation in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and so on. The law essentially extends an attorney-client privilege to discussions between athletes and the Athlete Ombuds office, and prohibits reprisals against anyone who uses this service.

● Instances of child abuse must be reported to law enforcement and to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if made known to either the USOPC or to any of the National Governing Bodies.

● The section concerning the U.S. Center for SafeSport allows for the use of a standard of “preponderance of the evidence” – a 51% standard – in its decisions. The USOPC is now required to fund the Center for SafeSport at $20 million per year on the first business day of the new year.

A new, 16-member commission was formed to study the USOPC and suggest improvements by the end of July 2021. Thus far, only six of the 16 members have been nominated, but this body’s work could have a profound influence on the future of the USOPC as currently constituted.

No. 2: WADA vs. Russia and everyone else

This wasn’t the easiest year for the World Anti-Doping Agency. Even before its sanctions on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency were slashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 17 December, it was already under pressure from many sides.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief, Travis Tygart, has waged a continuous campaign against WADA for changes in its rules and governance. He was loudly joined by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy in its 17 June report, which threatened to reserve the U.S. annual dues payment of $2.71 million to WADA unless the U.S. received more representation. The detailed WADA reply noted:

● “[I]n February 2020, nations of the Americas met in Ecuador for their annual inter-governmental meeting to discuss mutual anti-doping interests; including, the important topic of representation on WADA’s Board and ExCo for the 2-year period following the meeting. To our knowledge, the U.S. government did not attend that meeting to seek a seat on the WADA ExCo.”

● “Unlike previous years, for 2020, the U.S. government did not submit any nominations for U.S. members or Chairs to any Standing Committees, including the Athlete Committee.”

● The reply also emphasized that if governance positions were based on contributions, “it would eliminate the potential of the majority of nations from ever holding a seat on the WADA ExCo or Board.”

This tug-of-war hasn’t been settled yet. But the U.S. further inserted itself into the international doping scene with the passing into law of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019. In addition to providing criminal penalties for those assisting in doping, it also allows for “extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section.” WADA’s reply declared:

“No nation has ever before asserted criminal jurisdiction over doping offences that occurred outside its national borders – and for good reason. It is likely to lead to overlapping laws in different jurisdictions that will compromise having a single set of anti-doping rules for all sports and all Anti-Doping Organizations under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). This will have negative consequences as harmonization of the rules is at the very core of the global anti-doping system.”

The Russian case was the biggest blow, severely undercutting WADA’s proposed sanctions on Russia’s participation in the Olympic and Winter Games and world championships in other sports. From a four-year ban with only an opportunity for athletes to petition to show they are clean, the Court of Arbitration for Sport cut the suspension to two years and allows Russian athletes to compete in a revised, less-branded uniform, and without the national flag or national anthem. The world-wide response was mostly anger, often directed at WADA as much as the Court. As yet, WADA has not announced an appeal.

Last came the Swiss Federal Tribunal’s decision on 23 December on the appeal of China’s star swimmer Yang Sun from an eight-year ban imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On the basis of possible bias of one of the arbitrators, the matter has been remanded for another hearing.

Surely, the WADA team is happy to see 2020 in its rear-view mirror.

No. 1: Covid postpones Tokyo 2020 and implodes world sport

The coronavirus pandemic was easily the top story of 2020, crushing the international sports calendar in its wake and forcing the first-ever postponement of an Olympic Games to the following year.

Although the virus was initially contained in Japan itself, its worldwide spread caused the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic on 11 March and the IOC announced it was looking at alternative scenarios on 22 March. Agreement with the Japanese government to postpone the Games was announced on 24 March, with the new dates agreed a few days later as 23 July-8 August of 2021.

The rest of the world’s sports calendar was eliminated soon after and other than a few made-up events, has not really recovered. Many of the winter sports are in play, but with heavy anti-virus restrictions and few or no spectators.

The IOC announced its estimated costs of $800 million for the delay, with $650 million in direct costs such as continuing support of its scholarship holders and Games operations and $150 million to support International Federations and National Olympic Committees. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee asked the U.S. Congress for $200 million in relief, with $50 million in direct athlete payments and $150 million for the National Governing Bodies, but was rebuffed.

But most of the added costs will fall on Japan:

● The cost of postponing the Games by a year are estimated at 198 billion yen (~$1.90 billion), with the organizers paying ¥103 billion (~$989.4 million), the Tokyo government paying ¥80 billion (~$768.5 million) and the national government, ¥15 billion (~$144.1 million).

● Coronavirus countermeasures are estimated at ¥96 billion (~$922.0 million), with the national government contributing ¥56 billion (~$537.9 million) and the Tokyo government, ¥40 billion (~$384.2 million).

● Added up, the total added expense is projected at ¥294 billion (~$2.82 billion). The Tokyo organizers will pay ¥103 billion (~$989.4 million), the Tokyo government will contribute ¥120 billion (~$1.15 billion) and the national government, ¥71 billion (~$681.7 million).

● The overall budget for the Tokyo Olympic project now sits at ¥1.64 trillion or about $15.8 billion U.S. This is up from the ¥1.35 trillion (or ~$12.6 billion) figure expected for the Games to be held in 2020.

Kyodo News reported “Of the total cost, the organizing committee will cover 721 billion yen [~$6.95 billion], the Tokyo metropolitan government 702 billion yen [~$6.77 billion] and the central government the remaining 221 billion yen [~$2.13 billion].”

Questions remain as to whether foreign fans will be allowed to attend the Games, and whether the new vaccines will be widely distributed enough to have an impact. Those will be answered in 2021.

The Tokyo saga was the most stunning in a year of events which no one foresaw 12 months ago.

If you have your own opinion on these or other stories that should have made the list, tell us here.

Rich Perelman
Editor

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

HEARD AT HALFTIME: Get our 709-event calendar for 2021; Russia’s “sanction” for IHF Worlds is a change of uniform; new EOPAAA Commission appointees

Rich Perelman

December 29, 2020

(★ Friends: In such a difficult time, so gratifying to receive 29 donations toward the December bill for server and support costs; with the overage from the summer, we’re at 77% of our goal. If you would like to join in, please donate here. Your enthusiasm is the motivation for this site. ★)

[Errata: Some readers received yesterday’s Lane One story by e-mail, in which Robinson Cano was identified as a Seattle Mariner. He plays for the New York Mets, having been traded from Seattle in 2019. Thanks to reader Mike Harrigan for the sharp eyes!]

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Our Exclusive 2021 Calendar now available! ● After the coronavirus imploded most of the worldwide sports calendar in 2020, let’s all hope that 2021 is a better year for everyone.

Our exclusive International Sports Calendar for 2021 (and beyond) shows 709 events, but is far from complete as several sports have not yet posted complete (or any) lists of events due to the continuing pandemic. Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 15-page listing in chronological order and a 16-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

It’s free! Get yours now by clicking here!

● Anti-doping ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced its decision on sanctions against Russia as promulgated by the World Anti-Doping Agency on 17 December. The actual impact – or lack thereof – is becoming apparent less than two weeks later.

The International Handball Federation’s World Championship for men is getting ready to go in Cairo and three other cities in Egypt, beginning on 13 January. Russia was a wild-card selection for the 32-team tournament, having placed 22nd at the 2020 European Championships.

Under WADA’s requested sanctions, Russian athletes would only have been able to compete in the IHF Worlds upon showing that they were not in any way tainted by the state-sponsored doping program in place from 2011-15. The CAS decision eliminated that barrier and requires only that any athlete (or team) “shall not be subject to suspension, restriction, condition or exclusion imposed by a competent authority in any past or future proceedings which remains in force at the time of the specified event.”

So, the IHF released a detailed statement last Friday (25th) that specified the “conditions” under which the Russian team can compete in the World Championships.

That includes calling the team the “Russian Handball Federation” instead of “Russia,” use of the logo of the Russian Handball Federation – without text – instead of the word “Russia” on uniforms and for an anthem:

“The [International Olympic Committee] is liaising with the Russian Olympic Committee to find a consistent approach. In case no consistent approach is found until the beginning of the 2021 Men’s World Championship, the IHF anthem will be played.”

Last Wednesday (23rd), the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Podznyakov said in an interview:

“It will be somehow a bit complicated with playing our anthem… and we are limited. … However, we can play any music or melody, which may be connected directly or can be somehow associated with Russia.

“As soon as we receive recommendations [from the International Olympic Committee], we will set up a council of artists, who will announce a competition for the melody.”

So Russia will play, everyone will know it’s Russia and instead of the anthem, some sort of Russian-identified music will likely be used. If the U.S. were in this situation, it would be as if “America the Beautiful” was subbed in for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This is a major penalty?

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart had it right in a tweet:

“In good faith, nobody could call this a ban. People should call it what it is: It’s a rebranding.”

Tygart went on to criticize WADA, as he usually does, but the WADA sanctions would have prevented Russia playing in the IHF Worlds as there would have been no time for the players to be cleared in time for the 13 January start of the tournament. But this is what the CAS decision has done, and why WADA should appeal it to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin – also the head of the university sports federation (FISU) – issued a stern instruction against doping violators during a Monday interview with Russia’s Match TV sports television channel. The TASS news service reported:

“We employ all efforts to contradict any possible development of events, when a person with a recorded anti-doping violation in the past assumes a governmental post or begins a coaching career.

“We are already working on it and I believe that we must stipulate it at the administrative level and must have a documented provision that a person cannot be hired with a background of certain violations.

“We [the Russian Sports Ministry] work at the legislative and administrative levels, as well as with heads of territories and regional ministries to prevent such scenarios.”

One day earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was also interviewed on Match TV, and had a very different message:

“I know for sure that, apart from the obvious violations made by Russian athletes, there are also many partially related to sports Western figures who tend to overemphasize our role in promoting doping in every possible way and hence play down what is happening in the West.”

Responding to an assertion that Russia’s worldwide image in sports has been damaged:

“This image is challenging due to the fact that the particular, unacceptable-for-us episodes with the athletes’ breaches are overemphasized in order to sweep under the carpet some less evident violations committed in Germany and in the United States.”

Lavrov was equally combative last week in comments on the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision which reduced sanctions on Russia:

“I think the provision concerning banning state leaders from attending sports events is unclear and unacceptable.

“I think that after the decision of the CAS, we will all draw the right conclusions. The most important thing in this decision is that there is no collective responsibility, and pure athletes, unlike during the previous Winter Olympic Games, will no longer have to apply for some special invitation from the International Olympic Committee.

“We have been working with the World Anti-Doping Agency for a long time, although at some stage we underestimated the need to work within this structure. It’s good that the crisis with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency is finally over.”

The Russian husband-and-wife whistleblowers who helped blow open the Russian doping scandal have no plans to return to their homeland.

Vitaly and Yulia Stepanov told the German DPA news service in a Sunday story that they are living quietly in the U.S., with their seven-year-old son.

As for the impact they have had, Vitaly noted “The truth came out and the relevant organizations were forced to deal with it. We are glad, and in general I believe the anti-doping movement is stronger.”

He has doubts that Russia will clean up its act in the doping arena, adding “The Russian government is not helping by continuing to cover up and cheat the Olympic Movement. They are the main guilty party here.”

China passed a new law which criminalizes doping in a form similar to that passed by the U.S. in the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019, but without extra-territorial jurisdiction.

The Xinhua News Agency reported Article 355, Amendment XI was adopted on Saturday (26th):

“It stipulates that anyone who lures, instigates or cheats athletes into using banned substances in either domestic or international competitions faces up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine. Heavier punishments will be given to those organizing or forcing athletes into using banned substances, while knowingly offering banned substances to athletes is also a criminal offence.”

The new section will be effective as of 1 March 2021.

● Athletics ● The year might be almost over, but there’s still time for a world-leading mark and Australia’s Stewart McSweyn claimed the 2020 world mile lead with a 3:50.61 win in Penguin, in the state of Tasmania in Australia on Tuesday. He ran alone in the second half and ran the fastest mile ever on Australian soil.

“I’m stoked!” said the 25-year-old afterwards. “Obviously I’m a Tasmanian. The North West coast is where I grew up so I want to come here and perform, and I’m happy I was able to do that this year.

“I know that I can match the top guys now. I think I’m going to be right in the mix if I can get it right in Tokyo. It’s a good confidence boost but I still know I’ve got to get better. I’m just going to throw everything at Tokyo. I’m pretty excited for the year to come.”

Russian sports minister Matytsin also had plenty to say about Russia’s chances of having track & field Olympians in Tokyo next year. During an event in Moscow last Thursday (24th), he noted:

“If we speak about the track and field athletics, I must say that our relations with World Athletics entered a constructive stage of relations.

“We have accepted our mistakes from the past, elected the new leadership of the All-Russia Athletics Federation [RusAF] and are now actively cooperating about its membership reinstatement. I am positive that our leading athletes of track and field athletics will be cleared to perform at the upcoming international tournaments, including at the next Olympic Games.”

Of the penalties imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency and cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – including a ban on the Russian flag and anthem at the Tokyo Games – Matytsin added:

“It is a dear price that we must pay for the dark period if we speak about the national flag and anthem. I’m sure that this situation will bring us closer and unite us.

“However, taking into account all mistakes from the past, I would prefer to set my aim for the future. The most important is to cultivate a respect for each other and to keep an attitude of intolerance regarding the use of doping in sports.”

Grenada’s 400 m star Bralon Taplin (now 28, best of 44.38 ‘16) was slapped with an additional sanction by the Athletics Integrity Unit for a second anti-doping violation due to “whereabouts” failures, on 23 December. The decision noted:

“The Athlete is already subject to a period of Ineligibility of four (4) years for Evading Sample Collection from 29 September 2019 until midnight on 29 September 2023 according to the AntiDoping Panel decision dated 7 November 2019 (as upheld by the CAS in its award dated 18 May 2020).”

and

“The AIU therefore confirms by this decision a period of Ineligibility for the Athlete’s second AntiDoping Rule Violation of three (3) years from midnight on 29 September 2023 to midnight on 29 September 2026.”

Two American athletes were cited – but not penalized – by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Sprinter Jasmine Blocker (400 m: 51.46 ‘18) “has accepted a public warning for failing to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) prior to her use of an otherwise prohibited medication. Blocker’s violation resulted from her use of spironolactone, a topical prescription medication, which she used under the care of a dermatologist for a diagnosed medical condition.”

Middle-distance star Brenda Martinez – the 2013 Worlds 800 m silver medalist, now 33 – “has tested positive for a prohibited substance, which was determined to have been ingested by her without fault or negligence. As a result, Martinez will not face a period of ineligibility for her positive test.”

The “no fault” finding stemmed from a positive test for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a prohibited masking agent, from a September 2020 test. As it turned out, she was taking a prescription medication which did not show HCTZ as an ingredient, but was present.

● Figure Skating ● Although the international calendar has been destroyed by the coronavirus, two major national championships showcased some of the world’s best skaters last weekend.

In Nagano, the 89th Japan Figure Skating Championships confirmed the return of two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu to top form. He dominated the men’s competition, winning both the Short Program and Free Skate and piling up 319.36 points to run away from Shoma Uno (284.81) and Yuma Kagiyama (278.79).

This was Hanyu’s first national title since he won four in a row from 2012-15, and showed a new, brilliant routine in the Short Program and four quadruple jumps in the Free Skate.

Rika Kihira won her second straight Japanese title by winning both the Short Program and the Free Skate to score a 234.24-222.17 win over Kaori Sakamoto, with Satoko Miyahara third (209.75).

In Chelyabinsk, Russia, there were familiar faces on the podium. Veteran Mikhail Kolyada won the men’s division for the third time in his career, taking both the Short Program and Free Skate for a total of 296.15 points. He finished well clear of Makar Ignatov (265.37) and Mark Kondratiuk (260.31).

The women’s competition was a much tighter affairs, with Anna Scherbakova winning her third straight national title … at age 16! She won both the Short Program and Free Skate and scored a sensational 183.79 in the Free Skate. Scherbakova was followed by almost-as-impressive performances by Kamila Valieva (age 14: 254.01 including 174.02 in the Free Skate) and Alexandra Trusova (16: 246.37, with 170.61 in the Free Skate).

An excellent 230.56 for Daria Usacheva – age 14 – netted her only fourth place and 2015 World Champion Elizaveta Tuktanysheva could only manage seventh place at 204.25. Wow.

Pairs stars Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov – three-time Worlds medal winners – took their third national title from Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii, 228.23-224.99, with Daria Pavliuchenko and Denis Khodykin third (221.39). Four-time European medalists Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin won their first Russia title, out-pointing Tiffany Zahorski and Jonathan Guerreiro, 220.16-210.94.

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● A further tightening of entry into Japan due to the coronavirus is coming, and will result in the suspension of special dispensation given to athletes from other countries, at least until the end of January.

Japanese nationals returning to the country will now be required to observe a 14-day quarantine.

Japan announced a general suspension of entry by foreign nationals on Monday, in order to maintain pressure against the spread of the virus.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Echoing baseball great Yogi Berra’s observation that “it’s never over until it’s over,” the members of the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act Commission expected to be appointed by retiring Oregon Republican Congressman Greg Walden … were not appointed.

Reports last week indicated that former athletes Norm Bellingham – a canoeing gold medalist from 1988 and USOC Chief Operating Officer from 2006-11 – and Eli Bremer (modern pentathlon), along with athlete agent Peter Carlisle and former Defense Department Inspector General Joe Schmitz would be appointed by Walden.

However, Walden announced Tuesday that his appointees would include:

● Mitch Daniels, former Governor of Indiana and now the President of Purdue University;

● Rob Mullens, the current athletic director at Oregon;

● Melissa Stockwell, a Paralympic swimmer and triathlete, who served in Iraq and has received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, and

● Joe Schmitz (as reported), who was a wrestler at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Along with athletes Brittney Reese (long jump) and John Dane (sailing), there are now six appointees to the 16-member Commission. Democrats Sen. Maria Cantwell (Washington) and Rep. Frank Pallone (New Jersey) have yet to be heard from and Sen. Roger Wicker (Mississippi) still has two appointments remaining.

● At the BuZZer ● Thus year will always be remembered for the postponement of the Tokyo Games from 2020 to 2021. The best reaction to that news surely came in a tweet from hurdler and bobsledder Lolo Jones from 24 March:

The text says “FINALLY The OLYMPICS OFFICIALLY postponed for a year!! No box of Wheaties for me today. #breakfastofchampions” but the accompanying video is hilarious.

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SPECIAL: Our 709-event International Sports Calendar for 2021 now posted!

Rich Perelman

December 29, 2020

After the coronavirus imploded most of the worldwide sports calendar in 2020, let’s all hope that 2021 is a better year for everyone.

Our International Sports Calendar for 2021 shows 709 events, but is far from complete as several sports have not yet posted complete (or any) lists of events due to the continuing pandemic.

Be warned: this listing will change! The coronavirus will see to that, but this edition is a good checklist for following many of the events coming up, especially in the winter sports.

Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 15-page listing in chronological order and a 16-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

It’s free! Get your download right now here!

LANE ONE: Is the Athlete’s Voice as important as anti-doping? What happens when they are in conflict? They are!

Rich Perelman

December 28, 2020

/Updated: see endnote/ The power of the “athlete’s voice” and the fight against doping are two of the top stories of 2020 in the world of Olympic sport. For the most part, the two are aligned, with many athletes coming out for “clean sport,” and supporting the anti-doping work of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

But not always.

In the U.S., the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletics Act of 2020 was passed into law this year and requires that athlete representation on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board and committees be at least 33%. That requirement will extend to the National Governing Bodies as well.

But it does not cover professional sports in the U.S., such as Major League Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and so on.

In those leagues, the athlete’s voice is 50%. Read that again: 50%. That’s because the work rules – including doping regulations – are part of collective bargaining agreements between the league (the team owners) and player’s associations for each league.

Remember: 50% voice.

So whose side are you on – athletes or anti-doping – in these recent blow-ups?

● On 25 November, the NFL slapped a two-game suspension on linebacker Luke Gifford of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys for violating the league’s regulations on performance-enhancing drugs. Reporter Patrik Walker of CBS Sports noted:

“The shortened suspension is directly linked to the new collective bargaining agreement, and hints strongly at it being Gifford’s first offense and likely for either a masking agent or league-banned stimulant.”

A WADA spokesman called the suspension “nothing more than a slap on the wrist.” And WADA president Witold Banka (POL) said in a July interview:

“I also appreciate the involvement of the U.S. authorities in the fight against doping, it is a wonderful partner of clean sport. Let us be aware, however, that even the U.S. are facing serious problems. Let me remind you that the major professional leagues such as the NFL, NHL or NBA are not Signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code. The same applies to the academic sports (NCAA). I believe that this is a loss not only for clean sport, but also for the U.S. athletes themselves who should have the right to demonstrate their integrity and be protected.”

● The same issue was raised again in light of the reduction of WADA-imposed sanctions on Russia announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 17 December.

The moralists were out in force. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart ripped the decision, including:

“[T]here is no consolation in this weak, watered-down outcome. To once again escape a meaningful consequence proportional to the crimes, much less a real ban, is a catastrophic blow to clean athletes, the integrity of sport, and the rule of law.”

Followed up on Twitter by Matt Lawton of The Times (GBR):

“Powerful statement by @usantidoping’s Travis Tygart condemning decision on Russia by CAS. ‘A weak, watered-down outcome.’ He doesn’t think the ban has been upheld. Far from it.”

But then this reply from former International Olympic Committee marketing chief Michael Payne (GBR):

“Look forward to the same strong statements from @USAantidoping on sanctions on US leagues (which make a mockery of how serious US is on the fight against doping.)”

And from Alain Lunzenfichter, the former editor of the highly-respected French all-sports daily, L’Equipe (English via Google Translate)

“USADA boss Travis Tygart brings his science back to every decision of the CAS, [International Olympic Committee], or WADA. But in order to criticize you must first be irreproachable. Let him seriously control the professional leagues, then he can say that the other entities are lax.”

Hey guys, what about the athlete’s voice? In the U.S. professional leagues, it’s 50%, remember?

WADA has been widely criticized for not having enough athlete voices, so it can be tougher on cheaters:

● On its 12-member Executive Committee: currently just Danka Bartekova (SVK), the Vice President of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, although Banka and WADA Vice President Yang Yang (CHN) are both former world-class athletes (1 of 12 is 8%; 3 of 12 is 25%).

● On the 38-member Foundation Board: just four designated IOC Athletes’ Commission reps, although there are eight other former international-class athletes in other positions (4 of 38 is 11%; 12 of 38 is 32%).

WADA is going through a reform process now to add more athlete representation, but there are many calls of “too little, too late.”

But what if there were 50% “athletes” – current and former – on these bodies? Would the result be a stronger anti-doping regimen, or the “lax standard” reached in collective bargaining in American pro sports?

Let’s remember that real money is at stake in the U.S. pro leagues, not the relative pennies available in traditional, Olympic-focused sports (excepting football, of course). On 18 November, New York Mets star Robinson Cano was sanctioned for an entire, 162-game season thanks to a second positive drug test – previously in 2018 – and forfeited his $24 million salary for 2021.

Note this: that $24 million is more than the annual revenue for 17 of the 28 IFs in 2018 or 2019! And that was for a one-year ban, not the eight years that the current WADA Code demands for a second positive (as was imposed on Chinese swimmer Yang Sun, now to be re-heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport).

Would a much heavier athlete voice within WADA lead to more dramatic consequences than the CAS’s modest, two-year sanctions on Russia? Or will the “athlete voices” be blended into a union-style collective voice that will insist on more modest penalties?

This is about money. The more money is involved, the shorter the penalties, and in the U.S. pro sports, even those shorter penalties cost much more than most Olympic-focused-sport athletes earn in an entire year.

(How did we get four-year penalties for doping in Olympic sports? So that the doper would not be eligible for the next Olympics! Because in the Olympic world, nothing else matters. That’s the saddest reality of all.)

For all of the wringing of hands and tearing of hair over Gifford’s two-week suspension, he will lose about $79,412 of his $675,000 salary for 2020. How many Olympic-focused-sport athletes earn $79,412 a year? And who is getting hurt more?

In theory, having more athlete representation at the World Anti-Doping Agency and elsewhere is a fine thing. But the world-sport moralists might also want to recognize what happens when athletes have a real, 50/50 say on earnings and working conditions.

The true price that almost all Olympic-focused-sport athletes pay – except for football – is trading money for the possibility of Olympic glory.

Rich Perelman
Editor

/Endnote: Reader Mike Harrigan noted that Robinson Cano plays for the New York Mets, not the Seattle Mariners, as inadvertently originally posted. Cano was traded from Seattle to New York in 2019. Thanks, Mike!/

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THE TICKER: Tokyo 2020 sponsors stay in; Yang Sun gets do-over on doping sanction; Nike Vaporfly marathon advantage up to 4 minutes!

Rich Perelman

December 24, 2020

(★ Friends: Appreciation is the greatest gift of all. Now received are 28 donations toward the new bill for server and support costs; with the overage from the summer, we’re at 76% of our goal. This isn’t the easiest time to ask, but if you would like to help, please donate here. Your enthusiasm is the reason this site continues. ★)

The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Good news for the Tokyo organizers as reports filtered out that all 68 of its domestic sponsorship partners have agreed to extend their rights for 2021.

The Associated Press reported “The Japanese newspaper Nikkei reported earlier this month – citing sources close to the matter – that the top 15 so-called ‘Gold Partners’ would contribute an added 1 billion yen each. This is about $10 million each.”

This will not come close to covering the added costs to the organizers of the postponement of the Games, but it will help.

Tokyo 2020 also announced a change in its management team for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, naming ad agency owner Hiroshi Sasaki as the chief creative director. He replaces actor Nomura Mansai, who will become an advisor.

Sasaki told reporters at a 23 December news conference, “I want to express some sort of breakthrough or hope for the future. This is a chance to change the inflated image of Olympic ceremonies as being flamboyant stage shows.”

The budget for the ceremonies was recently increased from ¥13 billion [~$125.4 million] to ¥16.5 billion yen [~$159.1 million], again related to the postponement.

Tokyo 2020 reported that “Ticket purchasers have applied for refunds on about 200,000 of the roughly 970,000 tickets sold in Japan for the postponed Tokyo Paralympics.” Refunds will begin distribution in January.

Kyoto News also noted that “Organizers received requests for refunds on about 810,000, or roughly 18 percent of the 4.45 million tickets sold domestically for the Olympics.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● While the Russian Anti-Doping Agency may have been pleased with the reduced sanctions from the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week, the Russian government was not. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters:

“Of course, we lament this ruling. And we have a negative attitude to it.

“We intend to maintain close contacts with international sports federations. We will carry on with this dialogue and will continue protecting our interests resorting to all available means.

“The most important thing is that athletes get the right to take part in international competitions. This will help them maintain their international qualifications and keep in shape.”

WADA also published its testing report for 2019, showing 278,047 tests during the calendar year, of which 228,560 were in Olympic sports. Of those, there were 1,800 samples which showed possible violations, or just 0.79%.

The good news was that the number of tests increased from 263,519 in 2018 (220,659 in Olympic sports) and the number of “Adverse Analytical Findings” declined from 1,659 to 1,519.

Among the Olympic sports, Football had the most tests with 40,233 and 138 Adverse Analytical Findings, followed by Athletics with 34,576 and 253 AAFS, then Cycling (24,577 and 243).

Equestrian had the highest incidence of AAFs at 1.8% (13 of 733), followed by Weightlifting at 1.5% (188 of 12,849).

● Aquatics ● The long saga of China’s triple Olympic distance gold medalist Yang Sun is not over. The Swiss Federal Tribunal announced on Thursday (24th):

“In its decision of 22 December 2020, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court approved the request by the Chinese swimmer Sun Yang for revision of the arbitral award of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne dated 28 February 2020 (decision CAS 2019/A/6148) on the grounds of bias of one of the arbitrators of the CAS. The award of the CAS is set aside. The CAS will have to render a new award in the case of Sun Yang in a different composition of the panel.”

Sun was banned for eight years after destroying doping samples collected at his time on 4 September 2018. His appeal does not clear him, but will require a new proceeding; the last was a near-circus of mis-understandings and poor interpretation from English to Chinese and vice versa. But this will all start up again.

The World Anti-Doping Agency issued a quick statement indicating its intention to continue to pursue the matter:

“The Swiss Federal Tribunal’s decision upholds a challenge against the Chair of the CAS Panel [Italian Franco Fattini] and makes no comment on the substance of this case.

“In the CAS award, WADA clearly prevailed on the substance of the case as it was able to show that there were a number of aspects of the original FINA decision that were incorrect under the World Anti-Doping Code and the related International Standard for Testing and Investigations. WADA will take steps to present its case robustly again when the matter returns to the CAS Panel, which will be chaired by a different president.”

● Archery ● The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced that one of the world’s top archers, American Brady Ellison, a medal favorite for Tokyo:

“has tested positive for a prohibited substance, which was determined to have been ingested by him without fault or negligence. As a result, Ellison will not face a period of ineligibility for his positive test.

“‘If an athlete ingests a prohibited substance from a completely innocent source, such as contaminated medication, meat, or water, and there is no effect on performance, there should not be a violation or a public announcement,’ said Travis T. Tygart, Chief Executive Officer of USADA. ‘We have now had more than 25 of these tragic no-fault cases since 2016, and the injustice keeps happening. On behalf of athletes, USADA will continue to urge WADA to reform the system to be more fair, effective, and efficient.’”

Ellison provided records showing his use of a prescribed medication which – although it did not show hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) as an ingredient – included the prohibited substance. The results came from a 7 October 2020 out-of-competition test.

● Athletics ● A new study from Cornell University estimated the expected – but not guaranteed – benefit to elite athletes wearing the Nike Vaporfly shoes (models using a carbon fiber plate stacked inside of a highly responsive foam sole) in marathons:

“For men, the improvement is most likely somewhere between 2.1 and 4.1 minutes, or between 1.5% and 2.9%. For women it is likely between 1.2 and 4.0 minutes, or between 0.8% and 2.4%.”

This is less than the 4-5% advantage from some other studies, and includes data from 2015-19 from 578 elite and sub-elite athletes, running in 21 different races for a total of 1,618 performances from 2015-19. From the raw data, the researchers noted “we see that most runners’ average time in Vaporfly shoes is faster than their average time in non-Vaporfly shoes. Specifically, 53 of 71 men (74.5%) who switched to Vaporflys ran faster in them, and 40 of 56 women (71.4%) who switched to Vaporflys ran faster in them.”

Using even the lower levels of advantage, two minutes and six seconds for men and 72 seconds for women is a lot, with corresponding, lesser advantages in the Half Marathon and track races like the 10,000 m.

● Football ● FIFA announced the distribution of teams for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, to include host teams Australia and New Zealand plus:

● 11 direct slots for Europe (UEFA);
● 5 direct slots for Asia (AFC, +1 for Australia);
● 4 direct slots for Africa (CAF);
● 4 direct slots for North & Central America & the Caribbean (CONCACAF);
● 3 direct slots for South America (CONMEBOL);
● 1 direct slot for Oceania (New Zealand).

The other three slots will be determined in a 10-team playoff in which all of the confederations will receive one or two entrants.

Due to the pandemic, the FIFA Council also canceled the men’s U-17 World Cup and U-20 World Cup for 2021 and moved these tournaments to 2023 with the 2021 hosts – Peru (U-17) and Indonesia (U-20) agreeing to stage these events.

● Weightlifting ● The year-end message from Interim IWF President Dr. Michael Irani (GBR) warned of difficult times ahead:

“Frankly, 2020 has been a difficult year. 2021 promises to be better, but huge efforts will continue to have to be made to ensure this proves to be the case. …

“The athlete’s voice will be key among those listened to, as will those who decide our Olympic fate. For me, the lowest point of this year as far as the IWF is concerned came when the IOC decided to heavily cut the proposed medals and places available for weightlifters at Paris 2024. Young weightlifters will have been deprived of opportunities through no fault of their own, but by the cheating and malfeasance of others. We must be determined to do better.

“We should also be under no illusion as to the hard work that lies ahead and the obstacles we must overcome. For example, we must make arrangements so that the Congresses can take place regardless of travel restrictions. We will also need widespread cooperation. For example, Professor [Richard] McLaren has yet to release the second part of his report to the [International Testing Agency], the [IWF] Disciplinary and Ethics Commission or the independent members of the Reform and Governance Commission, despite being asked to do so.”

Beyond the continuing doping revelations plaguing the sport, the lack of adequate athlete representation within the IWF is a significant factor in the IOC’s displeasure with it. McLaren’s second report may be forthcoming since the IWF did conclude an agreement with the ITA to handle its doping controls going forward to 2024.

The federation will consider a new constitution and bylaws early in 2021 and its Olympic future may hinge not only on passage, but on how quickly it is implemented.

● The Last Word ● UK Sport announced its government-provided athlete support program has increased to £352 million (~$476.5 million) for the 2021-24 time frame, but many sports will actually get less money than they did for the 2016-20 Tokyo cycle.

The new allocation of £352 million will be split among 43 sports for Paris 2024 vs. £345 million (~$466.9 million) for 32 sports for Tokyo 2020. Sky Sports noted:

“That means money for emerging sports, such as climbing, surfing and skateboarding – which will all feature at the Olympic Games for the first time in Tokyo next summer – via a progression fund. In total, seven sports will share a £10.3m funding pot.

“An additional new fund worth £3m will be open to applications from other sports such as breakdancing, which is set to feature at the Olympics in Paris for the first time and did not apply for progression funding.”

As a result, funding for rowing was reduced by nearly 10%, swimming by 11.4%, equestrian by 11.6%, modern pentathlon by 20%, gymnastics by 6.7%, sailing by 4% and athletics by 3.6%.

There were increases for cycling (+12%), badminton and archery.

UK Sport is separate from the British Olympic Association – the National Olympic Committee for Britain – which is tiny by comparison, with income of just £13.3 million (~$18.0 million) in 2019.

Although not an exact comparison, the USOPC budget for 2017-20 earmarked $758.5 million for athlete grants, competition and travel support, sports medicine, NGB support and training center funding.

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THE BIG PICTURE: USOPC’s Hirshland outlines priorities for 2021, including more athlete voices, NGB support and international influence

Rich Perelman

December 24, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1008 hirshland, sarah 750 — USOPC Chief Executive Sarah Hirshland

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Well, 2020 was a terrible year for a lot of people. Let’s all hope that 2021 is better – a lot better – and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee leadership outlined the priorities for next year during a telephonic news conference on Monday.

USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons opened the discussion by noting that the USOPC will welcome six new Board members in January and that while the designated “athlete” members of the Board have been increased from three to five, there are actually nine current or former athletes now part of the 19-member Board.

Chief executive Sarah Hirshland followed with a detailed operations report, which included a specific list of where the focus is now. There’s nothing too surprising here, but worth checking out:

“We looked at the ‘21-22 calendar years and as you all know, our Board, at the end of 2019 approved a five-year strategic plan. We’ve now concluded the first year and now are planning for the second and third years of that. As we look ahead to 2021, we feel very good about the progress that we made in the first year of that plan and now our commitment as we go forward really focuses in five key areas.

[No. 1] “First and foremost, executing on the Tokyo and Beijing Games with excellence is and will always be a high priority for us and with three Games in the next four-year period, it will require incredible attention and dedication from our organization and the [National Governing Bodies] and broader U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community overall to ensure that those Games are wildly successful for all who are part of the U.S. delegation.

[No. 2] “The second is advancing the empowerment of Team USA athletes, whether this is through continued increases in athlete representation, now dropping from the USOPC governance level down into the National Governing Bodies and other organizations and committee-level appointments, there is still ample opportunity to implement increased athlete representation in the Movement and we’re focused on that work.

“Selection procedures and the qualification procedures for the Games will be a top priority, as will ensuring that the grievance process for athletes is clear and well understood, and provides a fair opportunity for all athletes.

[No. 3] “Our third priority will be supporting the effectiveness of our National Governing Body partners, whether this is focused on pipeline and really understanding and acknowledging and recognizing some of the threats to that pipeline that we’re seeing, particularly through the NCAA, but also at the grass-roots level, as the pandemic impacts sport across this country.

“But also in revenue generation, and ensuring that the NGBs have every opportunity to be strong financially, and to generate the revenues they need to do the great work that they do.

[No. 4] “Our fourth priority: serving as an engaged partner and an influential voice, both in the domestic and international movements. Certainly, it is not lost on us that there is a continued priority in the construction and development of the L.A. ‘28 organizing committee. We will continue to work very closely with them, the development of that organization and the plans for the L.A. ‘28 Games. Whether it’s the Congressional commission that comes on the heels of the enactment of the new Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes law – the Congressional commission coming out of that – something we are prepared to support and commit the time, energy and resources to assuring that the commission is wildly successful as well.

“And finally I would just comment on our motivation and goal to be a leader in our Movement but also in the country around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s an important opportunity for us and we feel very good about the work that’s happening in our organization and in our community in support of these important issues.

[No. 5] “Our last priority is to be good stewards of our people and our financial resources. We’re committed to running the organization with operational excellence and discipline, transparency and accountability, while at the same time being very focused on taking care of our people and being a great environment in which our team members and the athletes and those in our community can all thrive and be successful.”

On the “influential voice” priority, Lyons noted that the USOPC has been playing a helpful role in the anti-doping arena:

“The USOPC specifically is trying to take, as much as we can, a collaborative approach and work in some ways as both a mediator and an influencer with the [U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy], with [U.S. Anti-Doping Agency], with [World Anti-Doping Agency], and with the [International Olympic Committee]. …

“[W]e don’t actually fund WADA for example – the USOPC does not – so some of our levers are not really so much financial as they are influential. And what we’ve decided to do is to increase, I guess, the volume on our concerns about the necessary evolution that has to happen to get to the highest level of transparency, fairness and rigor in how doping is governed around the world and we’ve given our thoughts and ideas to WADA on things they can do and perhaps incorporate into their governance work.

“So we will try to continue to work as a positive partner around the world, but certainly we’ll stand up for our athletes and make it clear that anything less than the highest efforts of integrity to keep sport clean will not be accepted.”

It will be fascinating to follow how much effort the USOPC devotes to being an influencer in world sport. Other National Olympic Committees – using government-provided funds – have spent liberally in trying to recruit, promote and elect (or have appointed) candidates to International Federation boards, councils and committee posts, as well as auxiliary organizations such as WADA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and others. This is a nearly silent – and highly effective way – to obtain quality intelligence and exert subtle influence into the multitude of deliberations which occur daily in international sport.

Hirshland’s checklist is a good one to refer to again in a year’s time. She noted that the USOPC’s own finances are solid, but there will be a lot of work ahead to repair the finances of numerous National Governing Bodies as well as preparing for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games just six months after the Closing Ceremonies in Tokyo next August.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo 2020 costs now estimated at $15.8 billion total; USOPC working on protest rules; more U.S. track meets in ‘21!

Rich Perelman

December 22, 2020

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● True to its promise, the Tokyo organizers released a revised budget prior to year-end, showing the cost of the Olympic Games is expected to cost ¥1.64 trillion or about $15.8 billion U.S.

This is up from the ¥1.35 trillion (or ~$12.6 billion) figure expected for the Games to be held in 2020, with the added ¥294 billion (~$3.2 billion) caused by the postponement and added measures for mitigation of the coronavirus.

And

“The organizing committee’s share increased by 91 billion yen [~$878 million] from the amount announced in the fourth budget late last year, after factoring in funds gained from increased sponsor revenue and insurance that covers the games’ postponement or cancelation, as well as a reserve fund of 27 billion yen [~$260 million].”

The organizing committee was also reported to have increased the budget for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies from ¥13 billion [~$125.4 million] to ¥16.5 billion yen [~$159.1 million], again related to the postponement.

● United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● “As we all know, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the jurisdiction of the [International Olympic Committee] and [International Paralympic Committee]. And those organizations do absolutely have the ability and the right to sanction athletes. What we’ve done is make clear to our athletes that if their demonstrations are in support of social justice and racial issues, are peaceful and respectful, that we will not issue sanctions ourselves. Now comes the hard work of determining and defining [our rules] – and ideally – asking the IOC to be clear about their rules and the ramifications of those rules in advance. And that’s what we’ll try to accomplish here over the next quarter.”

That’s USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland during a telephonic news conference on Monday, describing the next steps in implementing the recently-announced policy to not sanction “athletes for peaceful and respectful demonstrations in support of racial and social justice.”

Asked about possible initiatives to rescind the suspensions of 400 m medalists Vince Matthews and the late Wayne Collett for their relaxed medal-stand posture in 1972, Hirshland said, “The most powerful way to honor the efforts of those in the past is to change the future.”

Hirshland also touched, with some optimism, on the USOPC ‘s financial situation: “We are financially stable as an organization. You know, we did make some adjustments earlier this year to assure we put ourselves in a strong position, and we are now in a very strong position going into next year. We will see revenue increase, we will see our program spending increase as a result of those revenue gains and we will also see the impact of shifting significant revenue and expense into the ‘21 to ‘24 quad cycle.”

While revenues were down in 2020, so were expenses, and the USOPC has again closed down its training center operations in Colorado Springs until the middle of January.

USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons touched on the “anger and disappointment” over the reduction of sanctions on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and called for more efforts against doping in the future.

Hirshland noted that there is no defined vaccination plan for the U.S. team at this point, but is being developed.

Four more members of the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 Commission were revealed last week, to be confirmed by retiring Oregon Rep. Greg Walden (R). Walden designated Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn from Colorado – who has the USOPC in his district – to make the selections:

● Norm Bellingham, who competed in Sprint Canoeing for the U.S. in 1984-88-92, winning gold with Greg Barton in the men’s K-2 1,000 m in Seoul and then was fourth in the K-1 500 m and K-2 1,000 m (with Barton) in 1992. He served as the Chief Operating Officer of the USOC from 2006-11, so he will have significant insights into how the USOPC can be better tuned.

● Eli Bremer, a 2008 Modern Pentathlon competitor, who finished 22nd in Beijing.

● Peter Carlisle, the Senior Vice President for Individual Sports Marketing and Managing Director, Olympics & Action Sports at the sports representation form Octagon.

● Joe Schmitz, the former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense from 2002-05 and a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

Both Carlisle and Schmitz are lawyers. They join athlete reps Brittney Reese and John Dane – selected by Republican Sen. Roger Wicker – on the 16-member panel.

Wicker has two non-athlete selections remaining; yet to be heard from are selections from Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) or Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington).

● Alpine Skiing ● The busy FIS Alpine World Cup continued on Monday with the men’s Slalom in Alta Badia (ITA), with Swiss Ramon Zenhaeusern claiming his four career World Cup gold, just ahead of Austrian veterans Manuel Feller (+0.08) and Marco Schwarz (+0.12).

The men’s tour continued on Tuesday in Madonna di Campiglio (ITA) with a night Slalom, with Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen coming from 12th to first on the second run and taking his 22nd career World Cup win.

Teammate Sebastian Foss-Solevaag won his first individual-race World Cup silver in second; he led after the first run, but was only 25th on the second run. Italian veteran Alex Vinatzer was third.

● Athletics ● The 2021 Millrose Games has been canceled by The Armory Foundation.

Scheduled for 13 February, it was to be the 114th edition of the famed indoor meet, but is yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to meet director Ray Flynn: “Canceling the iconic Millrose Games was a very difficult decision, but with all the health concerns surrounding an event of this complexity, rather than risking the athletes, officials, meet personnel, media and others, we have decided to wait until Feb. 12, 2022, for the next edition of the Millrose Games.”

A new series of U.S.-based meets is now scheduled for 2021 under the title “Track Series.” Formed by a group of meet and race directors, the concept is to offer American athletes a chance to compete domestically. The provisional schedule for 2021 includes:

● 14 May: Los Angeles, California: track meet
● 29 May: Portland, Oregon: Portland Track Festival
● 31 May: Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa High Performance
● 05 June: Nashville, Tennessee: Music City Carnival
● 10 July: Los Angeles, California: Under Armour Sunset Tour
● 17 July: Los Angeles, California: Under Armour Sunset Tour
● 14 August: Memphis, Tennessee: Ed Murphey Classic

Prize money is expected to be available at each meet and there will be an overall series points system and seasonal prize money as well. These are primarily existing meets which are being tied together for promotional purposes, but it’s an alternative to only being able to race in Europe during the summer.

Jesse Williams of Sound Running told Runner’s World, “We need an actual formal [U.S.] season, and we need it to be convenient for athletes, something to build a fan base.”

Music City Distance Carnival director Dave Milner added, “It’s pathetic that all the best athletes in America go to a different continent for most of their racing.

“That’s the position we’re in with track because for as long as I can remember, there’s just been a dearth of competitive opportunities for professional track athletes here. So they have to go to Europe and live out of a suitcase for four or five weeks at a time, and that’s just so hard for people to do, especially those that have families or have jobs. I feel like it’s been slowly killing the interest in the sport for the public for decades. …We need to bring the sport back to the U.S. to keep it relevant.”

Some of these events, or their precursors, were held this summer and fall, without fans and with the relevant coronavirus precautions. The athlete response was good, but how these events can do commercially is the question still to be answered.

● Basketball ● “I think there is a great understanding in what it means for the NBA and its players to play in the Olympics. The Players Association and the owners took the decision to play a shortened season which would mean 26 out of 30 teams will have finished by [the Olympic qualifiers] and all the teams will have finished in time for the Olympic Games.

“I believe that this means we will have, in the Olympic qualifiers, more than 85 percent of NBA players available.”

That’s FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis (GRE) from an online news conference last week, noting that the NBA schedule for 2020-21 will have its playoffs run from 22 May to 22 July. FIBA has pushed the four Olympic qualifying tournaments to select the four remaining open spots for men’s teams to 29 June to 4 July to allow more NBA players to participate. The Tokyo Games will start on 23 July.

● Football ● The story of FIFA and its one-time Secretary General and President Joseph Blatter continues with the filing of a complaint by FIFA against Blatter and others over expenditures related to the FIFA World Football Museum, which take up three lower floors of the 10-story Haus zur Enge in Zurich (SUI). FIFA’s statement included:

“The complaint identifies the direct involvement of former FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter together with other persons in relation to activities relating to the agreements that were signed in relation to the facility, which is located in downtown Zurich. The complaint includes the entire project costs at CHF 500 million, and identifies that the previous FIFA administration poured CHF 140 million into renovating and refurbishing a building that the organisation doesn’t own, while also locking itself into a long-term rental agreement on unfavourable terms when compared to standard market rates, which, in total, will cost FIFA CHF 360 million by the date of expiration in 2045. That is half a billion Swiss Francs that could and should have been channeled into the development of global football.”

The filing was made with the prosecutor for the Canton of Zurich and asks for a criminal complaint against Blatter and others. Wow.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The final day of Ski Cross at Val Thorens in France was completed Monday, with Reece Howden (CAN) moving up from silver – on Saturday – to gold, ahead of Ryan Regez (SUI) and Francois Place (FRA).

The women’s final saw Austria’s Katrin Ofner win her first-ever World Cup race – after 12 years of trying! – beating out Daniela Maier (GER) and Canada’s Marielle Thompson.

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics won a round in court against Liberty Insurance Underwriters last Friday at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

The Court ordered Liberty to dismiss its suit against Epiq eDiscovery Solutions, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Liberty had been trying to force Epiq to continue providing services in the USA Gymnastics case as Epiq has threatened to stop since it is owed about $1.8 million in fees from Liberty and others. Liberty has been operating under a Bankruptcy Court order to provide a “full and complete” defense for USAG, which is held to include Epiq’s services in this instance.

The monthly report of operations in the USA Gymnastics Bankruptcy case was filed on Monday, with the total legal fees in the case reaching $12.656 million as of 30 November 2020.

Of this amount, $7.298 million has been paid by USAG’s insurers, plus $252,383 in expenses.

That this case is completely about insurance proceeds is underscored by the USA Gymnastics balance sheet as of 30 November, which shows total non-insurance assets of $11.13 million.

● Judo ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the two-year suspension for doping for 2016 Olympic 57 kg Champion Rafaela Silva by dismissing her appeal from the sanctions imposed by the International Judo Federation’s Hearing Panel.

Silva tested positive for Fenoterol Metabolite, a prohibited substance, in an in-competition test on 9 August at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. She then tested negative at the World Judo Championships on 31 August and asked for a no-fault finding from the use of a contaminated substance given to her during the Games.

“The CAS Panel in charge of this matter could not find that Rafaela Silva had discharged the burden which lies upon her to establish by a balance of probability the “route of ingestion” for the prohibited substance. Accordingly, the Panel was unable to either reduce or eliminate the sanction imposed on her in the Challenged Decision.”

● Nordic Skiing ● Sad news for four-time Olympic medalist (two golds) and 13-time World Champion Petter Northug, 34, of Norway, who was sentenced to seven months in prison for narcotics possession and serious traffic offenses. He also received a lifetime driving ban.

The Associated Press reported that “After being stopped for speeding, police searched Northug’s home and found cocaine. Northug admitted to possessing cocaine, speeding, and driving under the influence.”

Northug won golds in the 50 km Classical and Team Sprint Cross Country events in Vancouver in 2010 and collected 13 World Championships golds between 2007-15 for events from 15 km to 50 km.

● At the BuZZer ● One of the many odd aspects of the addition of break dancing to the 2024 Paris program is that the existing DanceSport national federations don’t even cover “breakin.”

So it is in the U.S., but on Sunday it was announced that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 11 December between USA Dance – the national federation in the U.S. – and USA Breakin’, which recognizes the latter as the National Sports Organization responsible for the discipline:

“Under this agreement USA Breakin’ is responsible for training athletes, adjudicators, and coaches, sanctioning Breakin’ competitions, and managing operational aspects of the Breakin’ DanceSport discipline in preparation for the Olympics.”

It’s a good sign that the two organizations got together on this and did not end up in court; there are other sports which would do well to notice. Go ahead, take a head spin in celebration!

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LANE ONE: Casey Wasserman eyes post-2028 run for Calif. Governor; explains LA28’s “secret sauce” and how Covid will change the future in podcast with Seb Coe

Rich Perelman

December 22, 2020

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Friends tell friends interesting things, even when speaking on a podcast for public consumption and that’s where Los Angeles 2028 Chair Casey Wasserman told his friend, the British double Olympic gold medalist and now World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, that he envisions running for Governor of California after his efforts on the 2028 Olympic Games are completed.

“I really take my responsibility with the Games incredibly seriously. I believe I have a great desire to give back in many ways. I’m fortunate that I would have the means to not have a job if I wanted to do that, and so I view that post-2028, whether it’s running for office or giving back in some way to society politically beyond just running a business or helping to pull together the Olympic Games, is something I have a real desire to do. …

“If I were leaning today, it probably would be governor because I think the state of California is a really powerful economic and political and societal influence in the world given the size of its economy and the caliber of its resources and the quantity of its people and the opportunity to make a positive impact at that scale really energizes me and gets me excited, and whether I could ever be successful at getting elected or anything like that is something I would definitely intend to make a part of my future.”

His comments came during one of Coe’s “Extraordinary Tales in Extraordinary Times” podcasts, this one posted last Wednesday (16th) and available here.

Over 50 minutes, the two friends discussed family, Wasserman’s relationship with his legendary grandfather, MCA Universal’s Lew Wasserman, how the pandemic has impacted his consulting, marketing and representation business, and, of course, the 2028 Olympic Games.

Wasserman, 46, said that it was Coe who made the difference when he accepted the post as the head of the 2024 Olympic bid effort for Los Angeles. “There is no chance I would have taken this job if it wasn’t for the time we spent at your office in London, and I remember that conversation like it was yesterday.” Coe promised to help Wasserman, to call and help keep him on track, just as Coe had received his own coaching assistance on the road to the 2012 London Games.

“Well, you know who the person who did that for me was?” replied Coe. “Peter Ueberroth. Peter rang me after we just got across the line in London, absolutely unannounced. He came through on a Sunday afternoon and he said – because I knew him from L.A. [‘84] and, obviously, L.A. were my Games – and he said, ‘Look, there aren’t that many of us around, that have done this job. It’s alone, it can be arctic lonely sometimes and I’m going to ring every few Sundays and you’re going to tell me you don’t need my advice and I’m going to tell you that’s fine,’ and it was fantastic.”

Coe asked about how L.A. is positioned to host the Games and its perceived appeal. Said Wasserman:

“The way I described what our delivery program and sustainability is, you know, a lot of Olympic bid cities and ultimately host cities say like, ‘most of our venues are built and then they, as you know, there’s this ‘comma’ and a ‘but,’ we have to build these few venues, which of course are the three most expensive things you have to build, whether it’s an [International Broadcast Center] or a Village or a stadium. And ours doesn’t have that ‘but’ because of Los Angeles, and it’s not that we have the Coliseum or the new NFL stadium – the SoFi Stadium – or the Staples Center.

“Our secret sauce in Los Angeles, ironically, is USC and UCLA, because no city on earth has two universities at that scale with that level of athletic programs that are in the city center, 10 miles from each other. It literally doesn’t exist [anywhere else] on earth.”

On how that its in-place infrastructure affects the organizing effort:

“The way I paint the picture is, ‘In Paris today they woke up, there is a group of people thinking of really innovative, sustainability, environmental, technology, all the things you would want to do if you are going to host an Olympic Games. They are all great ideas, we’re all thinking about some version of the same, and then there is another part of that office – and you know this well, because yours was a different kind of project – that looked around and said, ‘Wow, we haven’t broke ground on our Olympic Village and we have to host 17,500 residents in less than four years from today, and we haven’t broke ground yet.’ And so all those good ideas, all those innovative ideas, things around sustainability, technology, innovation, delivery ideas, they go out the window because it’s all hands on deck to make sure that you have an Olympic Village that’s ready to open.

“And in L.A., if we were in that office, I would tell you we have a group of people thinking about a lot of those same ideas. And then the fortunate thing for us is we turn around and look outside our window and we look at UCLA, and UCLA houses 20,000 students today in dorms that are nicer than anything you could build and that means we get to turn around and focus on those ideas and so, sustainability, innovation in terms of delivery, how you even manage an Olympic Games.

“I mean, we – ironically – had a call this morning with the IOC and the Chair of our [IOC Coordination Commission, Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU)] and you know, this whole delivery program of ‘well, we’re in the United States, so why shouldn’t we just partner with the NBA and have them run the basketball tournament, and why shouldn’t we partner with, you know, Ironman and let them run the triathlon, you know, professional sports organizations who do this for a living as opposed to us trying to re-create the wheel, and so from things like that to what it means to deliver sustainable Games when you don’t have to build facilities and you can focus on that, and then obviously the technological innovation that is evolving and so, we’re in that fine line between how much do we do early because we have the time and how much do we wait to the end because things are going to change so much, but we are keenly focused on doing something special.”

Wasserman is echoing the revolutionary 1984 Games, where Ueberroth’s Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee partnered with Santa Anita Park for the equestrian events and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the demonstration baseball tournament.

Then there is the economic power that L.A. – and the U.S. – brings to the party:

“And, then, you know, look, this is a powerful commercial market. And I know people get sensitive about the U.S. touting its commercial appeal but we thought it was important [to note in the bid presentation]. I think it’s ironic because our university system is built on Olympic sports, it’s a powerful platform to train American Olympians and by the way, in Rio we trained 60 Olympians for other countries. It’s a unique thing for a country to train athletes to compete against your athletes. And yet, the professional manifestation of all those sports is under-developed. …

“So we thought it was important to make federations think about that without being, sort of, the overly commercial, obnoxious Americans that we can be, or are accused of being.”

Coe also asked about the 11-year time frame between selection in 2017 and 2028. Wasserman noted:

“[We’re] making sure we take advantage of that time, because as you know better than I do, it’s the one thing you can’t buy more of is time and the one thing I guarantee our people is that in the spring of 2028, I’m sure we will be sitting around some table somewhere in the office saying ‘I wish we had a couple more months,’ even though we will have had 11 years, which no one has ever had before.

“And so there is that, and the flip side is, because of the infrastructure we have in Los Angeles to deliver the Games, unlike most Games where much of the risk sits on the cost side, our risk sits on the ability to drive the revenue. And so what we have really been focused on is being an organization which is paying attention to a few things: making sure the foundation is solid for us to go from 80 employees to ultimately thousands, with tens of thousands of volunteers, making sure we are aggressive in our commercial program, and frankly, learning how – as I am sure you look back and think about some of the best things you did was what you said no to – is saying no to a lot of things. And really just trying to keep our head down and keep focused.”

Wasserman and Coe have both come out in favor of changes to the Olympic Charter Rule 50 concerning protests, with Wasserman explaining:

“In the end, athletes are role models. People do look up to athletes, they do have a great amount of respect for their perspectives and I think athletes, given the world we live in, understand the power of their voices. And they are meaningful and they are influential, and they do, in many ways, define the culture we all live in or think about living in. …

“The power of athletes, the power of sport, to shift that perspective, to shift the dialogue and to move us forward in a way that we absolutely must, I think it’s incredible and it’s really wonderful to see athletes and organizations around the world understand their role.”

And what about the long-term impact of the coronavirus? Said Wasserman:

“I think the pressure to be in the office, to show that you’re present and valuable will probably be diminished. I think the days of flying to New York for an hour meeting are probably over. I think the days … to drive to downtown L.A. for 45 minutes for an hour meeting is crazy on a whole host of levels that I never would have considered before. And having said that, I think the things that bring people together, at scale, are more important. Conferences, events, things that are valuable, where if you’re not going to go to New York for a day and see a couple people, that coming to your Congress for the IAAF is more important because you’ll probably spend more time and be more present at a thing like that where everyone is in one place. And so, there’s going to be a new normal, but what we are in now is not the new normal and as you know better than I do, the pendulum always swings too far in both directions and you usually ends up in the middle.”

Wasserman is in the middle of the future of the Olympic Movement, but recognizes the challenges of being in charge of a Games which so many expect to be so special. If he succeeds, he may in the middle of a political campaign as soon as 2030.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LANE ONE: WADA vs. RUSADA isn’t over; why WADA should appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal right now

Rich Perelman

December 21, 2020

tsx pix 2019-731 swiss federal court 750 — The Swiss Federal Tribunal, in Lausanne.

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Now this is not the end.
It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Winston Churchill’s famed declaration from his 10 November 1942 speech on the British victory over Nazi forces at El Alamein in Egypt still resounds across almost 80 years to us today, and should be especially well remembered at the World Anti-Doping Agency headquarters in Montreal.

This is because WADA should appeal that part of the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which reduced the sanctions on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, as announced last Thursday (17th).

True, WADA won the case. But the three-member CAS panel significantly reduced the sanctions imposed by WADA, notably the trimming of the sanctioning period from four years to two years and the removal of the sanction that

“Russian athletes and their support personnel may only participate in or attend editions of the following events held during the Four Year Period – (a) the Youth Olympic Games (summer and winter); (b) the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (summer and winter); (c) any other event organised by a Major Event Organisation; and (d) any World Championships organised or sanctioned by any Signatory – where they are able to demonstrate that they are not implicated in any way by the non-compliance, in accordance with strict conditions defined by WADA (or the CAS, if it sees fit), pursuant to the mechanism foreseen in [International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS)] Article 11.2.6.”

Instead, the CAS panel’s 186-page decision – not yet published publicly – included this crucial, explanatory paragraph which was provided in the summary news release:

“This Panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance [to the World Anti-Doping Code] and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained. The consequences which the Panel has decided to impose are not as extensive as those sought by WADA. This should not, however, be read as any validation of the conduct of RUSADA or the Russian authorities. In making its orders, the Panel is limited by the powers granted under the applicable law, in particular the WADC and the ISCCS. It has considered matters of proportionality and, in particular, the need to effect cultural change and encourage the next generation of Russian athletes to participate in clean international sport.” (Emphasis added)

This is a pathetic, soft, mis-reading of the International Standard for Code Compliance and can be – and should be – appealed. The WADA Compliance Review Committee’s lengthy review and recommendation brief issued in December 2019 detailed the egregious, state-run doping scheme perpetrated by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, run through its Moscow headquarters laboratory.

In fact, the scope of the Russian doping-promotion project from 2011-15 is so far beyond anything contemplated in the International Standard for Code Compliance (2018 edition) that such behavior is not actually discussed at all. Annex B, which lists Signatory consequences, does not even address such a program. But it does state clearly, right at the top, that:

“The intention is to promote predictability and consistency in the imposition of Signatory Consequences across all cases. However, there shall be flexibility to vary within or even to depart from this range in a particular case, where the application of the principles set out in Article 11 to the specific facts and circumstances of that case so warrant. In particular, the greater the degree of non-compliance (i.e., the more requirements with which the Signatory has failed to comply, and the more serious those requirements), the greater the Signatory Consequences should be. If a case includes not only non-compliance with one or more Critical requirements but also Aggravating Factors, that shall warrant a significant increase in the Signatory Consequences imposed (which may include, without limitation, a Fine).” (Emphasis added)

Note the words “without limitation” in last line. In this, the most stunning case of doping deception yet known, only the strongest sanctions will do. The CAS panel – and we have not seen the full decision yet – appears to have treated the Russian doping scheme as simply the far end of the listed consequences in the 2018 edition of the International Standard for Code Compliance and not for its subversion of the entire anti-doping process.

WADA should insist that this is a grossly incorrect mis-reading of ISCCS Annex B, and most especially its parent language from Article 11.2.4-5-6. Lots of words here, but read this slowly:

“11.2.4 The Signatory Consequences imposed in a particular case shall go as far as is necessary to achieve the objectives underlying the Code. In particular, they shall be sufficient to motivate full Code Compliance by the Signatory in question, to punish the Signatory’s non-compliance, to deter further non-compliance by the Signatory in question and/or by other Signatories, and to incentivize all Signatories to ensure they achieve and maintain full and timely Code compliance at all times.

“11.2.5 Above all else, the Signatory Consequences imposed should be sufficient to maintain the confidence of all Athletes and other stakeholders, and of the public at large, in the commitment of WADA and its partners from the public authorities and from the sport movement to do what is necessary to defend the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping. This is the most important and fundamental objective, and overrides all others.

“11.2.6 The consequences should not go further than is necessary to achieve the objectives underlying the Code. In particular, where a consequence imposed is exclusion of Athletes and/or Athlete Support Personnel from participation in one or more Events, consideration should be given to whether it is feasible (logistically, practically, and otherwise) for other relevant Signatories to create and implement a mechanism that enables the non-compliant Signatory’s Athletes and/or Athlete Support Personnel to demonstrate that they are not affected in any way by the Signatory’s noncompliance. If so, and if it is clear that allowing them to compete in the Event(s) in a neutral capacity (i.e., not as representatives of any country) will not make the Signatory Consequences that have been imposed less effective, or be unfair to their competitors or undermine public confidence in the integrity of the Event(s) (e.g., because the Athletes have been subject to an adequate testing regime for a sufficient period) or in the commitment of WADA and its stakeholders to do what is necessary to defend the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping, then such a mechanism may be permitted, under the control of and/or subject to the approval of WADA (to ensure adequacy and consistency of treatment across different cases).” (Emphasis added)

The ISCCS couldn’t be clearer! The panel appears to have been in a fog, although we still need to see the full decision. But there is ample grounds for a WADA appeal.

The Swiss Federal Tribunal is the appeals venue for CAS decisions and while its jurisdiction is limited, this is a good case. An insightful 2016 review of the grounds for appeal for CAS cases – by the then-Managing Counsel and Head of Research and Mediation at CAS – notes an award may be annulled if “incompatible with public policy.”

That standard, the review points out:

● “The [Swiss Federal Tribunal] has e.g. held that the principle of strict liability for doping and the shift of the burden of proof to the athlete do not violate public policy.”

Exactly what was brushed aside by the CAS panel in this case!

● Rule 58 of the CAS Procedural Rules, listing the law applicable to the case, notes that “The Panel shall decide the dispute according to the applicable regulations.” But in the published explanatory paragraph, the CAS Panel stated that it was “limited by the powers granted under the applicable law, in particular the WADC and the ISCCS,” in deciding the sanctions … when in fact it was not at all constrained from accepting the WADA sanctions as recommended. Remember that Russia is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code!

The CAS Panel’s wrongly-interpreted “restricted” view of the sanctions available to WADA due to a mis-reading of ISCCS Annex B and not the overriding factors in Article 11.2.4-5-6 is an error which can be corrected by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

WADA is right to be irritated by the CAS decision, but it is not without recourse. It should appeal, and the widely-held derision of the CAS finding is proof enough that the panel erred and did not “maintain the confidence of all Athletes and other stakeholders, and of the public at large” in the RUSADA matter.

Blistering criticism of the CAS decision has come from many corners, and not just the firebrands in the U.S., but also the German athlete’s association, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations (iNADO), and the WADA Athlete Committee, whose statement included:

“The sanctions that individual athletes receive for Anti-Doping Rule Violations are strict; and, we expect organizations and administrators to be held to the same standard as we are and this has not happened.”

And that’s far less harsh than the tsunami of anguish from athletes of many countries on social media of all kinds.

Mr. Churchill was right. This is only the end of the beginning. Happy holidays to the WADA legal staff, who need to stay in the office and file this appeal now.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Superb marathons by Hehir (2:08:59) & Hall (2:20:32); first medals for U.S. skiers Johnson & Cochran-Siegle; U.S.’s Geraghty-Moats makes history!

Rich Perelman

December 20, 2020

rsx pix 2020-1220 sara hall marathon project finish 750 — Sensational 2:20:32 win for American Sara Hall in Sunday's The Marathon Project 2020 (Photo: The Marathon Project 2020)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt-Kilde swept the Super-G and Downhill at the 52nd Saslong Classic races in Val Gardena, Italy, with a surprise silver for American Ryan Cochran-Siegle on Saturday.

Kilde won his fifth and sixth World Cup races, just edging Swiss Mauro Caviezel by 0.12 in Friday’s Super-G with Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud third (+0.21). Cochran-Siegle was eighth (+0.87).

On Saturday, Kilde took the Downhill in 2:01.45, but Cochran-Siegle, 28, won his first World Cup medal in second – his prior best was a fifth – just 0.22 behind. Swiss Beat Feuz was third (+0.54). American Bryce Bennett tied for fourth (+0.62) and Jared Goldberg was sixth (+0.72), an outstanding showing for the U.S.

Said Cochran-Siegle: “Coming here, I didn’t think this would be a hill I should worry too much about. That way it made it easy. This isn’t a hill I should do well – it’s such a gliding hill. I just focused on the skiing and it allowed me to perform well.”

The heavy racing schedule continued on Sunday with a Giant Slalom at Alta Badia (ITA), with French star Alexis Pinturault taking the win in 2:27.19, just ahead of Atle Lie McGrath (NOR: +0.07) and Swiss Justin Murisier (+0.24). American Tommy Ford was fifth, just 0.17 from a medal. The Slalom will be held on Monday.

The women’s tour was in Val d’Isere (FRA) for speed races, with veteran stars Corinne Suter (SUI) and Sofia Goggia (ITA) taking the two Downhill titles on Friday and Saturday. Suter won on Friday, just 0.11 ahead of Goggia and 0.20 up on American Breezy Johnson, 24, who took her first World Cup medal in third.

Goggia and Suter traded places for Saturday’s Downhill, with the 2018 Olympic gold medalist finishing 0.24 seconds ahead of Suter, with Johnson third again (+0.27)! Before this past weekend, Johnson’s best finish had been a fourth and two fifths over five years on tour.

Suter was looking for another medal in Sunday’s Super-G and was second again, this time to Czech star (and Olympic gold medalist) Ester Ledecka, who won by just 0.03! Italy’s Federica Brignone was third (+0.35), with American Keely Cashman finishing 10th.

These are encouraging performances for the U.S. squad, which is slowly developing new stars to keep Mikaela Shiffrin from feeling too lonely on the circuit.

● Athletics ● The multi-event athletes got a chance to compete at the Meeting de la Reunion on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, specifically in St. Paul (a “department of France”) over the weekend and it was a showcase for world record holder Kevin Mayer.

The French star won easily, scoring 8,552 points, by far the best score in the world for 2020. He won the 100 m and shot put on the first day, then took the 100 m hurdles, discus and javelin in the final day to easily outdistance Estonians Taavi Tsernjavski (8,030) and Risto Lillemets (7,993).

The women’s heptathlon was won by Colombia’s Evelis Jazmin Aguilar at 6,055, ahead of Mari Klaup (EST: 6,014) and Sarah Lagger (AUT: 6,010).

The Marathon Project 2020 created an elites-only race on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Chandler, Arizona on Sunday, over a 4.3-mile, flat loop course with sensational results for Martin Hehir and Sara Hall.

Hehir, the 28-year-old former Syracuse All-American, took the race with a massive lifetime best of 2:08:59, well ahead of Noah Droddy (2:09:09), Colin Bennie (2:09:38) and Scott Fauble (2:09:42). Hehir moves to no. 6 on the all-time U.S. list, with Droddy at no. 8.

A group of 16 crossed the halfway mark together in 1:04:27 and 13 were still running together with Hehir in the lead at 30 km. The lead pack shrunk to nine by 35 km, but then Hehir took over and carved out a 10-second lead over Droddy by 40 km and steamed home with a 2 1/2-minute improvement on his 2:11:29 sixth-place finish at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. In all, seven runners broke 2:10, with huge PRs for Droddy (old PR 2:11:42), Bennie (2:12:14), Ian Butler (2:09:45 vs. 2:16:26) in fifth, Scott Smith (2:09:46 in sixth vs. 2:11:14) and Mick Iacofano (2:09:55 in seventh vs. 2:13:48).

The women’s race was a showcase for Sara Hall, who ran the second-fastest marathon ever by an American woman, winning in 2:20:32, ranking 15th on the 2020 world list.

Hall and Kellyn Taylor had broken away from the field by the half, with Hall extending her lead continuously after that and winning by 2:24 over Keira D’Amato, who passed Taylor after the 35 km mark. The top six all broke 2:27, with D’Amato finishing in 2:22:56 (no. 8 all-time U.S.), then Taylor in 2:25:22, Emma Bates in 2:25:40, Nastasha Wodak (CAN) in a lifetime best 2:26:19 and Andrea Ramirez Limon (MEX) in a lifetime best of 2:26:34 (no. 3 all-time Mexico).

Hall’s brilliant run finishes a great year in which she ran 2:22:01 for second at London and now 2:20:32, but she did not finish at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and will not race in Tokyo.

Prize money for each division was $5,000-2,000-1,000.

● Biathlon ● Big fun for Norway in the second week of competition in Hochfilzen (AUT), winning five of the six events and claiming 12 of the 18 medals on offer.

In the men’s events, Norwegians Sturla Holm Laegrid, Johannes Dale and overall leader Johannes Thingnes Boe swept the 10 km Sprint, then Laegrid and Boe went 1-3 in the 12.5 km Pursuit (with France’s Emilien Jacquelin second), and then Tarjei Boe took the bronze in the 15 km Mass Start. German Arnd Peiffer and Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE) went 1-2 in the Pursuit.

The women’s races were more of the same. The 7.5 km Sprint was a Norwegian sweep with Tiril Eckhoff winning her second World Cup race of the season, followed by Ingrid Tandrevold and overall leader Marte Olsbu Roeiseland. Eckhoff also won the 10 km Pursuit, followed by the Swedish sisters Hanna and Elvira Oberg (with Tandrevold fourth). Finally, Roeiseland and Eckhoff went 1-2 in the 12.5 km Mass Start, with Italy’s Dorothea Weirer claiming the bronze medal.

These were the final races of 2020; the tour starts up again in January.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Order was restored at the IBSF World Cup races in its second week of racing at Innsbruck (AUT), with German superstar (and Olympic gold medalist) Francesco Friedrich winning both men’s races.

In fact, the two men’s Two-Man races had almost the exact same medal winners! Friedrich and Alexander Schuller won both, with Latvia’s Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis second in both. Germans Johannes Lochner and Christian Rasp were third in both, but tied in the second race by teammates Hans Peter Hannighofer and Marcel Kornhardt.

That’s seven wins in eight races for Friedrich, who is 0.30 seconds short of a perfect season, losing to Lochner in the first Innsbruck race last week.

Germany continued its winning streak in the Two-Women races, winning for the fourth time in a row, but with the third different team as part of a third straight sweep of the medals. This time it was Stephanie Schneider, with Leonie Fiebig, who took the victory, followed by two-time seasonal winner Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi just 0.18 back, and then Kim Kalicki and Ann-Christin Strack in third.

In Skeleton, Latvia’s Martins Dukurs won again to extend his perfect season to four in a row, with Matt Weston (GBR) getting up for second and Christopher Grotheer third. Austrian Janine Flock won her third race (out of four) this season, with Dutch slider Kimberley Bos claiming her third silver medal in four races. German star Jacquelline Loelling was third.

Everyone gets to go home for the holidays, with racing resuming in January.

● Freestyle Skiing ● In the mid-week Ski Cross races in Arosa (SUI), Sweden won three of four, with David Mobarg and Viktor Andersson taking the men’s races and Alexandra Edebo winning the first of two women’s races.

Swiss skiers won three medals in the two men’s races, with Alex Fiva and Joos Berry 2-3 in the first race and Ryan Regez taking silver in the second. Swiss star Fanny Smith was second in the first race and won the second women’s race, with teammate Talina Gantenbein third.

While the weekend Ski Cross races in Val Thorens (FRA) had to deal with difficult wind conditions, it was possible to go on Sunday with France’s Jonathan Midol and Fanny Smith coming away winners.

Midol won the final from Reece Howden (CAN) and Florian Wilmsmann (GER), with Jean Frederic Chapuis in fourth. Smith won her second race and third medal in a week, edging Jade Grillet Aubert (FRA) and Marielle Thompson (CAN) in the final.

The second scheduled race has been moved to Monday, with hopes for fair weather. The Freestyle tour will then pause until mid-January.

● Luge ● In Winterberg (GER), German star Felix Loch won his fifth straight race in the men’s Singles to extend his perfect season, ahead of Nico Gleirscher (AUT) and Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller, but then saw his streak end with a fifth-place finish in the Sprint World Cup race. German Max Langenhan took the Sprint win, edging Kevin Fischnaller (ITA), who beat out his cousin Dominik for the silver.

Germans also won both of the men’s Doubles races, with Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt taking the first race over teammates Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken by 40/1000ths, with Andris and Juris Sics (LAT) third. But Eggert and Benecken took the Sprint, with Wendl and Arlt third and Austria’s Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller winning their firth medal in six races this season in second.

German Julia Taubitz confirmed her status as the top women’s slider with her third and fourth wins – Standard and Sprint – in six races this season, with the amazing Natalie Geisenberger coming in second in both events. She’s been second in all six races this season! Eliza Tiruma (LAT) was third in the Standard race, with Dajana Eitberger third in the Sprint.

● Nordic Skiing ● History for the U.S. as Tera Geraghty-Moats won the first-ever women’s Nordic Combined World Cup race!

In Cross Country, the final World Cup races for 2020 were in Dresden (GER), with another U.S. medal performance in the women’s Sprint.

The men’s Sprint was taken by 2017 World Champion Federico Pellegrino, who zipped through the 1,288 m course in 2:21.96, well clear of Andrew Young (GBR: +0.53) and Gleb Retivykh (RUS: +0.91). Two Americans made the final, finishing fifth (Simi Hamilton) and sixth (Kevin Bolger).

The women’s Sprint was a three-way fight with Swiss Nadine Faehndrich getting to the line first, ahead of American Sophie Caldwell Hamilton (+0.32) and Anamarija Lampic (SLO: +0.35). It’s the 10th career World Cup medal (2-5-3) for Caldwell Hamilton and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Jessica Diggins was fourth, 2.60 seconds behind the winner.

The U.S., with Caldwell Hamilton and Diggins, finished fourth in the Team Sprint final, behind Switzerland, Russia and Slovenia. Russia won the men’s Team Sprint.

History was in the making in the Nordic Combined events in Dresden, with the first-ever World Cup competition taking place on Friday. Geraghty-Moats stood only sixth after the 98 m jumping round, but came from 39 seconds behind at the start of the 5 km cross-country race, but overtook everyone to finish 1.5 seconds ahead of Norway’s Gyda Westvold Hansen and 13 seconds ahead of Anju Nakamura from Japan.

“This is something that I have dreamed about since I was about 10 years old,” said the winner. “Coming into this competition I was really uncertain of myself because I had not put a bib on in 10 months, and I had 10% of my ski jumping training that I had hoped to have. But all day long I just kept telling myself that I could do it one step at a time.”

Geraghty-Moats had been a ski jumper prior, with a best finish of ninth in a World Cup event, back in February 2015. She’s now in the history books as the first-ever winner of a women’s Nordic Combined World Cup.

The men’s competitions included 98 m hill jumps and 10 km races on Saturday and Sunday. German Vinzenz Geiger scored a tight win over Norwegian superstar Jarl Magnus Riiber – by 0.5 seconds – on Saturday with Lukas Greiderer (AUT) third. Then Geiger won again on Sunday over Riiber by just 0.2 seconds (!) for his fifth career World Cup win. Riiber had won the three races this season prior to Dresden. German star Fabian Reissle was third on Sunday (+5.0).

In Ski Jumping, the dream season continued for Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud, who won both competitions in Engelberg (SUI), off the 140 m hill. He took Saturday’s event in a close 311.4-309.2 contest with Polish star Kamil Stoch, with Anze Lanisek (SLO) third (-8.7). On Sunday, Granerud dispatched his season-long rival, Markus Eisenbichler (GER) by 305.4-303.7, with another Pole, Piotr Zyla third (-9.2).

The women’s jumpers were in Ramsau (AUT) on Friday, jumping off the 98 m hill there, with 19-year-old Marita Kramer (AUT) claiming her second World Cup win, ahead of Nika Kriznar (SLO) and Japan’s Sara Takanashi.

● Wrestling ● The United World Wrestling substitute for the World Championships, the Individual World Cup, wrapped up in Belgrade (SRB) with the men’s and women’s Freestyle divisions.

Russia dominated the event, winning eight men’s Freestyle golds and two women’s Freestyle titles (and seven total medals), taking the team titles in both events.

Zavur Uguev (57 kg), Abasgadzhi Magomedov (61 kg), Razambek Zhamalov (74 kg), Akhmed Usmanov (79 kg), Dauren Kurugliev (86 kg), Alikhan Zhabrailov (92 kg), Abdulrashid Sadulaev (97 kg) and Shamil Sharipov (125 kg) all won men’s Freestyle titles. Russian women’s winners included Ekaterina Poleshchuk (50 kg) and Svetlana Lipatova (59 kg) and the Russians had five other medalists. The U.S. and Japan did not compete in this event; Iran sent only a small team.

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THE TICKER: What the WADA court win really means for Russian athletes; IOC’s 2024-28 dual award mirrored for 2030-34 Asian Games; new legs for Leeper!

Rich Perelman

December 18, 2020

tsx pix 20418 head in hands 700x467 — Henri Vidal's Caïn venant de tuer son frère Abel (Cain, after having murdered his brother Abel), in the Tuileries Garden, Paris (Photo: Wikipedia)

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● World Anti-Doping Agency vs. RUSADA ● Thursday’s announcement of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to sanction the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) for two years was hailed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but it may not stop hundreds of Russian athletes from competing in Tokyo in 2021.

While “banning” Russia from the Tokyo Games next year and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022 – plus the Paralympic Games and World Championships during the same period – the CAS order states that Russian athletes may participate if:

“The Athlete/Athlete Support Personnel shall not be subject to suspension, restriction, condition or exclusion imposed by a competent authority in any past or future proceedings which remains in force at the time of the specified event.”

The International Olympic Committee, to its dismay, seized on this language right away in its brief comment on the decision:

The IOC correctly sees a potential replay of Rio 2016 coming, where Russia had 284 athletes competing (142 men and 142 women), down from 429 in 2012 and 454 in 2008, but still the 11th-largest delegation at the Games.

And the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee picked up on this in its mostly unhappy statement, including:

“[T]he U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee is gratified by the elements of the CAS ruling upholding WADA’s strong sanctions against Russian sport organizations, and deeply disappointed by other elements of the ruling that materially weaken these sanctions. …

“Whatever the final effect of implementation of the CAS ruling, we must acknowledge that it is only the latest chapter in a terrible story of a calculated, and at least partially successful scheme, to attack clean athletes and fundamental Olympic and Paralympic values. …

“The USOPC has heard clearly from our own athlete representatives their view that there is an urgent need for leadership and deep, expedient changes to the current governance, systems, and organizations responsible for the international anti-doping movement.” (Emphasis added)

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart was simply furious, and blames WADA for the outcome, not the court:

“USADA acknowledges the devastating decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the Russia case that hands WADA and clean athletes a significant loss. At this stage in this sordid Russian state-sponsored doping affair, now spanning close to a decade, there is no consolation in this weak, watered-down outcome. …

“Throughout the investigation and now with this weak outcome, it’s clear that WADA – even with new leadership and promises of change – has told athletes that it did not hear them and that they don’t matter. Russia has claimed victory today and, for them and their ability to corrupt global sport, deceive the world, and cheat the global anti-doping system, they are right.”

Acting RUSADA head Mikhail Bukhanov was enthusiastic:

“Today’s results is a victory for Russia, CAS did not limit the rights of clean athletes to take part in the Olympics, Paralympics and world championships. The court made the decision to accept the provisions which WADA was pushing through. Undeniably, this is a significant precedent.”

Now comes more politics, determining who can and cannot compete in Tokyo in 2021 and at Beijing 2022 among other events. There are Russian presidents of three International Federations: fencing, shooting and boxing (although AIBA is under IOC suspension and not involved in Tokyo 2020). Most IFs looked the other way in 2016, with the major exception of World Athletics, which allowed only one Russian athlete (who was training in the U.S.) to compete.

The Russian Athletics Federation is still under suspension by World Athletics, but there are eight Russian stars named in the World Athletics doping pool for 2021 according to RUSADA, meaning they could be eligible as neutrals:

“The new list still includes Maria Lasitskene, Mikhail Akimenko and Ilya Ivanyuk [high jump]; Anzhelika Sidorova and Timur Morgunov [pole vault]; Ilya Shkurenev [decathlon]; Sergei Shubenkov [110m hurdles]; and Vasily Mizinov [race walk].”

Lasitskene is the gold-medal favorite in the women’s high jump; Sidorova is the reigning World Champion in the women’s vault and Shubenkov is a former World Champion and one of the favorites for a medal in the high hurdles.

The CAS order also included: “For the avoidance of doubt, this order does not impose restrictions in respect of any events other than the specified events.” So continental championships and World Cup events are not impacted at all, unless the federation involved decides to hold Russian athletes out … which, based on 2016, is highly unlikely in most sports.

IOC chief Thomas Bach hoped for a decision from the Court that would leave no open questions, but he didn’t get it. Instead, the IOC is now going to have to coordinate the views of the IFs and the question is open as to how hard the IOC will lean on them. Stay tuned.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The Paris 2024 organizing committee’s Board of Directors confirmed the changes to the venue masterplan today, again reducing the number of new venues to be constructed.

As previously approved by the IOC, the new plan eliminates the building of the temporary Olympic Aquatics Stadium and uses one less football venue (now seven total). The latest estimate shows construction only for the Olympic Village, a media village, a smaller Olympic Aquatics Centre and a new, permanent venue for Sport Climbing. This corresponds to continuing pressure on the French government not to spend any more on the Games than its current €3.2 billion commitment (~$3.93 billion U.S.).

The Paris 2024 news release noted, however, that its budget has been increased by 2.5% (from the announced €3.8 billion (~$4.66 billion). The organizers noted that “Four years out from the Games, Paris 2024 has already secured 46% of planned partnership income” and expects increased income “from additional ticket sales due to the superior capacity of venues chosen in the revised concept and an increase in the Olympic partners programme (TOP programme).”

In fact, the Paris 2024 organizers might have more money than planned, as the sponsorship target is only €1.1 billion (~$1.35 billion), compared with the $2.5 billion expected for Los Angeles 2028 and the $3.3 billion raised (pre–pandemic) by Tokyo for 2020.

● Olympic Council of Asia ● Continuing proof of the omnipresence of the International Olympic Committee in world sport came on Wednesday, with the announcement of an agreement that awarded future hosting of the massive Asian Games to Doha for 2030 and Riyadh for 2034.

Both Doha (QAT) and Riyadh (KSA) had put together detailed bids for the 2030 Games, but following the lead of the IOC in the race for 2024, Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah (KUW) worked to find a solution to avoid having any losers.

Tensions between Qatar – which hosted the 2006 Asian Games – and other Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, meant the vote could have caused a schism within the Olympic Council of Asia, even as the diplomatic conflict may be ebbing.

Analogous to the Paris-Los Angeles race for the 2024 Olympic Games, the two bidders agreed to a double hosting award, as the top vote-getter would host 2030 and the runner-up, 2034. Doha won the vote with 27 votes to 10 for Riyadh with eight abstentions.

The event is simply enormous; the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia drew 11,300 athletes from 45 countries, competing in 465 events! The 2022 Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou (CHN) with the 2026 edition in Aichi and Nagoya in Japan.

● Athletics ● “I switched off the phone with my lawyers and my next phone call was Scott Sabolich.”

Although the Court of Arbitration for Sport held on 23 October that American sprinter Blake Leeper could not compete in World Athletics competitions using prosthetics that made him taller than he would naturally be – if he had biological legs – Leeper was not deterred.

While his attorneys continue with appeals that have a very modest chance of success with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, Leeper is working with Oklahoma City-based Scott Sabolich Prosthetics to solve the problem.

Said Sabolich, “When you have someone who already had legs and then became an Empty, it’s very easy to determine what his height was. But Blake was born without legs. We do not know what height it will be. We had to make it smaller to be within the scope of the rules.”

So Leeper is now working with new prosthetics that he expects will be held legal under the CAS decision – essentially bringing his height from 6-1 to 5-9 – and looking to continue chasing his goal of making the U.S. team for Tokyo in the 400 m. “It’s important for me to run in the Olympics, of course. I want to go win medals and break more world records, but moments like those when I can have a real, straightforward conversation with the future generation and to say never give up on your dreams and keep fighting, that’s what it’s all about.”

● Skating ● The General Court of the European Union ruled on Wednesday that the International Skating Union is required to allow competitions created by outside organizers and not impede athlete interest in these events by threats of sanctions. However:

“The General Court consequently acknowledges that it was legitimate for the ISU to establish rules seeking both to avoid the risks of manipulation of competitions liable to result from sports betting and to ensure that sporting competitions meet common standards. However, in the present case, the fact remains that the rules adopted by the ISU go beyond what is necessary to achieve such objectives and, accordingly, are not proportionate to those objectives.”

This decision came from a 2014 incident in which a Korean company was organizing a high-paying speed-skating event to be held in Dubai (UAE), and the ISU – concerned about betting interference – had regulations with threatened skaters who participated with sanctions which could include a lifetime ban from ISU events. The event was never held.

The European Commission held that the ISU’s regulations were overbroad and the federation appealed, but also changed its rules. The ISU noted “The Court judgment relates to a version of the Eligibility Rules [on non-ISU events] which is no longer in force and therefore has no impact on the ISU’s current operations.”

The federation was happy that the General Court agreed that guarding against betting problems was legitimate, and that its reliance on the Court of Arbitration for Sport for adjudication is proper. It’s considering an appeal to the European Court of Justice.

This is an important holding, remembering the International Swimming League’s long-ago suit – still active – against the aquatics federation FINA for a similar, restrictive policy which is no longer extant, and that most of the International Federations are headquartered in Europe.

● Table Tennis ● Australia’s New South Wales police announced on Wednesday an arrest of one man from the Newcastle area “following an investigation into an alleged gambling syndicate placing corrupt bets on international table tennis tournaments.

“In June this year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad, with assistance from Sport Integrity Australia, established Strike Force Brombal to investigate a transnational gambling syndicate allegedly placing corrupt bets on international table tennis tournaments” in Europe.

Searches were made at nine homes and documents and electronic devices were seized for further investigation. The specific tournaments and/or players involved were not named (yet).

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THE BIG PICTURE: Russia banned for two years by Court of Arbitration for Sport, including Tokyo in ‘21 and Beijing ‘22

Rich Perelman

December 17, 2020

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“The CAS Panel unanimously determined RUSADA to be non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) in connection with its failure to procure the delivery of the authentic LIMS data (Laboratory Information Management System) and underlying analytical data of the former Moscow Laboratory to WADA. As a consequence, the Panel issued a number of orders which come into effect on 17 December 2020 for a period of two years, i.e. until 16 December 2022.”

That’s the holding released today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, confirming a series of sanctions against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) that include:

● By being declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, Russia is excluded from participation in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2022 and any World Championships held during the sanction period.

Russian athletes may participate if:

Athletes from Russia who are allowed to compete must wear a uniform which includes the words “Neutral Athlete,” but can be in the colors of the Russian flag.

● The Russian flag is not to be flown, or its anthem to be played, at any Olympic Games or World Championship during the period.

● Russia may not host any World Championships during the two-year period. As to events already scheduled: “the Signatory in question must withdraw that right and re-assign the event to another country, unless it is legally or practically impossible to do so.”

● Russian government representatives (with some exceptions) may not be accredited – or even attend! – for the Olympic Games or any World Championship during the period, and cannot sit on any board or committee or any of the signatory federations or groups.

● As its path to reinstatement, RUSADA must pay WADA a “contribution” of $1.27 million for costs, $100,000 (or 10% of its 2019 income, whichever is less) as a fine and another CHF 400,000 to WADA for costs of the CAS case, and work to reconstruct a true and correct version of the Moscow Laboratory data, which was falsified when given to WADA in early 2019.

The sanction period of two years is less then the original sanction of four years and the decision noted:

“The consequences which the Panel has decided to impose are not as extensive as those sought by WADA. This should not, however, be read as any validation of the conduct of RUSADA or the Russian authorities. In making its orders, the Panel is limited by the powers granted under the applicable law … It has considered matters of proportionality and, in particular, the need to effect cultural change and encourage the next generation of Russian athletes to participate in clean international sport.”

Witold Banka (POL), the WADA President said in a statement:

“These are still the strongest set of consequences ever imposed on any country for doping-related offences and the award clearly endorses the resolute, process-driven approach taken by WADA in dealing effectively with this case. Russia will not be permitted to participate in, bid for or host any covered event, including two editions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and many other major events, for the next two years. The Russian flag will not fly nor its anthem played. This sends a clear message that institutionalized cheating and concerted efforts to subvert the global anti-doping system will not be tolerated.

“The egregious manipulation by the Russian authorities of data retrieved by WADA Intelligence and Investigations from the Moscow Laboratory was the latest in a long list of offences and it has led today to significant consequences for the authorities. Russian authorities were afforded every opportunity to get their house in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the good of their athletes and the integrity of sport, but they chose instead to continue on their path of deception and denial.”

Russia can appeal this decision, but only on very limited grounds, to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, and if it loses there, perhaps follow two-time Olympic 800 m champ Caster Semenya (RSA) and try an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. But this is a devastating blow to Russian national pride, to the Russian National Olympic Committee and to Russian athletes.

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LANE ONE: Danger ahead: “The glory days of college athletics as we’ve known it, may be over” and “college athletics simply does not need Olympic sport”

Rich Perelman

December 17, 2020

One of the lasting impacts of the year 2020 in sports will be not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the competitive and financial havoc it caused in collegiate sports. True, parts of the fall football season were salvaged, but by mid-March, most collegiate competition simply ended. And for some conferences and some sports, it has not restarted.

For some schools, the answer to financial peril was to cut sports. Stanford is cutting 11 varsity sports. Clemson and Minnesota drew headlines for cutting track & field, although Minnesota reinstated outdoor track only. USA Gymnastics began working with the Collegiate Gymnastics Association and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to find ways to save NCAA men’s programs.

What will happen next?

It’s worth listening to Chuck Neinas, 88, a voice of experience in collegiate sports administration, who has served as Assistant Executive Director of the NCAA, Commissioner of the Big Eight Conference and Executive Director of the College Football Association from 1977-97. He was asked in a Q&A with the National Football Foundation about the changes coming in collegiate athletics, including a direct question on the future of non-revenue – the so-called “Olympic” – sports programs:

“With higher education in the financial difficulty that it currently finds itself because of the pandemic, you have to recognize that there are other things that are going to have come before college athletics when it comes to financing an institution. There is going to have to be some accommodation.

“As one athletic director indicated to me, he would rather see developing an active and high-quality club sports program that provides an opportunity to compete, even though it would not be at the intercollegiate level. There’s going to have to be a lot of analysis. I think the glory days of college athletics as we’ve known it, may be over. I also read that the amount of debt associated with facility improvements is staggering. And those bondholders expect to collect their money every month. So, all those things factor into the financial pressures, which currently exist in higher education and, as a result, in college athletics.

All of this lends itself even more to recognizing and distinguishing the differences between programs. … The Olympic sports may have to rely on outside income from the national governing bodies and the [U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee] to maintain the program.” (Emphasis added)

That’s hardly going to work, as the USOPC and the NGBs are in substantial financial stress themselves and underwriting collegiate programs is way beyond their scope. This site noted in June the brilliant work of George Perry, a coach in Texas and operator of the NALAthletics.com blog, in sifting through the Equity in Athletics data site and determining that schools spent $974.98 million on cross country and track (indoor and out) in the 2017-18 academic year alone!

Compare that with the USA Track & Field budget of $36.71 million in 2018 and you see the futility of Neinas’s observation.

The danger for America’s Olympic programs – especially in track & field and swimming – were further underlined by an insightful essay by someone who knows the Olympic Movement first-hand: University of Arkansas Sport Management Professor Steve Dittmore, who has been a member of multiple mega-event organizing committees, including those for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, before starting his career in academia.

Dittmore noted:

● “[W]hile the Olympics needs college athletics, college athletics simply does not need Olympic sport, and the December 7, 2020 announcement from the IOC about inclusion of skateboarding, breaking, and surfing to the 2024 Paris Games should underscore this.”

● “According to the official [Paris 2024] Games website, the following 32 sports are included in the Games (note sports such as swimming and water polo are considered one sport): …

“Of those 32, only 16 – exactly HALF of the 2024 Olympic sports – have NCAA-sanctioned national championships: athletics, rowing, basketball, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, wrestling, water sports, equestrian sports, tennis, shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball.”

● “The IOC is making a deliberate effort to move away from traditional, legacy sports and toward sports which attract a younger demographic. And why wouldn’t it do that? Figures from Front Office Sports indicate viewership among 18-49 year olds declined 25 percent in 2016. The average viewer age in 2016 rose to 53. By 2024, those 53 year olds will be in their sixties. The Olympics need to get younger, and they know it. Freestyle BMX and 3-on-3 basketball will be part of the 2020, er, 2021 program in Tokyo.

“Will the NCAA suddenly encourage its member institutions to add skateboarding and breakdancing to their list of sports? Probably not, but the proliferation of varsity esports teams across all divisions, but particularly in Division III, suggests athletic departments are attempting to get younger as well.”

● “At some point, some college athletic director will come out and say it directly: college athletics does not exist to subsidize Olympic athlete development. At least not at the highest level. College athletics on the FBS stage exists to provide entertainment and engender school pride (translation: donations) among alumni and other stakeholders.”

● “If the powers that be in ‘secondary’ sports such as gymnastics and swimming want to see programs saved, they could follow the approach employed by Dan Sharadin, commissioner of the Collegiate Water Polo Association, and documented in last month’s ill-fated Atlantic piece by Ruth S. Barrett. Sharadin arranged meetings with Division II and III institutions to discuss the merits of adding water polo, and the associated enrollment it would bring. His targets were tuition-driven schools reliant upon enrolled students to pay the bills. Having a water polo team to attract the many high school athletes who are not yet ready to have their dream of playing college athletics explode, would be a win-win. And he is not fundamentally wrong. This is what the USOPC should be endorsing, perhaps even incentivizing. If the USOPC were truly serious about the importance of college athletics to elite Olympic athlete development, it could, in conjunction with the appropriate National Governing Body, provide grants to offset start-up costs for universities which start programs in sports such as water polo, gymnastics, tennis, wrestling, fencing, rowing, and other ‘secondary’ sports.” (Emphasis in original)

Dittmore has spoken and more need to hear him. And both he and Neinas point to the uncomfortable – if well-known within the U.S. Olympic community – truth that the USOPC is woefully short on funds to handle this kind of development, even if it is perhaps the best-funded National Olympic Committee in the world.

In its days as the United States Olympic Committee, there were multiple attempts to create new events that might turn into significant money makers. The U.S. Olympic Festival – held 14 times from 1978-95 – was always more of a competition opportunity than a commercial endeavor, but it did have a high profile. The twice-held “Titan Games” concept (2003 and 2004) was a loser and nothing similar has been tried since. There are high hopes for windfalls from the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and for a likely 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but these may be too late.

The best current hopes are for:

(1) Collegiate sports to return to some kind of normalcy in the 2021-22 academic year with the appearance of vaccines for the coronavirus and begin to work through its virus-inspired financial drain;

(2) More money pumped into the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools from even higher payouts for football and basketball rights that will allow non-revenue sports to continue. Example: the just-announced ESPN deal with the 14-member Southeastern Conference for just 15 football games a season for 10 years beginning in 2024-25 at $300 million-plus per season! The Big 10 Conference is also expected to make a big score with FOX Sports, but what will be left over for the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big XII and Pacific-12 is less clear;

(3) Some inspired work by the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council and the newly-formed, 34-member USOPC College Sports Sustainability Think Tank. The latter’s task is to “identify innovative solutions to help sustain Olympic and Paralympic varsity programming opportunities within college athletics.” There are working groups on partnerships, economics and regulations.

The key will be to formulate an approach which creates incentives – especially financial, reputational and community-based – for the universities in the major conferences (and others) to continue to sponsor track, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling, fencing, rowing, water polo and so on. These could be based on modest-cost, regional competition schedules with a nationals at the end of the season, perhaps on conference vs. conference events, possibly even international matches between, say, the Florida or Arkansas track squad and a national U-23 team from Canada, Mexico or Jamaica? Or Russia or China?

Could a multi-sport event for American collegiate performers against foreign universities or U-23 teams be constructed under the auspices of the FISU, the international university-sport federation that operates the World University Games? Essentially a “World Championship” of collegiate teams? Maybe there’s money in that? eSports?

Although the NCAA was initially formed in 1906 to handle changes in football, its first-ever national championship was held in track & field in 1921. In many ways, the approach of the organization and its member schools to track and many other sports – other than football and basketball – hasn’t changed much in 100 years. For the 479,094 collegians whose way through school is possible because of athletic scholarships – outside of football and basketball – as well as America’s Olympic future, it’s time to change that.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Shiffrin stars in Courchevel, IOC’s Athletes’ Comm. chief brushes off USOPC; boxing federation AIBA is still in trouble

Rich Perelman

December 15, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1214 shiffrin, mikaela 750 (twitter feed) — American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Highlights ● Thanks to bad weather, competition continued on Monday in alpine skiing, golf and in wrestling.

In Courchevel, France, American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin won a World Cup race for the first time in 323 days, slaying the field in the second Giant Slalom. She led everyone by 0.14 after the first run and then skied aggressively on her second run to end up with an impressive 0.82 margin over Italy’s Federica Brignone and 1.09 over France’s Tessa Worley.

It was Shiffrin’s first win since her father passed away suddenly in February, followed by the impact of the coronavirus, injuries and more for the three-time World Cup champion. Said Shiffrin afterwards:

“It was a pretty incredible day, obviously. But I’m pretty sad. I mean, it’s a bit bittersweet. But it’s pretty special.”

“I didn’t really know if I could come back to this level. It’s a lot of energy to focus like that and to put the toughness and strength in your skiing. I’ve done it – I used to do it all the time – but I’m at a different place and didn’t know if I could do it again.”

Shiffrin continues to re-write the record book. Even at just 25, this was her 67th World Cup win (12th in a Giant Slalom), tying her with Austria’s Marcel Hirscher for the third-most all-time, behind Ingemar Stenmark (SWE: 1973-89) with 86 and American Lindsey Vonn (USA: 2001-19) with 82.

At the Women’s U.S. Open in Houston, Texas, Korea’s A Lim Kim came from five shots down going into Monday’s delayed final round, but shot a 67 to claim the title in her first appearance in this tournament.

She closed with three straight birdies to zoom past American Amy Olson and fellow Korean Jin Young Ko at 281 (-3). Third-round leader Hinako Shibuno (JPN) slipped to a 74 on Monday to finish fourth, while Olson shot a one-over 72 to finish at -2, tied with no. 1-ranked Ko, whose 68 moved her up seven spots on Monday.

In Belgrade (SRB), the Greco-Roman competition at the United World Wrestling Individual World Cup concluded, with four more Russian wins in the five remaining weight classes.

Zhambolat Lokyaev (63 kg), Milad Alirzaev (82 kg), Musa Evloev (97 kg) and Sergey Semenov (130 kg) claimed victories in their championship matches, giving Russia seven wins in the 10 Greco weight classes.

Zholaman Sharshenbekov (KGZ), the 2018 Worlds silver medalist at 55 kg, won the 6-0 kg division with a come-from-behind win over Russia’s 2018 World Champion, Stepan Maryanyan.

The women’s Freestyle matches continue on Tuesday and Wednesday. The U.S. is not competing in Belgrade due to the pandemic.

● International Olympic Committee ● If there was any serious doubt over how the worldwide debate concerning protests at the Olympic Games – and any changes to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans protests – was going to be resolved, there appears to be none now.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee released and confirmed its support for the recommendations of its Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice last Thursday (10th), stating “the USOPC will not sanction Team USA athletes for respectfully demonstrating in support of racial and social justice for all human beings.”

The head of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) – her country’s Minister for Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation – posted a reply on Twitter, including:

“The IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) has received the statement from the Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice which elaborates on racial and social problems in their country. This statement will be taken into consideration among the other feedback it has received and continues to receive from the athletes of the other 205 NOCs. …

“While the consultation is still ongoing, from what we have heard so far through the qualitative process, the majority:

“● emphasise the right of free speech which is respected at the Olympic Games, and

“● express support for preserving the ceremonies, the [awards] podium and the field of play.

Coventry noted that other outlets for personal views are available, especially in interviews and social media and that the Athletes’ Commission will be looking for creative, additional options.

But protests during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, or during awards presentations, will continue to be banned. What happens if someone does protest, is not yet spelled out. It’s clear that the USOPC will not impose penalties excepting actions which are deemed as “to-be-defined ‘divisive demonstrations’.”

The International Olympic Committee has not been shy about promoting its “Agenda 2020″ program of 40 reform concepts adopted unanimously in December 2014. The latest was an update issued last Friday, in which the IOC stated that 85% of the recommendations had been implemented:

“Identified and collated through a collaborative and consultative process involving Olympic Movement stakeholders and outside experts, they were driven by a recognition that the world was evolving rapidly and that the Olympic Movement had the opportunity to be an agent of change. The motto underpinning the process from identification to adoption to implementation was ‘change or be changed’. A philosophy that remains as compelling today as it was six years ago.”

A lengthy list of achievements is provided, detailing both financial and social benefits from the reform program. For long-time observers of the Olympic Movement and the IOC, it may be tiring to keep hearing about Agenda 2020, but there is no doubt that it marked – under the leadership of current President Thomas Bach (GER) – a sea change in the way the IOC does business, and requires its affiliated International Federations and National Olympic Committees to do business.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● “We get nothing for Tokyo from the revenue sharing of the Games. But we need to have that discussion now, to have a review. Because we are not a sport of one Games. …

“All indications are that it could be part of LA 2028. L.A. is the epicentre of modern day surfing. With the likelihood of three Games … surfing will be a permanent Olympic sport. We are not a one-night stand.

“There has to be a discussion so that surfing is rated as a permanent sport. Just look at the value we will bring to the Games. We must have that discussion with the IOC.”

The topic is money and the speaker is International Surfing Association chief Fernando Aguerre (ARG) in an interview with Reuters. Aguerre is riding a wave of success as the sport is to debut at the Tokyo Games next year, and now confirmed as part of the Paris 2024 program (to be held in Tahiti).

His problem – and that of 2020 and 2024 program sports Skateboarding and Sport Climbing – is that these events were added at the request of the organizing committees of each Games and not the IOC. The 28 “core” sports in the Olympic program receive shares of the IOC’s television revenue from each Games, but the add-on sports are not included.

Aguerre’s case will be strengthened if the governance and doping-challenged sports of boxing and weightlifting are eventually eliminated from the program in 2024 and/or 2028. But for now, he will continue to be on the outside looking in, especially with a horde of sports now getting ready to lobby the Los Angeles organizers for inclusion in 2028; the newest signals have come from cricket and mixed martial arts.

● XXII Olympic Winter Games: Sochi 2014 ● The endless story of doping at the Sochi Winter Games is far from over, as the International Testing Agency announced an “extensive re-analysis program” of doping samples taken at the Games.

Remember, this was the pinnacle of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program, run by – and then exposed by – Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. Thanks to this program, Russia led the medals table as of the end of the Closing Ceremony, but has had its totals revised downward continuously since then.

“[T]he ITA will now begin an extensive further probing of samples collected during the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. Since the IOC delegated to the ITA the independent management of its entire anti-doping program in 2018, the ITA has also taken on the responsibility for all current and future re-analysis programs. The further analysis of samples collected during Beijing 2008 and London 2012 has so far produced more than 130 Anti-Doping Rule Violations, which clearly highlights the effectiveness of such a program in the detection and deterrence of cheating.

“After serious issues of manipulation of the doping control process came to light following the Sochi Games, the IOC already re-examined hundreds of samples from participating Russian athletes in 2016. The ITA will now extend the re-analysis program to all nationalities and sports that took part in the event and re-test more than half of the total samples collected as a first step. The selection of the samples to be further analysed is based on a comprehensive risk assessment, which among many other factors also considers doping-related intelligence gathered across countries and disciplines since the Sochi Games took place.”

The re-testing program is hoped to be completed prior to the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

● Anti-doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency released its report of doping violations found in 2018, with a total of 1,640 violations found among a total of 263,519 tested samples (6/10ths of 1%), with 316 cases still unresolved.

The 1,640 violations were spread across 92 sports and 117 nations, with 77% of the violations among male competitors and 23% in women.

In addition, there were 283 violations found from investigations (vs. tests), including 267 athletes and 16 “athlete support personnel.” That brings the total number of violations to 1,923.

The total number of violations was up in 2018, and the most since 2015 (1,929). The violations in 2018 (1,923) was up from 1,776 in 2017. More:

● Olympic summer sports: 199,602 total samples and 955 violations: 48/100ths of 1%.

● Olympic winter sports: 21,072 total samples and 40 violations: 19/100ths of 1%.

● Leading sports: Weightlifting, with 148 violations out of 13,544 samples (1.9%), then Cycling with 178/25,391 (7/10ths of 1%), and Athletics had 152/32,309 (47/100ths of 1%).

● Leading countries (across all sports): Russia, 144; Italy, 132; France, 114; India, 107; Ukraine, 78; United States, 73; Belgium, 65; China, 63; Brazil, 54; Kazakhstan, 51. Of the 73 violations from the U.S., 18 were in cycling, 12 in weightlifting and 10 in aquatics.

The report shows once again that the total incidence of doping is fairly low across all athletes and sports. But when the subject is medals, even a small overall number of violations could have a significant impact.

● Athletics ● The winner of the women’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last February, Aliphine Tuliamuk, is expecting a unique double in 2021: birth of her first child and racing in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Now 31, Tuliamuk announced her pregnancy in a social-media post on 6 December, with the baby girl expected around 6 January 2021. The Olympic women’s marathon is slated for 7 August in Sapporo, Japan.

She told Runner’s World in an e-mail exchange that “All through my pregnancy, I’ve felt great. I’m not running as fast or as much as I normally do right now, but aside from some occasional discomfort, I don’t feel any different. Getting out to run has been something I look forward to all through my pregnancy.”

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● USA Bobsled & Skeleton announced its men’s national team for 2020-21, with Codie Bascue driving USA-1 after winning three of the four selection races. Geoff Gadbois will drive USA-2.

The brakemen pool includes 2018 Olympians Hakeem Abdul-Saboor and former UCLA javelin thrower Carlo Valdes, and national team returnees Adrian Adams, Kris Horn, Blaine McConnell, Kyle Wilcox and Josh Williamson. Boone Niederhofer and Charlie Volker are first-time national team members.

Absent thus far from the IBSF World Cup, the U.S. expects to compete in the second half of the season.

● Boxing ● The election of Russian Umar Kremlev as the new AIBA President and adoption of a new constitution for the federation is only the start of what will be critical months ahead for the IOC-suspended organization.

With an online Congress held over the weekend came the release of multiple documents, including a report on activities from Interim President Mohamed Moustahsane (MAR) and a financial report through 30 June 2020.

● The activities report noted “in order to keep AIBA alive,” cuts of CHF 4.9 million were realized by cutting staff, travel and meeting expenses. New and independent commissions were created to handle disciplinary and ethics issues and American Ray Silvas was appointed the new chair of the much-troubled Refereeing and Judging Commission.

It also emphasized the potential of the new Global Boxing Cup, a national team competition to be held in Russia in 2021 with up to 48 teams and five weight classes. The 2021 men’s World Championships were awarded to Belgrade (SRB). Sadly, the World Series of Boxing may yet return in 2021.

● The financial report was dismal, as expected. The auditors noted:

“Based on our review, we have to assume that lnternational Boxing Association developed liquidity problems and is in an over-indebtedness situation. The ability of lnternational Boxing Association to continue as a going concern and to repay its debts will depend upon the proper execution of two agreements signed for 2021 competitions. As of today, the payment schedule for the first competition has not been respected and the payment for the second competition is expected in December 2020. lf the required amounts are not received before January 2021, lnternational Boxing Association will not be able to repay its debt when they fall due. As a result of these matters, we were unable to assess the going concern assumption.”

The two agreements cited were for the hosting rights to the 2021 Global Boxing Cup and the 2021 Worlds in Belgrade. According to the financial statements, AIBA is claiming rights fees from:

(1) “Global Boxing Cup for an amount of CHF 5’000’000 with CHF 933’427.298 collected in September 2020 and remaining balance to be collected in December 2020

(2) “World Men Championship for an amount of CHF 5’000’000 to be collected entirely in 2021″

With the Global Boxing Cup slated to be held in Russia and with Kremlev elected as AIBA President, the Russian Boxing Federation – of which he was Secretary General prior to Saturday’s election – is essentially contributing CHF 5 million to AIBA. This is unlikely to impress the IOC oversight committee.

The income statement showed a surplus of CHF 7.74 million at 30 June 2020, thanks primarily to CHF 5.5 million in event revenues and fees and the last CHF 2.2 million from AIBA’s Olympic television revenue from Rio 2016. However, the federation’s total debt stood at CHF 9.86 million as of 30 June 2020, but much better than the CHF 17.61 million a year earlier.

● Figure Skating ● More sad news in the continuing drama of French World Championships bronze medal winner Morgan Cipres, who was charged last week with felony “transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device” in Florida.

Cipres retired from competitive skating – he had been a Pairs star for years with Vanessa James – last September and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. He is alleged to have sent explicit images of himself to s 13-year-old female skater who trained at the same rink in 2017.

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics is continuing to brawl with Liberty Insurance Underwriters, which has filed a suit in the State of New York to prevent Epiq eDiscovery Solutions from ending its services to the federation while asking for LIU to pay its invoices of about $1.8 million.

The USA Gymnastics filings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana ask for that court to require LIU’s suit to be dismissed and that the issues as to LIU’s responsibilities be maintained in the Bankruptcy Court. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

● At the BuZZer ● Lori “Lolo” Jones almost won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games in the 100 m hurdles, but hit the final barrier and ended up seven. She just made a fifth U.S. national Bobsled team and aims to return to Beijing, but for the 2022 Winter Games.

Now 41, she tweeted last week:

“People told me to quit years ago. They’ve called me washed up and a loser.

“When you are going for a dream you gotta ignore the nightmares.”

She is not only not a loser – she won two World Indoor 60 m hurdles titles in 2008 and 2010 – but also posted the Olympic-sports tweet of the year after the Tokyo Games were postponed, here.

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LANE ONE: IOC’s “Olympic Summit” needles U.S. Congress and USOPC, pushes away from “gaming”; is AIBA’s election of Kremlev its doom?

Rich Perelman

December 14, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1213 ioc olympic summit 750 (greg martin) — The ninth Olympic Summit in action, with IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) at far right. (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin)

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Let’s start by stating that the cliche “perception is reality” has a lot of truth to it. What appears to be true may or may not be, but if we believe it, it’s as good as true.

“Unity” is one of the watchwords of the Olympic Movement since Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch took over as President of the International Olympic Committee back in 1980. Sometimes true and sometimes only a perception of the truth the IOC desires to promote, it’s an important tool in marshaling support for operating and political stances needed across the International Federations and National Olympic Committees.

That’s the context of the so-called “Olympic Summit” meetings, including the ninth edition held this past Saturday (12th), held by teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic, but important nonetheless.

By bringing together the leadership of the IOC (7 members), the IFs (9 representatives), the NOCs (5 representatives) and Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, the Summit purports to represent the breadth of the Olympic world.

The meeting is closed to the participants only and a “declaration” is provided afterwards as its definitive statement, essentially representing the Olympic Movement. So on Saturday, the Olympic Summit declared:

● The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019, recently signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump, and which provides for enforcement beyond the territory of the U.S., is a bad idea.

Of course, the Summit communique didn’t come out and say that. Instead, the condemnation of the Act was couched in terms of the worldwide fight against doping and the leadership of the World Anti-Doping Agency:

“In this effort, global cooperation between sport and governments needs to be strengthened under the auspices of WADA. The worldwide system, which includes WADA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the governments of the world and the International Federations (IFs), with the full participation of the athletes, must not be jeopardised by unilateral actions of governments or individual sports organisations. The Summit reiterated that the fight against doping in sport can be credible and successful only if it is based on a system of globally accepted rules and seamless international cooperation.” (Emphasis added.)

That’s about as clear as it gets in the (usually) diplomatic language of the Olympic Movement.

● Another bad idea: the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announcement last Thursday that it would support the recommendations of its Council on Racial and Social Justice: “the USOPC will not sanction Team USA athletes for respectfully demonstrating in support of racial and social justice for all human beings.” The recommendations further ask “the IOC and IPC to update guidelines to allow for peaceful actions that specifically advocate for human rights and racial and social justice, and distinguishes those acts from to-be-defined ‘divisive demonstrations’.”

The Summit communique noted a report from IOC Executive Board member and IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) – a seven-time Olympic medalist in swimming – concerning the Commission’s ongoing outreach efforts on Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans protests at the Games, including:

“This IOC AC consultation process is currently underway, with a qualitative discussion with National Olympic Committees (NOCs)’ and IFs’ ACs, as well as a quantitative survey among the athletes of all 206 NOCs.”

Then came the kicker:

“IPC President Andrew Parsons informed the Summit about a statement by the Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council which refers to a similar procedure within the Paralympic athlete community. The statement explains that ‘the majority of Paralympians and Para athletes would welcome an opportunity to express themselves during the Games but in a manner that still requires such expressions remain outside the field of play, podium and ceremonies. Athletes were very clear that they want Tokyo 2020 and future Games to be remembered for sporting achievements more than anything else.’”

This is the IOC’s way of telegraphing, quietly but directly – and without preempting its Athletes’ Commission – that the IPC’s stance is where it will end up as well. No protests on the awards podium or at the Opening or Closing Ceremonies. Maybe somewhere else.

Let’s remember that these statements are from the “Declaration of the 9th Olympic Summit.” The participants included two Americans – IOC First Vice President Anita DeFrantz and USOPC Chair Susanne Lyons, who was quoted in support of the USOPC’s statement last week – plus World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR), who told Japanese reporters in October that “if an athlete wishes to take the knee on a podium then I’m supportive of that.”

DeFrantz, a 1976 Olympic medalist in rowing, has deferred publicly to the IOC’s process; Lyons and Coe have not. Maybe they were outvoted, but in any case they were in the meeting that produced these statements.

The Declaration also clarified the IOC’s position on eSports, defining a difference between “virtual sports” – essentially electronic forms of existing, physical sports – and “gaming,” including competitive gaming and recreational games:

“The Summit agreed that it is essential for IFs to embrace both the physical and non-physical virtual forms of their respective sports, with a focus on regulating fair competition, respecting the values of sport in these virtual forms, and reaching out to new audiences.

“With regard to gaming, the Summit agreed contact would be maintained with gamers as a gateway to promoting physical activity and the values of sport to young generations.”

The future is clear. Games such as League of Legends – a combat program noted by name in the Declaration – are not of interest to the IOC, at least not for the foreseeable future.

The Declaration also expressed support – as expected – for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo next year, as well as for the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022.

Now you know where the IOC stands, even if some of the participants in the Declaration don’t stand with it.

Perception is the problem now facing the International Boxing Association (AIBA), as it elected Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev as its new President, also on Saturday (12th).

There were five candidates in the online election among 155 national boxing federations, with Suleyman Mikayilov (AZE) eliminated first, then Anas Al Otaiba (UAE). On the third ballot, Kremlev received a majority of 86 votes against 45 for Boris van der Vorst (NED) and 19 for Morocco’s Mohamed Moustahsane, the AIBA Interim President.

Kremlev, 38, became Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation in 2017 and like Mikayilov, Al Otaiba and Moustahsane, has been – since March 2018 – a member of the AIBA Executive Committee during its tumultuous fall into IOC suspension on 26 June 2019.

The IOC appointed a special working group to figure out AIBA’s status, especially its failures in governance, refereeing and judging and its accumulation of as much as $30 million in debt, with a likely future bankruptcy.

In May 2019, the working group report that recommended suspension also noted Kremlev’s audacious 28 March 2019 letter in which he stated “I am ready to close all debts of AIBA in full, so long as our favorite sport remains on the Olympic program.”

The report noted:

“Given the … fact that his letter did not provide any explanations on the origin of the funds to be used, the IOC Inquiry Committee questions the seriousness of the due diligence carried out by AIBA before the announcement to the media. Background checks on the origin of funds from external parties is part of basic standards of good governance expected to be implemented by Olympic IFs.”

And there was this:

“Additionally, during the week preceding his proposal (press article TASS 25 March 2019), Mr Umar Kremlev expressed his willingness to campaign for the AIBA presidency, in case this position would become vacant. Thus, the acceptance of his personal financial support to cover the debt of AIBA would constitute a major conflict of interest.”

In his remarks after election, Kremlev commented in an AIBA posting:

“Let me make it clear: the path to rebuilding AIBA is not easy. It will not happen overnight. We have to unite together and work with one mission, and one mission alone: rebuilding the credibility and trust that AIBA once had in the minds of sports people worldwide and that includes, of course, restoring AIBA’s Olympic status.

How he does this will be considerable interest to the IOC, which has promised to review AIBA’s status and boxing’s future for Paris 2024 after the Tokyo Games has been completed. Kremlev’s election is only for about two years, filling the remainder of the term of the since-resigned Gafur Rakhimov (UZB), who was elected in November 2018. The AIBA Congress also passed a new constitution by 84-25, but with 21 abstentions as well; this is only the beginning of the changes which the IOC is looking for.

Kremlev believes he can show the IOC a “new AIBA” that is competent and financially stable. The reality is that the IOC’s perception of both AIBA and him will be exceptionally difficult to change.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: U.S.’s Brennan sweeps Cross Country titles in Davos (!), surprise Alpine win for Slovenia’s Cater; Loch continues undefeated luge season

Rich Perelman

December 13, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1213 brennan, rosie 750 (usssf) — Sensational double win for American Rosie Brennan (12) in the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Davos! (Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● The holidays are a good time for surprises and the skiing world got some on Sunday in the first men’s Downhill of the World Cup season at Val d’Isere (FRA), as three little-known skiers took home the medals.

Slovenia’s Martin Cater, 27, who had never finished higher than fifth in a World Cup race, won the event in 2:04.67, just 0.22 ahead of Otmar Striedinger (AUT; his first World Cup medal in 20 months) and 0.27 ahead of Swiss Urs Kryenbuehl, who won his second career World Cup medal.

Cater started 20th in the field of 61, but skied perfectly and no one could catch him!

The medalists in Saturday’s Super-G were only a little more familiar, with Swiss Mauro Caviezel winning in 1:01.34 for his 11th World Cup medal, but first win of his career at age 32. He was followed by Adrian Smiseth Sejerstad (NOR: +0.10) – his first-ever World Cup medal – and Christian Waldner (AUT: +0.54), also winning his first World Cup medal.

American Travis Ganong, 32, was fourth, his best finish since his January, 2017 World Cup Downhill win in Garmisch (GER).

The women were in Courchevel (FRA) for two Giant Slalom races. The Saturday race was another triumph for Italy’s Marta Bassino, who won the season-opening Giant Slalom in Soelden (AUT) back in October. She claimed her third career win ahead of Sara Hector (SWE) and overall leader Petra Vlhova (SLO). American Mikaela Shiffrin, back on the slopes after injury, finished fourth, more than a second behind Vlhova.

Sunday’s race was canceled for bad weather and is hoped to be held on Monday.

● Biathlon ● The first of two weeks of racing in Hochfilzen (AUT) saw strong racing for the French men, winning four of the six individual medals.

Norway’s Johannes Dale took the men’s 10 km Sprint title on Friday, winning by 17.1 seconds over Quentin Fillon Mailett and 29.0 over Fabien Claude. But Fillon Mailett took the 12.5 km Pursuit on Saturday, 25.5 seconds clear of teammate Emilien Jacquelin with Norway’s Dale in third. Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe was fourth in both races and continued to hold the seasonal lead.

PyeongChang relay gold medalist Dzinara Alimbekava (BLR) was the winner of the women’s 7.5 km Sprint, beating favored Tiril Eckhoff (NOR: +8.5) and Franziska Preuss (GER) thanks to perfect shooting, as the two other medalists suffered one penalty each.

Norway’s Marte Olsbu Roeiseland won the Women’s 10 km Pursuit, with Alimbekava second (+13.9) and France’s Julia Simon third. The win was enough to give Roeiseland the overall seasonal lead.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The racing moved to Innsbruck (AUT) for the first of two weeks, with German superstar Francesco Friedrich’s perfect season ended by 0.30 seconds.

In the first of two two-man events, 2018 double Olympic gold medalist Friedrich and Thorsten Margis were only third best after the first run and even with a better second try, finished 0.30 seconds behind teammates Johannes Lochner and Eric Franke, 1:42.93-1:43.23. Latvia’s Oskar Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis finished third.

Friedrich had driven to four wins in a row and with Margis again, got back to the top of the podium in the second set of races, posting the fastest time in both trials to combine for a 1:43.29-1:43.45 margin over Lochner and Miknis.

The two-women race saw the second straight win for previously-unheralded German driver Laura Nolte, who combined with Deborah Levi this time to win both trials over Kim Kalicki and Ann-Christin Strack, 1:47.00-1:47.30. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Mariama Jamanka (with Leonie Fiebig) placed third (1:47.45), but maintained the overall seasonal lead.

The women’s Monobob event – it’s on the program for Beijing 2022 – was won by Australia’s Breeana Walker, 1:51.08-1:51.52 over Nolte, with Austrian Katrin Beierl third for the second consecutive race.

In Skeleton, six-time World Champion Martins Dukurs (LAT) stayed undefeated this season – sort of – by tying for first with Russian star Alexander Tretiakov at 1:45.42. Dukurs led the competition after the first run with Tretiakov fourth, but when the Russian won the second section and Dukurs was third, the combined times showed a tie. Nikita Tregubov (RUS) was third.

Former World Cup winner Elena Nikitina (RUS) won the women’s Skeleton by 53.74-54.02 over emerging Dutch star Kimberley Bos, who won a medal in her third straight meet this season. Austria’s Janine Flock – who won the first two races this season – was third, tied with Germany’s Tina Hermann (54.19).

● Freestyle Skiing ● A full program of Moguls and Dual Moguls was on at Idre Fjall in Sweden, with the unstoppable Perrine Laffont in championship form.

Veteran Benjamin Cavet (FRA) was just slightly better than Brodie Summers (AUS) and American Nick Page in Saturday’s Moguls final by 83.71-81.84-81.28. French superstar Laffont – the reigning Olympic gold medalist – won her eighth straight World Cup Moguls event, outscoring Anri Kawamura (JPN), 82.53-80.61, with American Hannah Soar third (78.63).

Laffont came back on Sunday with another win, this time in Dual Moguls, for her 20th career World Cup victory. She dispatched U.S. veteran Jaelin Kauf in the final, while Kawamura defeated American Tess Johnson for the bronze medal.

The men’s Dual Moguls final pitted Australian Matt Graham and Swede Ludvig Fjallstrom, but the race was called off due to low visibility and they were both declared victors. Same for the third-placers, Jordan Kober (CAN) and Bradley Wilson of the U.S.

● Golf ● The women’s U.S. Open was suspended on Sunday due to bad weather and will finish on Monday.

Through three rounds at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, Japan’s Hinako Shibuno (-4) led over American Amy Olson (-3), with Ji Yeong Kim (KOR) and Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) tied at -1. Five others at even par through 54 holes.

● Luge ● The FIL World Cup landed in Oberhof (GER) for the weekend, with 13-time World Champion Felix Loch continuing his perfect season with a fourth straight win.

He had to come from behind this time, as Johannes Lochner (GER) had the fastest first run, with Loch second (-0.39). But Loch won the second run cleanly – 43.290-43.252 – over Lochner to win by 1:26.745-1:26.841. Austria’s Jonas Mueller was third.

Three-time Doubles World Champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won for the first time season, displacing seasonal leaders Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller (AUT), 1:22.881 to 1:23.036. Austria also claimed the bronze medal with Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher.

The women’s races belonged to Germany’s Datjana Eitberger, who won her third medal of the season, but got her first win by 1:23.338-1:23.410 over Olympic champ Natalie Geisenberger. It’s the fourth straight race this season that Geisenberger has placed second! Latvia’s Kendija Aparjode got her first medal of the season in third.

● Nordic Skiing ● The Davos Nordic Festival was on this weekend in Switzerland, with American Rosie Brennan emerging as the star of the Cross Country racing after two wins in two days!

She took the women’s 1.5 km Freestyle Sprint on Saturday in 2:37.36, ahead of Anamarija Lampic (SLO: +0.28) and Russian Natalia Nepryaeva (+0.49); American Sophie Caldwell was fifth.

On Sunday, she won the Freestyle 10 km race in 24:49.8, some 34.0 seconds ahead of Yulia Stupak (RUS), with fellow American Hailey Swirbul, 22, taking the bronze (+40.5) for her first World Cup medal. Swirbul’s best prior finish in a World Cup individual race was 18th!

These were the third and fourth career medals for Brennan, 32, and her first-ever individual-event World Cup medals and wins. She’s now the overall leader in the Cross Country World Cup, albeit after only five races. She reflected afterwards on leading the World Cup standings:

“That is quite honestly something I’m not sure I’ve ever even dreamed of. Obviously, we have only had a few races, but it’s something I’m proud of nonetheless and while I’m not sure I expect to keep them all the whole season, I hope to do them proud while I have them and put up as good a fight as I can!”

The men’s 1.5 km Freestyle Sprint title went to Italy’s Federico Pellegrino, winning by 2.14 seconds ahead of Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov, 2:17.68-2:19.81, with Britain’s Andrew Young third (+3.63). Bolshunov then led a Russian sweep on Sunday, winning the Freestyle 15 km in 32:46.4, ahead of Andrey Melnichenko (+32.2) and Artem Maltsev (+39.5).

The FIS Ski Flying World Championships were held off the awesome 240 m hill in Planica (SLO), with German Karl Geiger taking the individual title with 877.2 points, ahead of the season’s early star, Norwegian Halvor Egner Granerud (876.7) and German Markus Eisenbichler (859.3). It’s Geiger’s first world title; he won silver in the 2019 World Ski Championships off the 130 m hill in Innsbruck (AUT) last year.

Granerud got a gold, however, in the Team Jumping competition on Sunday, teaming with Daniel Andre Tande, Johann Forfang and Robert Johansson to pile up 1,727.7 points to out-distance Germany (1,708.5) and Poland (1,665.5). Both Geiger and Eisenbichler earned silvers with the German team.

● Snowboard ● The season-opening races in Parallel Slalom were on tap in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA), with 2015 World Champion Roland Fischnaller (ITA) delighting the home (television) audience, leading an all-Italian final, winning ahead of Aaron March. Austria’s Benjamin Karl took the bronze and prevented an Italian sweep, with Mirko Felicetti fourth.

Czech star Ester Ledecka won the women’s Parallel Giant Slalom by daylight over German Selina Joerg, with Ramona Hofmeister (GER) edging fellow German Cheyenne Loch for third.

● Wrestling ● The United World Wrestling Individual World Cup is on from 12-18 December in Belgrade (SRB), with the men’s Greco-Roman competition finishing up, to be followed by women’s Freestyle and then men’s Freestyle.

Many of the top teams have stayed away due to the pandemic, but Russia is making the most of its participation, with finalists in nine of the 10 Greco-Roman weight classes.

Emin Sefershaev (55 kg), Nazir Abdullaev (67 kg) and Roman Vlasov (77 kg) won their classes on Sunday, and Davit Chakvetadze lost to Belarusian Kiryl Maskevich at 87 kg. Balint Korpasi (HUN) defeated Malkhas Amoyan (ARM) on criteria at 72 kg in the only class not including a Russian finalist.

The remaining finals and the women’s Freestyle will continue on Monday.

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THE TICKER: USOPC kneels with its Racial & Social Justice Council; troubled AIBA votes for new President; Russia cries “hypocrite” on Rodchenkov Act

Rich Perelman

December 11, 2020

tsx pix 2019-811 imboden kneeling 750 — U.S. fencer Race Imboden kneels during the 2019 Pan American Games victory ceremony in Team Foil

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee: The long-awaited U.S. response to the International Olympic Committee’s call for recommendations on “athlete expressions” at the Olympic Games came on Thursday, with a posting from its Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice, specifically its Steering Committee on Protests and Demonstrations.

The four-page document offered seven recommendations concerning Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter concerning protests, including:

● “Clearly distinguish between human rights/social justice protests and instances of hate speech, racist propaganda, and discriminatory remarks aimed at eliminating the rights and dignity of historically marginalized and minoritized populations. The latter three items should be clearly framed as ‘divisive disruptions.’”

● “Establish a no-punishment-policy for protests and demonstrations that are aimed at promoting human rights/social justice initiatives and advancing the human rights mission of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

It also asked for a new, “independent regulatory body” to review and determine consequences for “devise disruptions” in a format similar to institutions such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Independent Testing Agency, both created by the IOC.

The USOPC is supporting this stance:

“In support of this recommendation, the USOPC will not sanction Team USA athletes for respectfully demonstrating in support of racial and social justice for all human beings. This decision addresses the responsibility the USOPC has in the application of IOC and IPC rules prohibiting demonstrations at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The recommendations also asked for similar policies to be adopted at the U.S. National Governing Body level, including a request “When athletes participate in ‘divisive disruptions’ (as outlined in this document), assign penalties to individual athletes rather than an entire team or delegation.”

The latter can – and will be – adopted formally by the USOPC and the NGBs; the recommendations to the IOC will be forwarded to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, which is charged with surveying athlete sentiment from all 206 National Olympic Committees and then recommending any changes to Rule 50 to the IOC Executive Board in the first quarter of 2021.

Analysis:
The recommendations paper was a very carefully developed and precisely-written document, clearly created with a view to ask for “free expression” while at the same time recognizing that not all speech is welcome in terms of content, notably those considered “divisive.”

Moreover – and this is important – the recommendations never mention any specific venue for protests and demonstrations. There is no mention of the awards podium, no mention of the Opening or Closing Ceremonies, or of “free speech” zones in the Olympic Village. Those words never appear in the document. The recommendations ask only for no penalties for actions “aimed at promoting human rights/social justice initiatives and advancing the human rights mission of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”

This is intentional. With some loud exceptions – and they are loud because they appear to be in the minority – most of the commentary from National Olympic Committee athlete groups about Rule 50 has been to keep protests away from the award ceremonies and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. More space for speech in the Olympic Village, yes, and possibly in other areas. A moment of silence in one of the ceremonies? A patch or pin to be worn by all athletes at the Games? These are possible.

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) has quietly signaled that a continued preference for no protests on the podium is the likely outcome of the Rule 50 consultations. And the cleverly-crafted recommendations in the Council on Racial and Social Justice document can be squared with this. In fact, you can easily create a scenario in which a “peaceful protest” – like a raised fist – could be considered beyond the boundaries of what the recommendations request. Interesting; so do these recommendations go far enough to protect Gwen Berry’s raised fist or Race Imboden taking a knee during their victory ceremonies at the 2019 Pan American Games? Maybe; maybe not.

The way in which the recommendations were developed was also unique. The USOPC did not publicly poll its athletes – as other NOCs such as Australia, Germany and Ireland did – and given the coronavirus pandemic, could not create a meeting to hash out a position. Instead, it formed a 44-member Team USA Council on Racial and Social Justice, with four “Steering Committees,” including the first group activated on Protests and Demonstrations. The members:

● Athlete: Race Imboden, fencing
● Athlete: Grace Latz, rowing
● Athlete: Colleen Quigley, track and field
● Athlete: Noah White, track and field
● NGB: Kelsey Erickson, USA Cycling
● Alumni: John Carlos, 1968 Olympic bronze medalist
● USOPC: Guiselle Torres, Associate General Counsel

The recommendations state clearly:

“This statement with recommendations is the product of data gathered from [Racial and Social Justice] Council meetings, invited guests, a survey, and internal and external experts.” The specifics of the survey were not listed.

Long-time observers of the Olympic Games will note the impressive language supporting “the rights and dignity of historically marginalized and minoritized populations,” citing Olympic icons such as Carlos, Tommie Smith and Wyomia Tyus from the 1968 Olympic track & field team, Jesse Owens from 1936 and Wilma Rudolph from 1960. But no mention is made of the equally controversial – but barely remembered – on-the-podium protest by gold and silver medalists Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett from the 400 m at the 1972 Games in Munch, or for that matter, the anti-Semitic exclusion of Jewish sprinters Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller from the American 4×100 m relay team in 1936.

Sadly, they have been marginalized again.

In a World Athletics post celebrating their selection for the 2020 President’s Award, Smith and Carlos offered clear counsel to those considering their own protest for Tokyo:

● “Smith believes athletes should tread carefully, but have courage in their own convictions.

“‘Follow their own mind,’ he said. ‘Don’t be confused with doing things someone is telling them to do. They have to plan purposefully (and) please proceed with caution. But proceeding has to be pursued with persistence, and there has to be a purpose. You will be responsible for what you put in front of your lips.’”

● “‘I would say you have to check into your emotions, what you believe in,’ said Carlos. ‘If you have a passion for human rights and you want to make a stance, make sure you do your homework and have a clear understanding of why you are making the stance – what you anticipate in terms of bringing to society. And be prepared for any challenges or questions that come to you thereafter.’”

● Athletics ● World Athletics announced that the World Indoor Championships scheduled for Nanjing (CHN) in 2021 has been transferred to 2023 in view of the uncertainty of holding the event next March.

Nanjing was supposed to hold the 2020 World Indoors, but the coronavirus pandemic pushed it back to 2021 and now 2023. The 2022 World Indoor Championships are expected to be held in Belgrade, Serbia. It will only the second time that the World Indoors has been held in consecutive years, previously in 2003 (Birmingham, Great Britain) and 2004 Budapest, Hungary).

● Boxing ● The long-dysfunctional International Boxing Association (AIBA) is scheduled to elect a new President and undertake further reforms this weekend (12-13) in an online Congress, with the elections already troubled by charges and countercharges against the candidates.

The AIBA Election Commission had to send a letter to all of the national boxing federations today (11th), warning against “false documents … distributed by an anonymous sender” that included allegations against Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev, one of the candidates. “This disinformation behavior needs to be stopped.”

An online smear campaign was previously noted against candidate Anas Al Otaiba (UAE), head of the Asian Boxing Confederation and a member of the AIBA Executive Committee.

On Thursday, USA Boxing announced its support for Al Otaiba, and published the responses to its very interesting questionnaire sent to all seven original candidates. Four replied and agreed to have their response posted: Al Otaiba, Boris van der Vorst (NED), Ramie Al-Masri (GER, who has since withdrawn) and Suleyman Mikayilov (UZB); Kremlev, interim AIBA chief Mohamed Moustahsane (MAR) and the since-withdrawn Domingo Solano (DOM) did not.

All pledged to reform the AIBA governance issues, straighten out the $16 million-plus debt of the federation and, most importantly, to work with the IOC to regain its status as the international federation for boxing.

On the question of financial solvency, Kremlev promised to eradicate the debt within 100 days but with no details. Mikayilov has the most concrete solution, declaring that (1) AIBA has declared the CHF 19 million debt to Hong Kong investor FCIT in the defunct World Series of Boxing and the similarly-dead Boxing Marketing Arm as simply a failed investment and not requiring repayment and (2) that he has negotiated a waiver of the CHF 10 million debt with Azeri-based Benkons in the World Series of Boxing, contingent on his election and (3) the promise of a CHF 3 million per year sponsorship by Nobel Oil Co. for two years, with more to come. How is this possible? According to his Wikipedia (Azerbaijan) entry, Mikayilov, 58, is essentially the governor of the energy-rich Garadagh region in eastern Azerbaijan. The Wikipedia entry also includes: “He was connected with Gafur Rahimov (a member of the ‘Brothers’ Circle’ criminal group) and also with Azerbaijani criminal groups, including ‘Lankaran’ (Lankaran).” Rahimov – an Uzbek – was appointed as Interim AIBA President and elected as President in 2018, despite being listed by the U.S. Treasury Department as involved in international drug trafficking.

Van der Vorst replied to USA Boxing that “I believe in the immense business and commercial potential of our sport. With improved sport integrity and professional management, AIBA major events can generate enough revenue to clear all debt in four World Championships.”

It’s worth noting that four of the five candidates – Moustahsane, Kremlev, Al Otaiba and Mikayilov – are members of the AIBA Executive Committee, many of long standing as the federation has imploded.. Only van der Vorst is not.

IOC chief Bach noted in his news conference earlier this week:

“AIBA is well aware of the [IOC’s] concerns. There has also been a conversation between our Ethics and Compliance Officer and the relevant body within AIBA. They know the report of the Working Group which has been presented by Mr. [Nenad] Lalovic [SRB] already some time ago. They know about the number of decisions or resolutions we had to pass in the IOC Executive Board.”

It is certainly possible that if anyone other than van der Vorst is elected, that the IOC could claim that AIBA has not fulfilled their request to commit to a new start in governance by electing an existing Executive Committee member, already at least partially responsible for the fix that the federation is in now. Stay tuned.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team crushed a depleted El Salvador squad by 6-0 in Miami on 9 December (Wednesday), sparked by striker Chris Mueller, playing in his first game for his country.

Mueller set up the first goal, by Paul Arriola, in the 17th minute with a cross from the left of goal, then scored himself in the 20th and 25th minutes. Sebastian Lleget scored in the 23rd minute and then Mueller assisted on a 27th-minute goal by Ayo Akinola – also making his U.S. debut – for a 5-0 halftime lead.

Brenden Aaronson scored in the 50th minute for the only second-half goal. The U.S. out-shot El Salvador by 22-3.

This was the final game of the year for the U.S. men, who will have a busy 2021, especially focused on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games, a competition the U.S. missed in 2016.

Swiss Special Prosecutor Stefan Keller has asked the Swiss authorities to look into the use of a private plane by FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) in 2017 on a flight from Surinam to Geneva, Switzerland.

Keller’s referral indicated “clear signs of criminally reprehensible behaviour.” FIFA responded furiously on Friday (11th), stating

“FIFA and the FIFA President are shocked by the statement issued today by “special prosecutor” Stefan Keller. This statement is both malicious and defamatory in nature and demonstrates his extreme bias. …

“FIFA and its President will obviously take all necessary legal steps and remedies to put an end to these baseless and ill-intentioned accusations.”

CONCACAF announced the qualification procedure for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a group stage of 30 teams to compete for six places – one each for six group winners – in a final tournament in July 2022. These matches will be held from November 2021 to April 2022.

The final qualifier will be an eight-team program, with the U.S. and Canada joining the six qualifier. Two groups of four will play a round-robin schedule and the top two in each group would qualify into the semifinals.

A new CONCACAF Women’s Nations League was also announced for 2023-24, with national teams split into three leagues. A 12-team finals will be held in June 2024, with eight CONCACAF teams and four guest teams, leading to an eight-team elimination tournament.

This is a major step forward for women’s national teams in the region, designed to heighten the profile of women’s football and encourage more investment. It may not, however, help the U.S. since the teams in the region are significantly weaker competition – at present – than the American women usually face.

● Gymnastics ● Although with a lower profile than the USOPC announcement on protests, USA Gymnastics released on Thursday (10th) its “Athlete Bill of Rights.”

The eight-point list emphasizes that anyone should have the right to participate, safely, with their “personal health and wellness prioritized,” and receive “proper instruction,” and be able to voice their concerns without penalty.

The announcement noted “The Athlete Bill of Rights was a collaborative effort between USA Gymnastics and members of the organization’s elected Athletes’ Council, which serves as a conduit between USA Gymnastics and athletes within the sport.”

On protests, the Athlete Bill of Rights states:

“Athletes have the right to respectfully express themselves on issues that impact the gymnastics community, with the confidence that doing so will not jeopardize their ability to participate and/or negatively impact their success.”

For the elite, the announcement further explained:

“The policy, as stated in the National Team handbook, reads: ‘In a number of forums (e.g., on social media, at press conferences, etc.), you also have a platform to use your voice in other ways – whether that is to inspire the next generation of gymnasts, provide feedback on your experiences, share personal anecdotes, or advocate for causes you believe in. Your choice to do so – including through peaceful protest at a USA Gymnastics’ event – will not impact selections, team participation, or results, to the extent it is under USA Gymnastics’ control (i.e., the Olympic Games are not under USAG’s control), so long as you are complying with the USA Gymnastics’ policies, including the Code of Ethical Conduct.’”

● Swimming ● Caeleb Dressel’s time-trial attempts to break the 20-second barrier in a banned Speedo LZR Racer suit came up short on two tries on Thursday (10th).

Swimming in a 25 m (short course) pool at the La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center in La Mirada, California, Dressel swam 20.41 and 20.42, short of the goal, but also of his record 20.16 swim in the ISL Grand Final in Budapest (HUN) last month.

The attempt was sponsored by Speedo to mark the 20th anniversary of its Fastskin suit series. Said Dressel afterwards, “I had to change a couple of things like my body position. It felt really, really good – but I’ll say this; nothing is guaranteed and the suit doesn’t make the swimmer, the swimmer makes the suit.”

● Weightlifting ● The war of words within weightlifting continued this week in the aftermath of the huge reduction in athletes who will compete in the 2024 Paris Games. From a total of 260 competitors in Rio in 2016, the sport was cut to 196 for Tokyo and now just 120 for Paris.

The International Weightlifting Federation’s statement, uncredited, but ostensibly from Interim President Dr. Michael Irani (GBR) included:

“Clean weightlifters continue to pay a woefully heavy price for inadequate governance and for those — from a relatively limited number of countries — who tried to take shortcuts to success at London 2012 and Beijing 2008. …

“I believe we can meet the IOC’s criteria for remaining on the Paris 2024 Olympic programme and even reach the point where we restore Olympic weightlifting opportunities for a new generation of clean weightlifters. We have already embarked on a journey towards radical governance reform. But we must be under no illusion about the scope and scale of change required.”

That was not the view of British Weightlifting, whose statement included:

“While the IWF Executive Board may feel it has already embarked on a journey towards governance reform, this is a clear message from the IOC that they don’t trust those current Board members to deliver in designated timescales meaningful and appropriate change, including a clean sporting landscape, the successful implementation of athlete representation, a new constitution and the need for a clear and transparent methods of election.

“BWL believes it is time for immediate change and we reiterate our earlier call for the Executive Board to stand down. They have been there too long and have been involved in too much controversy and should resign with immediate effect allowing a group of new, ethically eligible individuals who can work closely with key stakeholders to rebuild the sport and allow the athletes an opportunity to achieve their ultimate sporting ambitions.

“The future of the sport remains massively uncertain.”

● Wrestling ● While the 2020 World Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, a substitute “Individual World Cup” has drawn 505 wrestlers from 51 countries to Belgrade, Serbia for competition from 12-18 December.

All 30 weight class in men’s Freestyle, women’s Freestyle and men’s Greco-Roman will be contested, with prize money of CHF 10,000 per class (CHF 300,000 total). The U.S. is not competing.

● The Last Word ● The head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said on Thursday that the U.S.’s “Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019″ is hypocritical:

“The ROC has thoroughly studied the new law, which came into power in the United States. We believe that such approach of the United States is totally unacceptable.

“One should take care of the anti-doping issue in line with international standards at the national level before assuming monitoring duties in sports [internationally]. The U.S. professional leagues are not participating in the international anti-doping coalition and they are all legally exempt from the WADA Code. Foreign anti-doping officers cannot execute their duties [in the United States].

“We [ROC] see a policy of double standards in the US approach to this problem.”

Pozdnyakov did not note that the doping controls in Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and others is the result of collective bargaining between the leagues and the players. But he also – most importantly – did not say that the ROC would push for a parallel law in Russia, with overseas enforcement powers. Such retaliatory laws are a great fear for the World Anti-Doping Agency, with Russia one of the obvious candidates to enact such a statute. But not yet.

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LANE ONE: Why is the IOC so in love with action sports? Because a 2016 study told them so!

Rich Perelman

December 10, 2020

tsx pix 2019-912 brown, sky gbr park 750 (pablo vaz) — Britain's 12-year-old skateboard sensation, Sky Brown (Photo: World Skate/Pablo Vaz)

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Perhaps the most striking comment on the sports program approved for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was this: “breakdancing is in; cross country running isn’t.”

There has been no shortage of both amazement and outrage at the selection of “breaking” as an Olympic sport for 2024, but it is just the latest chapter in the running love affair between the International Olympic Committee and “action” or “urban” sports that dates back 32 years.

Yes, the story is that old. But the story took a significant turn in 2016.

The first pivot point came in October 1985, when the U.S. television network ABC paid a then-staggering $309 million for the rights to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada, more in cash than paid for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles ($225 million) the year prior!

That put pressure on the IOC to expand the Calgary program to provide more events for ABC to show to American audiences, and the Canadian organizers were more than willing, adding demonstration events in Curling (2 events), Freestyle Skiing (6) and Short Track Speed Skating (10), all part of the standard Winter Games program now.

Although the Federation Internationale de Ski had been running World Cup competitions in Freestyle Skiing since 1980 – in Moguls and Aerials – these events were derided at the time as “hot dogging” and as a judged sport, not in the same class as traditional, timed or measured disciplines like alpine and cross country skiing. But there will be 13 such events at Beijing 2022, more than any of the skiing disciplines.

By 1992, Freestyle events were incorporated into the medal program for Albertville (FRA), but as the Winter Games rights fees went up, so did the appetite for more events. So, when the FIS started its World Cup program for Snowboard in the 1994-95 season – primarily Halfpipe and Parallel – it was only a question of when it would be included. It didn’t take long: Halfpipe and Giant Slalom were added to the 1998 Nagano (JPN) medal program and there will be 11 Snowboard events at Beijing 2022.

While this enormous expansion of “action” events was taking place in the Winter Games, the Olympic Games program was expanding with traditional sports: table tennis and tennis in 1988, badminton and baseball in 1992. But the “action sports” bug caught up with the summer Games in 1996, with beach volleyball and mountain biking added for 1996, trampoline and triathlon events in 2000, and BMX racing in 2008.

But there was considerable concern within the IOC that the Olympic program was not keeping up with the times and more events that appealed to youth were needed. In 2015, the Olympic Studies Centre commissioned a research study by University of Waikato (NZL) Associate Professors Belinda Wheaton and Holly Thorpe, released in 2016 and titled: “Youth Perceptions of the Olympic Games: Attitudes Towards Action Sports at the YOG and Olympic Games.”

If you are looking for the turning point in the IOC’s current obsession with appealing to youth, this is it. The report’s summary crystallized the issue candidly:

“The IOC faces a significant challenge, that is, how to stay relevant to contemporary youth amid changing sport participation and consumption patterns and growing competition from mega-events such as the X Games.”

The report examines, in 137 pages, the possibilities for the IOC, using a survey, a review of media coverage and interviews. The survey was the key. Some 820 individuals were polled on their interest in action sports relative to Olympic inclusion, with 77% either devoted or occasional participants in one or more of these sports and 23% who were not participants. The data showed:

● Survey respondents were from 51 countries, with the most replies from China (24%), followed by Germany (10%) and the U.S. (9%).

● Respondents said they followed the X Games heavily – about 75% – about the same interest level as the Olympic and Winter Games.

● Their favorite action sports to watch on television or online included Skateboarding (36%), Parkour (31%), Snowboarding (30%), Surfing (30%), BMX (25%), Mountain Bike (22%) and Skiing (22%).

● Their favorite Olympic sports, in comparison, were Athletics (26%), Aquatics (25%), Gymnastics (24%) and the various team sports (21%). In the Winter Games, Snowboard was the big winner, at 37%, followed by Alpine Skiing (27%) and Freestyle (24%).

● The key finding came from this question: “How do you feel about the possibility of more action sports being included in the Olympic Games?”

The answer: 60% agreed with “I think this is a great idea and I would likely watch more of the Olympics.”

B-I-N-G-O. Game over.

Just 5% said they don’t want more action sports, 8.5% said they didn’t care and an interesting 22.5% said they didn’t like “what happens to action sports when they become Olympic sports.” That latter group did not say, however, that they would not watch.

And even more important: enthusiasm for adding action sports was across all age groups, with 80.2% of those from 0-19 in favor (!!!), then 53.1% from 20-30; 54.6% from 31-40; 58.5% from 41-50 and 65.0% (!!!) for ages 51 and up!

The report noted “a perception among many of our interviewees that the inclusion of action sports into the Olympic Games signals to an international audience that the IOC is flexible and responding to changing trends in youth sport participation and consumptions.”

Takeaway: add more “action” sports to the Olympic program, NOW.

And that is just what the IOC did, but very, very cleverly.

The first follow-up question had to be which sports should be included. The survey asked this, with the top selections (820 respondents, who could pick multiple events):

● 797 votes: Skateboarding of various kinds (5 types)
● 218 votes: Surfing (2 types)
● 186 votes: BMX Freestyle
● 151 votes: Parkour
● 123 votes: Climbing

It’s no surprise, then, that the Tokyo 2020 organizers submitted a list of add-on sports in September 2015 that included Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing, in addition to the more traditional sports of Baseball/Softball and Karate.

The experimental nature of the Youth Olympic Games was noted as a good incubator for new events and after Break Dancing was included in the 2018 YOG in Buenos Aires (ARG), lo and behold, the Paris 2024 organizers petitioned for “Breaking” to be included, along with Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing once again.

Please note that it is the Tokyo and Paris organizers who are asking for these sports, not the IOC imposing them. There is a major difference, in that these are one-time add-ons and the relevant federations – World Skate, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), International Surfing Association (ISA) and World DanceSport Federation – do not share in the distribution of IOC television revenues, as do the 28 “core” IFs.

All of these factors make the stakes enormously high for the IOC and all of the sports on the Tokyo 2020 program next summer. What will the television and streaming ratings say about these sports and especially those on the lower rungs of the rankings in viewing popularity:

● Fourth tier: Canoeing, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling.

● Fifth tier: Modern Pentathlon, and Golf and Rugby as first-time sports in Rio 2016.

Already, significant changes for Paris 2024 have been made by Canoeing – killing two Sprint races and adding the novelty Extreme Canoe Slalom – and Sailing, which added an action-type event in Kiteboarding and an open-ocean race that is still under consideration. Modern Pentathlon has reinvented itself with finals that will take place in just 90 minutes, all inside a compact, temporary outdoor arena.

Based on the 2016 study by Wheaton and Thorpe, certainly Parkour has to be considered for 2028 (despite a raging battle over federation representation) and then there is the eSports question, certainly a growth area in youth participation and one the IOC is studying intently. And since all of these action add-ons are one-offs, the fate of Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing will be up for debate again.

In the conclusion of the Wheaton and Thorpe report was this:

“Our results signal important areas for further research, including national differences in perceptions of action sports inclusion into the Olympic Games; the perceptions of youth, and particularly children; mainstream audiences responses to action sports inclusion in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; and the effects of Olympic inclusion on gender diversity and global growth and development of action sports.”

The IOC got to 50/50 gender balance in its Paris 2024 program and the Paris organizers have promised to showcase many of the action sports – Basketball 3×3, Break Dancing, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Triathlon and the finish of the road races in Athletics and Cycling – in a temporary arena for 30,000 in the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the city.

How Olympic fans respond to these sports vis-a-vis the other sports on the program could signal a 21st Century “French Revolution” in the evolution of the Olympic sports program, starting in Los Angeles in 2028.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo Olympic Village stay rules agreed; Bach goes “Mona Lisa” on Coe on protests; Trump signs Rodchenkov Act

Rich Perelman

December 8, 2020

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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● The International Olympic Committee confirmed the rules for stays in the Olympic Village next year, with athletes asked to arrive a maximum of five days ahead of their competitions and leave a maximum of 48 hours after their competitive efforts end at the Games.

There may be specific exceptions due to flight availability or required training times, but for the most part, these restrictions are expected to be respected. There was, of course, the final warning that

“The IOC and Tokyo 2020 will monitor compliance with these guidelines and reserve the right to deny access to the Olympic Village in cases of repeated or flagrant non-compliance.”

One of the National Olympic Committees which is being observed more closely than normal is in Belarus. The IOC issued a statement noting that “it appears that the current NOC leadership has not appropriately protected the Belarusian athletes from political discrimination within the NOC, their member sports federations or the sports movement.”

The NOC’s leader is the President of the country, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the Belarusian President since the office was established in 1994. He has been the focus of continuing political unrest in the country and on Monday, the IOC “excluded” he and his eldest son, Viktor – as President and First Vice President of the NOC of Belarus – from “all IOC events and activities,” including the Olympic Games.

The IOC further directed that any payments to the NOC not meant for athlete preparations be suspended and that funds for athletes be delivered to them directly, instead of through the NOC. All of the International Federations were asked to ensure that Belarusian athletes can compete in Olympic qualification competitions “without any political discrimination.”

Alexander Lukashenko reacted with a promise to take the IOC to court:

“We need to go to court. Let [IOC President Thomas] Bach and the gang explain what my fault is.

“I haven’t taken part in these events for 25 years and will survive in the future. But have you gathered all the countries and made a decision? Ok I will survive, but why are you involving children?”

Worth noting: Viktor Lukashenko was sanctioned by the European Union from 2011-16 for playing ”a key role in the repressive measures implemented against the democratic opposition and civil society” during political demonstrations in the country in 2010.

During Monday’s news conference, IOC President Bach (GER) was asked about World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) and his remarks about allowing protests on the victory stand last October, as the IOC Athletes’ Commission continues to gather comments in order to provide a recommendation to the Executive Board.

In early October, Coe told reporters on a visit to Tokyo:

“I’ve been very clear that if an athlete wishes to take the knee on a podium then I’m supportive of that. The athletes are a part of the world and they want to reflect the world they live in.

“And that is for me perfectly acceptable, as long as it is done with complete respect for other competitors, which I think most athletes properly understand.”

Bach was perfectly prepared for this, replying without hesitation and with a glee only betrayed by an almost imperceptible, Mona Lisa-like smile:

“Concerning the position of the President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, I can maybe quote the marketing and advertising rules of World Athletics as they are in force from the 23rd of November 2019. And they say in [Book C7.1] point 1.3.5:

“‘Political/Religious Marketing: Both political (i.e. the promotion of any political parties, associations, movements, ideas or any other political cause) and religious (i.e. the promotion of religions, movements, ideas or other religious causes) marketing are prohibited.’

“I have nothing to add to this at this moment in time.”

Devastating. Bach has noted previously that the comments he has seen from athlete consultations indicate that the victory stand should continue to be off-limits to protests.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● More on the announcement of the Paris 2024 program, as it’s worth noting the relative impact on the International Federations of the decisions announced Monday:

● 17 of the 28 IFs had no changes to their program in terms of events or athlete quota.

● 1 IF had gains in its athlete quota: Gymnastics.

● 9 IFs saw reduced athlete quotas only: Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Judo, Rowing, Sailing and Shooting.

● 1 IF lost both events and athletes: Weightlifting.

All of the add-on federations saw slight gains in either their event count, athlete quota or both: Break dancing, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing.

Athletes in Sprint Canoeing were angered by the loss of two Sprint events in favor of Extreme Slalom for Paris and released a letter criticizing the International Canoe Federation, reading in part:

“Once again the athletes’ voices have been ignored and caste [sic] aside.

“The ICF unilateral decision to change the Olympic format in the middle of the Paris Olympic cycle will have a severe impact on paddling athletes. Many athletes, coaches and teams are already preparing for Paris 2024 and now, without notice, will be told that their events will no longer take place.

“The fact that the ICF passed a rule without broad athlete and national federation consultation is a sign once again that athletes have little to no say on what is best for their sport. ICF speaks of an athlete first approach but very rarely puts this into practice.”

● Doping ● U.S. President Donald Trump signed H.R. 835, the “Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2019″ into law on 4 December, creating a significant headache for the international anti-doping community thanks to one sentence in the bill:

“There is extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense under this section.”

So now, the U.S. Department of Justice has the authority to find and prosecute “any person, other than an athlete, to knowingly carry into effect, attempt to carry into effect, or conspire with any other person to carry into effect a scheme in commerce to influence by use of a prohibited substance or prohibited method any major international sports competition.”

How this plays out is anyone’s guess. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee welcomed the passage; chief executive Sarah Hirshland commented:

“The passage of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act demonstrates the importance of the ongoing fight against cheating in international sport. Having a fair and effective international anti-doping program is vital to ensuring that the rights of clean athletes and the integrity of competition are upheld. We appreciate Congress’ efforts to address such injustices, and we are committed to supporting the continuing development of international tools and initiatives needed to root out fraud, identify bad actors, and help to ensure integrity in global sport.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency is critical of this element of the Act, noting:

“This Act may lead to other nations adopting similar legislation, thereby subjecting U.S. citizens and sport bodies to similar extraterritorial jurisdictions and criminal sanctions, many of which may be political in nature or imposed to discriminate against specific nationalities. This will be detrimental to anti-doping efforts everywhere, including in the U.S.”

The question going forward is how strongly will it be enforced?

The Russian news agency TASS reported, unsurprisingly, displeasure:

“Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on November 19 the Rodchenkov Act may morph into a dangerous instrument by the United States that could be wielded to stifle global sports achievements, which the US deems as unwanted. In her words, the US authorities will be guided mostly by political motives when deciding on whether the act should be applied.

“‘We all know it, and we have seen it many times. This is an extremely dangerous trend that leads to degradation of global sports,’ Zakharova said.”

● Athletics ● It was a big day for the Duplantis family at the World Athletics Awards, held via video conference last Saturday, with pole vault world-record-setter Mondo Duplantis winning male Athlete of the Year and parents Greg and Helena Duplantis recognized with the Coaching Achievement Award.

Venezuelan triple jumper – and indoor world-record-setter – Yulimar Rojas won the women’s Athlete of the Year award, with France’s 2012 Olympic vault champ Renaud Lavillenie receiving the Covid Inspiration Award for dreaming up the “Ultimate Garden Clash,” in which he, Duplantis and Sam Kendricks (USA) all vaulted on their home runways in a 30-minute program which was the first post-pandemic event seen in the sport.

World Athletics President Coe’s Presidential Award went to 1968 Olympic 200 m medal winners Tommie Smith (USA), Peter Norman (AUS) and John Carlos (USA):

“We created the President’s Award in 2016 to recognise and honour exceptional service to athletics. The bravery, dignity and morality of these three men continue to inspire athletes from all sports 50 years on.

“The image of Smith and Carlos raising fists has become seared in history as an incendiary act of protest by athletes. But sadly, their cause and what they so bravely stood for has not been consigned to the history books. As demonstrations around the world this year have shown, there is much more that needs to be done. I hope that the uncompromising attitude of these three athletes can continue to be an inspiration to all of us who refuse to accept racism.”

Speaking of racism, Russell Dinkins – a former Princeton 400-800 m runner and now an athletic recruitment and education consultant, posted a lengthy reply to the “60 Minutes” story last Sunday on recent cuts to university sports programs, including

“I am disappointed in 60 Minutes’ coverage of the recent cuts to college sports as the program missed a huge chunk of the story: that cutting track has an outsized impact on diversity. When Minnesota and Clemson cut their track teams, they were cutting 75% and 67% of their non-revenue Black athletes respectively. Track and field is the only sport where schools do not make money from their Black athletes: that deserves coverage.”

The Athletics Integrity Unit continued announcing new doping bans over the past few days, with two high-profile suspensions:

● Discus thrower Andressa de Morais (BRA: 29), suspended for one year and four months from 6 August 2019 for presence of the anabolic agent (SARM) S-22 in her sample from the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima. She was a 2017 World Championships finalist and threw a – now-discredited – national record of 65.98 m (216-6) to win the Pan Ams silver.

● Belarusian 800 m star Marina Arzamasova, 32, suspended for four years from 29 July 2019 for the anabolic agent (SARM) LGD-4033, found in an out-of-competition test. Arzamasova claims she ingested the substance from a contaminated supplement, but the panel found differently and suspended her for four years. Arzamasova was the 2015 World Champion at 800 m (1:57.54 best) and a 2016 Olympic finalist, but has not broken 2:00 since 2016.

These decisions are appealable to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

World Athletics has amended its rules concerning shoes – especially for distance running – to allow developmental or prototype shoes, not available for purchase, to be used in competition if previously submitted and approved as in conformance with the World Athletics rules.

This amendment was requested by multiple shoe makers in order to be able to test new models for possible commercial sale, similar to what auto parts and tire makers do, especially in the Indy Car circuit. However, a prototype model can only be used for a year before it must be available for purchase.

The “shoe development wars” are heating up, as multiple sites noted that the top four finishers at the Valencia Half Marathon last weekend – all of whom broke the existing world record, led by Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie in 57:32 – wore the new adidas Adizero Adios Pro.

Up until now, the center of attention had been the Nike Alphafly, an experimental worn by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge in his 1:59:41 time trial in Vienna (AUT) in 2019, and the Nike Vaporfly Next%, both using carbon fiber plates which return more energy to the runner and have been used in multiple world-record runs over the past couple of years.

But the delay of the Tokyo Games from 2020 to 2021 may have allowed Nike’s competitors to catch up.

● Football ● CONCACAF announced its men’s World Cup 2022 qualifying calendar, beginning next March. As far as the U.S. is concerned, the qualifying games in the final round will start in September 2021:

● 3 matches in September 2021
● 3 matches in October 2021
● 2 matches in November 2021
● 3 matches in January 2022
● 3 matches in March 2022

There will be eight teams in the final round, with a double round-robin planned, so 14 matches in all. CONCACAF will qualify three teams for Qatar 2022, with a fourth in a play-in match-up against another confederation representative in June of 2022.

As expected, the FIFA Council confirmed the new “minimum standards” for women’s players and all coaches. This includes maternity regulations and a return-to-work provision for women and contract stability for coaches.

● Highlights ● Some late-ending competitions didn’t make it into Sunday’s Highlights package, so:

● Biathlon: The second week of the World Cup races in Kontiolahti (FIN) were family affairs, with Tarjei Boe (NOR) winning the 10 km Sprint while younger brother (and World Cup champ) Johannes Thingnes Boe was third and German Arnd Peiffer second.

The younger Boe repeated his bronze-medal performance in the 12.5 km Pursuit, behind Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson and France’s Fabien Claude.

The sisters Hanna Oberg and Elvira Oberg were also 1-3 in the women’s 7.5 km Sprint, with France’s Anais Chevalier-Bouchet second. In the 10 km Pursuit, Norway scored a 1-2 finish with Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, followed by Hanna Oeberg in third.

The circuit continues this week Hochfilzen (AUT).

● Judo: The Pan American Open in Lima, Peru concluded late Sunday, with a modest field of 47 athletes from six countries. The U.S. scored wins from Adonis Diaz (-60 kg) and L.A. Smith in the +100 kg class for the men, and Katelyn Jarrell (-52 kg) and Mariah Holguin (-57 kg) for the women.

● Weightlifting: The USA Weightlifting National Championships were held online over the weekend, with a remarkable 991 entries for youth and senior competitions. Unfortunately, the results are not accessible, but the federation’s biggest stars did win in their classes: Clarence Cummings at 73 kg for men, Harrison Maurus at 81 kg and Wes Kitts at 109 kg. Among the women, Sarah Robles won again at +87 kg, with Mattie Sasser taking the 64 kg crown and Mattie Rogers winning in the 76 kg class.

● At the BuZZer ● One of the greatest wrestlers in history was recognized by U.S. President Trump on Monday with the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Olympic gold medalist and legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable.

Gable, now 72, was, of course, the 1972 Olympic gold medalist in the 68 kg Freestyle class as well as the 1971 Pan American and World Champion at that weight. He was 117-1 in college, winning two NCAA titles for Iowa State at 130 lbs. and 137 lbs. As a coach, he was even better, with his Iowa teams winning 15 NCAA team titles and producing 152 All-Americans and 12 Olympians.

Said Trump, “Now, I’m larger than you, a little bit. Do you think I could take you in wrestling? Would I have a big advantage?”

Answered Gable, “No, you would have no chance.”

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LANE ONE: Paris 2024 program approved, with four added sports, eight event changes and punishment for weightlifting

Rich Perelman

December 7, 2020

There was no question that Monday’s announcement of the approved sports program for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris for 2024 was going to leave some federations unhappy.

Let’s be clear that the International Weightlifting Federation is at the front of that line.

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board approved a program of 317 events among the 28 “permanent” Olympic sports and another 12 events for the added sports of Break Dancing (2), Skateboarding (4), Sport Climbing (4) and Skateboarding (2) for a grand total of 329.

That’s a little less than Tokyo’s total of 339, but Paris eliminated the Tokyo add-ons of Baseball and Softball and Karate.

The approved program of sports, events and athlete quotas for each also reduced the total number of athletes to 10,500 from the expected 11,092 for Tokyo (-592) and crowed that the program is perfectly balanced with 5,250 men and 5,250 women. The event balance isn’t perfect, but awfully close with 156 men’s events, 151 women’s events and 22 mixed events (up from 18 in Tokyo).

So, for the most part, the Paris program will look a lot like Tokyo (events and athletes), but there are differences. It’s a lot to look at, but let’s check the details:

● Aquatics: MODEST LOSSES: 49 events (49 in Tokyo), 1,370 athletes (vs. 1,410 in Tokyo).

Swimming had its quota reduced from 928 to 896; Artistic Swimming was shaved from 104 to 96, with Diving and Water Polo staying the same. FINA asked for many more events and got none, so the 50 m events in Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly stay out of the Games.

● Archery: STATUS QUO: 5 events (same), 128 athletes (same).

● Athletics: MODEST LOSSES: 48 events (same); 1,820 athletes (vs. 1,900).

Track & field lost 90 athletes from its quota total, but this will not impact the competition much. The 50 km walk for men (only) was eliminated in favor of another mixed-gender event of some type, which World Athletics said would be a mixed walking event of some kind. Cross Country was not approved as an addition, a major disappointment for the federation.

● Badminton: STATUS QUO: 5 events (same); 172 athletes (same).

● Basketball: STATUS QUO: 4 events (same); 352 athletes (same).

● Boxing: LOSER: 13 events (same); 252 athletes (vs. 286)

This may not look terrible, but the IOC slapped the International Boxing Association (AIBA) again, changing the event line-up from eight men’s events and five women’s events to 7 + 6, with the same number of men and women (126). And there’s more: the IOC – not AIBA – will decide the weight classes by the end of 2021. Ouch.

● Canoeing: STATUS QUO: 16 events (same), 318 athletes (vs. 328).

The International Canoe Federation asked for, and received, inclusion of Extreme Canoe Slalom, contested on a short course and during which the contestants roll over in their boats and get wet. It’s a novelty event, and the serious K-1 200 m Sprint was eliminated. The men’s K-1 1,000 m and women’s K-1 500 m remain. Sad.

● Cycling: MODEST LOSSES: 22 events (same); 518 athletes (vs. 528).

The quota for BMX Freestyle was increased slightly, with small changes in the numbers for Mountain Bike. Track added one athlete. Road cycling was substantially re-arranged for gender equity; Tokyo will have 130 men and 67 women; for Paris, the total quotas for road cycling will be 90 men and 90 women, a major shift to gender equity, but also a loss of 17 athletes in cycling’s premiere events.

● Equestrian: STATUS QUO: 6 events (same); 200 athletes (same).

● Fencing: STATUS QUO: 12 events (same); 212 athletes (same).

● Football: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 504 athletes (same).

● Golf: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 120 athletes (same).

● Gymnastics: STATUS QUO: 18 events (same), 324 athletes (vs. 318).

There was a small reduction of a couple of athletes for Artistic and Rhythmic.

● Handball: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 336 athletes (same).

● Hockey: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 384 athletes (same).

● Judo: STATUS QUO: 15 events (same); 372 athletes (vs. 386).

The total quota across 15 events went down just 14 athletes and the competitions will be little affected.

● Modern Pentathlon: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 72 athletes (same).

Even with the same program as for Tokyo, the UIPM was deeply disappointed not to have the Mixed Relay added, an event already part of its World Championships and designed specifically for Olympic inclusion.

● Rowing: WINNER: 14 events (same), 502 athletes (vs. 526).

True the quota was reduced by 24 athletes across 14 events, but the Lightweight Double Sculls was maintained for men and women. The IOC has, in the past, asked to remove this category, but it’s in the program for one more Games at least and that’s a win for World Rowing.

● Rugby: STATUS QUO: 2 events (same); 288 athletes (same).

● Sailing: INCOMPLETE: 10 events (same); 330 athletes (vs. 350).

The Sailing program got shook up for 2024. For Tokyo, there will be one mixed-gender events, the multi-hull Nacra 17 class. For Paris there will be four: Nacra 17, two-person Dinghy (470 class), Kiteboarding and an event to be determined. The men’s and women’s individual 470 classes were eliminated, the Finn Class for men was eliminated and the proposed mixed-crew offshore event – think ocean racing – needs more discussion “in order to properly assess the key considerations around the cost, safety and security of the athletes.” This event is controversial within the sailing community – how many nations can afford such a boat? – and is to be settled by 31 May 2021. Look for a noisy discussion on this one; it’s a major play for added attention by the federation.

● Shooting: STATUS QUO: 15 events (same); 340 athletes (vs. 360).

Small reduction in the overall quota will hardly be felt on the shooting line. The Mixed Trap event was replaced by Mixed Skeet.

● Table Tennis: STATUS QUO: 5 events (same); 172 athletes (same).

● Taekwondo: STATUS QUO: 8 events (same); 128 athletes (same).

● Tennis: STATUS QUO: 5 events (same); 172 athletes (same).

● Triathlon: STATUS QUO: 3 events (same); 110 athletes (same).

● Volleyball: STATUS QUO: 4 events (same); 384 athletes (same).

● Weightlifting: LOSER: 10 events (vs. 14); 120 athletes (vs. 196).

The IWF got hammered for its continuing doping and governance troubles, with its quota reduced to 120 after being 260 for Rio! Moreover, the 14 classes for Tokyo are to be reduced to 10 for Paris, with the IWF to finalize the weights by the end of 2021. The IOC statement also included the dreaded: “It also reiterated that the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 continues to be subject to ongoing review by the IOC.”

● Wrestling: STATUS QUO: 18 events (same); 288 athletes (same).

In the added sports:

● Breaking: WINNER: 2 events; 32 athletes.

Amazing that this will become an Olympic sport in 2024 without having appeared in almost any continental Games and really only seen at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. Even the World Dancesport Federation may not believe its luck.

● Skateboarding: WINNER: 4 events (same), 88 athletes (vs. 80).

A few more athletes, ahead of an expected third Games in a row in Los Angeles in 2028.

● Sport Climbing: WINNER: 4 events (vs. 2); 68 athletes (vs. 40).

Many climbers complained that while Bouldering and Lead made sense as a combined event, Speed is totally different. The IOC agreed and the three-part combined event for Tokyo will be Bouldering and Lead for Paris, with Speed now separate.

● Surfing: WINNER: 2 events (same); 44 athletes (vs. 40).

This sport is slated to be held in Tahiti, although there is some pushback on the island. A few more athletes were added and most observers will be shocked if it is not on the LA ‘28 program.

The biggest losers were Baseball/Softball (2 events and 234 athletes in Tokyo) and Karate (8 events and 80 athletes), which are not on the Paris program. Baseball and Softball are locks for Los Angeles, but Karate appears to be a one-and-done in Tokyo. The reduction from 339 events for Tokyo to 329 for Paris is strictly due to the removal of these sports. The IOC statement added:

“Although the IFs had requested a total of 41 additional events, the IOC EB decided not to increase the number of events across any of the 28 sports in the initial programme, ensuring a fair and objective approach in applying this principle to its review of the event programme.”

The four added events in Breaking – still hard to believe – and Sport Climbing were offset by the four fewer weight classes in weightlifting. So, the 28 “permanent” sports in the Games will have 317 events, with 12 for the added sports, still a significant increase over the 306 events in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The IOC did not yield to the pleadings of some federations who asked for many added events – FINA was the leader in this area – but there was bitter disappointment for those athletes whose events were substituted for those with more television potential, like the Canoeing sprinters.

And, while the Games did not grow – and the reduction in athletes will be accompanied by fewer officials as well – there is little doubt that the size of the Olympic program is still enormous, now 49% larger than the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, the last edition whose total costs were fully covered by its revenues.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Kandie blows up world Half Marathon mark; Crouser out to 74-1 indoors; Loch comes from 17th to 1st in Luge World Cup!

Rich Perelman

December 6, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1206 kandie WR Half Mar valencia 750 (wa) — World Half Marathon record for Kenya's Kibiwott Kandie in Valencia (Photo: World Athletics)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world:

● Alpine Skiing ● Croatia’s Filip Zubcic made a sensational second run in Saturday’s Giant Slalom in Santa Caterina (ITA) and despite heavy snowfall, moved from sixth to first and took his second career World Cup win.

Zan Kranjec (SLO) looked like a possible winner after leading the race following the first run, but faded to 11th-fastest on the second run and ended up with the silver. Swiss Marco Odermatt finished third, placing second on the first run, but eighth in the second round. American Tommy Ford skied well and finished sixth; Ted Ligety was 19th.

The second race, scheduled for Sunday, was postponed to Monday to due even heavier snow.

The women’s World Cup circuit was supposed to be in St. Moritz (SUI) for two Super-G races, but was canceled due to heavy snows and wind.

● Athletics ● Lots of hot running in Valencia, Spain, with a new world mark in the men’s Half Marathon.

Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie, 24, crushed countryman Geoffrey Kamworor’s 2019 mark of 58:01 with a startling 57:32, the first of four men who finished under 58 minutes: Jacob Kiplimo (UGA: 57:37), Rhonex Kipruto (KEN: 57:49) and Alexander Mutiso (KEN: 57:59).

Six runners were clear of the field by 10 km, then it wasn’t until 18 km when Kandie pushed the pace and only Kiplimo could stay close. Kiplimo took the lead with 900 m to go, but Kandie surged ahead for the final time with 500 m left and reversed the order from the World Half Marathon Championships, when Kiplimo won and Kandie was second.

“I can’t believe it, I have beaten Kamworor’s world record by half a minute,” said the winner.

Kipruto’s third-place 57:49 is the fastest ever debut in the event.

The women’s race marked the Half Marathon debut of Ethiopian star Ginzebe Dibaba – the world-record holder in the 1,500 m – who won in style in 1:05:18, easily ahead of Kenyans Sheila Chepkirui (1:05:39) and Senbere Teferi (1:05:51). Dibaba now ranks equal-13th fastest on the all-time list.

American Emily Sisson finished fifth in 1:07:26, the second-fastest performance in American history, just one second behind Molly Huddle’s 1:07:25 run in Houston in 2018!

There was more brilliant running in Valencia on Sunday with marathons for men and women, both won in blistering times by Kenyans Evans Chebet and Peres Jepchirchir.

Already the 2020 World Champion in the Half Marathon, Jepchirchir ran away from the women’s field in 2:17:16, moving her to no. 5 all-time in the event. She broke free in the second half of the race, distancing herself from Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN: 2:18:40, no. 15 all-time) and Helaria Johannes (NAM: 2:19:52).

Jepchirchir ran 1:09:01 for the first half of the race, but finished in 1:08:15 on the friendlier half of the route.

The men’s race went to Kenyan Chebet, who screamed to a lifetime best of 2:03:00, edging fellow Kenyan Lawrence Cherono (2:03:04) and Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese (2:03:16), with Amos Kipruto (KEN: 2:03:30) also under 2:04:00.

The amazing mark moves Chebet to no. 6 all-time, with the seventh-fastest marathon ever; old best was 2:05:00 from 2019. Cherono is now no. 7 on the all-time performers list with the no. 9 performance in history.

Chebet was one of 11 in the lead pack at the halfway mark, but only four were left by 30 km. The winner made his move with about 3 km remaining, with enough at the end to separate from Cherono as Kipruto and Legese faded.

Said Chebet: “The experience has been great as I improved my PB by two minutes on a fantastic circuit. Anyway, my main goal was to be among the top three Kenyans thinking of the Tokyo Olympics selection.”

In Fukuoka, Japan, Yuya Yoshida won the famed Fukuoka Marathon in 2:07:05, a lifetime best and now the ninth-fastest Japanese marathoner ever. He was well ahead of Shohei Otsuka (2:07:38, lifetime best) and Natsuki Terada (2:08:03 lifetime best).

In the latest edition of athletes-only meets at (more or less) undisclosed locations, dozens of U.S. distance stars gathered at the Junipero Serra High School track in San Juan Capistrano, California for “The Track Meet,” aimed at Olympic qualifying standards.

None of the men’s 5,000 m races produced qualifying times, with the fastest races won by Matthew Centrowitz (13:32.92) and Luis Grijalva (GUA: 13:16.75).

The faster men’s 10,000 m race provided four qualifiers, led by Eric Jenkins, the winner in a lifetime best of 27:22.06, a huge improvement over his 27:48.02 best from 2016 and now ninth on the all-time U.S. list. Also under the 27:28.00 qualifying mark were Patrick Tiernan (AUS: 27:22.55), Edward Cheserek (KEN: 27:23.58), and Sam Atkin (GBR: 27:26.58).

Among the women, Shelby Houlihan won the fastest section of the 5,000 m in 15:02.55, ahead of Elise Cranny (15:04.88), both of whom achieved the standard of 15:10.00. The top eight finishers in the 10,000 m all finished under the 31:25:00 standard, led by Rachel Schneider’s debut in the event in 31:09.79, moving her to no. 8 on the all-time U.S. list.

Weini Kelati (ERI) was second in 31:10.08, followed by Alicia Monson (31:10.84, now no. 10 al-time U.S.), Sharon Lokedi (KEN: 31:11.07), Natosha Rogers (31:12.28), Kellyn Taylor (31:15.65), Danielle Shanahan (31:22.86) and Stephanie Bruce (31:24.47).

In Manhattan, Kansas, the University of Arkansas’ volunteer assistant coach Ryan Crouser (USA) continued to re-write the record books, reaching 22.58 m (74-1) in the indoor shot put on Saturday.

That’s the no. 3 performance all-time indoors, behind only the 22.66 m (74-4 1/4) world record by Randy Barnes (USA) in 1989 and Crouser’s own 22.60 m (74-1 3/4) win at the U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico this year on 15 February.

As always, Crouser was consistent: 21.71 m (71-2 3/4), 21.91 m (71-10 3/4). 21.78 m (71-5 1/2), 21.96 m (72-0 3/4), then 22.58 m (74-1) and finally 21.97 m (72-1). He now has four career indoor meets at 22.00 m (72-2 1/4) or better, tied with Ryan Whiting (USA) behind only East German Ulf Timmermann between 1985-89.

● Biathlon ● The second week of the World Cup races in Kontiolahti (FIN) were family affairs, with Tarjei Boe (NOR) winning the 10 km Sprint while younger brother (and World Cup champ) Johannes Thingnes Boe was third and German Arnd Peiffer second.

The younger Boe repeated his bronze-medal performance in the 12.5 km Pursuit, behind Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson and France’s Fabien Claude.

The sisters Hanna Oberg and Elvira Oberg were also 1-3 in the women’s 7.5 km Sprint, with France’s Anais Chevalier-Bouchet second. In the 10 km Pursuit, Norway scored a 1-2 finish with Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, followed by Hanna Oeberg in third.

The circuit continues this week Hochfilzen (AUT).

● Freestyle Skiing ● The Aerials and Moguls seasons opened in Ruka (FIN), with a Russian sweep on Friday in the men’s Aerials and a great showdown in the women’s Moguls.

Maxim Burov won his sixth World Cup gold to lead the first-ever Russian sweep in a World Cup Aerials event, scoring 126.24 in the finals to edge teammates Pavel Krotov (120.36) and older brother Ilia Burov (118.10). American Justin Schoenefeld was fifth (110.41).

Australia’s Laura Peel – the reigning World Cup champion – took the women’s Aerials, scoring 83.87 points to edge two first-time World Cup medalists, German Emma Weiss (80.95) and Russian Anastasiia Prytkova (71.53). American Winter Vinecki (62.04) was sixth.

Japanese veteran Ikuma Horishima won the men’s Moguls – his eighth World Cup gold – at 80.86, in front of Marco Tade (SUI: 78.93) and Ludvig Fjallstrom (SWE: 76.09). American Dylan Walczyk (75.26) was fourth.

The women’s Moguls was a great competition between 2018 Olympic winner Perrine Laffont (FRA) and two-time World Championships medal winner Jaelin Kauf of the U.S. The two were less than a point apart in qualifying, but Laffont managed a 79.18 score in the finals, enough to win as Kauf ended up with 75.74 and Anastasiia Smirnova (RUS) was third at 74.27. Hannah Soar and Kai Owens of the U.S. finished fifth and sixth.

● Judo ● The Pan American Open in Lima, Peru concluded late Sunday, with a modest field of 47 athletes from six countries. The U.S. scored wins from Adonis Diaz (-60 kg) and L.A. Smith in the +100 kg class for the men, and Katelyn Jarrell (-52 kg) and Mariah Holguin (-57 kg) for the women.

● Luge ● Germany’s Felix Loch continued to dominate the FIL World Cup circuit, this time in Altenberg (GER), with an amazing come-from-behind victory on his second run.

Strong winds played havoc with the track conditions and Loch, starting near the end of the first round, could manage only 17th. But that put him in the middle of the second round and he improved considerably, with what ended up as the third-fastest run and catapulted him to the win by 0.303 over countryman Max Langenhan (16th and 6th in his two runs) and Kristers Aparjods (LAT: 13th and 8th). The first-run leader was Russian Roman Repilov, who then fell to 17th in the second run and ended up fifth.

Loch has now won all three races this season, looking for a seventh seasonal World Cup title.

Austrians Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller continued their win streak this season, winning their third Doubles race without a loss. They were second-fastest in both races and won by just 0.008 – eight/1000ths – over perennial stars Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken (GER) and 0.019 over Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (GER).

Russian Tatyana Ivanova won the women’s races, edging superstar Natalie Geisenberger (GER) by 0.113 and countrywoman Ekaterina Katnikova by 0.200. Ivanova had the second-fastest time in both races and her consistency was the difference. Seasonal leader Julia Taubitz (GER) was fifth.

Italy won the team relay ahead of Germany and Latvia.

● Nordic Skiing ● The Cross Country sprint and Skiathlon races in Lillehammer (NOR) were canceled, as was the Nordic Combined program and the women’s Ski Jumping.

The men’s jumping tour was in action in Nizhny Tagil in Russia, jumping off the 134 m hill in night events on Saturday and Sunday. Norway’s emerging star Halvor Egner Granerud won both to extend his win streak this season to three in a row and take the overall points lead for the season.

He scored 270.0 on Saturday for his second-ever World Cup win, ahead of Daniel Huber (AUT: 255.7) and Norwegian teammate Robert Johansson (254.1). On Sunday, Granerud won with 241.5 points, just edging Johansson (240.7) and teammate Marius Lindvik (240.6) for a Norwegian sweep!

● Weightlifting ● The in-person USA Weightlifting National Championships, scheduled for 3-6 December, was canceled and an online competition is being held instead.

It’s still going on; results are posted here as completed. Thus far, four-time World Junior Champion Clarence Cummings won the men’s 73 kg class at 330 kg combined (727 pounds) and 2019 World Championships medalist Mattie Rogers won the women’s 64 kg class at 222 kg (~489 lbs.) combined.

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THE TICKER: Bach’s path to re-election is clear; Tokyo move to 2021 costs $2.82 billion; U.S. women’s soccer team & USSF agree to partial settlement

Rich Perelman

December 4, 2020

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The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

● International Olympic Committee ● To the surprise of absolutely no one, Germany’s Thomas Bach was confirmed as the only candidate in the forthcoming election for the Presidency of the International Olympic Committee, to be held next March.

Bach won an initial term of eight years back in 2013 and can serve for another four years when re-elected next March, into 2025. While he has detractors, he has overseen a stunning change in IOC policies, procedures and – perhaps most of all – attitude, to the relief and in many quarters, disbelief, of long-time observers.

On Wednesday, the IOC released a 44-page report on “Recommendations for an IOC Human Rights Strategy,” commissioned in 2019. It cheered the inclusion of United Nations principles in the Host City agreements from 2026 forward, but also warned that there are significant challenges ahead:

“Notwithstanding the many positive steps taken by the IOC in recent years to protect athletes and other stakeholders from various harms connected to the practice of sport across the Olympic Movement, or to the hosting of Olympic Games, media reports of various abuses persist stubbornly. …

“Turning to the second sphere of the IOC’s operations – the organization of upcoming Olympic and Youth Olympic Games – there are a number of urgent issues for the IOC to engage with. In 2019, we saw that persistent allegations of supply chain human rights (and environmental) violations connected to the organization of the Tokyo Games could not be effectively resolved. In the case of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, in our view, the human rights impacts that could be connected to the Games are severe – as our consultations with expert civil society stakeholders also confirmed – and addressing them remains challenging. In the case of Paris 2024, the national legislative context is supportive of human rights; the IOC and its OCOG partner are still working out how to integrate the additional expectations contained in the new ORs into its existing Games management approach. While the YOG in Senegal in 2022 [sic] offers substantial opportunities to advance respect for human rights, achieving this will depend on a coherent strategy to address chronic child protection issues in connection with the event, implemented through a new type of relationship between the IOC and the government as its official counterpart.

“In summary, the IOC will need to take on new kinds of roles if it wants to see its new human rights expectations of hosts realized in practice.”

Even with regard to the IOC’s TOP sponsors, the report foresees difficulties:

“It will be a struggle for the IOC to monitor compliance with its expectations; the organization will need to think creatively about how to use leverage to push its partners to address severe risks to people connected to their operations, and be prepared for some difficult conversations.”

Naturally, the report recommends the creation of a new staff entity – a “Human Rights Unit” – to be established within the IOC by June of this year.

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Agreement was announced between the Tokyo Olympic organizers, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese national government on the projected costs and shares of the delay of the Games to 2021:

(1) The cost of postponing the Games by a year are estimated at 198 billion yen (~$1.90 billion), with the organizers paying ¥103 billion (~$989.4 million), the Tokyo government paying ¥80 billion (~$768.5 million) and the national government, ¥15 billion (~$144.1 million).

(2) Coronavirus countermeasures are estimated at ¥96 billion (~$922.0 million), with the national government contributing ¥56 billion (~$537.9 million) and the Tokyo government, ¥40 billion (~$384.2 million).

(3) Added up, the total added expense is projected at ¥294 billion (~$2.82 billion). The Tokyo organizers will pay ¥103 billion (~$989.4 million), the Tokyo government will contribute ¥120 billion (~$1.15 billion) and the national government, ¥71 billion (~$681.7 million).

The organizing committee’s actual expenditures could be reduced by applying the existing budget contingency of ¥27 billion (~$259.2 million) to its share.

The actual postponement costs of $1.90 billion are far less than the wild estimates of up to $6 billion made immediately after the announcement of the date changes, but the added costs and anxiety of the pandemic has undermined – for now – the enthusiasm for the Games in Japan.

Comment: The costs are significant, but all credit to the Tokyo organizers and the governments for keeping their promises of transparency on the added expense and the shares that each entity will cover. This should not be taken for granted.

An interim report from a joint panel of governmental and Olympic organizing officials on coronavirus countermeasures for next summer’s Olympic Games was released on Wednesday. It included:

● Recommendations that athletes be tested for the virus upon arrival in Japan and every 96 to 120 hours when in the Olympic Village, even if no symptoms are apparent;

● Athletes will be asked the leave the Olympic Village once their competitions are concluded;

● Admission to Japan of foreign spectators could be allowed from countries with “controlled virus conditions,” with strict contact-tracing requirements.

Kyodo News reported Wednesday that the Tokyo organizers “received requests for refunds for about 18 percent of the tickets bought for the Olympics due to the one-year postponement caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Organizers said they received some 810,000 applications for Olympic ticket refunds out of about 4.45 million tickets sold in the domestic lottery, and are considering reselling the refunded tickets in the future.”

Refunds will be issued during December; the organizers should have no trouble re-selling the returned tickets given enormous demand during the ticket-selling period.

The International Testing Agency announced the formation of a 10-member team of national anti-doping experts and International Federation representatives to ramp up scrutiny on athletes expected to compete in Tokyo.

“The ITA Tokyo 2020 Pre-Games Expert Group is responsible for reviewing available anti-doping information on athletes who are likely to compete in the Games. It performs a risk assessment and shares testing recommendations with other anti-doping organisations (ADOs) to ensure that effective testing is conducted globally through a coordinated effort. …

“In the past six months, it re-calibrated its efforts in order to start issuing recommendations in line with an updated risk assessment and adapted qualification lists. Throughout the entire pre-Games period, the group will issue up to 25,000 recommendations on 33 sports disciplines to ADOs all over the world and also monitor their implementation.”

Some 6,000 testing recommendations were made this week, of 124 national teams. During the Tokyo Games, the total number of tests is expected to also number about 6,000.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The fury over which events will be held in Paris in 2024 is coming to a head and the program is expected to be confirmed during next Monday’s IOC Executive Board meeting, to be held via videoconference.

The long-running fight over the International Federation for the sport of Parkour – usually a street event with competitors moving through essentially a predetermined obstacle course by jumping, climbing, or running – is one of the flash points in the 2024 discussion.

The sport has its own IF, known as Parkour Earth, but the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) has claimed the sport for Olympic purposes and is proposing it for the Paris program.

This prompted an open letter to the IOC from Parkour Earth on Tuesday, asking it “to reject any submission by the FIG to include Parkour on the Olympic programme” and continued in part:

“As you know, parkour has been recognised as a sovereign, distinct, and independent sport in its own right, and as such cannot be considered a discipline of, or subsidiary to, gymnastics or any other sport. …

“Unfortunately, FIG’s encroachment and misappropriation of our sport continues.”

The letter notes the federation’s understanding that a similar request by the FIG to include Parkour for the Tokyo Games was rejected in 2017, and asks for a similar result now.

The IOC has said that it wants to maintain the size of the 2024 Games at 310 events (as well as a hard cap of 10,500 athletes), so for any event to be added, something must be dropped. It will be fascinating to see the outcome of the dozens of requests for new events when the list is revealed next week.

● Athletics ● The World Athletics Council met by videoconference earlier this week and considered the situation of the Russian Athletics Federation at some length.

While the Russians paid the $6.31 million in fines and costs by 15 August 2020 as required, the roadmap for reinstatement submitted by 31 August “required significant elaboration” to be viable. The deadline for such a plan was set for 1 March 2021.

Rune Andersen (NOR), the chair of the federation’s Russia Task Force noted in his report:

“On Monday of this week (30 November 2020), Mr Piotr Ivanov was elected as the new President of RusAF, together with a new Praesidium. I had a good introductory call with Mr Ivanov yesterday. I told him that previous RusAF regimes had let down badly both Russian athletes and the global athletic community; but the Taskforce is ready to help him turn things around, if he is ready, willing, and able to commit to the fundamental changes that are required in Russian athletics.”

An agreement on the next steps in the process had been agreed with the RusAF management in place prior to the election of Ivanov, but Andersen reiterated, “We will now all need to see whether RusAF is ready to grasp this last opportunity.”

Ivanov comes to the track & field federation with a background in international sport, as the head of the Russian Triathlon Federation since 2016; his day job is as the chief executive of a Russian state company specializing in high-speed rail transit.

Andersen’s recommendations included that the Council consider at its March 2021 meeting whether to allow a limited number of Russian athletes (10) to compete as “Authorized Neutral Athletes” in international competitions, including the Tokyo Games … or if a vote of the World Athletics Congress should be held to expel Russia from the federation.

The Wanda Diamond League program for 2021 will see a return to a two-hour broadcast window and staging of 32 events instead of the reduced package of 24 installed for 2020.

Total prize money will reach $7 million, with the triple jump, discus, 200 m, 3,000 m steeplechase and 5,000 m reinstated. However, 2020’s experimental “Final 3″ concept will be installed for the long and triple jumps, shot put, discus and javelin. Only the top three competitors will advance and the marks in the “final” will determine their actual placings.

● Basketball ● The U.S. men’s AmeriCup qualifying team skipped past Mexico, 94-78, on Monday at the Indianapolis Convention Center to remain undefeated in Group D and clinch its spot in the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.

Mike Fratello’s American squad of mostly G League players was up by 52-34 at halftime and while Mexico closed to within 11 points in the fourth quarter, the U.S. extended the lead back out to win by 16. Center Yante Maten led the U.S. with 21 points (8-10 from the field), followed by guards Joshua Magette (19), John Jenkins (16) and Travis Trice (14), and forward Levi Randolph (12). The U.S. shot 54.4% from the field and limited Mexico to 41.8%.

There are two more games remaining in group play for the U.S.: at The Bahamas on 18 February 2021 and at Mexico on 21 February. Mexico now stands at 2-2, with Puerto Rico and The Bahamas at 1-3.

● Football ● The U.S. Soccer Federation announced a settlement of the “working conditions” section of the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women’s National Team on Tuesday, reaching agreement on issues regarding staffing, travel conditions and field conditions at the venues selected for each game.

USSF President Cindy Parlow-Cone – herself a former national team star – told reporters:

“I hope that the women and their lawyers see that we are taking a new approach. The way we reached this settlement was in a collaborative way. There was a lot of back and forth and trying to understand where each side was coming from, and that’s how we reached this resolution. So it is my hope that we continue down this path and are able to find a resolution on all aspects of this litigation.”

However, before anyone gets their hopes up of an agreement on the “equal pay” aspects of the women’s team’s suit, Parlow-Cone noted:

“Our aim is to find a resolution with our women’s national team and we’re committed to doing that. We’ve reached out to them. We have offered them the same contract as the men for all games that are controlled by U.S. Soccer. But unfortunately the response has been that they didn’t want to negotiate with U.S. Soccer unless U.S. Soccer was willing to make up the FIFA World Cup prize money, which you all know is the vast majority of the $66 million that they’re requesting in back pay. And we all know that this just isn’t possible from a U.S. Soccer standpoint to make that up. Even pre-COVID this would be devastating to our budget and to our programming. But given COVID and not to be overly dramatic, but it would likely bankrupt the Federation.”

The agreement by the women’s team is strategic, in that if it is accepted by the U.S. District Court, it would clear the way for an appeal to the U.S. Ninth Circuit of the summary judgement handed down by Judge R. Gary Klausner last May of their “equal pay” claims. Klausner determined that the women’s team insistence on, and agreement to, a collective bargaining agreement that differed significantly from the men’s agreement created no triable issue of “equal pay” as alleged.

U.S. Soccer’s collective bargaining agreement with the Women’s National Team expires at the end of 2021.

● Gymnastics ● The long-running USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case and the disagreement between the federation and its insurers over the Nassar scandal cases got even more convoluted this week.

Liberty Insurance Underwiters filed a new lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asking that court to keep Epiq eDiscovery Solutions from ending its services in the Indianapolis-based bankruptcy case over non-payment alleged by Epiq of about $1.8 million.

Counsel for USA Gymnastics replied quickly and showed their irritation by noting that Liberty had been instructed by the U.S.. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to provide a “complete defense” for USA Gymnastics in the Nassar matter, and the insurer has appealed this order to the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, adding:

“To be sure, USAG’s insurers as a group have adopted a recalcitrant attitude to their duty to defend, but LIU’s latest maneuver may take the cake.”

An emergency hearing was held in the Bankruptcy Court via teleconference on Thursday, and the matter was continued, with filings and replies due by 14 December and a hearing scheduled for 16 December.

If it’s possible, the proceedings are getting uglier by the day. In the meantime, Bankruptcy Court Judge James Carr is beginning the second-try, court-ordered meditation to try and get the insurers, survivors, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic to settle the case.

● The Last Word ● Further to the tug-of-war continuing between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy over U.S. dues and representation on the WADA Executive Committee came good news for WADA.

The U.S. ONDCP has threatened not to pay its $2.7 million dues as it has done in prior years, but the agency’s budget is apparently no longer under threat. WADA announced on Wednesday:

● “[T]he Government of India has pledged an additional USD 1 million, Saudi Arabia USD 500,000 and Egypt USD 100,000, while WADA has already received the USD 992,694″

● “The contributions are additional to the Governments’ annual contributions to WADA’s regular budget, which are matched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on behalf of the Sports Movement … which means that these contributions will yield almost USD 5.2 million extra for the global anti-doping system.”

That’s almost double the amount of the U.S. dues which may be in question. Next …

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LANE ONE: Remembering the timeless humanity of Olympic track & field stars Rafer Johnson and Arnie Robinson

Rich Perelman

December 3, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1202 johnson, rafer SOWG 15 (CoryHansen) — Rafer Johnson at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games opening ceremony (Photo: Cory Hansen)

This has been a tough week for American track & field fans, with the passing of two great stars: 1976 Olympic long jump champion Arnie Robinson on Tuesday (1st) and 1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson on Wednesday (2nd).

If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
~ from “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by The Hollies (1969)

We often honor our cultural icons by shortening their names to one word.

Babe. Bird. Elvis. Elton. Rafer.

There was only one Rafer Johnson, but we should hope for many more. Tall, lean and muscular, he looked like he was ready to come back to the decathlon decades after his gold-medal performance in Rome in 1960.

When he walked into a room, all eyes looked his way. Everyone stood a little straighter. Voices were lowered. Decorum was suddenly in vogue. And to those who whispered, “Who is that?” the reply was a hushed, “Rafer.”

Until he broke out his winning smile and extended his hand to the first person he met, and if he didn’t know them already, he said. “Hi, I’m Rafer Johnson.”

Much of Rafer’s story is well known, from his modest start in Texas, move to California in 1945 and the start of his brilliant athletic career at Kingsburg Joint Union High School in Fresno County. But after 60 years, just how great Rafer was is largely unappreciated.

As a freshman at UCLA, he won the Pan American Games decathlon in March, then set his first world record in the decathlon at age 20 in June of 1955, scoring 7,985 points on the then-current scoring tables at the Central California AAU Championships to erase Bob Mathias’s 1952 total of 7,887.

(There has been considerable anxiety over Rafer’s age. Many sources – for many years – carried his birthdate as 18 August 1935, but his family confirmed he was born in 1934, making him 86 when he passed on Wednesday. Our original posting had him as 85, but has been corrected.)

Competing under the direction of UCLA coach Ducky Drake, he led UCLA to the 1956 NCAA track & field championship – its first in the sport – with 16 points from runner-up finishes in the high hurdles and long jump. He made the Olympic team in the long jump and just missed making the hurdles final at the Final Trials at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. At the separate Olympic Trials for the decathlon, he won by 191 over Milt Campbell with 7,755 despite injuring a knee during the discus.

He had a lot more trouble with the knee at the Melbourne Games and had to abandon the long jump altogether, and finished second to Campbell, 7,937 to 7,587.

There were more injuries in 1957, but by 1958, he was back on the track – as well as being Student Body President at UCLA – and emerged as the world’s best decathlete. His 1955 world mark had been broken by Soviet Vasiliy Kuznetsov in May (8,014), but Rafer took it back – head to head – at the USA vs. USSR dual before 75,000 spectators in Moscow, scoring 8,302 to 7,865 for Kuznetsov.

He was a starter on the 1958-59 UCLA basketball team under John Wooden, scoring 8.2 points a game for a 16-9 Bruin squad and despite never having played college football, was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 28th round of the 1959 NFL Draft.

But his focus was clearly on the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Long-time track & field statistician Barry Schreiber notes that he was in a serious auto accident in 1959, resulting in a significant back injury.

He could barely jog in the early days of 1960, but by April he was sprinting again and training with a new Bruin, Taiwanese C.K. Yang. By the time of the Olympic Trials in July, Johnson smashed Kuznetsov’s 1959 world record of 8,357 by scoring 8,683, ahead of Yang – a guest competitor – who scored 8,426, also better than the old record.

Their duel in Rome is well known, with Johnson winning by staying with Yang during the 1,500 m – and finishing with a lifetime best of 4:49.7 – and then collapsing with his friend after the finish line. Rafer won by just 8,392-8,334.

That’s where his track career ended and Rafer’s incredible life story began. He appeared in several movies, was a sports anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, worked for the Peace Corps and was with Sen. Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in 1968 when he was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan, holding the assailant down with Rams tackle Rosey Grier and actually taking his gun away.

Soon after, Johnson was invited to go to Chicago and witness the beginnings of what became the Special Olympics, organized by Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Shriver. Rafer came back and helped found Special Olympics California and raised the profile of a fledgling organization into one of the most important support programs for the intellectually challenged worldwide.

In 1971, he joined Continental Telephone as a Vice President, for community and government relations, and its personnel departments, in 42 states, and remained there until retirement. At one time the third-largest independent telco in the country, ConTel was later acquired by GTE, which itself is part of today’s Verizon conglomerate.

Johnson was also never far from the Olympic Movement. He was a key member of the 1970s President’s Commission on Olympic Sports, which led directly to the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 (now the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act), which turned control of the U.S. Olympic efforts to the United States Olympic Committee and largely ended the war for athlete control by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and NCAA.

He was a charter member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee’s Board of Directors and played a key role in the selection and confirmation of Peter Ueberroth as its President in 1979. And, of course, he was the final torchbearer at the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Games, ascending a rising, narrow staircase – despite a charley horse in one leg – and lighting the Olympic flame once more in the Coliseum.

At the Opening Ceremony of the 1984 Olympic Games (Photo courtesy Rene Henry)

His work with Special Olympics was crowned by having its World Games return to Los Angeles in 2015, where Rafer marched in with one of the teams during that Opening Ceremony, again at the Coliseum.

And if he was in Los Angeles, he never missed a UCLA home track & field meet at Drake Stadium – named for his coach – and the track was dedicated to he and wife Betsy in 2019.

Rafer slowed considerably after a stroke in 2018, and he passed with his family in his Sherman Oaks home early Wednesday morning.

Of his friend and a man who changed his life, Ueberroth said, “He’s one of those rare individuals that thinks about the other person first, and basically helped everybody that he has touched in his lifetime.”

Giants of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (l-r): Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, Rafer Johnson, Peter Ueberroth (Photo courtesy Peter Ueberroth)

His 1960 Olympic teammate, swimmer Donna de Varona – then just 13! – remembered her lifelong friend thus:

“He had an elegance about him. He was as strong as he was gentle.

“He was humble, so humble. I recall asking him why he was so devoted to the Special Olympics movement. He told me, in many ways he identified with the struggles of those he championed.

“As the founder of the Special Olympics organization in Southern California, Rafer was unstoppable. Financing the World Games was a full-time job and Rafer was not going to fail. He never missed meetings, outings or interviews. During the 2015 Games Rafer, at age 81, seemed as if he had boundless energy as he raced from one venue to another. He was happiest when mingling with the Special Olympic competitors and their families.”

His UCLA track & field teammate Stan King, also a fraternity brother at UCLA and a long-time track & field official in Southern California, stayed close with Rafer over the decades. He added:

“If anyone, during our lifetime, has made an indelible impact on all peoples, it has been Rafer. A humble man with a charming smile and a caring heart, he made a profound difference in this world. His accomplishments were incomparable, but his integrity and kindness were his trademarks.”

In contrast to today’s coarse, discordant, angry public culture, Rafer demonstrated again and again a powerful force of presence that made dignity, patience and calm the tools that can solve problems of all kinds. He was one of a kind and irreplaceable. But we need many more Rafers and we need them now.

● For an excellent summary of Rafer’s life and achievements, please see the family’s announcement following his passing, masterfully constructed by longtime family friend Michael Roth, the communications chief for the Anschutz Entertainment Group.

● UCLA’s first tribute to one of its true icons is here. There will be more.

● The LA84 Foundation, of which Johnson was a founding Board member, saluted him with an exhibition earlier this year, which can be viewed in part online here.

On Monday, the track & field world lost another champion, long jumper Arnie Robinson, who lost his battle with a brain tumor on Tuesday morning, aged 72.

His quiet demeanor hid a steely determination to be the best in the world, as his competitors well knew. He was a San Diego legend, attending Morse High School, San Diego Mesa Community College and then San Diego State, where he was the 1970 NCAA Champion.

Robinson was the finest long jumper of the mid-1970s, winning the U.S. national title in 1971-72-1975-76-77-78, earning a gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games and the silver in 1975 and two Olympic medals: a bronze in 1972 in Munich and the gold in Montreal in 1976. His lifetime best of 8.35 m (27-4 3/4) came under the greatest pressure meet of all: the 1976 Olympic Games.

Lanky, even frail-looking at 6-2 and just 165 pounds, Robinson developed excellent speed at the takeoff point and almost always fell forward, making the most of his jumps.

Because he was so quiet, he was widely overlooked by sponsors and went into construction after his athletic career wound down. In 1982, he began coaching at Mesa and became a professor in Health and Exercise Science, a position he maintained until retirement. Robinson retired from coaching and teaching in 2010 as both a teacher and track coach; his 1998 women’s team won the California Community College State Championship.

In a 2018 feature in the San Diego Union-Tribune, his start in the sport was remembered:

“‘The way it started, he would train himself,’ recalled his sister, Carolyn Johnson. ‘I remember one day specifically, he took an old mattress our mom had set out. He put it in the driveway by the garage. That’s how he started the long jump. I thought it was crazy.’”

What was Robinson about? The story noted:

“The more you learn about the 70-year-old, the more you come to understand that he’s a find-a-way guy. When he didn’t have enough money to buy a house near his childhood neighborhood, he built one from the ground up. When he picked up bowling, he polished his game in a Lemon Grove league until he recorded a 230 average with one of those devastating hooks the pros deliver.

“When youth track in San Diego lacked a caretaker, he chalked the lines for the lanes himself. When the youngest in the sport needed timing equipment, [son] Paul Robinson said his father spent more than $35,000 of his own money to make it happen.”

Robinson was nearly killed in a 2000 auto accident, but recovered. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2005 and was expected to live just another six months, but he only succumbed some 15 years later. Family friend Brian Kyle said at the time:

“You can’t be attached to someone like Arnie and be a quitter.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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ATHLETICS: Olympic Decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson passes at 86

Rich Perelman

December 2, 2020

tsx pix 2019-1027 rafer and betsy johnson 750 (UCLA) — Rafer and Betsy Johnson at the October 20198 dedication of the Betsy and Rafer Johnson Track at UCLA (Photo: UCLA)

Sad news from Los Angeles, where Rafer Johnson, one of track & field’s iconic performers, passed away this morning, aged 86.

Johnson had been in fragile health since a stroke in 2018 and passed away at his home this morning (2nd), with his family.

At the dedication of UCLA’s Drake Stadium track in October 2019, his daughter, Jenny Johnson Jordan, told more than 500 attendees of Rafer and his wife, Betsy:

“Growing up, my brother [Josh] and I were asked many times the question, ‘who do you look up to?’ And in most instances, I can tell people wanted to name a famous athlete, a popular athlete at the time, but the truth was that never really felt authentic to either one of us. The only two people that came to mind in terms of role models would be our parents. The people that were living in our home, that we got to see, each and every day. They were our role models then, and they still are to this day.”

The scope of Rafer Johnson’s impact on UCLA and Los Angeles has been lost over time, but it’s quite amazing. Beyond his Olympic triumphs in Melbourne (decathlon silver medal) and Rome (decathlon gold medal), he was also a member of the 1956 NCAA title team for Coach Ducky Drake – the only one Drake won – and was UCLA’s Student Body President, graduating in 1959.

His life and the story of Los Angeles have been intertwined ever since. He worked on the 1968 presidential campaign of then-Sen. Robert Kennedy and after Kennedy’s assassination in Los Angeles, teamed with Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Shriver, to create Special Olympics California. Now known as Special Olympic Southern California, he helped bring the Special Olympics World Games to Los Angeles (and UCLA) in 1972 and again in 2015.

As a founding Board member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, he is said to have cast the deciding vote that named Peter V. Ueberroth as president, and later was the final torchbearer in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the Opening Ceremony on 28 July 1984. He has served as a Board member of the charitable legacy of the Games, the LA84 Foundation, ever since.

More to come.

LANE ONE: Two track & field stars confront the dangers of not competing enough: no one cares when you do

Rich Perelman

December 1, 2020

tsx pix 2020-1201 centrowitz, matthew 750 (erik van leeuwen) — Rio Olympic 1,500 m champ Matthew Centrowitz (USA) (Photo: Erik van Leeuwen via Wikimedia Commons)

There is a lot of trash on Twitter. But last week there was a remarkable conversation between two former University of Oregon stars which pinpointed a substantial issue that is depriving the sport of a higher profile.

The talkers were 2013-14 NCAA 1,500 m champion Mac Fleet (best of 3:38.35 in 2013) and 2016 Olympic 1,500 Champion Matthew Centrowitz, both of whom are still active. Last Friday morning, Fleet reacted to a Citius Magazine post and the discussion went on from there (tweets are shown as published):

● Nov. 24: Citius Magazine:

People asking ‘How do you make track more entertaining?’ are asking (and answering) the wrong question.

Track is entertaining. People that don’t think so simply aren’t paying attention. I know because I used to be one of them.” – @DanielWinn

● Nov. 27: Fleet:

While all of this is true, it absolutely needs to be presented in a non-train wreck fashion, which most Track & Field coverage is. You shouldn’t have to explain to your friend they missed a race move while NBC does a 5 minute cutaway story on someone not in contention at [Olympic Trials].

[2-3-4-5] Finding commentators that are professionals first needs to be a priority. Being a mega fan or former pro shouldn’t be automatically qualifying to be on TV or stream. Trying to “get into” a new sport while the commentators can’t even get anyone’s names correct is a huge issue.

Predetermined “interesting” cutaway stories need to be banished. Every race is more interesting while its happening live. Commentators need to tell the story that’s happening LIVE in front of them.

Track & Field meet directors should seriously consider hiring an action sport company/sponsor (think redbull types) to put their spin on producing a track meet. These companies excel at presenting niche sports and would likely come up with a better fan experience.

We need Tony Romos not Jason Wittens.

● Centrowitz:

While this would all be nice, I don’t think this is still THE solution. To keep it simple, track athletes need to compete/race more. 82 games are the least amount played in the major sports. Most athletes race 10 or less times. We need more exposure. We need to incorporate sports

[2] gambling to track & field. We need to allow spectators to drink beer (like at some European meets). We need to fill track & field on days when no other sport is being televised. Imagine if we had a meet on a random Wednesday and some people were looking for a sports outing or

[3] something to bet on tv. We can’t just put track races on the weekend when other big sporting games are on. The Olympics are in August when NBA is done. Football hasn’t started. Before the playoffs in baseball start. People are looking for anything.

● Fleet:

Imagine even a free Diamond League betting app using DL “points”. Watch a meet, get 100 pts to gamble, win DL gear and trips to meets. Keeps people engaged long term and short term.

● Centrowitz:

100%. There are so many ways you could do it. At the end of the day, when gambling gets involved, people will show more of an interest to track and follow athletes. Imagine people showing up to workouts to see how an athlete is getting on. Imagine people reading scout reports.

[2] It’d almost be no different than horse racing

● Then this from @TrackSuperFan Jesse Squire:

T&F’s biggest challenge past high school is that our athletes compete less often than in any other sport save horse racing and boxing. Not coincidentally, these are the only sports whose popularity dropoff are larger than T&F’s.

● And from NBC Sports at-large writer and long-time observer Tim Layden:

What is the target fan base?

1) People who love T&F but are frustrated with the current model?
2) NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL/College sports/X-Games fans who are barely aware of T&F except Oly?

The first is a worthy endeavor. The second feels like very heavy lifting.

There were a lot of replies and many more tweets from Fleet, which you can follow from the links above. Replies to Centrowitz noted football (both kinds) plays less than 82 games (true, but the NFL plays for 22 consecutive weeks and Major League Soccer for 34 straight weeks).

But that’s not the point.

The head of the world’s most successful sport – Gianni Infantino (SUI) of FIFA – made the point during his 3 March 2020 speech at the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Ordinary Congress. He told the heads of European soccer that it’s time to look into changing everything:

“I think that this will be really the topic – the international match calendar – that we have to focus on for the future of football. … It has to be fine-tuned. It has to be debated. It has to be discussed by all stakeholders.

“We have to ask ourselves many questions that maybe we avoided to ask ourselves in the past. ‘How many matches can a player play in a year?’ ‘How many competitions do we have?’ ‘How many competitions should we have?’ ‘What kind of competitions do we need for the future?’ ‘Do we play too much or don’t we play enough, maybe, in some parts of the world?’ And we have to realize that the international match calendar is a global match calendar which has to take into account many issues such as, of course, climate and geography.

“And, you know, [in] this we need to consider the fans as well. The fans are the lifeblood of football. I had the pleasure to assist in Belfast on Saturday the quarterfinal of the Irish F.A. Cup between Glentoran and Crusaders, and it was freezing cold. But there were a few thousand people watching this game and supporting their team. These are the true, core football fans and we have to work for them, of course, and offer them what they want to see, and if possible even a little bit more.”

This is even more crucial for track & field in the U.S. with the Olympic Trials and Tokyo Games in 2021 – it looks like they will happen – and then the World Championships in Eugene in 2022, followed by the 2023 Worlds, 2024 Olympic Games, 2025 Worlds and the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Infantino is worried about players being stressed with too many matches. Centrowitz has correctly pointed to track & field’s problem of the sport’s stars competing too sparingly, almost invisible outside of their national championships and when their events are in the Wanda Diamond League circuit of 14 meets across 16 weeks (with a month’s gap in the middle).

This issue is especially timely given the recent conclusion of the second season of the International Swimming League. Funded by Ukranian energy billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin, this concept places swimmers on 10 teams, with contracted pay, who compete in quadrangular meets.

In this Covid-19-challenged year, the ISL shoehorned a 10-meet schedule plus two rounds of playoffs into just 37 days (!) in a sequestered program in Budapest (HUN). That meant star swimmers who usually race once or twice a month at most during the spring and summer now were racing multiple events – as in college dual meets – in two-day meets as often as twice a week!

And they loved it.

Whether ISL can survive will depend on whether it can attract sponsors, television support and spectators, all impossible to do in 2020. But it’s out there and with high, if overwrought, television production values. And it has raised the profile and set the table for emerging U.S. Olympic superstars like sprinter Caeleb Dressel and breaststroker Lilly King.

Centrowitz has identified one of the keys to future success for track & field, especially in the United States, in the availability (and promotion) of its stars … not just the availability of meets. Whether gambling is the right way to achieve this needs more discussion, but as Infantino said, more discussion among the stakeholders – athletes, coaches, meet directors, broadcasters and sponsors – is exactly what is needed right now.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo postponement might cost $2.88 billion, de Varona and Naber elected to USOPC Board; Lolo Jones wants a ‘22 Beijing trip

Rich Perelman

November 30, 2020

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Reports across Japanese media on Sunday indicated that the current estimate for the added cost of postponing the 2020 Olympic Games to 2021 will be about 200 billion Japanese yen (~$1.92 billion U.S.) and another 100 billion yen (~$0.96 billion U.S.) for coronavirus countermeasures.

That’s as much as $2.88 billion U.S. on top of the current budget of $12.6 billion U.S., depending on how the budgeted contingency of $0.3 billion is shown.

The figures are from unnamed sources and provided no breakdown of the costs and whether these are costs only, or net figures of the added expense of postponement less any new revenues. The Kyodo News Service reported:

“The organizing committee, the Tokyo metropolitan government and Japanese government are planning to decide in December how much of the burden each will shoulder after discussing the added cost of implementing measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus at the games next summer.

“Additional costs are expected to include expenses related to securing games’ venues, equipment rental and storage fees, and expenditures on labor.”

The Tokyo organizers have repeatedly said that its cost estimates would be disclosed publicly by the end of the year and did not confirm the published figures appearing over the weekend.

● Games of the XXXV Olympiad 2032 ● A potential joint bid by the Chinese cities of Chengdu and Chongqing appears to be over before it got started.

The South China Morning Post reported that Jizhong Wei, the former secretary general of the Chinese Olympic Committee, downplayed the bid concept:

“‘It’s just an idea in someone’s head,’ Wei told the Post. ‘Anyone can say anything but it’s only an idea. The Chinese Olympic Committee has not said anything and I’m not taking it seriously for now.

“‘For me, we have to give a chance to other cities around the world. We already have the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and according to IOC policy, they want to reduce costs. This allows other cities around the world to make realistic bids.’”

The bid concept came from a proposed sport development program for the Sichuan region.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The two representatives to the USOPC Board from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Alumni Association (USOPA) will be swimming gold medalists Donna de Varona and John Naber, according to a posting on the private USOPA Facebook page today.

De Varona won two swimming golds at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo at age 17 after being part of the American team in Rome in 1960 at 13! She has had a long career in broadcast television as well as in social activism. Naber was the four-time Olympic gold medalist – plus a silver – in swimming at the 1976 Montreal Games and has long been active in athletics governance, including as a Board member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games.

De Varona will serve for four years and Naber for two in the staggered Board-seat system now in use at the USOPC, both starting on 1 January 2021. They collected more votes in the month-long election period than former track & field athletes Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley and Rich Kenah.

Fitzgerald-Mosley was the 100 m hurdles Olympic gold medalist in Los Angeles in 1984 and has served as a senior staff members with USA Track & Field and with the USOC in the past. Kenah was a World Track & Field Championships bronze medalist in the 800 m and now heads the Atlanta Track Club, which organized the successful 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials in February.

● Athletics ● Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw, 21, ran the second-fastest Half Marathon in women’s history with her 1:04:46 victory at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.

Only the world record of 1:04:31 by countrywoman Yeshaneh Ababel on 21 February of this year in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) is faster.

Yalemzerf was sixth in that race (1:06:35) a close third at the World Half Marathon Championships in Poland last month (1:05:19 personal best) – even after slipping with 80 m left – but shattered her best by 33 seconds in New Delhi. She broke away with 3 km to go and collected prize money of $37,000 for the win and a race record.

● Basketball ● In the final game of Sunday’s FIBA Americup qualifying matches, Mexico defeated Puerto Rico, 81-56. Monday’s games at the Indianapolis Convention Center:

● Puerto Rico (0-3) vs. Bahamas (1-2)
● United States (3-0) vs. Mexico (2-1)

There are two more games to be played in this group in February, with the U.S. facing Bahamas and Mexico again en route to the 2022 Americup Championship tournament.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The continuing difficulties of international travel during the coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation of the planned IBSF World Cup events in Beijing next March, as well as – just as importantly – the training week on the 2022 Olympic Winter Games track.

This follows the cancellation of the World Cup and training period for luge as well, with the training period for both sports re-scheduled for October 2021, a few months prior to the Beijing Winter Games.

● Football ● After a 0-0 draw with Wales and a 6-2 win over Panama, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face one more opponent in 2020, in a friendly on 9 December against El Salvador in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Said U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter: “Playing against El Salvador gives us an opportunity to face a CONCACAF opponent that we haven’t seen yet and will be a valuable experience. We want to build on this year’s work while continuing to evaluate the player pool as we head into a busy 2021.”

The Inter Miami CF Stadium will have fans in attendance, but limited to 2,500. The game will be televised by ESPN, Unimas and TUDN beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. The U.S. holds a 17-1-5 record in the all-time series that began in 1977.

● Sailing ● Sad news of the passing of American sailor Kevin Burnham, a two-time Olympic medalist on 27 November. World Sailing posted a tribute, including:

“It is with great sadness that World Sailing reports the passing of Kevin Burnham, aged 63, on Friday 27 November 2020 after a long, courageous battle with pulmonary disease.

“Burnham is a three-time Olympic sailor and a two-time Olympic medalist for Team USA. He won Athens 2004 Olympic [470 class] gold with Paul Foerster and a [470] silver medal with Morgan Reeser at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Burnham and Foerster were named Rolex Yachtsman of the Year for their gold medal performance and were nominated for Rolex World Sailor of the Year. Burnham also won a gold medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games.”

Cory Sertl, President of US Sailing, added: “Kevin’s accomplishments as a sailor are extraordinary and his Olympic spirit is iconic. We will remember the energy he had for coaching and teaching sailing. Kevin was an inspiration to so many and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.”

He is survived by wife Elizabeth Kratzig, son Eddie Burnham, daughter Kyla Burnham, brother Greg Burnham, and his father Bruce Burnham.

● Swimming ● Although the International Swimming League season has passed, the record books continue to be altered, with a short-course world mark last Friday by 19-year-old Australian Kaylee McKeown.

She smashed the six-year-old mark in the short-course 200 m Backstroke, finishing in 1:58.94 at the (virtual) national short-course championships in Brisbane. Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu had the prior best of 1:59.23 from the 2014 World 25 m Championships in Doha (QAT) in 2014.

Swimmers competed across the country, but reportedly under proper conditions for record purposes. Said McKeown:

“I didn’t actually know till a few minutes later.

“It feels good and definitely different in a year where I have had my ups and downs. It’s the hardest year that I’ve gone through with my father passing away in August.

“He has been a motivation behind me so I just want to give it my best while I can.”

● Weightlifting ● Ace Olympic statistician Dr. Bill Mallon posted a fascinating series of tweets that showed the depth of doping in weightlifting during the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the aftermath of three more doping positives announced by the IOC last week. Mallon noted:

● There are now 143 confirmed doping positives from London, across 10 sports: 92 in track & field, 37 in weightlifting, four each in cycling and wrestling and one in six other sports.

● For track & field, 92 positives vs. 2,080 entrants is 4.4%. For weightlifting, 37 positives vs. 252 entrants is 14.7%.

● In track & field, 19 athletes or teams lost medals (7-10-2) across 47 events; in weightlifting, 18 athletes lost medals (5-5-8) across 15 events ~ more than one per event!

The IAAF (now World Athletics) set up the independently-operated Athletics Integrity Unit in April, 2017 to contain doping, gambling and other issues in the sport. The International Weightlifting Federation finally agreed to turn its anti-doping program over to the International Testing Agency in September, 2019.

If you agree with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the break-up of the USSR was a tragedy, take heart: Of the 143 doping positives in 2012, 101 were from former Soviet republics (Russia 47, Ukraine 17, Belarus 15, Kazakhstan 6, Moldova 4, Uzbekistan 4, Armenia 3, Azerbaijan 3, Georgia 2).

The passing of actor David Prowse, 85, who was the physical (but not vocal) presence of Darth Vader in the Star Wars film series, was noted by the British weightlifting federation, for his outstanding career as a weightlifter.

Prowse, who stood 6-7, passed last Saturday after a short illness. He was the national heavyweight champion in 1962-63-64 and was a member of the British team at the 1962 World Championships and the 1962 Commonwealth Games.

● At the BuZZer ● Lolo Jones has her sights set on Beijing, again.

Jones, now 38, made her fifth U.S. national team in bobsled this month and tweeted that she is ready to return to Beijing after her ill-fated, near-medal performance in the 100 m hurdles in 2008:

“I have not returned to Beijing China since I lost Olympic gold.

“…after years of counseling (lol), Xanax and faith from one teammate to try one last time, I will make an effort to end my career there.”

She told The Associated Press:

“I would love to have the biggest failure of my life turned into the biggest success, and I would love for people to be encouraged by that persistence, determination, all these cliche things that Olympians say.”

Jones won the U.S. Olympic Trials in the hurdles in 2008 and won her heat and semi at the Games in Beijing, but hit the ninth hurdle on her way to victory in the final, finishing seventh as American Dawn Harper-Nelson won the Olympic title.

She thought she was done with bobsled after missing the 2018 team. But she was encouraged by two-time Olympic champ driver Kaillie Humphries to try one more time, for a second trip to Beijing.