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ICE HOCKEY: IIHF chief says he wants to welcome Russia back … as soon as the war against Ukraine is over

By
Rich Perelman
-
IIHF President Luc Tardif (FRA) (Photo: Chris Tanouye/IIHF).

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≡ RUSSIA ≡

France’s Luc Tardif, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), was asked about the future return of Russia and Belarus to international competition during a news conference before the medal matches of the 2025 men’s World Junior Championship in Ottawa (CAN).

He was clear on the circumstances:

“For us, we still want them back as soon as possible because if they are back, it will mean the war will be over.”

Russian and Belarusian teams have been excluded from international play since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, following a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee.

While the IOC has relaxed its stance regarding individual athletes, allowing verified “neutrals” to complete, it has continued to ask that national teams not be allowed. And International Federations have maintained that stance regarding teams; some federations have allowed individual Russian entries on varying degrees of “neutrality.”

Tardif further explained, with specific reference to the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games:

“We won’t risk any competition or the players. That’s the most important for us. We have to see what happens in the next two months.

“We will wait as long as possible, but we must make a decision in February [2025] to give organizers the chance to make the game schedule, know who is coming to the Olympics, the promotion, and do all the planning.

“And the IOC will also have to make decisions. We will analyze everything next month, but the main issue is the security of the players. We won’t take any risks.”

Notably, Tardif’s February timetable does not account for any change in the IOC leadership, with elections coming in March and the new president taking office on 24 June 2025.

Russia last fielded a team in the 2021 IIHF men’s World Championship and last participated in a Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022 as the “Russian Olympic Committee” due to sanctions related to the state-sponsored doping program from 2011-15.

Russian Sports Minister and Russian Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyarev was more interested in the “want them back as soon as possible” part of Tardif’s comment than the “war will be over” element, saying:

“We are grateful to Luc Tardif for his frank position.

“The sanctions in sports against Russia were introduced under pressure, as a result of blackmail and unacceptable conditions of a number of countries in relation to federations and competition organizers, although even during the Cold War, the national teams of the USSR, Canada and the USA played hockey very well, bringing joy to fans and giving hope for a common peaceful future. Sports should unite, and not become a weapon of propaganda, and we call on sports authorities of all countries to pursue responsible policies.

“In addition, Russia has always been one of the world leaders in hockey. And the absence of our team at international tournaments makes these competitions noticeably poorer: less spectacular, less competitive. Therefore, the return of Russian hockey players is awaited by both the organizers and our rivals and, of course, spectators around the world. In the matter of normalizing world sports, returning to fair competition, we are all allies, not opponents.”

The IIHF was deliriously happy with the men’s World Juniors, with exceptional attendance at the games, even those in which the Canadian team did not play.

The tournament was held at the 18,655-seat Canadian Tire Centre and 8,585-seat TD Place Arena in Ottawa, with the 29 games drawing 296.894 fans for an average of 10,238. The final between the U.S. and Finland drew 16.,822 on Sunday and the bronze-medal match between the Czech Republic and Sweden had 11,393!

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Organizing committee leases 160,000 sq. ft. of offices in famed downtown L.A. skyscraper

By
Rich Perelman
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The landmark USC Tower in downtown Los Angeles, soon to also house the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games organizing committee (Photo: USC)

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee has been headquartered at the 10900 Wilshire Boulevard building in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, leasing about 14,000 sq. ft. of space for its small but growing staff of about 180.

Although that space is leased through 31 December 2028, it was never going to be enough to house an organizing committee that will eventually have as many as 4,000 people working on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The likely location for LA28 was in downtown Los Angeles and details became available on Monday.

Real estate site TheRealDeal.com reported that LA28 has leased 160,000 sq. ft. in the USC Tower in the South Park Center complex at 1150 South Olive Street. This is a famous tower toward the southern edge of downtown, designed by architect William Pereira & Associates and built in 1965.

It was originally the Occidental Life Building, built to house its computer operations, then was known for decades as the Transamerica Building, then the AT&T Center and now the USC Tower – since 2015 – after the university took 245,000 sq. ft. of space in the 581,630 sq. ft., 32-floor, 452 foot-high facility.

When it opened, it was the second-tallest building in Los Angeles and is still in the top 50.

Sources say the LA28 lease is for three years, starting this summer, and comprises five floors. 

The lease is a significant boost for the downtown L.A. rental market, which had been lagging in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. LA28 still owes about $4.1 million in remaining lease payments on the 10900 Wilshire space from 2025-28.

This will not be the last lease for the LA28 organizers, if prior experience is any indicator.

The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games opened in a suite at 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City in 1979, then moved to the UCLA Extension Building in Westwood from 1981-82 in about 30,000 sq. ft. across two floors.

The LAOOC built a new, three-story, 55,000 sq. ft. office building across the street on the southern edge of the UCLA campus, opening in mid-1982. But as the staff count passed 500, a much larger space was needed and in mid-1983, the LAOOC moved into a former Hughes Helicopter design facility in Marina del Rey.

The “Marina Center” as it was known, was a cavernous, 180,000 sq. ft. space that was built up to house the LAOOC staff through the Games, which 1,750 full-time employees and more than 100 consultants and staff from suppliers and vendors. (Today, it’s a Costco Wholesale store.)

At the same time, the LAOOC building at UCLA was used by the Olympic ceremonies staff and there were LAOOC staff working at separate facilities for ticketing, uniforms, design and “Look” warehousing, four staffing centers and nine remote ticketing facilities.

LA28 will have plenty of satellite facilities too, but it appears to have landed in its main headquarters space, in downtown Los Angeles.

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ANTI-DOPING: Think being a star Olympic athlete is all glory? Then you don’t know about “Whereabouts” testing

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Athletics Integrity Unit’s “All about Whereabouts” brochure.

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≡ “WHEREABOUTS” TESTING ≡

Doping has been an issue in Olympic sport for decades, most blatantly demonstrated by the German Democratic Republic in the 1970s and 1980s, when East German stars – especially women – dominated their sports and won medals by the dozens via a state-run doping system.

The International Olympic Committee banned performance-enhancing drug use in 1967, but it was the startling disqualification of Canadian 100 m star Ben Johnson at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 that drove home the need to do something serious about doping.

The anti-doping movement was growing up, becoming more sophisticated and in 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency was formed. While not a perfect answer, it centralized the rule-making program for doping and brought together the sports movement – through IOC funding – and governments, who signed on to help fight drug use in sport.

The key element demanded by athletes and coaches was the introduction of out-of-competition testing, so that athletes were not only monitored at competitions, but during training when the most important benefits of doping were realized.

Today, the top athletes are subject to being tested anywhere and at any time, and are required to make themselves available on demand to produce a testing sample, usually urine. Blood samples are also taken and will eventually be the primary samples used, but not yet.

The process by which the top athletes, who are registered by various anti-doping organizations depending on sport and country, are found is called “Whereabouts.”

It is a price that Olympic-sport athletes pay to complete at the highest levels of their sport. In track & field, the highly-regarded Athletics Integrity Unit was set up in 2017 as the first independent, sport-based testing agency, that also monitors betting and other aspects of cheating throughout the sport.

The AIU published a clear, concise guide to “Whereabouts” in 2024 that spells out just what is expected:

● “The World Athletics Registered Testing Pool (RTP) is a select group of elite athletes who are subject to regular out- of-competition tests and responsible for providing Whereabouts information.”

● “You are required to provide sufficient detail in your Whereabouts to enable a DCO to locate you for unannounced testing, without making a phone call or asking neighbors for direction. The AIU generally advises DCOs not to place a phone call. You can be tested at any time, also outside of your 60-minute time slot.”

● “The AIU, your NADO [National Anti-Doping Organization] and other NADOs with authority may use your whereabouts to test you.”

● “Your Whereabouts shall be submitted four times per year and must be kept updated throughout the year. The quarterly deadlines are 15 March, 15 June, 15 September and 15 December.”

Information required to be provided to the AIU includes:

(1) A 60-minute time slot when you can be tested daily and will be at a specific address (usually at home).

(2) A schedule of “regular activities” including training and work or class schedules (and locations).

(3) Travel schedules, including the location of any overnight accommodations, such as for competitions, including room number and telephone number.

The brochure notes that the filing of the quarterly Whereabouts reports may be made by someone else, such as a family member or manager. But, any changes which would impact a visit from a Doping Control Officer must be reported, and “Remember, you remain directly and ultimately responsible for any failure to comply with your Whereabouts requirements.”

This is to be taken seriously. In 2023, the AIU tested 3,504 athletes from 136 countries a total of 9,803 times. Of those, 56% were out-of-competition tests, mostly on the 857 athletes who were in the AIU Registered Testing Pool. The AIU warns:

“You cannot refuse testing. Refusal = testing positive, therefore a likely 4-year ban. As soon as you are aware a [Doping Control Officer] is there to test you, you must comply.”

There are penalties for missing Whereabouts tests – this is different from refusing to provide a specimen – with three missed tests in a 12-month period bringing suspensions of up to two years, disqualifications of results and financial penalties.

This is a pain, and the testing process, while mundane, simply has to be tolerated. But it is required of thousands of athletes across all of the Olympic sports in order to compete at the world-class level and be eligible to participate in the Olympic Games.

It’s not all about medals, free shoes and sponsorships.

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PANORAMA: Kerley posts bond in domestic violence case; Biles sounds done with gymnastics; small amounts for non-rev athletes from House settlement

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● House vs. NCAA ● Swimswam.com reported on postings of estimated payments from the yet-to-be-approved House vs. NCAA lawsuit, which could pay $2.78 billion to collegiate athletes as compensation for not having name-image-likeness opportunities available to them.

The Bradley law firm’s note on the case explained:

“The largest class in the settlement consists of Division I athletes who played sports from June 15, 2016, (due to the statute of limitations) through the present. However, the $2.78 billion will not be equally distributed. Approximately 75% is expected to go to football players, with 20% going to men’s and women’s basketball players and 5% for other athletes. The expected average damages award for a Power Five football or men’s basketball player is approximately $135,000 in payments over 10 years.”

Swimswam was told by a male swimmer at a Southeastern Conference school, who reached the C final at the conference meet, that his posting showed a $286.92 payment, but also an additional $3,140.17 in Alston award money, a program from a 2020 lawsuit which allowed schools to provide academic-related expenses of up to $5,980 per year.

An NCAA swimming champion told the site that earnings of about $600 were coming, along with $3,100 in Alston award money.

Not much compared to what football and basketball players will get, but a likely preview of what many athletes in the non-revenue sports can expect.

● Alpine Skiing ● The women were in action at the FIS World Cup in Kranjska Gora (SLO), with Sweden’s Olympic Giant Slalom gold medalist Sara Hector won her second Giant Slalom of the season in 1:54.86, after leading the first run. Rising Albanian Lara Colturi was second in the first run and remained there to win the silver in 1:56.28 for her second medal this season.

A.J. Hurt was the top American in 10th (1:57.59), ahead of Nina O’Brien (11th: 1:57.83).

Sunday’s Slalom was the second straight win for 20-year-old Croatian Zrinka Ljutic, who won both runs to time 1:39.62, just ahead of two-time Olympic Slalom medalist Wendy Holdener (1:39.78), who tied for the fastest first run and was second in run no. 2. Katie Hensien was the top American, in 12th (1:42.44).

The win vaults Ljutic to the top of the overall seasonal standings with 456 points to 447 for Hector.

French team physician Stephane Bulle told reporters that the recovery process for star speed racer Cyprien Sarrazin, who suffered a bad crash on a training run in Bormio (ITA) on 27 December and required surgery to relieve bleeding on the brain, is going to take a while.

“We certainly don’t have the time we would have in the event of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligaments. Today, we have much longer times. We are talking about months, we are absolutely not talking about a recovery in weeks, that is irrelevant, we will start by allowing him to do the things that everyone does: sit on the edge of the bed, eat well, get up.

“I don’t know when he will return, but everything we will do is aimed at getting him back on track. We will be there to support him.

“It is very complicated to provide the phases of his rehabilitation because the definitive assessment of potential injuries has not yet been made.

“In the coming weeks we will try to define the skills he already has, then we will see how to help him recover the others. But it is too early. He is fine, but very, very tired.”

● Athletics ● Two-time Olympic 100 m medal winner Fred Kerley posted bond and was released from jail on Saturday after his hearing on a domestic violence charge involving his estranged wife, Angelica, in Miami.

The incident took place last May; Fred Kerley’s attorneys said the domestic violence allegations “are made by a highly motivated and angry woman.”

Sad news of the passing of men’s 400 m hurdles star Ralph Mann at age 75, from pancreatic cancer on Thursday (2nd).

Mann was a three-time NCAA champion for BYU in the 440-yard hurdles in 1969-70-71, winning a tight duel in 1970 with UCLA’s Wayne Collett in a world record of 48.8 (to 49.2). Mann went on to get the silver medal at the 1972 Munich Games, behind the world-record 47.82 by Ugandan John Akii-Bua.

He continued competing into 1977, finishing sixth at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials. Meanwhile, he earned a Ph.D. at Washington State in biomechanics and went on to teach at the University of Kentucky, was a consultant on sport performance and to author notable works on golf as well as track & field. He was inducted into the U.S. National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2015.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Germany led off the IBSF World Cup in Winterberg (GER) with its second sweep of the season in the Two-Man, and four-time Olympic winner Francesco Friedrich taking his 50th World Cup win in all sleds. This time with Alexander Schueller, Friedrich timed 1:48.26 to beat countrymen Adam Ammour (1:48.47), and two-time Olympic silver winner Johannes Lochner (1:48.88). Frank Del Duca and Manteo Mitchell had the best U.S. finish, in 10th (1:49.59).

Britain’s Brad Hall, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, took the Four-Man title in 1:48.07, winning both runs, ahead of Friedrich (1:48.26) and Ammour (1:48.55). Del Duca was 12th (1:49.15).

The women’s Monobob had 2018 Two-Woman Olympic champ Lisa Buckwitz taking her second straight World Cup win in 1:56.83, ahead of Swiss Melanie Hasler (1:56.92). Elana Meyers Taylor had the best American finish, in seventh (1:57.38).

Buckwitz led a German sweep in the Two-Woman, winning in 1:54.01 with Kira Lipperheide aboard, just 0.01 ahead of 2022 Olympic champ Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi (1:54.02), with Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig in third. U.S. star Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Emily Reina finished fourth (1:54.76), and Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones were 12th (1:55.53).

In the men’s Skeleton, the 2023 World Champion, Britain’s Matt Weston won his sixth medal of the season (in six races), but got his first win in 1:53.12, with Austrian Samuel Maier second (1:53.70). Three-time European champ Janine Flock (AUT) won her fourth medal, but first gold of the season at 1:56.66, over Anna Fernstadt (CZE: 1:56.93) and 2022 Olympic champ Hannah Niese (GER: 1:56.95). The top U.S. finisher was Mystique Ro, in 11th (1:57.37).

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norwegian stars Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Therese Johaug rolled to victory in the Tour de Ski finales at the FIS World Cup in Val di Fiemme (ITA).

Four-time World Cup seasonal champ Klaebo won the Classical Sprint on Friday in 2:35.45, ahead of teammate Even Northug (2:35.77) and then claimed a tight win in Saturday in the 20 km Skiathlon in 49:29.0, beating Italian star Federico Pellegrino (49:31.4) and Jan Jenssen (NOR: 49:32.9).

Klaebo won his fourth career Tour de Ski title on Sunday’s 10 km Freestyle Mass Start, finishing 18th, while teammate Simen Krueger won the race in 32:39.6 over Austrian Mika Vernuelen (32:47.4). Zanden McMullen was the top American, in 19th (33:56.2).

The women’s title demonstrated that Norway’s four-time Olympic gold medalist Johaug, now 36, is back in top form and will be a major contender for medals again in 2026. After Swiss Nadine Faehndrich won her fifth career World Cup gold in the Freestyle sprint with lean at the finish over Linn Svahn (SWE), 2:57.63 to 2:57.67, Johaug dominated the Skiathlon, winning in 54:53.3, more than 30 seconds up on runner-up Teresa Stadlober (AUT: 55:23.9) and Norway’s Astrid Slind (same time).

Johaug crushed the field in Sunday’s 10 km Mass Start, winning in 35:59.0 at the head of a Norwegian medals sweep, ahead of Slind (36:24.5) and Heidi Weng (36:27.0). Johaug won her fourth career Tour de Ski at 3:46:59.0 over Slind (+47.5).

American Jessie Diggins was fifth in the Skiathlon in 55:48.3, and sixth in the Mass Start (36:53.3), finishing third in the Tour de Ski standings (+2:41.3).

● Freestyle Skiing ● New Zealand’s Luca Harrington, 20, got his first FIS World Cup Big Air gold in Klagenfurt (AUT) on Saturday, scoring 94.80 and 87.80 on his first two runs to total 182.60. That was just better than France’s Timothe Sivignon (180.40), who won his second career World Cup medal.

American Cody LaPlante was ninth (130.40).

China’s Mengting Liu, 20, also got her first World Cup win in the women’s final, scoring 170.60 to edge Flora Tabanelli (ITA: 170.20).

● Gymnastics ● Sounds like American superstar Simone Biles has had enough. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, she explained:

“Because I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do, rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what? I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.

“If you go back, you’ll be greedy. Those are the consequences. But that’s also your decision to decide. What sacrifices would be made if I go back now? When you’re younger, it’s like, prom, college. Now it’s like, starting a family, being away from my husband. What’s really worth it?”

Biles would be 31 at the time of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, well past the age with almost every gymnast has retired. Then again, Uzbek star – two-time Olympic and 11-time Worlds medal winner – Oksana Chusovitina competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 at age 46 and tried to qualify for Paris 2024 at 49!

● Ice Hockey ● The IIHF men’s World Junior Championship in Ottawa (CAN); could not be settled in regulation time, and it took a first-time goal scorer to get the win for the U.S.

The final was a re-match of a group-stage game in which Finland handed the U.S. its only loss, 4-3, in overtime on a Tuomas Uronen goal. The U.S. swamped Switzerland in the quarterfinals by 7-2, then hammered the Czech Republic, 4-1, in its semi to reach the gold-medal match for the ninth time.

The Finns eliminated Slovakia in the quarters by 5-3, then faced Group B winner Sweden in the semis, getting a 4-3 win in overtime, with Benjamin Rautiainen getting the game-winner.

In the final, Finland went up 1-0 on a power-play goal by Jesse Kiiskinen at 7:13 of the first period and were up 2-1 at the end of the period, and 3-1 when defender Emil Pieniniemi scored 4:52 into the second. But the U.S. fought back with goals from Brandon Svoboda at 17:38 and then defender Cole Hutson at 19:31 of the second to tie it at 3-3.

Neither side could score in the third; the U.S. had 34 shots on goal to 22 for the Finns, including 26 in the last two periods. On to the overtime, Finland goalie Petteri Rimpinen turned away shot after shot, but a cross-ice pass from defender Zeev Buium to Teddy Stiga on the right side allowed Stiga to come in and send a short shot underneath Rimpinen’s pads for the gold-medal goal at 8:04. It was Stiga’s first score of the tournament.

It was the seventh title in this tournament for the U.S. and sixth silver for Finland, and the Americans won back-to-back titles for the first time in their history.

The Czechs won the bronze medal from Sweden in a 3-2 shoot-out, after a 2-2 tie, repeating their bronze from 2024.

● Luge ● Austria came away with two wins at the FIL World Cup in Sigulda (LAT), led by 2024 Worlds runner-up Nico Gleirscher, who won his second race of the season by winning both runs and finishing in 1:35.199. That was 0.184 better than home favorite (and 2022 European runner-up) Kristers Aparjods (1:35.383) and 2024 World Champion Max Langenhan (GER: 1:35.480). Tucker West was the top American in seventh (1:35.798).

Three-time Olympic champs Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (GER) won their first race of the season in the men’s Doubles, winning both runs and timing 1:23.045, with Latvia’s two-time European silver medalists Martins Bots and Roberts Plume close at 1:23.146. Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa (1:24.222) and Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander (1:24.417) finished 8-9.

The women’s Singles winner was a surprise, with home favorite Elina Bota (LAT) in 1:23.280, beating Merle Fraebel (GER: 1:23.344). Americans Ashley Farquharson (1:23.424), Emily Sweeney (1:23.434) and Summer Britcher (1:23.444) finished 5-6-7.

Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp won their third straight World Cup race in 1:24.483, just ahead of Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby (1:24.599), who took their third medal of the season and won the second run to move up from third.

● Ski Jumping ● Three-time World Championships gold medalist Stefan Kraft (AUT) took his second win in the 73rd Four Hills Tournament on Saturday at the FIS World Cup in Innsbruck (AUT). On the 128 m hill, Kraft came from second to first in the final round, scoring 273.3 points to 271.9 for countryman Jan Hoerl and teammate Daniel Tschofenig (263.3).

Kraft took the Four Hills lead at 887.1 points to 886.5 for Hoerl and 885.8 for Tschofenig; the final test is on Monday in Bischofshofen (AUT).

The Women’s World Cup resumed on the 98 m hill in Villach (AUT) with jumping on Sunday and Monday, with Germany’s two-time Olympic runner-up Katharina Schmid getting her fourth win of the season on Sunday at 264.7 points over Slovenian teen star Nika Prevc (19) – who had her three-meet win streak snapped – at 260.2. They are 1-2 in the seasonal standings as well, with Schmid at 655 points and Prevc at 609.

● Snowboard ● Sunday saw the FIS World Cup in Big Air in Klagenfurt (AUT), with Japan’s 19-year-old star Taiga Hasegawa scoring his fifth career World Cup gold, scoring 179.75, to beat fellow 19-year-old Ian Matteoli (ITA: 175.25), who won his third career World Cup medal.

Britain’s Mia Brookes (17), the 2023 World Slopestyle Champion, won the women’s event with 184.25 points, ahead of Japan’s 18-year-old Mari Fukada (182.25) and 17-year-old Momo Suzuki (166.75). 

● Water Polo ● USA Water Polo announced that men’s National Team coach Dejan Udovivic (SRB) and women’s National Team coach Adam Krikorian will return through the 2028 Olympic year.

Udovivic has been the U.S. men’s coach since 2013, and led the U.S. to the Paris bronze medal in 2024, the first medal for the American men since 2008. His teams have also won three World League silver medals.

Krikorian led the U.S. women to Olympic golds in 2012-16-20 and five World Championship titles from 2009-22, but saw his squad finish fourth in Paris, losing in the semifinals in a penalty shoot-out with Australia and then to the Netherlands by 11-10 in the bronze-medal match.

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ATHLETICS: Two-time Olympic 100 m medalist, 2022 World Champion Fred Kerley arrested in Miami; what the !@#$ happened?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two-time Olympic men's 100 m medal winner and 2022 World Champion Fred Kerley (Photo: Marta Gorczynska for Diamond League AG)

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≡ KERLEY ARRESTED IN MIAMI ≡

/Updated/The story spread like wildfire on track & field Web sites on Friday as Fred Kerley, 29, the Tokyo Olympic 100 m runner-up, Paris Olympic bronze medalist and 2022 World Champion, was arrested after getting into an altercation with police officers in Miami Beach on Thursday evening (2nd).

From multiple reports:

● Kerley and girlfriend Cleo Rahman (“DJ Sky High Baby”), 32, were in Miami Beach, walking back to their car in the 100 block of Ninth Street at about 11:25 p.m., with police involved in another matter and blocking access to Kerley’s vehicle.

● According to the police report, Kerley – who lives in the Miami area – approached with an “aggressive demeanor (and) was concerned about his vehicle that was parked in the area of the scene.”

● Kerley was told to go around the officers and circle back to his car. Officer Chris Bess of the Miami Police Department told WPLG TV: “Our officers attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times. However, unfortunately, the defendant escalated it by using physical force on an officer and was subsequently dealt with accordingly.”

● Kerley was wrestled to the ground by what appeared to be four officers and was tased, finally being arrested, along with Rahman and taken into custody. He was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Rahman was arrested on a misdemeanor resisting-arrest charge.

● He appeared before Miami-Dade 11th District Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glaser on Friday afternoon, with Glaser asking the prosecutors:

“Was there any responsibility on behalf of the police? Hopefully there’s video and body cam that will show what happened.”

She told Kerley: “I don’t know what happened here, sir. But obviously you were not at your best behavior here when dealing with these police officers.”

Glaser replied to a police officer interviewed remotely, “Sergeant, this could have been handled a different way. And I don’t know if the officers in Miami Beach are busy handling a lot of complicated crime scenes there, but I have a gentleman who’s never been arrested, there’s no prior arrests, who his attorney’s saying has competed in the Olympics, who is obviously a professional athlete and it’s unfortunate that he got to this position.”

She dismissed the disorderly conduct charge, but did find cause to retain the battery-on-an-officer and resisting arrest charges.

● She told Kerley later in the proceeding, “Sir, you’re probably smart to stay off Miami Beach. Go somewhere else to go to dinner, avoid getting in trouble, because if you get re-arrested, you’re going to be locked up in jail until your trial.”

Kerley was due back for a hearing in bond court on Saturday on a May 2024 domestic violence charge (see update below).

This was a wild way to start 2025 after Kerley had a tumultuous 2024 on the track. He left his primary sponsor ASICS in June, then rebounded to run three seasonal bests in a row at the U.S. Olympic Trials two weeks later and made the American team with a third-place finish in the 100 m. He got two more seasonal bests to end up with the Paris bronze in the men’s 100 m at 9.81.

He signed with Grand Slam Track for 2025, the only Olympic 100 m medal winner from the past two Games to be a contracted “Racer” for all four events, beginning in April in Jamaica.

There’s no way to know whether this situation will impact Kerley’s ability to participate, as he still has two charges (one felony, one misdemeanor) pending against him, not including the domestic violence allegations against him.

/Update/On Saturday, Kerley posted bond and was released from jail after his hearing on a domestic violence charge against his estranged wife, Angelica, in Miami.

The incident took place last May; Fred Kerley’s attorneys said the domestic violence allegations “are made by a highly motivated and angry woman.”

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MEMORABILIA: RR Auction offering rare 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold, 1968 Grenoble Winter torch, both valued at $150,000, until 16 January

By
Rich Perelman
-
Amazing: a well-preserved 1904 St. Louis Olympic gold for the 110 m hurdles, won by Fred Schule of the U.S., now on auction! (Photo: RR Auction)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. ★

A sponsored post by RR Auction.

The 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games was sparsely attended and was only one of the attractions at the seven-month long Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a major World’s Fair that drew 19.7 million attendees on a 124-acre site.

It was dominated by the U.S., which won 76 of the 97 events across 16 sports, including the men’s 110 m high hurdles, with 1903 U.S. national champion Fred Schule winning the gold in 16.0 and leading a U.S. sweep.

After 121 years, his gold medal is one of 384 lots on offer by Boston-based RR Auction, with bidding finishing on 16 January 2025.

It’s in amazing condition, and includes most of the original ribbon, and the original (worn) case; the medal itself bears the event name. Expected to bring perhaps $150,000, it was already up to $53,594 before New Year’s!

The breadth of this auction is remarkable, with 57 lots of Olympic medals and 35 lots of Olympic torches. The listings show a sensational 39 lots expected to bring $10,000 or more:

● $150,000: St. Louis 1904 gold medal (track & field)
● $150,000: Grenoble Winter 1968 torch
● $75,000: St. Louis 1904 silver medal (football)
● $60,000: Stockholm 1956 gold medal (equestrian)
● $60,000: Nagano Winter 1998 gold medal (ski jumping)
● $50,000: London 2012 gold medal
● $40,000: Nagano Winter 1998 silver medal (ski jumping)
● $35,000: Lillehammer Winter 1994 torch
● $30,000: Tokyo 1964 gold medal (fencing)
● $30,000: Albertville Winter 1992 torch

● $30,000: Paris 2024 bronze medal (wrestling)
● $30,000: Paris 2024 torch
● $25,000: London 1908 gold medal (hockey)
● $25,000: Los Angeles 1932 gold medal
● $25,000: Berlin 1936 IOC Chain of Office
● $25,000: Innsbruck Winter 1964 gold medal (speed skating)
● $25,000: Sapporo Winter 1972 torch
● $25,000: Calgary Winter 1988 torch and flame lamp
● $20,000: Nagano Winter 1998 bronze medal (ski jumping)
● $20,000: Turin Winter 2006 silver medal

● $15,000: Zappas 1889 Winner’s Diploma
● $15,000: St. Louis 1904 participation medal
● $15,000: FIFA World Cup 1938 gold medal
● $15,000: Cortina Winter 1956 gold medal
● $15,000: Mexico City 1968 gold medal (volleyball)
● $15,000: Albertville Winter 1992 bronze medal
● $15,000: Athens 1904 gold medal (boxing)
● $12,000: Beijing 2008 silver medal (baseball)
● $10,000: Chamonix Winter 1924 bronze medal
● $10,000: Berlin 1936 silver medal (equestrian) and other items

● $10,000: St. Moritz Winter 1948 gold-silver-bronze medals
● $10,000: Melbourne 1956 silver medal (and participation medal)
● $10,000: Rome 1960 silver medal (track & field)
● $10,000: Rome 1960 bronze medal (shooting)
● $10,000: Tokyo 1964 gold-silver-bronze medals
● $10,000: Munich 1972 gold medal
● $10,000: Montreal 1976 gold-plated torch
● $10,000: Sydney 2000 bronze medal (handball)
● $10,000: Beijing 2008 silver medal (baseball)

Three of the most valuable lots belong to Olympic torches for Games held in France! Yes, there’s a Paris 2024 torch, expected to bring $30,000, but two ultra-rare Winter Games torches are also available. The legendary 1968 Grenoble torch is also expected to bring $150,000, as one of just 33 made, and shared by the torch runners. The 1992 Albertville torch, one of the most graceful ever designed, was also made in an exceedingly limited quantity of just 130; it’s expected to bring $30,000, with bidding at $16,500 before New Year’s.

The St. Louis Games has two more rarities in the auction, with the oddly-shaped silver medal for the men’s football tournament available, expected to bring $75,000 and the ultra-rare Olympic participation medal – maybe the most-desired of all such medals – expected to reach $15,000.

The auction includes multiple items from the estate of Australian Olympic canoer Phil Coles, who became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1982 and served to 2011. He passed away in January 2023.

A collection of torches and other items from Coles includes a potential bargain, a group of four Olympic torches from Rio 2016 and Winter Games torches from Salt Lake City (2002), PyeongChang (2018) and Beijing (2022), estimated to go for $8,000, and already at $2,000 by 30 December.

Two other Coles torches on offer are from Tokyo 2020, and the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, plus his IOC member medal and Olympic Order in Silver.

There are also two unique medal sets – gold, silver and bronze – from the 1948 St. Moritz Winter Games and Tokyo 1964. The St. Moritz set are specimen medals, never awarded, but the Tokyo set has medals from water polo, gymnastics and fencing! Both are expected to bring $10,000.

A full set of medals is also available – individually – from the 1998 Nagano Winter Games in ski jumping. Rarely seen, the gold is expected to bring $60,000, the silver at $40,000 and the bronze at $20,000. Bidding on the gold has already reached $22,000.

There are also a rich selection of Olympic diplomas, including a winner’s certificate from the 1889 Zappas “Olympics,” a precursor to the revival of the modern Games in 1896.

A unique item among all the Olympic items is a FIFA World Cup gold medal from the 1938 tournament in France, won by Italy. The research note adds, “In addition to the players on the winning Italian squad, high-ranking executives in FIFA and the French Football Federation (FFF) also received gold winner’s medals.”

Not considered as rare, but still compelling are early Olympic items, including eight medals from the 1900 Paris Games and 15 badges for various officials for the 1908 London Games.

Fans of pin sets can choose from a Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay commemorative set from Coca-Cola with 47 pins representing the 47 prefectures the relay was to visit, and national sets for the 2018 Winter Games for Russia (20 pins) and Beijing 2022 for China (31).

Maybe the wildest items are two “license plate toppers” for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. These attached to the top of auto license plates at the rear fender, one showing an athlete running and the other inscribed “Olympic 1932 Games” and “Los Angeles.” Bids for those started at $150 each.

The auction runs to 16 January, with cut-off times depending on each item’s status beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. All bidders required to register before placing a bid.

This is quite a show, with an amazing breadth of items, especially among the medals and torches, and strong interest from collectors before the end of the year.

A sponsored post by RR Auction.

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LANE ONE: The top story of 2025 will take place in March, but watch for developments in doping, track and a new focus on LA28!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the International Olympic Committee

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≡ STORIES OF 2025 ≡

Happy New Year from The Sports Examiner! We’ve run down the top stories of 2024, topped by a brilliant Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and shared our picks for the stories of 2025 – from no. 10 to no. 6 – and so, here are our top five for the new year:

No. 5: LA28 – and Los Angeles – coming into focus

When the International Olympic Committee made the dual hosting awards to Paris and Los Angeles in 2017, the 2028 Olympic Games seemed so far away. Not any more.

With the enormous success of Paris, L.A. is on the clock now and will be the full focus of the Olympic Movement in little more than a year, following the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games next February.

Will L.A. be ready?

The LA28 organizing committee received a vote of confidence in November from the IOC Coordination Commission, via Chair Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba:

“I think that Paris 2024 really took the global appetite for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to new heights, something really historic, I should say. … It demonstrated the importance of engaging everyone and bringing them along on the journey. LA28 also has the capacity to energize the Games, with L.A.’s culture of innovation and through its vision of harnessing the power of sports and community to collectively create ‘what’s next’ for new generations. …

“Our visit this week reaffirms that LA28 is poised to inspire the next generation and make a positive impact.”

However, the organizing committee still needs to name venues in 12 sports, will need to expand from about 180 staff now to perhaps 600 or more during 2025, and has retooled its leadership team with former U.S. Army Lt. General Reynold Hoover as chief executive, and former Nike senior executive John Slusher as the head of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties sales team.

LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman has confirmed, over and over again, that some $4.6 billion – about 64% of the budget – has already been committed from the IOC, sponsors and suppliers, hospitality providers and licensing and merchandising agreements. But that leaves $2.2 billion to go and more is looked for from domestic partnerships.

Elsewhere, the City of Los Angeles named ex-Council member Paul Krekorian – a budget hawk – as its Executive Director of the Office of Major Events, responsible for oversight of the City’s responsibilities, coordination of efforts for 2028 and to keep an eye on LA28 and its spending.

Some City Council members were critical of LA28’s mid-year announcement of multiple venue changes, as approval by the City is required for several of the moves. But there has been no meeting of the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games since June, so nothing has been done.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has made no secret of its need for support to provide service for the 2028 Games, and in November asked the Trump transition team for $3.2 billion in funding for 10 projects, including rental of 2,700 buses. Metro has a multi-million-dollar contract now in the bidding process to engineer, prepare and deliver the 2028 Games support system, with first proposals due on 14 January.

A lot needs to happen in 2025.

No. 4: Will Grand Slam Track save the sport?

Fans of track & field have seen performances in the sport rise to perhaps the highest level in history, and both athletes and supporters are waiting for a breakthrough that will raise its profile to equal golf, tennis, Formula 1 racing and so on.

Michael Johnson, the iconic Atlanta 1996 double gold medalist in the 200 and 400 m, is trying and raised $30 million in support to launch Grand Slam Track, a four-meet program that will debut in 2025:

● 04-06 Apr.: Kingston, Jamaica
● 02-04 May: Miramar, Florida
● 30 May-01: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
● 27-29 Jun.: Los Angeles, California

It will work like this:

“Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races. …

“The winner of each Slam group will take home $100,000 in prize money, and the 8th place competitor will earn $10,000. Grand Slam Track will have a total of $12.6m of prize money that will be awarded across the slams each year in addition to the base compensation and appearance fees paid to racers.”

The project will have just 96 total competitors, and does not include field events, or the 10,000 m or relays. Johnson explained to the BBC:

“Grand Slam Track is track, that is what we’re doing. I am going to save what I think I can save; I think I can save track, I don’t think I can save track and field.

“Putting the two together works at the Olympics and World Championships, but I’m not sure it works when you’re trying to create a professional sport outside of those global competitions.”

Johnson is one of several individuals and groups which are looking at track & field once again for investment, and the enthusiasm has not been this high since the International Track Association was formed as a fully professional circuit following the 1972 Olympic Games. It held 51 meets, but folded in the fall of 1976.

Grand Slam Track is now selling tickets, but no broadcast arrangements have been announced as yet. There are many cheering the project on, and there will be a lot of eyes on this program to see if it can lift interest to a new level, but it will not be easy.

No. 3: Will boxing make it onto the LA28 Olympic program?

Boxing has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1904, when it was introduced at the St. Louis Games, except for Stockholm in 1912, because the sport was banned in Sweden. It may or may not be a part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Its fate is expected to be known in the first quarter of 2025, specifically at the IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, during the 144th IOC Session.

What happened? The short version is that federation president C.K. Wu (TPE), elected in 2006, made a series of what turned out to be disastrous organizational and financial decisions that left the federation deeply in debt. Wu resigned in 2017 and the IOC suspended AIBA in 2019 and formed an internal task force to run the qualifications and Olympic tournament for Tokyo 2020 and later for Paris 2024.

Meanwhile, Russian Umar Kremlev was elected to head AIBA (now IBA for International Boxing Association) in 2020 and enlisted the Russian energy giant Gazprom to pay off its debts, while resisting disclosure of the agreement. After a dubious second election of Kremlev in 2022, the IOC decided, in a special Session in June 2023, to withdraw recognition of the federation and leave the sport without a governing body for Olympic purposes. Therefore, it could not be confirmed for the 2028 Olympic Games.

A possible new federation – World Boxing – was formed in 2023, specifically to govern Olympic boxing and requiring recognition by the IOC. By the end of 2024, it had 60 members.

The IOC has not recognized World Boxing yet, but has told the National Olympic Committees not to support any national boxing federation which is still affiliated with the IBA, ramping up the pressure to join World Boxing. And in December, IOC chief Thomas Bach explained the future of boxing in the Olympic Games:

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

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

Bach has said that the decision whether or not to have boxing in 2028 needs to be made in the first quarter of 2025. Well, we’re here.

There is movement toward World Boxing, but also resistance, with IBA pressuring members to stay affiliated and hoping for a better relationship with whoever the next IOC President will be. The losers, as always, appear to be the boxers.

No. 2: The showdown: WADA vs. USADA

This was our no. 6 story of 2024, stemming from the controversy over the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine in January 2021. The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency investigated and held that the positives were due to food contamination in a kitchen in which meals for the swimmers were prepared.

The World Anti-Doping Agency had doubts about the excuse, but in a situation where it could not make its own, on-the-ground examination as China was still on lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, decided it could not win an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and therefore did not file.

In April 2024, a German ARD channel documentary exposed the case and the decisions made by CHINADA and WADA.

Other anti-doping organizations were horrified, especially that no provisional suspensions were handed to as per the World Anti-Doping Code, which shifts the burden to the athletes to explain how the prohibited drug got into their systems. Instead, CHINADA simply exonerated them without penalty. Eleven of the 23 who tested positive competed at the Paris 2024 Games.

The most vocal outrage came from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which highlighted the issue in front of Congressional hearing with Olympic swimming stars Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt as witnesses.

In response, WADA unleashed its own barrage against USADA, and the IOC added a clause at the last moment in the Olympic Host Contract with Salt Lake City for the Olympic Winter Games in 2034 in late July, with the award of the Games to be terminated if:

“the Host Country is ruled ineligible to host or co-host and/or to be awarded the right to host or co-host the Games pursuant to or under the World Anti-Doping Code or if, in any other way, the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the World Anti-Doping Code is hindered or undermined.”

This had no impact on USADA, or the U.S. Congress. WADA, under increasing pressure, commissioned former Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier for a limited report on whether WADA showed bias toward China and whether the decision to appeal was “reasonable.” Cottier found for WADA on the two questions asked, but had lots of questions about its process and decision-making.

In September, WADA blasted USADA and its testing programs in a publicly-released letter to the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, with a November response from USADA Board Chair Dr. Tobie Smith that included:

“The baseless and defamatory claims outlined in your letter and the CEADO letter are being revealed for what they are – a politically motivated diversion to undermine the credibility of USADA and to attempt to weaken trust in the U.S. sports governance at the very time the world is demanding answers from you as to why you allowed China to violate the rules.”

What happens now?

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has been working to try and ease the tensions between USADA and WADA, an important first step. However, the U.S. government – notably the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy – continues to be unhappy with WADA and did not pay the U.S. dues for 2024 in protest, of $3,624,983.

The WADA Compliance Review Committee is reviewing the USADA status and WADA has said it has filed a defamation suit against USADA. If USADA is held to be non-compliant, then under the rules, the U.S. would not be authorized to host either the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, or the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Neither side has shown any interest in conciliation, but the situation has to be resolved, and the parties all know it. With no Olympic Games in 2025, this could be the time for cooler heads to prevail.

No. 1: The IOC Presidential Election

For better or worse, the President of the International Olympic Committee has been, for decades, the leader of international sport and because of the enormous television and sponsorship revenues attached to the Games, has been the funder of much of the Olympic Movement since the 1980s.

The IOC was transformed from a tiny entity in Lausanne, Switzerland in the early ‘80s to a behemoth under President Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP), who was in charge until 2001. The growth continued under Belgian head Dr. Jacques Rogge (2001-13) and has accelerated during the presidency of Bach, elected in 2013.

Bach revised the IOC’s processes in many area, including new bidding procedures for the Games that eliminated the many losers that marked the historical format, insisted that no new venues be built for any Games unless as part of a permanent legacy program, greatly expanded the IOC’s staff and reach and much more.

He was asked by many members to stay on for a time in view of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and a time of transition for sport in the digital age. But he decided not to continue past his 12-year, two-term mandate and so the election of the 10th IOC President will take place at the 144th IOC Session in March in Greece.

Seven are running:

● Prince Feisal Al Hussain (JOR): 61, IOC member since 2010
● Sebastian Coe (GBR): 68, IOC member as World Athletics President
● Kirsty Coventry (ZIM): 41, IOC member since 2013
● Johan Eliasch (GBR): 62, IOC member as Int’l Ski & Snowboard President
● David Lappartient (FRA): 51, IOC member as Union Cycliste Int’l President
● Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. (ESP): 65, IOC member since 2001
● Morinari Watanabe (JPN): 65, IOC member as Fed. Int’l de Gymnastique President

TSX profiled their positions on the key issues of the campaign here and here. Coe inserted a fascinating tactical procedure into the election, offering to stand for just a four-year term instead of the regulation eight years in view of his age (68) and IOC regulations that would require him to end his term after six years.

That will, apparently, require the IOC members to vote on whether to allow Coe to participate in the full election – for his proposed four-year term – which could bring a closer look at his manifesto and his 30 January presentation.

Who will win? Coe is favored by some due to his lengthy experience and wide range of roles within the Olympic Movement. But all seven have been successes in their own right and, as these elections often do, will come down to (1) who has the members’ trust and (2) what behind-the-scenes agreements on voting blocs are made, at least for the first round of voting.

The next step is the 30 January presentations to the members, which will be behind closed doors, with no question-and-answer period. The decisions will come a couple of months later.

Who wins is a big deal, as under Bach, the IOC President has set the agenda for the organization, and therefore for the entire Olympic Movement. It will almost certainly be the most impactful story of 2025.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Hungarian star Keleti passes at 103; Shiffrin feeling better, France’s Sarrazin out of intensive care

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons speaking at the closing ceremony, with Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet at right. (Photo: IPC)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games ● Hungarian gymnast Agnes Keleti, 103 and the oldest living Olympic champion, passed away on Thursday (2nd) in Budapest, having been hospitalized with pneumonia last week.

Born in Budapest in 1921, she started in gymnastics as a child and was a prodigy, but World War II changed everything, and being Jewish, had her life threatened.. She, her mother and sister survived with help from Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz and possibly Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, working as a maid with fake identity documents. Her father and other family members were murdered by the Nazis.

In 1946, she won a Hungarian title in the Uneven Bars and was an alternate for the 1948 Olympic Games. She competed in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games, winning 10 medals, including golds in 1948 on Floor, and 1952 in Beam, Uneven Bars, Floor (tie) and the Team Portable Apparatus. She was, at 35, the oldest gymnastics gold medalist ever, and was also the All-Around and Team silver winner in Melbourne.

She did not return to Hungary, staying in Australia and moving to Israel in 1957, teaching and coaching gymnastics. She returned to Budapest in 2015.

Per Olympic super-statistician Bill Mallon, crediting Paul Tchir: “The oldest living Olympic gold medalist is now Charles Coste (FRA) in 1948 cycling team pursuit at almost 101 years old.”

● International Paralympic Committee ● A salute to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the New Year’s message from President Andrew Parsons (BRA):

“The event set a new benchmark for all future Paralympic Games and had a tremendous transformational impact.

“Hosting the Games triggered the French government to invest EUR 1.5 billion into inclusion and accessibility projects, led the City of Paris to spend EUR 125 million improving accessibility, and acted as a catalyst for the Ile de France region to announce plans to make the Paris Metro accessible. …

“Change Starts with Sport, and no other sport event on this planet has such a profound impact on society.”

● Alpine Skiing ● U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin said in an Instagram post on Wednesday (1st) that she is moving toward a return to competition after her 30 November crash in Vermont:

“Making progress over here…I can move and sweat and use my body which is so exciting!

“This next phase of recovery is all about getting my strength and conditioning back as much as possible while working within the limitations of my obliques. Long hours of gym/rehab time but it’s coming along and I’m so happy with that. Hoping to work into some easy turns on snow in the next week or so.

“There’s a little ways to go before I’m ready to truly ski with intensity – from a pain and a fitness perspective—but I am psyched with where we’re at now.”

French star Cyprien Sarrazin, who crashed on a Downhill training run on the famed Stelvio slope in Bormio (ITA) and had to have surgery to clear a subdural hematoma, is out of intensive care and will return to France on Friday.

He was in a hospital in Sondalo (ITA) and will go to a neurological rehab facility in Lyon to continue his recovery.

● Ice Hockey ● The U.S. and Sweden advanced to the semifinals of the IIHF men’s World Junior Championships in Ottawa (CAN), with wins on Thursday.

The U.S. led Group A at 3-1 (losing in overtime to Finland) and Sweden was 4-0 to win Group B and move on as the top two teams in the playoffs. The Americans stomped Switzerland by 7-2 in the quarterfinals, while the Swedes edged Latvia, 3-2.

The winner between Canada and the Czech Republic will face Sweden, while the U.S. gets the Finland-Slovakia winner.

The semis will be on Saturday and the final on Sunday.

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TSX SPECIAL: It’s here! Our updated, 895-event International Sports Calendar for 2025 and more now posted!

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ TSX CALENDAR ≡

No Olympic Games in 2024, but that just leaves more room for other events! Here’s an update to our TSX calendar – an exclusive 895-event listing– for 2025 and a few of the larger events beyond to 2034.

Our updated International Sports Calendar focuses on sports and events on the Olympic and Winter Games program for 2026 and 2028, plus a few other meetings and multi-sport events.

Please note: this listing will change! However, this edition is a good place to start for following many of the events coming up in the rest of a busy year ahead.

Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 19-page listing in chronological order and a 20-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

It’s free! Get your download right now here!

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.

PANORAMA: IOC warns of fake Bach messages; Chebet crushes own 5 km road record; both Paris 2024 table tennis champs “retire” over fines!

By
Rich Perelman
-
“Retired” over having to play too much: China’s Paris 2024 table tennis gold medalist Zhendong Fan

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been made aware of a campaign involving two fake accounts on WhatsApp and Telegram, together with email messages impersonating IOC President Thomas Bach. They are contacting high-ranking persons from various walks of life, including senior politicians and Olympic Movement officials. Among other means, the campaign uses a deep-faked voice purporting to be that of the IOC President, which has been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI).”

Wednesday’s message echoed prior warnings from November 2023, March and July of 2024 of fakes message impersonating the IOC. In this case:

“The aim of the campaign seems to be to obtain sensitive information, draw the contacted persons into sensitive conversations and gain unauthorised access to their systems.

“The unknown perpetrator has also tried to gain access to sensitive data of the IOC President, by contacting him and impersonating a high-ranking politician. The attempt was not successful.”

In March 2024, Bach was called by hoaxsters claiming to be representatives of the “African Union Commission,” but actually from Russia, who called other political leaders as well. This latest attempt appears to have failed.

● Athletics ● Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet had a 2024 for the ages, winning the Olympic 5,000 m and 10,000 m titles and setting world records of 14:05.92 for 5,000 m and 28:54.14 in the 10,000.

But that was not enough, and Chebet destroyed the world road 5 km record on 31 December in Barcelona (ESP), winning the Cursa dels Nassos 5 km in a sensational 13:54, becoming the first woman to run under 14 minutes!

She mauled her own prior mark of 14:13, set in the same race in 2023, and then equaled by Agnes Ngetich (KEN) in January 2024. She won by 29 seconds over Medina Eisa (ETH: 14:23). Said the winner:

“I’m super happy as everything went according to plan. I felt capable of running under 14 and I managed to do so. Two races in Barcelona and two world records, can I ask for more? My focus for next year is to win gold medals over 5,000 m and 10,000 m at the World Championships in Tokyo.”

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norway swept to the front of the Tour de Ski races in Toblach (ITA) on Tuesday and Wednesday, winning both men’s and both women’s races.

Harald Amundsen, a two-time Worlds medalist in the 15 km Freestyle, won the men’s Freestyle 20 km in 44:05.3, ahead of teammate Simen Krueger (44:26.5), then took Wednesday’s 15 km Classical Pursuit in 35:18.9. Edvin Anger (SWE: 35:21.4) was second.

American Ben Ogden was ninth in the 20 km Free (45:04.7), and Gus Schumacher was the top U.S. finisher in the Classical Pursuit in 17th (36:24.4).

Norway went 1-2 in both women’s races, with Astrid Slind beating 14-time World Champion Therese Johaug twice. Slind came from behind to overtake Johaug to win the 20 km Free in 48:54.9 to 48:58.2, then the two worked together in the 15 km Classical Pursuit, with Slind winning by 38:39.9 to 38:40.1!

American Jessie Diggins finished sixth in the 20 km in 49:31.2, with Sophia Laukli in 10th (49:56.0). Diggins was sixth again in the Pursuit, in 40:48.4. Slind is now the Tour de Ski leader on total time, with Diggins in fourth (+1:01).

Three stages are coming on 3-4-5 January, in Val di Fiemme (ITA).

● Ski Jumping ● Austria continued winning in the 73rd Four Hills Tournament, with Daniel Tschofenig taking the second event, on Wednesday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER). Jumping off the 142 m hill, Tschofenig won the first jump and was in the second round to score 298.9, ahead of Gregor Deschwanden (SUI: 290.3).

Tschofeniug is now the overall leader, heading to home hills in Innsbruck (AUT) on Saturday and Bischofshofen on 6 January.

The women’s “Two Nights” tournament in Garmisch on Tuesday and Obertsdorf (137 m) on Wednesday saw Slovenia’s 19-year-old Nika Prevc sweep both!

Prevc scored 275.8 – winning both runs – in Garmisch to outpoint Eirin Kvandal (268.6), then came from fourth after the first round to win the second jump and score 311.9 points to 304.5 for Norwegian Anna Stroem, with Kvandal third (300.1). Prevc’s two-event total of 587.7 was 19.0 points ahead of Kvandal’s 568.7.

● Table Tennis ● China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Singles champions Zhendong Fan, 27, and Meng Chen, 30, both withdrew from international competitions in view of World Table Tennis participation rules. Fan wrote on his Weibo page on 27 December:

“Recently, the WTT (World Table Tennis) has announced new rules imposing fines for non-participation. Individuals cannot afford it but still respect international organisations, so the only course of action is to withdraw from the world rankings.”

He filed a “Player Career Retirement Notification” which removes him from WTT events. Chen also filed, writing on Weibo:

“Because my body is currently unable to bear every high-intensity event, out of respect for international organisations, I signed the document on Monday and finally made the choice to withdraw from the world ranking.”

The WTT rules state:

“Players are entitled to two (2) free withdrawals from Main Draw and Qualifying per year at WTT Star Contender, WTT Contender and WTT Feeder Series, and from Qualifying in Grand Smash without financial penalty.”

Penalties for missing events for top-10 players are $5,000 per tournament.

Losing both Olympic champs prompted a posted reply from WTT, which noted:

“The rules referenced by Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng are not newly introduced. These regulations, which include automatic entry for players ranked in the global standings, have been in place since WTT’s inception four years ago. …

“The penalties for non-participation are designed to support the structure of the WTT calendar, ensuring that fans, organisers, event partners and broadcast partners can rely on the participation of the world’s top players. This is particularly important for marquee events such as the WTT Grand Smashes, WTT Champions and WTT Finals.”

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LANE ONE: The top stories of 2025? Here are nos. 10-6: Lyles, NCAA, FIFA, Milan Cortina and what about Russia?

By
Rich Perelman
-
FIFA President Gianni Infantino leading the applause to confirm the host selection for the 2030 and 2034 World Cup (FIFA video screenshot).

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≡ STORIES OF 2025 ≡

Happy New Year from The Sports Examiner! We’ve run down the top stories of 2024, topped by a brilliant Paris 2024 Olympic Games, so what should we look for in 2025? Here’s a look ahead at our top 10, starting with nos. 10-6:

No. 10: Lyles running wild?

There’s track & field and then there’s American sprinter Noah Lyles, who has created a separate level of interest with his speed – Olympic 100 m champ, World 100-200 m champ – and a level of showmanship that has produced a legion of fans, and some vocal detractors.

All the better for him, and at 27, he’s in his prime with a sport on the verge of a major rise … or a series of devastating failures. But Lyles, who won the 200 m bronze in Paris while suffering from the Covid-19 virus, isn’t even talking about Tokyo and the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

He’s talking about racing Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill in a one-on-one showdown, possibly in a streaming project like the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight on Netflix. In early December, Lyles teased a possible “undercard” with hurdles star Grant Holloway facing another football star like Seattle’s DK Metcalf and 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman against fastest-40-at the Combine receiver Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs).

In a 19 December podcast, YouTube star MrBeast (James Donaldson), who instigated the one-off race between Lyles and IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) on 6 November, suggested doing more short takes, like a one-on-one race between Lyles and the world’s fastest woman.

Donaldson had no idea who that was – track fans will shout back Olympic champ Julien Alfred (LCA) or Worlds winner Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. – but said it would be a huge viral winner, with millions of views. Lyles was not as eager, knowing that he would win such a race easily, but Donaldson said it would attract a lot of attention as a short-form video.

This is the world Lyles is living in, far away from the usual build-up to a World Athletics Championships in Japan in September. But he can live in both and brings attention to the sport.

His reality, the introduction of Grand Slam Track, the Tokyo Worlds, the World Road Running Championships in San Diego at the end of September, make this an interesting and possibly pivotal year for track & field in 2025. It is possible that the sport could look and feel very different a year from now … better or worse.

Whatever the situation, Lyles will be in the middle of it.

No. 9: The disintegration of collegiate sports

The new year of 2025 may be remembered as the year collegiate sports were reborn, or marched toward a painful death.

The settlement in House vs. NCAA is scheduled to be approved, or cast aside, in April. If approved, it will create a $2.75 billion liability for the NCAA and its member schools for compensation owed to Division I college athletes over the prior 10-year period, and, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, require that 22% of the average revenues of Power Five conference athletic programs be used for revenue sharing; this is expected to create an added cost of about $20.5 million per school per year.

Moreover, it will lift scholarship limits on all sports and replace them with hard limits on roster size, with all team members allowed to be on scholarship. The immediate impact will be to eliminate walk-on spots in many sports in many schools.

The settlement is also likely to create an enormous imbalance between football – whose players will see perhaps 90 cents of every dollar spent on athlete revenue sharing – and all other sports, and raises Title IX questions that are sure to create another lawsuit.

And there is the question of how athletic departments deal with a sudden added burden of $20.5 million per year, paid almost exclusively to football and basketball players. What happens to all the other sports?

The NCAA rules require that to compete in Division I, a school must field at least 16 sports for Football Bowl Subdivision status, or 14 sports – with at least six for women – for the rest of Division I. Look for that requirement to be challenged, and if reduced or eliminated, for schools to start eliminating sports quickly.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in painfully aware of the issues and the impact on major Olympic sports such as swimming and diving, track & field, wrestling and many more. Within the collegiate sports community, the alarm bells are already ringing loudly and clearly.

Sam Seemes, the head of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) told coaches at their December convention:

“Let me be blunt: Our sports are under siege. Not in some distant future, but right now. The threats are real and immediate:

“– Shrinking opportunities for student-athletes
“– Vanishing budgets
“– Disappearing scholarships
“– Reduced coaching positions
“– Complete program elimination
“– Replacement by sports perceived as more valuable

“If you think I’m being an alarmist, wake up.”

It is entirely possible that hundreds of programs across multiple sports across the country may be dead or dying at the end of 2025, unless an organizational solution is found. There are ideas out there to do that.

No. 8: FIFA decides to go its own way

There wasn’t one decision, but four which point to FIFA taking its own path to the future, away from tradition, and without concern for who might care. It’s an interesting path and one very much worth observing:

● FIFA greatly expanded its previously unheralded Club World Cup from seven teams to 32 for 2025, put the tournament in the U.S., and drew a furious response from the FIFPRO players union, the European Leagues association and others, including a lawsuit at the European Union’s Court of Commerce. The filing challenges the international match calendar and the added burden on players. FIFA denies any issue and continues to prepare for the tournament in June.

● On 11 December, FIFA held an online Congress and selected – by acclamation via applause – a six-nation World Cup for 2030 and Saudi Arabia to solely host the 2034 World Cup, with eight stadiums to be built. Human rights organizations were appalled, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) hailed the selection, after working through a process which collapsed FIFA’s normal continental rotation to claim both Europe and South America were World Cup hosts for 2030.

● The Club World Cup drew only modest interest from national broadcasters, so FIFA made a deal reported at $1 billion with British-based streaming service DAZN. There may be sub-licenses to other broadcasters, but this was a unique solution that takes the tournament to a smaller audience that it hoped for.

● On 20 December, FIFA doubled down on its streaming strategy, selling the broadcast rights for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027, and in 2031 – unassigned, but which could be in the U.S. – to the streaming giant Netflix, which has now moved strongly into live sports.

The wisdom of these decisions won’t be known for some time, but Infantino has now put his strong support behind two World Cups in the Middle East, with Qatar in 2022 and Saudi in 2034. And FIFA has decided it no longer needs to try and offer two of its prize tournaments to the largest possible audiences, but will take a better financial offer to collect more money that it can distribute to its member federations, who will happily receive larger checks.

Is streaming the future of televised sports, with FIFA in the lead, or simply a bridge to direct-to-consumer sales that take all the middlemen out of the picture completely. FIFA does not have its own production company … but the International Olympic Committee does.

Interesting.

No. 7: All eyes on the next Olympics: Milan Cortina 2026

There was plenty of angst about Paris in 2024, especially about security and costs. Both came up aces, with the French security forces keeping the Games – and Paris – safe, and the two organizations spending money within limits. The government building subsidy, Solideo, built the Olympic Village and an arena within budget, and the organizing committee announced a surplus of at least €28.6 million in its operations. (€1 = $1.04 U.S.)

Now the attention turns to the next Games, the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, in February 2026.

The Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 – the organizing committee – has had plenty of challenges, including replacing its chief executive, with Andrea Varnier taking over in November 2022. The domestic sponsorship program has advanced quickly, and the organizing effort is also moving along, with multiple test events being held this winter.

Now the attention is on another government building project, a controversial new facility in Cortina for bobsled, luge and skeleton, replacing the historic Eugenio Monti track used for the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina. The track project had multiple false starts and the plan was to relocate the competition to Austria or Switzerland.

But the Italian government wanted the events to be held in Italy, slimmed down the project and finally found a builder in Parma-based Impresa Pizzarotti & C., which agreed to an €81.6 million fee and began the work in February.

The track is slated to begin certification procedures next March, and is said to be on schedule.

Nevertheless, it was announced in December that the organizers continue in discussions with the folks in Lake Placid, New York, to have the famed Mt. van Hoevenberg track as a back-up, just in case.

The newest worry came last week with three crashes during the FIS Alpine World Cup racing in Bormio, on the brutal Stelvio track, considered one of the most challenging in the world. French star Cyprien Sarrazin had to have surgery to drain blood near the brain, and the Milan Cortina organizers had to issue a statement that safety procedures for the 2026 Games will be beefed up.

There will be more drama, for sure.

No. 6: What about Russia?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has continued without end. While the shock of the attack has worn off, there has been no let-up and resentment against Russia continues in many places.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) led the imposition of “protective measures” which kept Russian and Belarusian athletes out of international competition. But he also led a move to allow limited participation for Russian and Belarusian “neutrals” in December 2023 that led to an independent IOC review committee and small squads of 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians at Paris 2024. It was the smallest Russian “team” at an Olympic Games in 108 years.

Now, the questions are over Milan Cortina 2026. The IOC’s request for teams to be banned continues and still applies to curling and ice hockey. Biathlon, bobsled and skeleton, luge and skiing have continued to keep Russians and Belarusians out, but the International Skating Union has allowed limited participation in Olympic qualifying events only, and the International Ski Mountaineering Federation has approved five Russians as “neutrals.”

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev said last week:

“The most difficult situation is in winter sports. Those who qualify will definitely be supported by the Ministry of Sports and the Russian Olympic Committee, but there will be few of us for now. This is due to the fact that selections will begin soon, but not all federations have ‘opened.’ There is also a problem in biathlon, among skiers.”

But he sees a “fully armed” team competing in Los Angeles in 2028. How Russia gets there will depend on who is elected as the next IOC President in March. Among the seven candidates, positive comments have been made by officials about veteran member Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP), cycling chief David Lappartient (FRA) and gymnastics head Morinari Watanabe (JPN).

But the one candidate who Russia does not want elected in Britain’s Sebastian Coe, the head of World Athletics, which continues to maintain a complete ban on Russia. It’s one more intrigue for the 144th IOC Session.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Johnson says track can be “on par” with golf, tennis, F1; Commonwealth Games future brighter now; Paris medals develop “crocodile skin”

By
Rich Perelman
-
French swimming bronze winner Yohann Ndoye Brouard pictured the condition of his Paris 2024 Olympic medal on X on 28 December 2024.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 1980: Moscow ● Further to our post on the death of Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President who kept the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team at home, 3 Wire Sports’ Alan Abrahamson offered a deeper look into the impact on the U.S. athletes who never got to compete, in a story he wrote in 2005 for the Los Angeles Times.

Twenty-five years later, it still hurt.

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Complaints continue to come in on the deterioration of some of the medals presented during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. RTL French radio posted photos of men’s Medley Relay bronze medals from swimmers Clement Secchi and Yohann Ndoye Brouard, with Secchi referring to his as having “crocodile skin.”

The French Mint, which made the medals, has said it will replace any which are defective.

● International Olympic Committee ● In his New Year’s message, IOC President Thomas Bach reflected on the success of the Paris 2024 Games and looked to how the Olympic Movement can help shape the future:

“In our difficult times, with wars and conflict on the rise, we need our Olympic values more than ever. There is a new world order in the making. In these times, our Olympic Movement has a unique and important role – because the Olympic Games are the only event that still manages to bring the entire world together in peaceful competition. We can only achieve this through our full commitment to equality through solidarity.”

● Paralympic Games ● In another sign of wider acceptance of Paralympic athletes alongside Olympic athletes in Japan, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japanese Paralympic Committee agreed to have sponsor companies sign a single joint support agreement beginning in 2025.

The governing bodies are two separate entities in Japan – unlike the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – but feel a more flexible approach can increase their profiles among potential corporate supporters.

● Commonwealth Games ● “We’ve changed the Games. So it’s much more affordable, much more attractive.

“We’re not the Olympics. We are not going to be the Olympics. We’ve learned over the last couple of years, we’ve analysed it, where we sit within the environment and we’re really comfortable.

“We’ve reset and reframed the Games to exactly the sweet spot of where we should be.”

That’s Commonwealth Games Federation President Chris Jenkins (WAL), in an interview with the BBC, explaining that the format of the compacted 2026 Games in Glasgow (SCO) is the way forward.

Only 10 sports will be contested in Glasgow, after 20 in Birmingham (ENG) in 2022, and while Jenkins sees a potential for more sports in the future, the new approach is better:

“Glasgow’s showing how you can co-create. We’ve taken 50-plus percent of the costs out. It’s going to be a very, very compact Games.

“But also I think it is going to showcase the first phase of the reset. Using existing accommodation, existing venues, using indoor facilities really well, perhaps for ceremonies. So that’s one aspect of what I find exciting about Glasgow.”

He’s open to a single city hosting, multiple cities, or even countries. Next up is finding a host for the centennial edition in 2030, with a new approach that will hopefully be more digestible for potential new hosts.

● Russia ● The TASS news agency reported on a new Olympic and Paralympic scholarship program announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. A total of 4,000 scholarships are to be made available, paying a maximum of 60,000 rubles a month (about $555 U.S.), for athletes or others supporting their achievements, such as coaches.

● Athletics ● Michael Johnson sees his Grand Slam Track project being able to lift the sport on a par with golf and tennis. He said in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail:

“I think it can be huge. I think the potential of this sport is immense. It’s the greatest Olympic sport. Every four years, it’s the most watched sport – and probably the most watched thing – in the world.

“It is a sport that everybody understands. It’s perfect for today’s audience. It’s really a series of highlights. Two thirds of our races take place in under a minute and you just keep getting more and more of them. …

“Half of my team have come from WWE and that is huge. Look at what has happened with UFC and where they are now. Tennis has four Grand Slams every year. Golf has four majors every year. Look at what F1 has done. There is no reason that track can’t be on par with those sports.”

He said the circuit’s television arrangements will be announced in January.

● Swimming ● Sweden’s sprint star Sarah Sjostrom told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper that she plans to take 2025 off, but is not retiring.

“As it is now, I have no competitions planned. I will train, but at a low load and then slowly increase. I think that is the best way to last in the long run.”

She’s considering a possible run at a sixth Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, especially looking at the 50 m Free, when she will be 34. The 50 and 100 m Free winner in Paris, she noted her build-up to 2024 was especially good:

“In both the fall of 2022 and 2023, I had an extremely easy time competing, and my body responded very well to that. It was as if I came back stronger because I was fresh when I then started the hard training.”

She’ll skip the 2025 World Championships, but could return in 2027 in Budapest.

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LANE ONE: The top stories of 2024, nos. 5-1: Swimming heroes and records, Russia’s return, track explodes, Bach steps away and there was Paris

By
Rich Perelman
-
A very popular innovation at Paris 2024: the Parc des Champions (Photo: Clement Dorval/City of Paris)

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≡ STORIES OF 2024 ≡

It was a grand year for Olympic sport in 2024, and after counting down the most compelling stories of the year from no. 10 to no. 6, let’s get to the top five!

No. 5: Records galore in swimming, in and out of the pool

It was a wild year in swimming, with amazing performances, starting with the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, held for the first time in an NFL stadium! USA Swimming held the Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, setting an indoor swim meet record with 20,689 in the house on 15 June and then 22,209 on the 19th.

In all, there were 285,202 ticketed attendees for the 17 sessions, an average of 16,777, to see a world record in the women’s 100 m Backstroke for Regan Smith and four wins by Katie Ledecky in the 200-400-800-1,500 m Freestyles.

On to Paris, where France’s Leon Marchand conquered everyone with gold-medal performances in the 200 and 400 m Medleys and a sensational, one-night double on 31 July in the 200 m Butterfly and 200 m Breaststroke, all four in Olympic Record times.

Four world records were set, including China’s Zhanle Pan with an other-worldly 46.40 in the men’s 100 m Freestyle, American Bobby Finke in the 1,500 m Free (14:30.67) and U.S. relay teams in the women’s 4×100 m Medley and Mixed 4×100 m Medley.

The U.S. led the medal table with 28 (8-13-7) and won one more gold than Australia (7), but was down vs. Tokyo 2020 (30: 11-10-9). USA Swimming chief executive Tim Hinchey’s contract was not renewed amid complaints from coaches about relations with the National Office, and the lack of a coach as the director of the national team program.

But the year wasn’t over and there were surprises to come at December’s World 25 m (short course) Championships in Budapest (HUN). There were many stars – like Marchand – who decided not to swim, but that did not stop a historic assault on the record books.

A stupendous total of 30 world short-course records were set, especially by American star Gretchen Walsh! Winner of two relay golds, a relay silver and the women’s 100 m Fly silver in Paris, she exploded in Budapest, winning seven golds, in the 50-100 Frees, 50-100 Flys, 100 m Medley and two relays and setting an unbelievable 11 world records along the way! She had never contested a short-course 100 m Fly before, but set world records in the heats, semis and final. She’s 21.

The U.S. also got world records from Luke Hobson, Kate Douglass and Regan Smith on the way to winning 39 total medals (18-13-8), with Canada second with 15 (4-5-6). Wow.

No. 4: Russia returns, in a small way

As the Russian war against Ukraine ground on in 2024, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) was determined to find an appropriate way to have some presence for Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, holding that athletes who are “neutral” on the government’s war should have an opportunity to qualify and compete.

The IOC relaxed its 2022 protective ban on Russia and Belarus slightly, to allow individual “neutral” athletes to compete in Paris, but only after the IOC’s own review on neutrality vis-a-vis the war. Russian athletes qualified for 48 places, but the IOC review committee accepted only 30 and just 15 competed in Paris, winning one silver medal. Belarus earned 32 quota places and eventually sent 17, winning four medals (1-2-1).

Multiple federations relaxed their rules to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as “neutrals,” including cycling, gymnastics, judo, rowing and wrestling, with varying levels of scrutiny. However, the ban on Russian and Belarusian teams remained in place.

All of this outraged Ukraine and its supporters, who charged the IOC and others with allowing Russian to use these athletes to promote the government and its policies of aggression.

In a strange end to the year, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was once again elected as the President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), then announced he would step away from the office and retain the interim head of the federation to run things.

With the IOC set to elect a new President in 2025, the Russian government started a charm offensive, naming a former territorial governor, Mikhail Degtyarev, as Sports Minister and Degtyarev – with the approval of the Kremlin – also later elected as the President of the Russian Olympic Committee. He said Russia has to stop insulting the IOC and believes a full team will attend the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.

No. 3: U.S. sensational in 2024; 12 world records set

It was a huge year for the United States in 2024, with a magnificent performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but also for multiple performers who claimed a dozen world records across nine events:

● Men/3,000 m: 7:17.55, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)
● Men/Vault: 6.24 m (20-5 1/2), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
● Men/Vault: 6.25 m (20-6), Duplantis
● Men/Vault: 6.26 m (20-6 1/2), Duplantis
● Men/Discus: 74.35 m (243-11), Mykolas Alekna (LTU)

● Women/1,500 m: 3:49.04, Faith Kipyegon (KEN)
● Women/2,000 m: 5:19.70, Jessica Hull (AUS)
● Women/10,000 m: 28:54.14, Beatrice Chebet (KEN)
● Women/400 m H: 50.65, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
● Women/400 m H: 50.37, McLaughlin-Levrone
● Women/High Jump: 2.10 m (6-10 3/4), Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)

● Mixed/4×400 m: 3:07.41, United States

The Paris Games were the centerpiece of the year, with the American team winning a superb 34 medals, its best since Los Angeles in 1984 (40), with men’s golds from Noah Lyles (100), Quincy Hall (400), Cole Hocker (1,500), Grant Holloway (110mH), Rai Benjamin (400mH), the 4×400 m relay and Ryan Crouser in the shot. The women got wins from Gabby Thomas (200), Masai Russell (100mH), McLaughlin-Levrone, in both relays, the long jump (Tara Davis-Woodhall) and discus (Valarie Allman). Crouser won the shot for the third straight Olympic Games.

Kenya’s Kipyegon won her third straight women’s 1,500 m, teammate Chebet won both the 5,000 and 10,000 m and Dutch star Sifan Hassan tripled with a bronze in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m and then won the marathon! Belgium’s Nafi Thiam won the heptathlon for the third straight time.

World Athletics made headlines by becoming the first federation to offer Olympic prize money, paying $50,000 to each Paris winner. There was condemnation from most other federations – who don’t have that kind of money to spend – and from the IOC as well. World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) – himself a two-time Olympic 1,500 m champion – said athletes should be rewarded, but admitted the announcement could have been handled more deftly.

Off the track, there was significant news with Atlanta 1996 icon Michael Johnson raising $30 million to start his Grand Slam Track circuit, with 96 contracted athletes racing for $12.6 million in prize money across four meets in 2025. The Athlos NYC meet in September had six all-women races and paid prizes of $60,000-25,000-10,000-8,000-5,000-2,500.

In November, World Athletics introduced its “Ultimate Championship” for 2026, a three-night show with 26 individual events, two relays and $10 million in prize money. It may be that 2024 will be the pivotal year for track & field athletes to be better paid and presented.

No. 2: IOC’s Bach declines to stay on

“So many of you have asked me to have my mandate extended and to agree with a change to the Olympic Charter for this purpose. …

“As a result of deep deliberations and extensive discussions, also with my family, present in the room, I have come to the conclusion that I should not have my mandate extended beyond the term limits enumerated by the Olympic Charter.”

That was IOC President Thomas Bach, now 70, at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on 10 August, the day before the close of the Paris Olympic Games.

In a carefully-prepared speech, he pointed to the IOC’s strong position, with Olympic Games already awarded for 2028 and 2032 and Winter Games awarded for 2026-30-34, $13.5 billion in committed revenues through 2032, and a host of new initiatives. But he added:

“To implement effectively all these projects, to address the technological tsunami of converging sciences like A.I., biochemistry and neuroscience, you need to be immersed in this digital world. You need to participate in this digital world. You need to have a deep understanding of these new ways of thinking and communicating. Otherwise, you cannot safely navigate our Olympic Movement ship through the high waves of this tsunami.

“For this new way of living, I, with my age, I am not the best captain. New times are calling for new leaders. I know, with this decision, I am disappointing many of you. I can only plead to you to respect that I am deeply convinced this to be in the best interest of our beloved Olympic Movement.”

In response, the election of the next IOC President was set for March 2025, at the IOC Session in Greece, with seven candidates coming forward: Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR), World Athletics chief Coe, swimming gold medalist and Zimbabwe Youth Minister Kirsty Coventry, FIS chief Johan Eliasch (GBR), UCI President David Lappartient (FRA), Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP), and gymnastics head Morinari Watanabe (JPN). And the campaigning has started in earnest.

Bach has his detractors, but he will be remembered as a transformative IOC President, who turned the organization around from disarray to a new high in prestige, power over sport and financial security.

No. 1: A fabulous, wonderful Olympic Games in Paris

In the aftermath of the Covid-impacted Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, the Olympic Movement needed a powerfully-produced, high-impact Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. Desperately.

And Paris delivered. Did it ever.

Placing the competitions against a backdrop of iconic Parisian location, topped by the Eiffel Tower, the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad proceeded with brilliance, glory and a rapt audience that filled the stands and glued viewers to television sets, computers, tablets and phones for 17 days in July and August.

There was plenty of controversy prior to the Games – as always – with severe doubts and warnings about budgets, the radical opening on the Seine River, security, air conditioning in the Olympic Village, too much emphasis on sustainability and so on. In the end, Paris was the winner:

● The Seine opening went off without security issues, although the ceremony programming itself was criticized over some of the content. And despite some delays, the open-water swimming and triathlon events were held in the Seine as well.

● The Games were visually brilliant and although there were issues, they were mostly behind the scenes and workarounds were found. The athletes got to the venues on time and the competitions were spectacular.

● While the U.S. led the medal table at 126 – its best performance ever outside of a U.S.-hosted Games – the French heroes delivered, starting with swimmer Leon Marchand and his four gold medals, all in Olympic Record times. And there was judo star Teddy Riner, who won his third gold in the men’s +100 kg class and clinched the Mixed Team gold with a final victory for the French team. French athletes won 64 total medals (16-26-22), up from 33 in Tokyo and the most since the 1900 Olympics, also held in Paris!

● Fans had more opportunities to experience the Games than ever before, with the new Champions Park program to salute medal winners, the Nations Park with the hospitality houses of 15 National Olympic Committees, and the first-ever Marathon Pour Tous, with nearly 34,000 runners taking part in the 10k or marathon, on the Olympic route.

And despite all of the fears, the Paris Games were contained within expected costs:

● The government’s Solideo construction subsidiary completed the work on a new arena, the Olympic Village and other projects on time and within its €3.2 billion budget. (€1 = $1.04 U.S.).

● The Paris 2024 organizing committee reported it finished with a surplus of at least €26.8 million, on revenues of €4.481 billion and expenses of €4.454 billion, including 70 sponsors and suppliers.

● The surplus was primarily the result of the fabulous ticket sales, with an all-time record of 9.55 million Olympic tickets sold and 2.57 million Paralympic tickets, for a total of 12.12 million.

Paris 2024 had 41,000 volunteers helping with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, universally adored for their positive attitude and willingness to help.

It was a wonderful Games, with a worldwide audience approaching five billion, and restored the luster of the Olympic Games as an unmatched, worldwide celebration of sport. For those who still doubt the power of the Games, those who experienced the 2024 edition will say, “We’ll always have Paris.”

Coming next: the stories to look for in 2025!

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LANE ONE: The top stories of 2024, nos. 10-6: Pogacar, Elor, FIFA, transgenders, Biles, Chiles and a nasty fight over doping

By
Rich Perelman
-
The amazing, incomparable Simone Biles (Photo: Panam Sports)

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≡ STORIES OF 2024 ≡

There’s no question about the top story of 2024; it’s the brilliant success of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris last summer. But that was not the only story of 2024, as there was a lot happening both on and off the fields of play.

And some things that happened in 2024 will continue into 2025. So let’s check out our top stories of this year – in two parts – before looking ahead to what 2025 has in store.

No. 10: Pogacar and Elor remain unbeatable

You may not follow cycling or wrestling closely, but two stars won sensational victories that continued to raise their profiles, into 2025.

Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar came into 2024 already a two-time winner of the Tour de France, but he had bigger plans for the season. After taking the early-season Strade Bianche in Italy, he finished third in the important Milan-Sanremo race and then won the seven-stage Volta Ciclista a Catalunya by 3:41, and the 110th Liege-Bastogne-Liege by 1:39.

All that led up to his first appearance at the famed Giro d’Italia. He destroyed the field, winning by 9:56 and taking six stage victories. A month later, he lined up for the Tour de France and won his third title – taking six stages again – beating two-time defending champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) by 6:19.

He said he would not try the never-before-done Grand Tour sweep at the Vuelta a Espana, instead focusing on the UCI World Road Championship, winning by 0:34 and becoming only the third ever to pull off that triple. He then won Il Lombardia for a second Monument win. Wow. He’s still just 26.

American wrestler Amit Elor, 20, came into 2024 with back-to-back triples, winning the women’s World Junior, World U-23 and World Championship golds in 2022 and 2023 at 72 kg. But there is no 72 kg class at the Olympic Games, meaning she had a choice and decided to compete at 68 kg. Any loss in power or efficiency? Nope.

She won the Olympic Trials final over 2021 Worlds bronze winner Forrest Molinari, 6-0 and 2-1, to advance to Paris. Once there, she stomped reigning 68 kg World Champion Buse Tusun (TUR) by 10-2 in the first round, then won 8-0 and 10-0 to get to the final, where she win by 3-0 over 2021 World Champion Meerim Zhumanazarova (KGZ). At 20, she’s the youngest American wrestler to ever win an Olympic gold.

Born in California to Israeli parents – her father attended Boise State as a shot and discus man on scholarship – Elor received her share of social-media anti-Semitic hate, but replied on Instagram with a video, wearing a yellow pin as a symbol of efforts to return the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and saying “Eighty years ago, my grandparents survived the Holocaust, but antisemitism is all around us. My grandparents won, I won. Humanity will win. Never again.”

Watch for both in 2025.

No. 9: Football’s wild year, in Saudi Arabia and Paris

FIFA had a big year in 2024, awarding the 2030 and 2034 men’s World Cups, and launching itself into controversy with both feet. The federation has had a tradition of moving the high-profile World Cup in a continental rotation, but with the 2030 World Cup also being the centennial of the event, it maneuvered the process cleverly, awarding the event to a European-African combined bid from Morocco, Portugal and Spain, while also playing “celebratory” opening matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The 1930 World Cup was played in Uruguay with the hosts defeating Argentina in the final.

So, that meant the rotation moved to Asia for 2034, with Saudi Arabia the only bidder and ready to spend lavishly on the event. So on 11 December, a special FIFA Congress was held in which there was not even a vote on each event, but a call for acclimation by applause from an online audience of delegates from the national federations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) hailed the award of both events, with the sport returning to the Middle East just 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup. Human Rights Watch was appalled, saying in a statement:

“Today’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 FIFA men’s World Cup, despite the well-known and severe risks to residents, migrant workers and visiting fans alike, marks a moment of great danger. It should also mark a moment for change.

“As global and regional human rights organisations, trade unions, fans groups and organisations representing migrant workers, many of us have long highlighted the severe risks posed by Saudi Arabia’s hosting of mega-sporting events. By awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without meaningful protections, FIFA has today decided both to ignore our warnings and discard its own human rights policies.”

On the field, the U.S. women staged a stunning rebound from its elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, winning the CONCACAF W Gold Cup under interim coach Twila Kilgore. Chelsea coach Emma Hayes (GBR), hired in November 2023, came on in May and after four friendlies (3-0-1), assembled the American Olympic squad for Paris.

The U.S. selectees responded with fiercer defense and a revitalized offense with forwards Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, sailing through their group matches by 3-0, 4-1 and 2-1, then winning extra-time matches against Japan and Germany by 1-0, and then the gold-medal match against Brazil, also by 1-0. It was the first U.S. Olympic gold since 2012.

Hayes finished the season with her teams winning 13 of their 15 matches, with draws in the other two. She earned FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year honors and the U.S. finished the season ranked no. 1 again.

No. 8: Challenges over women’s sport, everywhere

The question of who should be allowed to compete in the women’s division was a hot topic in 2024, no more so than at the Olympic Games in Paris.

There, two veteran women fighters – Yu-ting Lin (TPE) at 57 kg and Imane Khelif (ALG) at 66 kg – were entered and competed in Paris, with Lin having been a two-time World Champion and Khelif a 2022 Worlds silver medalist. However, the International Boxing Association disqualified both at the 2023 World Championships for not meeting “eligibility” requirements, but with no specifics.

In Paris, questions were raised about both by the IBA, which accused the International Olympic Committee of allowing them to compete in the Games despite failing the IBA’s tests in 2023, which it continued to refuse to provide. Both Lin and Khelif won their weight classes in Paris and the argument went on. The IOC issued a statement which noted:

“We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.

“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process. …

“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”

A later French newspaper report on Khelif’s test was challenged by her and a lawsuit was promised. That drama continues. In October, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls released a study and called for the re-introduction of gender testing in sports, explaining:

“Current technology enables a reliable sex screening procedure through a simple cheek swab that ensures non-invasiveness, confidentiality and dignity.

“In a small number of cases, such screenings can indicate a need for follow-up tests as part of standard medical care with associated duty of care and support. The need for follow-up tests is primarily relevant for athletes who may have been registered as female at birth but who are males that have differences of male sexual development involving functioning testes, male puberty or testosterone in the male range and, therefore, male advantage, and who may be unaware of their condition.”

In the U.S., the issue of transgender participation was highlighted in women’s volleyball, with San Jose State outside hitter Blaire Fleming – who had played for the Spartan women without incident for two seasons – being singled out. Six matches were forfeited to San Jose State and seven players entered the transfer portal. The state of Texas filed suit against the NCAA for

“engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as ‘women’s’ competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females.”

The issue was featured during the November U.S. elections, and isn’t going away.

No. 7: The brilliance of Simone Biles, the trials of Jordan Chiles

The greatest women’s gymnast in history, American Simone Biles, returned to the Olympic Games in Paris after her difficulties in Tokyo in 2021, where she withdrew from part of the competition after experiencing the “twisties,” losing a clear idea of her physical position in the air during her routines.

Biles was once again brilliant and dominant, leading the U.S. to the Olympic team title and then winning the women’s All-Around by a huge 59.131 to 57.932 score over Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade with American teammate Suni Lee – the defending champion – third at 56.465.

In the individual finals, Biles dominated the Vault, scoring 15.300 to 14.966 for Andrade, with U.S. teammate Jade Carey third (14.466). In the Floor, Biles was favored, but two deductions for stepping out of bounds gave the gold to Andrade, 14.166 to 14.133.

In three Olympic appearances, Biles has won 11 medals (7-2-2) and has a staggering 30 World Championships medals, including 23 golds. She also has five skills named for her on Floor (2), Vault (2) and Beam (1).

The lasting controversy from Paris was also in Floor Exercise, but over the bronze medal. American Jordan Chiles was awarded the bronze during the event after her score of 13.666 was upgraded to 13.766, ahead of Romanians Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, both at 13.700.

The Romanians filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Paris and on 10 August, after a confused hearing in which the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and USA Gymnastics were not notified until the day before, the Court rescinded Chiles’ change in score – saying the appeal came too late – and awarded the bronze to Barbosu. A day later, the U.S. provided video evidence showing its challenge had come within the one-minute time limit, but the Court refused to hear anything further.

Chiles, the USOPC and USA Gymnastics filed appeals to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, where the matter sits today. Voinea also filed an appeal, saying that video evidence shows that an out-of-bounds deduction was improperly given and she should be awarded the bronze medal. A Romanian proposal for all three to share the bronze has gone nowhere.

This will get figured out in 2025.

No. 6: WADA and USADA’s war of worlds over China

On 21 April, the German ARD channel aired a documentary, “Die Akte China” – “The China Files” – which revealed that 23 world-class Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the prohibited heart medication trimetazidine at a meet in January 2021, but with no sanctions applied.

The show sparked a huge reaction, with details showing that China’s anti-doping agency had not imposed the required provisional suspensions, investigated and decided that the positive tests were due to food contamination and not doping. This was accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which determined that an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport would fail. Eleven of the 23 swimmers competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Harsh criticism of the process followed and especially of WADA’s decision not to appeal, especially on the decision to let the CHINADA procedures stand without challenge.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart was the most visible critic, and had high-profile opportunities to complain, including a rare evening session of the U.S. House Energy & Committee’s sub-committee on Oversight and Investigations in June, supported by Olympic swimming stars Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt.

In response, WADA unleashed its own barrage against USADA, and the IOC added a clause at the last moment in the Olympic Host Contract with Salt Lake City for the Olympic Winter Games in 2034 in late July, with the award of the Games to be terminated if:

“the Host Country is ruled ineligible to host or co-host and/or to be awarded the right to host or co-host the Games pursuant to or under the World Anti-Doping Code or if, in any other way, the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the World Anti-Doping Code is hindered or undermined.”

This had no impact on USADA, or the U.S. Congress. WADA, under increasing pressure, commission former Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier for a limited report on whether WADA showed bias toward China and whether the decision to appeal was “reasonable.” Cottier found for WADA on the two questions asked, but had lots of questions about its process and decision-making.

In September, WADA blasted USADA and its testing programs in a publicly-released letter to the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, with a November response from USADA Board Chair Dr. Tobie Smith that included:

“The baseless and defamatory claims outlined in your letter and the CEADO letter are being revealed for what they are – a politically motivated diversion to undermine the credibility of USADA and to attempt to weaken trust in the U.S. sports governance at the very time the world is demanding answers from you as to why you allowed China to violate the rules.”

The USADA’s status is under review by WADA’s Compliance Review Committee and WADA has said it has filed a defamation suit against USADA. Despite efforts to calm the situation, there is no resolution in sight.

Coming tomorrow: the top five Olympic-world stories of 2024!

Rich Perelman
Editor

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BULLETIN: Jimmy Carter, U.S. President who led the 1980 Olympic Games boycott, passes at 100

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. President Jimmy Carter in April 1980

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ JIMMY CARTER DIES ≡

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at age 100 on Sunday in Plains, Georgia.

He served from 1977-81, rising from a little-known Democratic governor to U.S. President, but had a troubled term, marked by high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, and was soundly defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his post-presidential work in promoting peace.

Carter will also be remembered as no friend to the U.S. Olympic Movement.

He did sign the landmark Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which placed the U.S. Olympic Committee (now U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) in charge of Olympic sport in the country. But he could not be bothered to attend the formal signing of the award of the 1984 Olympic Games to Los Angeles – at The White House – in October 1978, sending White House Cabinet Secretary Jack Watson instead.

Then came the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, leading Carter to introduce several sanctions, including a decision that a U.S. team would not participate in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow after a 20 February deadline for the USSR to withdraw was ignored.

In a 21 March 1980 address, he declared:

“The Olympics are important to the Soviet Union. They have made massive investments in buildings, equipment, propaganda. As has probably already been pointed out to you, they have passed out hundreds of thousands of copies of an official Soviet document saying that the decision of the world community to hold the Olympics in Moscow is an acknowledgment of approval of the foreign policy of the Soviet Union, and proof to the world that the Soviets’ policy results in international peace.

“I can’t say at this moment what other nations will not go to the Summer Olympics in Moscow. Ours will not go. I say that not with any equivocation; the decision has been made. The American people are convinced that we should not go to the Summer Olympics. The Congress has voted overwhelmingly, almost unanimously, which is a very rare thing, that we will not go. And I can tell you that many of our major allies, particularly those democratic countries who believe in freedom, will not go.

“I understand how you feel, and I thought about it a lot as we approached this moment, when. I would have to stand here in front of fine young Americans and dedicated coaches, who have labored sometimes for more than 10 years, in every instance for years, to become among the finest athletes in the world, knowing what the Olympics mean to you, to know that you would be disappointed. It’s not a pleasant time for me.”

It wasn’t actually up to Carter whether the U.S. went or not; that was up to the United States Olympic Committee. Under enormous pressure from the Carter Administration, the USOC House of Delegates voted by 1,704 to 697 on 12 April not to attend the Games.

The U.S., along with 62 other National Olympic Committees, did not participate in the Games, and that action led to a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games by 14 nations. Moscow 1980 is the only Olympic or Winter Games that the U.S. has not participated in.

On 30 July 1980, Carter hosted the 1980 team at The White House, with the athletes awarded Congressional Gold Medals in lieu of attending the Games. In a remembrance for The Sports Examiner in 2020, the late, then-USOC spokesman Mike Moran described a years-later incident about the boycott:

“[T]he late 1984 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling gold medalist Jeff Blatnick, who was on that ’80 team, told a story that startles me even now. He was on an airplane, flying from Bismarck, N.D., to Minneapolis and came upon former President Carter, seated in the first-class cabin.

“As soon as the plane gets up in the air and levels off, he gets up and starts saying hi to everybody,” recalls Blatnick. “I say to the person next to me, ‘I wonder how this is going to be.’ He gets to me, I go, ‘President Carter, I have met you before, I am an Olympian.’ He looks at me and says, ‘Were you on the 1980 hockey team?’ I say, ‘No sir, I’m a wrestler, on the summer team.’ He says, ‘Oh, that was a bad decision, I’m sorry.’”

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PANORAMA: Carter passes; Russian sport chief sees “fully armed” team at LA28 Olympics; U.S. owes anti-doping dues of $3.6M, Russia $2.5M, Diggins wins two!

By
Rich Perelman
-
American cross country skiing star Jessie Diggins (Photo: Dustin Satloff/U.S. Ski Team).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 1980: Moscow ● /Update/ Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at age 100 on Sunday in Plains, Georgia.

He served from 1977-81, rising from a little-known governor to U.S. President, but had a troubled term, marked by high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his post-presidential work in promoting peace.

Carter was no friend to the U.S. Olympic Movement, although he did sign the landmark Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which placed the U.S. Olympic Committee (now U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) in charge of Olympic sport in the country. But he could not be bothered to attend the formal signing of the award of the 1984 Olympic Games to Los Angeles – at The White House – in October 1978, and, following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

The U.S., along with 62 other National Olympic Committees, did not participate in the Games, and that action led to a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games by 14 nations. Moscow 1980 is the only Olympic or Winter Games that the U.S. has not participated in.

● Paralympic Games ● A CNN story on Sunday explored wide inconsistencies between medal bonuses for Olympic and Paralympic athletes across competing nations. In the U.S., the Olympic and Paralympic teams are administered by the same agency – the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – which pays the same bonuses to athletes for both events.

In other countries, there are often separate entities, although more National Olympic Committees are beginning to take on responsibilities for Paralympic athletes and teams.

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● The Russian news agency TASS reported on the exact amounts owed to WADA by the U.S. and Russian governments and others:

● $3,624,983 due from the U.S. for 2024
● $1,335,680 due from Russia for 2024
● $1,213,786 due from Russia for 2023 ($2,549,466 total)
● $693,889 due from Spain for 2024
● $270,458 due from Kuwait for 2024

TASS said that Russian officials had tried to pay, but WADA “was refusing to accept the contribution for 2023 under various pretexts.” The Russian Anti-Doping Agency continues to be held “non-compliant” by WADA.

WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency have been in a continuous war of words since the mass-positives incident of 23 Chinese swimmers from January 2021 was reported earlier in 2024, and the U.S. government has held back dues payments so far.

● Russia ● “The most difficult situation is in winter sports. Those who qualify will definitely be supported by the Ministry of Sports and the Russian Olympic Committee, but there will be few of us for now. This is due to the fact that selections will begin soon, but not all federations have ‘opened.’ There is also a problem in biathlon, among skiers.”

That’s Russian Sports Minister and Russian Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyarev, in an interview with Russia 24 television. He added:

“I have some hopes for hockey, I’ll be honest. Our guys play great in the National Hockey League, and if I were the organizers of the Olympic Games and the International Ice Hockey Federation, I would, of course, allow Russia in because it would immediately increase the entertainment value, and they love money there, they know how to make it, and the box office would be completely different.

“So for now, there will be a truncated format, but by 2028 in Los Angeles, I’m sure our team will be fully armed.”

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee has recommended banning all Russian and Belarusian teams, but allowed a small number of “neutral” athletes – who are not supporting the war – to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

● Alpine Skiing ● The men’s Downhill and Super-G in Bormio (ITA) were marred by two bad training crashes on Friday, but when the racing did start, it was a Swiss 1-2 with Alexis Monney, 24, taking his first medal and first win in Saturday’s Downhill in 1:53.43. Teammate Franjo von Allmen was second (1:53.67); Sam Morse was the top American, in 34th (1:56.42).

Sunday’s Super-G saw another crash, as Swiss Gino Caviezel, 32, rolled off the course about 45 seconds in and had to be airlifted out. He was immediately taken to Switzerland for care for a shoulder dislocation and a “complex knee injury.”

The race was held up for about 20 minutes, then resumed, with Norway’s Fredrik Moeller getting his first World Cup win in 1:29.22, just 0.20 up on Austria’s 2021 World Champion, Vincent Kriechmayr (1:29.42) and Monney in third (1:29.46).

Kyle Negomir was the top U.S. finisher in 21st place, in 1:31.13.

In view of the crashes, the Italian news agency ANSA reported a statement from the 2026 Olympic organizers:

“[T]he Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation reiterates its unwavering commitment and attention, in synergy with the federations and the IOC, to place the athletes in the best safety conditions and in facilities and structures capable of making them perform at their best.”

At the women’s Giant Slalom in Semmering (AUT), it was Italy’s Beijing 2022 runner-up Federica Brignone with her 29th career World Cup gold, with the fastest first run and second-fastest second run to win in 2:03.14 over Beijing Olympic champ Sara Hector (SWE: 2:03.71). American Paula Moltzan was fifth (2:04.25).

The Slalom on Sunday belonged to Croatian 20-year-old Zrinka Ljutic, who led the first run by 0.51 and then won the second run as well to finish in 1:43.33. That was well clear of German Lena Duerr (1:45.08) and Katharina Liensberger (AUT: 1:45.18). The top American was A.J. Hurt in 18th (1:47.32).

It was Ljutic’s first World Cup win, after four silvers and a bronze in the past two seasons. The Associated Press reported it was the “first World Cup victory for a Croatian woman since four-time Olympic champion Janica Kostelic earned her 30th and last win in March 2006.”

● Athletics ● Track & Field News has revealed its Athletes of the Year: Swedish vault star Mondo Duplantis for the men and 400 m hurdles world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

McLaughlin-Levrone was asked if he might take events other than the 400 hurdles at a future Olympic Games: “I don’t know that I can give a definitive yes or no. I do love doing other events. There’s other events that I haven’t done since high school that I’d also love to do.”

● Cross Country Skiing ● The opener of the 19th Tour de Ski in-season tournament opened in Toblach (ITA), with four-time World Cup champion Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo winning his fourth race of the season in the men’s Freestyle Sprint.

He crossed in 2:32.34, just ahead of Lucas Chanavat (FRA: 2:32.76) and Swiss Janik Riebli (2:32.83).

Klaebo then led a Norwegian sweep in Sunday’s 15 km Classical Mass Start, winning a tight race in 38:24.4, with Erik Valnes just 0.6 behind and Haavard Moseby third in 38:25.6.

The women’s Tour de Ski started with the second win of the season for defending World Cup champion Jessie Diggins of the U.S. in 2:59.62 in the Freestyle Sprint, with Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu a close second at 2:59.93.

The 15 km Classical Mass Start was another showcase for Diggins, winning in 42:23.6, edging Kerttu Niskanen (FIN: 42:24.1) and Astrid Slind (NOR: 42:24.3) at the line. Diggins now has 24 World Cup wins, but this one was special, as it was her first in a Classical-style race. Her prior 23 wins were all in Freestyle races.

Already the defending World Cup seasonal champion, she leads the 2024-25 standings with 758 points to 579 for German Victoria Karl.

● Ski Jumping ● One of the great prizes in jumping is the annual Four Hills Tournament, always held over the New Year’s week, opening in Obertsdorf (GER) on the 137 m hill, with 2015 winner Stefan Kraft taking the first stage with 335.1 points, leading an Austrian sweep.

Jan Hoerl was second at 331.6 and Daniel Tschofenig took third (323.6). It’s Kraft’s fourth career win in a Four Hills event, and his third at Obertsorf.

Next up is Garmisch (GER) on New Year’s Day, then Innsbruck (4 January) and Bischofshofen in the 6th.

● Ski Mountaineering ● The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), an added sport for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy, announced that five Russian athletes have been approved to compete as “neutrals” during this ISMF World Cup season.

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ALPINE SKIING: French skier Allegre calls 2026 Winter Olympic Downhill “dangerous” after star Sarrazin has head surgery after crash

By
Rich Perelman
-
French ski star Cyprien Sarrazin (Photo: Federation Francaise der Ski).

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≡ BORMIO DOWNHILL CRASHES ≡

Five-time Alpine World Cup winner Cyprien Sarrazin of France suffered a bad crash during a Friday Downhill training session in Bormio, Italy, on the famed Stelvio ski course, and was one of two skiers airlifted off the mountain and taken to a hospital.

The French federation released a statement which included:

“Following further examinations, as well as Cyprien’s evolving clinical examination, it has been decided in agreement with the Italian surgeons to operate on Cyprien this evening in order to drain the subdural haematoma.”

A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood that forms between the brain’s dura mater and arachnoid mater, the two layers of the meninges that protect the brain, and can be extremely dangerous. But Sarrazin was not alone, as Italian Pietro Zazzi also crashed; the Italian federation said he had Saturday surgery in Milan for “a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula of his right leg.”

And Swiss Josua Mettler, 26, also crashed Friday; he headed back to Switzerland for examinations for an injured knee.

Sarrazin, 30, led the Downhill qualifying on Thursday, and was stable after his procedure, according to the French federation:

“Following his operation on Friday evening at the Sondalo hospital near Bormio, Cyprien Sarrazin is awake and conscious. His condition is stable. He will be kept under observation for an as yet undetermined period, says Dr. Stéphane Bulle, doctor of the French Alpine ski team.”

The Stelvio course is one of the venues for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina and has long been celebrated and feared. The Milan Cortina organizers describe it thus:

“It is 3,250m long and has an elevation of 1,010m. At the start, the athletes face a gradient of 63% and the first curves lead to the Salto della Rocca – a leap of 30 metres. Then it’s straight into the Canalino Sertorelli, a diagonal where the skiers gather speed, and then face the Curve degli Ermellini which leads them to the Carcetina diagonal, one of the most challenging and spectacular parts of the course.

“After the diagonal, skiers descend to the Ciuk before hitting the Muro di San Pietro at full speed – a jump of 45 metres with a gradient of 50%. The final two hundred metres lead to the finish line, directly in Bormio, with the last spectacular jump of a breathtaking run.”

Sarrazin’s crash aroused criticism from French skier Nils Allegre, in his seventh year on the World Cup circuit, who told The Associated Press:

“My opinion here is clear, it’s that they don’t know how to prepare a course. It’s been 40 years that they have been preparing courses, but they don’t know how to do anything, apart from dangerous things.

“Maybe it’s not something everyone agrees with but it’s my opinion and it’s deep-seated. It’s not right, I don’t know what they’re trying to prove, but a year ahead of organizing the Olympics, having a course like this – they don’t deserve to have the Olympic Games here.”

Allegre’s view was immediately challenged by race director Omar Galli (ITA), who said added safety features had been installed, with more to come:

“I would invite [Allegre] to come here just in the past 10 days, fortnight and see what happens from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., when there’s wind, when there’s rain and see how we manage to resolve things.

“Everyone has their own opinion and it should be respected because at the end it’s the athletes who race. But probably if we asked 70 athletes we would probably end up with 70 different courses, maybe not 70 but at least 66. What’s the middle point is up to us but it could be right for one and wrong for another.”

Galli noted that both Sarrazin and Zazzi “caught an edge,” but acknowledged the course is a challenge:

“We know the Stelvio. It’s not by chance that it’s alluded to as, if not the most difficult, then certainly among the most difficult.”

The French had more trouble on Saturday, this time at the FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup races in Austria:

“Victim of a fall during the Semmering giant slalom in Austria today, Clara Direz was taken to hospital with head trauma.

“All the medical assessments carried out on site are reassuring. She will leave this evening to join the French team at the hotel. She is expected to follow an adapted protocol for the next few days, said Dr. Stéphane Bulle, doctor for the French Alpine ski team.”

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PANAM SPORTS: Ilic hopes for World Boxing Olympic recognition, not sure about the five new LA28 sports for Pan Am Games in 2027

By
Rich Perelman
-
Re-elected Panam Sports President Neven Ilic of Chile (Image: Panam Sports screenshot)

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

“We have not decided how to integrate them. To be honest, I think we need to study them very carefully.”

That’s Panam Sports President Neven Ilic (CHI), in a year-end interview posted on the Panam Sports Web site, explaining that the added sports for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles – baseball and softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash – present some challenges for inclusion in the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru:

“There are sports that have been included in Los Angeles that are not deeply developed in our region. Some do not even have a Pan American Confederation. And we, while we follow the [International Olympic Committee] guidelines, also have our own rules. And to be part of the Pan American Games, there must be a presence and development of sports in more than 50% of the countries in our region. But all of that is on the table of the Executive Committee as part of the decisions that must be made in the short term.”

There is also the issue of boxing’s inclusion, with the removal of the International Boxing Association as the governing body for Olympic boxing in 2023. Ilic is hopeful of a solution in 2025:

“In the IOC there is a vision that it is necessary to resume boxing within our Olympic activities, because it is very relevant for many countries, and especially for America.

“A few days ago I met with World Boxing to see how we can collaborate to speed up the process, both of IOC recognition and the integration of Boxing in our Pan American Games in Lima. Today, of the 41 countries in our organization, 17 of them are integrated into World Boxing, but as Panam Sports we need more countries to join.

“We hope that in March, the IOC will provisionally accept World Boxing. Progress has been made and we are very close to consolidating the return of boxing to the Olympic world, and that would allow for a reconsideration on our part, in order to be able to include it in Lima 2027 and we also hope in the future in Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032.”

It was reported last week that Panam Sports informed its 41 National Olympic Committees that it must have a national federation affiliated with World Boxing in order to participate in the sport at the 2027 Pan American Games, with a final decision on boxing’s inclusion for Lima expected to be made by the end of June, 2025.

Ilic was re-elected as the President of Panam Sports in October, and considered the possibility of running to be the IOC President. He explained:

“Indeed, I considered, internally, the possibility of standing as a candidate for the presidency of the IOC. But I quickly came to the conclusion that for me it would have many family costs.

“I do not live in Europe, I do not live an hour from the IOC like many other candidates. When one analyzes this, one thinks about completing the project, which in truth takes eight plus four, 12 years.

“I am sixty-two, I have my children and in February I will have my first granddaughter. I felt that it was a matter of moving away from my family for a personal desire. But that desire was going to have consequences for all my surroundings and also at work. In Chile, I am a real estate developer, so it was also going to affect me. In the end it was a decision discussed with my wife. We evaluated the pros and cons and decided not to.”

Ilic, however, will stand as a candidate for the IOC Executive Board at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.

He will have plenty to do in 2025, with the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games to be held in Paraguay next August, and then the preparations for the 2027 Pan Ams in Lima.

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RUSSIA: Russian sports officials feeling better about reinstatement in 2025, even for RUSADA, but Sports Minister says it’s barely a start

By
Rich Perelman
-
The logo of the Russian National Olympic Committee.

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≡ RUSSIA IN WORLD SPORT ≡

“We will work with the federation. But for now this is a gradual movement. I repeat – participation is better than isolation. We must enter any crack, any gap.

“Are the conditions draconian? We will demand that they be softened. But, I repeat, in a working order, legally in contact with the international federation, that’s the only way.”

That’s Russian Sports Minister (and Russian Olympic Committee head) Mikhail Degtyarev, commenting to the TASS news agency about the International Skating Union’s approval of very limited 2026 Olympic Winter Games qualifying opportunities in figure skating, speed skating and short track. This follows the 10-medal performance – as “neutrals” – at the World Aquatics Short-Course (25 m) Championships in Hungary; the news is better, but the situation is hardly satisfactory.

Nevertheless, a sense of optimism has started, with Vladimir Leonov, the sports minister for the Republic of Tatarstan, saying he’s looking forward to booking events in the aquatic center of Kazan, about 530 miles east of Moscow. He told TASS:

“We talked with World Aquatics, we’ll see how things are going, maybe we’ll get back to negotiations about holding World Cup stages in Kazan. If the situation normalizes, they’re ready to give it to us, to hold the World Cup in one sport or another. There’s swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming.

“We also talked about water polo; some title matches. Such negotiations are being held not only with World Aquatics, but also with other federations. Today, windows and opportunities are opening, largely due to what we’ve done this year, we’ve shown that we’re open, free, athletes are coming.

“Now gymnastics has relaxed its rules, negotiations have begun on speed skating, figure skating; judo is already allowing our athletes. This is the trend, it is great for our athletes, for the national team. The guys have missed it. When we enter the world arena and show that we remain in the leading roles, we are competitive, it proves that we have not lost our heads, we have continued training.”

Some Russian athletes are agreeing to neutral status in gymnastics, specifically in trampoline, applying to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) for permission. Five have received “neutral” status and seven more are applying, including one for junior events.

It isn’t free, and the head coach of the Russian trampoline team, Alexei Ryzhkov, complained bitterly about the costs:

“The international federation still uses draconian methods.

“It is necessary to pay money for neutral status. Today it costs 3,000 Swiss francs per athlete and 1,500 per specialist. I do not understand this decision, and I do not want to comment on it” (CHF 1 = $1.11 U.S.).

Even the Russian Anti-Doping Agency is hoping for reinstatement by the World Anti-Doping Agency, with Director General Viktoria Loginova telling TASS:

“In December, it was three years since I took over the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. The year 2024 passed for RUSADA without any high-profile stories, which often distract attention from the implementation of our key functions and the improvement of our work. We continue a constructive dialogue with WADA regarding operational activities. The audit date has not been set, but we are confident in our activities and are ready even for a surprise inspection without prior notice, in the best traditions of doping control.

“If we move on to the issue of restoring RUSADA’s status, the last thing we heard on this matter was that we can return to it only after the critical remark [in Russian law] is eliminated. In 2024, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency did everything in its power to restore its compliance status with the World Anti-Doping Code. We established a dialogue with the new heads of the Ministry of Sports and the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports and, accordingly, informed them about the problem, expressed our willingness to participate in the preparation of the bill, and prepared a draft federal law that could satisfy WADA’s requirements.

“I am looking forward to the start of our dialogue with WADA on the issue of restoration, in order to finally be convinced of the real independence of the world anti-doping system. The good news is that I have not heard criticism of us from WADA for a long time; on the contrary, recently WADA spoke positively about the level of testing in Russia, which our colleagues from some other countries did not like at all.”

As 2024 turns into 2025, it’s worth remembering that the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues and will mark a sad, third anniversary on 24 February 2025.

Less than a month later, the International Olympic Committee will elect a new President, at the 144th IOC Session in Greece. Russia’s future in international sport got brighter in 2024, as some federations relaxed their rules a bit, especially after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games concluded. But the new IOC President will have a lot to say about the circumstances of Russia’s future participation, most immediately at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

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PANORAMA: Texas sues NCAA on transgenders in women’s sport; FIFA Women’s World Cup TV partner serves 55% of U.S.; near-$5M surplus for USA Wrestling!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Transgender ● The tug-of-war over the inclusion of transgender men on women’s teams continues in court, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday (22nd) a suit in Texas State Court against the NCAA for “engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as ‘women’s’ competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females.”

Said Paxton in a statement:

“The NCAA is intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women by deceptively changing women’s competitions into co-ed competitions.

“When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women – not biological males pretending to be something they are not. Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.”

The suit asks for “[p]ermanent injunctive relief prohibiting the NCAA from permitting biological males to compete in women’s sporting events in Texas or involving Texas teams, including championship and tournament events, or alternatively requiring the NCAA to stop using the term ‘women’ in relation to its women’s sporting events where biological males are permitted to compete that take place in Texas or involve Texas teams,” and $10,000 damages per violation of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

At San Jose State, whose women’s volleyball team has included transgender outside hitter Blaire Fleming for the past three seasons, seven players have entered the NCAA transfer portal and intend to go to another school.

The San Jose State team was engulfed in controversy this season over Fleming, who had played two seasons with the Spartans with little notice. Opponents forfeited six matches this season, and a lawsuit was filed in November to keep Fleming from playing in the Mountain West Conference tournament; she was allowed to play. The team finished 14-7 this season and lost in the finals of the conference tournament to Colorado State, 3-1.

● U.S. Center for SafeSport ● The Associated Press reported that investigator Jason Krasley of the U.S. Center for SafeSport was fired “last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer.”

Krasley came to the Center in 2021 after serving with the Allentown (Pa.) Police Department for 20 years as a detective/task force officer. He is alleged to have stolen $5,500 from a seizure of drugs and related items in a 2019 action. SafeSport chief executive Ju’Riese Colon told the AP: “We take this matter seriously and are assessing the situation to determine what, if any, additional vetting could have prevented this individual from being eligible for hire.”

Krasley’s cases have to be re-assigned, and the Center has been criticized for already taking too long to resolve its cases.

● Alpine Skiing ● In an interview with SnowBrains.com, recovering U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin explained that she works through about 80 pairs of skis each season!

She has had a long-term relationship with the Austrian manufacturer Atomic for her skis.

● Curling ● Yes, betting – also known as “fan engagement” – is coming to curling. World Curling announced last week a partnership with London-based FeedConstuct to provide “Exclusive International Betting Rights” for the federation’s World, European and Pan Continental championship events.

FeedConstruct explains its mission as “to bridge the gap between federations, leagues, and betting operators to widen the exclusive coverage offer.”

● Football ● FIFA’s interesting choice of Netflix as the U.S. rights-holder – in all languages for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cup events – will be fascinating to watch, given that its reach is currently around 55% of all Americans.

Nielsen estimates that the U.S. has about 125 million households (97%) with at least one television, serving about 315 million people. In 2024, Netflix had 66.7 million U.S. accounts, not more than 53.6% of the U.S. household total and about 179.4 million U.S. users, or about 56.9% of the U.S. population with in-home television.

Those are, of course, much larger numbers than the U.S. viewership of the prior FIFA Women’s World Cups.

For the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Fox Sports averaged 669,000 viewers across all 64 matches – in a difficult time zone – down 60% from 2019 in France (1.66 million average). In Spanish, Telemundo and allied streaming platforms averaged 147,000 viewers per match in 2023, down 44% from France 2019 (302,000).

● Snowboard ● A tragedy at the Arosa ski resort in Switzerland, where 26-year-old Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche on Monday (23rd). She competed in Snowboard Cross at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, eliminated in the round-of-32, and in the Mixed Team event with Kalle Koblet, reaching the semifinals.

She was riding with another person on a closed slope, got caught in the avalanche, but her companion was able to go for help. Hediger was found under the snow about two hours later and could not be revived.

Hediger won two World Cup medals in the 2023-24 season, at St. Moritz (silver) and Gudauri (bronze).

● Wrestling ● USA Wrestling posted its annual report for 2023-24 and noted that the organization set an all-time membership record with 344,494 members, rolling past the prior-year’s record total by more than 47,000!

Consider that in 2015, USAW membership was 229,889 and has increased by 49.85% in those 10 years, and rebounded from just 142,147 in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The “Living The Dream Medal Fund” increased its donor Stewards to 17 and in conjunction with USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, distributed $735,000 in bonus payments to medal winners at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and UWW World Championships.

The federation’s financial report showed an impressive increase from revenues of $14.60 million in 2021 to $25.36 million in 2024, against $20.60 million in expenses for a surplus of $4.77 million. In the 2021-24 quadrennial, USAW had a surplus each year and added $10.36 million to its total assets during the quadrennium.

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LANE ONE: IOC candidate promises and priorities, part II: revenue and broadcast ideas, athlete payments, women in sport and more

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the International Olympic Committee

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

As noted in yesterday’s part one of an issue-by-issue look at the IOC Presidential candidates and their positions:

● The International Olympic Committee will choose its 10th President at the 144th IOC Session in Greece in March 2025, its first such election in 12 years. Seven members are running and their manifestos have been published.

● The candidate statements take on extra importance in view of the IOC’s regulations for the 30 January 2025 in-person presentations that state: “The presentation by the candidates must reflect the content of their respective Candidature Document published on the IOC website.”

● The Sports Examiner profiled the statements – one by one – of Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR) and Sebastian Coe (GBR) here; of Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Johan Eliasch (GBR) and David Lappartient (FRA) here, and of Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Morinari Watanabe (JPN) here.

Let’s continue our look at some of the hot-button issues that ran through most, or all, of the manifestos. All of the statements emphasized good governance, sustainability, a more meaningful outreach to engage young people and to responsibly employ artificial intelligence.

Yesterday’s review covered increased roles for IOC members, the Olympics in the future, and selection of host cities. On to part two:

Revenue generation and sponsorship:
All of the candidates want more revenue and pledged to look at new ways to find it. Five had more specific comments:

● Al Hussein: Wants to “reimagine” the IOC’s TOP program, specifically to have benefits for partners between the Games.

● Coe: “We must create revenue streams that appeal to younger fans. Drawing on the expertise of our membership, I will develop new, more affordable partnership models while respecting the rights of our trusted partners and our unique values and traditions.”

● Coventry: “I will advocate for a new value proposition that strengthens relationships with existing partners and attracts new ones, whilst protecting the uniqueness of the Games and our core values. By working with the innovative potential of our digital engagement projects around [Olympic Broadcasting Services] and Olympic Channel, our top sponsors and media partners, we can implement strategies to expand the Olympic platform. This will deepen audience engagement and create more touchpoints with sponsors and partners, between the Games.”

● Eliasch: He suggested two pathways forward, starting with “We must be particularly careful not to fall into the trap of exclusive arrangements and partnerships which suppress creativity and growth. We should pursue an approach which encourages competition and dynamism.”

But he added: “We must safeguard our top sponsors’ interests, ensuring that there are no short-cuts to the level of exposure they benefit from … they wish to integrate their brand into stories and moments around the Games. We must work on unlocking the next level of value creation with sponsors, creating unique stories that not only resonate with viewers but which continue to improve their experience.”

● Samaranch: Clear directive to “Launch a comprehensive review of the TOP Programme” and also to change the equation going forward: “Create new levels of “Partnership” with more dynamic opportunities for companies to engage with the Olympic Movement and programmes. This should include exploring new avenues of promotional exposure at the Games while fully respecting our Clean Venue and Field of Play Guidelines.”

So, the no in-venue advertising rule would remain. But Samaranch – whose background is finance – sees new revenue opportunities with an Olympic Donor Program, using IOC assets such as Olympic Broadcasting Services and Olympic Channel Services for outside contracts, creation of a Sports Investment Fund, and monetizing the IOC’s massive data inventory.

Television and broadcasting:
This is a really interesting area as no one knows where technology and viewers are headed, and how fast? Four candidates shared specific comments.

● Al Hussein: Wants to “reimagine advertising models to ensure broadcasting rights value.” Is this an opening for on-field advertising, a la the FIFA World Cup, or something else?

● Coventry: “It is impossible to see where the media landscape will be in five years but it is clear that the trend of linear television remains a key pillar of engagement. However, the rapid growth of digital platforms, streaming services, and on-demand content calls for greater adaptability.”

● Eliasch: Sees a new model emerging quickly, and wants to be prepared. “Doing this will mean embracing new modes of storytelling and being open to new forms of monetisation. With digital technology, we have unparalleled opportunities to proliferate our values.”

He did give his view of the future, decidedly on the digital side: “we must continue investing in digital innovations; the expansion of direct-to-consumer platforms, with high-quality exclusive content and different tier-focused content models; and more premium fan engagement experiences” and “Ahead of LA 2028 we should be preparing the ground for a completely different viewer experience, with storytelling and highlights more prominent.”

So, perhaps the IOC will sell Olympic coverage directly to consumers past 2032, when the longest current broadcast contracts expire? A fascinating concept, especially if paired with the National Olympic Committees, but with far more risk than today’s broadcast agreements.

● Samaranch: Took a stand on behalf of athletes and their need for self-promotion through the Games: “Encourage our Media partners to be more flexible with athletes regarding their social media activities during Games-time, while respecting existing Olympic rules and obligations, for mutual benefit.”

Athlete support, payments and prize money:
World Athletics – headed by Coe – offered first-ever federation prize money payments at Paris 2024, with $50,000 for each gold medalist (individual or team). Current IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) strongly criticized this and Coe has apologized for not communicating the federation’s plan in advance to other IFs and Olympic stakeholders. But it further opened the door to questions of athlete pay at the Games and there was little agreement among the candidates. Not surprisingly, the two Olympic champion candidates – Coe and Coventry – were the most enthusiastic about athlete compensation.

● Al Hussein: Noted carefully, but without further elaboration that athlete “participation in the Olympic Games [must be] properly valued.”

● Coe: As expected, he was aggressive, writing “I will expand resources and support programmes, with the help of our commercial partners, to address the pressures faced by athletes today and ensure they are better equipped for post competition careers. Athletes’ financial well-being will also be prioritised, in consultation with all stakeholders, ensuring their contributions are rewarded fairly.”

He added: “Athletes drive the value of the Games. I will develop programmes that could allow all athletes to share the commercial rewards they help generate, empowering them as partners, not just participants.”

● Coventry: “[C]reate an environment where athletes are further supported and valued. … expand existing programs and identify new opportunities for athletes to benefit from our Olympic Partner Program (Tops), Media Rights Holders, Olympic Solidarity.”

● Eliasch: “We must ask ourselves: is introducing prize money consistent with this spirit? And is it necessary? … Instead of concentrating monetary rewards on a few elite athletes, we should focus on ensuring more athletes have the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”

He also wanted to take the Russian and Belarusian “neutral” athlete idea further: “We should, therefore, expand on the approach of allowing neutral athletes to compete under their own name at the Games.” So, this could apply to anyone who wants to be a “free agent”? Lots of wild possibilities there.

● Lappartient: Was clear that the “absence of financial prizes from the IOC” should continue, but as the head of the Union Cycliste Internationale, said nothing about IF prizes.

● Samaranch: Was more interested in allowing athletes to have the tool to promote themselves: “Provide every Olympian access to footage of their Olympic performances made available through IOC’s Olympic.com, which can be linked to their social media channels” and “provide all Olympic Alumni with digital access to footage of their Games performances.”

As noted above, he also wants rights-holding broadcasters to allow “more flexible” use of social media during the Games.

In terms of athlete training, Lappartient wants to discuss “the concept of continental high performance centres in conjunction with International Federations and continental associations of National Olympic Committees.”

Women and sport:
This has become a hot-button issue in several sports and four of the seven made specific statements on the issue.

● Coe: “I will advocate for clear, science-based policies that safeguard the female category.” He has been the most ferocious IF chief on this issue to date.

● Coventry: Committed to “protecting female athletes and promoting equal opportunities for women at all levels of our Movement.”

● Eliasch: “There can be no grey areas. The integrity of women’s sport must be protected whatever the cultural pressures. In the face of these pressures, fairness and clarity can be achieved if we come back to biological facts.”

● Samaranch: “The IOC has a fundamental duty to safeguard women’s sport by adopting a policy to maintain unambiguous distinctions between men’s and women’s categories.”

Funding of the International Federations and National Olympic Committees:
Only two made specific comments on this area, which in itself was a surprise.

● Al Hussein: Emphasized that the IOC “maximise revenue share … valuing their critical role” of both the IFs and NOCs.

● Eliasch: “Wherever possible we must build bridges with the IFs and the NOCs, taking advantage of synergies, reducing duplicated tasks and pooling wisdom.”

In other areas, Al-Hussein mentioned the Youth Olympic Games and wants to “rethink their format” as part festival, part high performance events. Lappartient specifically noted that in the fight against doping, the IOC needs to increase its subsidy of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The candidate statements were each interesting and ranged in length from five pages (Watanabe) to 52 (Eliasch), and each had interesting design elements, including some lavish illustrations and photography.

But one candidate decided to fracture the process altogether.

That would be Coe, who at the bottom of page five of his brochure, states:

“My focus is on embedding transformative change over the next four years after which I will put myself forward for re-election.”

This tactical gambit offers high risk, but also potentially significant rewards:

● The IOC’s election rules specify that the vote will be for a term of eight years. In order for Coe to be able to run for a four-year term, the likely scenario – and this has been reported elsewhere – is that the IOC members will be asked to vote first on whether Coe is to be allowed to enter the Presidential vote on his terms.

● If this is in fact the procedure to be followed, then Coe’s ploy has created an extra step for the membership, inviting (requiring?) them to take an even closer look at his manifesto and presentation.

● By running for a four-year term (2025-29), he can serve by a simple change of status to individual membership and the regularly-granted four-year extension past age 70 (he’s 68 now), and no need for an age-rule change to the Olympic Charter.

Coe’s supporters point to his unique career as a star athlete, Olympic champion, head of a National Olympic Committee and an International Federation, an Olympic bid winner and head of an organizing committee, as well as roles within the British government and deep sports marketing experience. On resume, he is a formidable candidate, but his age is an issue vis-a-vis the Charter rules. His four-year-term proposal sidelines most of that, if the members agree.

And the IOC has not always had the eight-year term rules. Early IOC chiefs were essentially elected for as long as they wanted to serve. In the 1950s the IOC established the policy that the President is elected for an initial eight-year term, and can be re-elected indefinitely for four-year terms after that. That was changed to a maximum of one eight-year term and a second, four-year term, in 1999.

As Coe has said repeatedly, it’s now up to the members to decide.

Who’s the favorite? Believe it or not, there are live odds out there, from the Antigua-based BetOnline, with Coe at +150, Al Hussein at +400, Lappartient at +500, then Coventry, Samaranch and Watanabe at +600 and Eliasch at +800.

But there’s no way to tell yet. The presentations in January will essentially eliminate 2-3 candidates and some may drop out, which will re-shuffle things further.

In March, the question of trust in one of the candidates will be the key, along with the political calculations of the IOC members, weighing the future of the Movement against what a specific candidate might do for them, their sport, their National Olympic Committee … and for those in certain countries, what their governments will say. In a world in turmoil, there is a lot at stake.

It’s still early, but at least all seven are on the record.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LANE ONE: IOC candidate promises and priorities, part I: return host-city selection to a member vote? Re-visit the sports program?

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

The International Olympic Committee will choose its 10th President at the 144th IOC Session in Greece in March 2025, its first such election in 12 years. Seven members are running and their manifestos have been published.

And the candidate statements take on extra importance in view of the IOC’s regulations for the 30 January 2025 in-person presentations that state:

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

So, where do the candidates stand – and differ – on key issues, ahead of the 30 January presentations (with, by the way, no questions allowed)?

TSX profiled the statements – one by one – of Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR) and Sebastian Coe (GBR) here; of Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Johan Eliasch (GBR) and David Lappartient (FRA) here, and of Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Morinari Watanabe (JPN) here.

Now let’s compare them on some of the hot-button issues that ran through most, or all, of the manifestos. All of the statements emphasized the need for the IOC to adhere to good governance, emphasize sustainability, make a more meaningful outreach to engage young people and to responsibly employ artificial intelligence.

But there were other, more direct issues that are high priorities not only for the Olympic Movement, but especially the 111 members of the IOC who will select a new leader for an eight-year term from 2025-33 (or maybe not).

Let’s take a look at the candidate files and some of the hot-button issues identified by the candidates. First, a quick assessment of the statements (in alphabetical order):

● Al Hussein: Three primary themes, fairly concrete ideas, excellent list of priorities, wants to create an “Agenda 2036.”

● Coe: Five-part theme, with a startling offer: “My focus is on embedding transformative change over the next four years after which I will put myself forward for re-election.”

● Coventry: Deep experience with the IOC and as a government minister, but was less direct about specific changes. Identified technology as key to new audiences and less costs.

● Eliasch: Named to the IOC only this year, he posits his enormous business success and experience as what is needed to drive the Movement forward.

● Lappartient: Offers his experience heading cycling and the French NOC as showcasing a steady, fair, collaborative approach. Offers a page of 30 specific pledges and wants to create an “Agenda 2036.”

● Samaranch: The most concrete statement, with 40 action pledges across six themes, including specific new support for the members.

● Watanabe: A wild proposal to create a 50-sport Olympic Games, with 10 sports per host city and taking place 24 hours a day to create a truly worldwide audience. He also outlines a complete governance change, with a bicameral approval process.

There were several areas which one or more candidates made – or hinted at – specific proposals, and these areas could be deciding factors for the IOC members. Who said what?

A more active role for the IOC members:
All seven mentioned this area, and there was a clear reflection of member discontent with the very strongly-controlled management of the IOC during the term of Thomas Bach (GER). But the statements varied in approach:

● Al Hussein: Increase the age limit from 70 to 75, and “[g]ive every IOC Member a role to play in defining and executing policy.” Wants to create a “Members Department” for better communications.

● Coe: “I will ensure decision-making in the Movement clearly sits with the members, ensuring greater accountability, transparency and efficiency.”

● Coventry: “I pledge to bring all members together to assess the current state of the Olympic Movement and collaboratively define the objectives for the short, medium, and long term.”

● Eliasch: “[E]very voice will be heard, no matter how long you have been a member for.”

● Lappartient: “In my discussions with Members, I have been confronted by a burning desire to continue to participate in decisions and, in particular, those that have to do with the Olympic Games.” Nothing more specific.

● Samaranch: Specific proposals to establish a “Member’s Office” with direct communications and support for speeches, statements and appearances, and closer relationships with governments, including diplomatic passports. He also wants to extend the retirement age to 75.

● Watanabe: Creation of a “House of Representatives” made up of the presidents of the International Federations and the National Olympic Committees, and a “Senate” of the IOC members: “The proposals of the IOC Executive Board are discussed in the House and then decided by the Senate.”

The Olympic Games of the future:
Another major theme, with specific approaches to the future of the Olympic Games, most couched in careful language to ensure a consultative approach with the IOC membership.

● Al Hussein: Noted that climate change requires looking at changed Olympic Games dates “so more host cities can bid,” outside of the currently mandated July-August period.

● Coe: “I will create greater opportunities for these two key stakeholders to work together, and with the International Paralympic Committee, to strengthen our sporting interdependencies throughout the full Olympic cycle.”

● Coventry: “Actively involving IFs means initiating a new approach by which IFs would be in a leading position when it comes to their sport at the Games. It also means that IFs would be in a better position to draw full benefit of increased revenues generated by this new approach, including the opportunities offered by the Olympic Qualifiers, the Olympic E-Sports Games and the exploitation of AI and digital engagement activities.”

The IFs will absolutely be in favor of more money, but she also notes: “I will rely on our collective expertise to thoroughly explore the review of the Sports program.”

● Eliasch: He was even clearer than Coventry about the Games and sports: “I will initiate a review of all sports and formats to maximise their attractiveness to fans” and “This review could consider both the inclusion of new disciplines and the continuing viability of others.” Ominous?

A new content approach: “We must use this to create more ‘star-powered’ entertainment features – not only for the opening and closing ceremonies, but throughout the Games” and “Relay competitions with able-bodied and Para athletes teaming up should be explored, looking for new formats that will allow viewers to focus on the extraordinary abilities – not disabilities – of all participants.”

Citing his business success, he posits, “[W]e can deliver future editions of the Games more efficiently, at significantly less cost – and at an even higher standard of quality.”

● Lappartient: He urged caution on continuing to add sports: “We are receiving numerous bids again, but we should avoid an XXL approach.” Also, it would be “worthwhile to better define the conditions for adding new sports to the programme of the Olympic Games (universality, quotas, Olympic revenue, etc.) and integrating new disciplines of sports already on the Olympic programme.”

● Samaranch: “Remain flexible and open to adjusting our calendar to make hosting the Games more accessible for all regions” and “Excessive widespread Games may affect the authenticity and communal spirit of the Olympics, where the Olympic Village serves as the cornerstone of the Games experience and brand.” He advocates a review of service levels across the Games to balance costs with “Olympic Standards.”

● Watanabe: “Stage the Olympic Games in five cities from the five continents, in the same period of time.”

Selection of the Olympic host cities/regions/countries:
As a result of the Salt Lake City bidding scandal that broke in 1999, member visits to candidate cities were abolished, new age limits adopted and Bach later pushed through a new selection process based on discussions and evaluations of Olympic and Winter “Future Host Commissions,” with the members asked only to confirm their recommendations.

This eliminated the losers in a winner-takes-all process and reduced the bid cost by tens of millions of dollars. But it also took away a key aspect of IOC membership. Some want to change that:

● Al Hussein: Wants the members to “decide the electorate for future host cities.”

● Lappartient: Proposed to strengthen the role of IOC Members in the decision-making process on host cities, and also wrote “we need to think about a balance between the continents for future hosts” recommending taking the Games to Africa (something he is doing in cycling).

● Samaranch: Was the clearest about change: “Members should decide on the Host City selection.”

● Eliasch: Chimed in on locations, stating “The risks can be managed … the prospect of future editions in Africa, India and the Middle East should excite and energise us. Let’s make it happen.”

Coming tomorrow in part II: ideas for revenue generation, what to do about broadcasting, athlete support, women, doping and more. Stay tuned.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LOS ANGELES 2028: LA28 organizers well behind Paris 2024’s hiring pace, but starting to staff up with 23 good-paying positions shown now

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ LA28 IS HIRING ≡

The Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Olympic Games turned into an award for the 2028 Olympic Games instead, awarded in 2017. In the seven years since, the LA28 organizing committee has remained small, with 157 staff reported at the end of 2023 and a public mention of 180 by the middle of 2024.

But as the Paris 2024 legacy report recounts, it had 4,200 staff members at the time of the Games, with 1,180 hired in 2024. That’s a long way from 180.

And the Paris 2024 organizers had quite a few more staff than LA28 at a comparable time:

● Paris end-of-2020 staff: 379 ~ comparable to 31 Dec. 2024 for LA28
● Paris end-of-2021 staff: 663 ~ comparable to 31 Dec. 2025 for LA28

So LA28 has a lot of hiring to do, and is starting to ramp up. Its job site usually had from 6-12 jobs listed for most of 2024, but now has 23 positions – some with multiple hires to be made – shown on 25 December.

In compliance with California law, expected annual base salaries are listed for each position; the site notes “LA28 does not provide relocation assistance”:

● Vice President/Business Affairs ($220-260,000)

● Senior Director/Look & Signage ($175-200,000)

● Head/Live Sites & Experience ($175-200,000)
● Head/Medical Operations ($150-170,000)
● Head/Data – Fan Engagement ($150-170,000)

● Director/Commercial Asset Development ($150-170,000)
● Director/Economic Impact & Strategic Sourcing ($150-170,000)
● Director/Venue Security ($150-170,000)
● Director/Telecoms Program Delivery ($150-170,000)

● Managing Counsel/Labor & Employment ($160-175,000)

● Senior Sport Group Manager ($115-130,000)

● Senior Manager/Civil Engineering ($115-170,000)
● Senior Manager/Containment ($115-170,000)
● Senior Manager/Mechanical, Engineering & Plumbing ($115-170,000)
● Senior Manager/Cost Management ($115-130,000)
● Senior Manager/Risk & Assurance ($115-130,000)
● Senior Manager/Rights Management ($115-130,000)

● Manager/Accommodations Stakeholder Relations ($80-105,000)
● Manager/Int’l Federation Relations & Services ($80-105,000)
● Manager/Sport ($85-105,000; multiple hires)
● Manager/Technology Workday HCM & Finance ($85-105,000)

● Specialist/Games Management System ($75-90,000)

● Associate/Client Sales & Service ($70-75,000)

These are good-paying jobs and LA28’s 2023 Federal tax return showed a remarkable 91 of 157 staff (58%) of all staff paid $100,000 or more during the year. Of these 23 positions, 17 have starting salaries above $100,000 and three others with starting salaries that could be more than $100,000. LA28 has maintained, as shown above, significant discipline in salary ranges according to classifications.

Of course, Los Angeles is identified as the second-most-expensive place to live in the U.S. in 2024, according to the U.S. News & World Report ranking. (Hartford, Connecticut was ranked no. 1, with Miami at no. 3, New Haven, Connecticut at no. 4 and New York at no. 5.)

Housing cost, especially is an issue in Los Angeles, and for most residents, a car is a necessity, although the public transit program is rapidly expanding.

Reynold Hoover, a former U.S. Army Lt. General, is now the LA28 chief executive and has the responsibility to devise and fill up the org chart he has developed for the organizing committee. If he were to pull LA28’s staffing even with Paris 2024 by the end of 2025, he’ll be hiring 483 people next year. Looks like he’ll be busy.

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ATHLETICS: USATF financial statements explain $13.46 million, two-year drop in net assets as due to “one-off operational expenses”

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ USA TRACK & FIELD ≡

USA Track & Field posted its 2023 financial statements and IRS Form 990 tax return on Tuesday, 24 December, with the statements confirming a staggering drop of $13.46 million in net assets over two years:

● 2021: $8.53 million in USATF net assets shown
● 2022: $548,002 in USATF net assets shown
● 2023: –$4.93 million in USATF net assets shown
● Loss of $13.46 million from 31 December 2021 to 31 December 2023

The 27-page financial statements start with a cover note that addresses the financial downturn:

“The 2023 Audited Financial Statements include both cash and non-cash transactions which impact the decrease in net assets. These include a decrease in value-in-kind (non-cash) assets (approximately $3.0M) and a decrease in cash (approximately $1.8M, driven by one-off operational expenses, as approved by the Board of Directors.

“This includes residual obligations related to 2022 World Athletics Championships, including expenses related to the 2023 Diamond League Final; prepayment of housing for coaches and team staff for the 2024 Olympic Games; expenses related to training facility track improvements for the 2024 Olympic Games; significant increase in insurance costs without concomitant increases in member fees; legal fees related to unplanned litigation; and the USATF Grand Prix series.”

The drop from 2021 to 2022 was from a $9.9 million subsidy paid to the Oregon22 organizers for the World Athletics Championships held in Eugene.

The expense side of the USATF activities statement showed less spending in 2023 than in 2022, thanks to a much lower cost for the World Championships in 2023 (Budapest: $1.46 million) vs. 2022 (Eugene: $7.75 million). But overall spending – mostly for elite-athlete competitions – has ballooned over the past two years:

● 2021: $35.52 million total ~ Olympic year
● 2022: $45.58 million total ~ Worlds in Eugene
● 2023: $42.17 million total ~ Worlds in Budapest

● 2021: $11.16 million for Elite competitions ~ Olympic year
● 2022: $20.92 million for Elite competitions ~ Worlds in Eugene
● 2023: $15.81 million for Elite competitions ~ Worlds in Budapest

Note 1 to the financial statements added some detail to the added expenses in 2023:

“[S]ignificant funds were invested in the Diamond League-2023 Prefontaine Classic which provided vital competitive opportunities to prepare athletes for global competition. USATF’s expenses highlight critical, board-approved investments such as the USATF Grand Prix meets. These events provided prize money, travel support and world-ranking opportunities for athletes, resulting in many of those athletes competing in the 2023 World Championships and qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (ultimately resulting in a record medal count for USATF).”

Comparing the 2021 costs to 2023 (ignoring spending on a home World Championships in 2022):

● 2021: $2.192 million in Services and Professional fees
● 2021: $4.379 million in Grants and Support payments
● 2021: $1.606 million in Travel
● 2021: $1.172 million in Supplies and Shipping
● $9.349 million for these four categories

● 2023: $5.005 million in Services and Professional fees
● 2023: $4.037 million in Grants and Support payments
● 2023: $2.852 million in Travel
● 2023: $1.937 million in Supplies and Shipping
● $13.831 million for these four categories

That $4.482 million cost increase accounts for most of the losses in 2023.

In terms of revenue, the statements note that 53% of USATF revenues ($19.45 million) came from one sponsor (Nike) and 16% from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee grant of $5.827 million. That’s 69% from two sources

With the difference in accounting methods between the Federal Form 990 tax return (mostly cash) and the financial statements (accrual), the financial statements show a higher revenue total for 2023: $36.71 million vs. $35.01 million on the tax return.

Even so, USATF revenues in 2023 remained in the same narrow range – excepting the pandemic year of 2020 since the decades-long, current Nike sponsorship package came into effect in 2014 (figures from financial statements):

● 2014: $35.05 million
● 2015: $30.40 million
● 2016: $38.43 million
● 2017: $33.67 million
● 2018: $36.71 million
● 2019: $37.24 million
● 2020: $23.30 million (Covid impact)
● 2021: $35.52 million
● 2022: $36.54 million
● 2023: $36.71 million

If inflation is taken into account, the situation is even worse. One dollar in 2014 is worth about $1.33 today, so the $35.05 million revenue from 2014 represents $46.61 million in 2024. But USATF revenue has advanced by just 4.7%.

The federation nevertheless made it through 2024. It had $11.89 million in cash and investments at the end of 2023 and $3.1 million remaining on an $8.0 million line of credit. But it is hardly comfortable.

In Note 1 of the statements, a sentence was added noting:

“Management and the board of directors have introduced a range of revenue-generating and cost-cutting initiative to address its financial position as part of its post-2024 Olympic Games and 2025 business strategy.”

In this regard, on 9 November 2023, USATF announced that chief executive Max Siegel was given a contract extension through 2028.

Even in the protective language of its own financial statements, USATF is in financial difficulties, presenting the new Board and new President Curt Clausen with substantial challenges.

It’s worth comparing the situation of the two major U.S. Olympic medal-producing federations, USATF and USA Swimming. The swim federation lists audited financial data back to 2017 and released its 2023 financials earlier this year:

● 2017: $43.09 million revenue
● 2017: $75.86 million in assets
● 2017: $57.71 million in reserves

● 2023: $45.23 million in revenue
● 2023: $70.39 million in assets
● 2023: $45.02 million in reserves

The swimmers have had their own tribulations over finance, but receive a majority of their funding from memberships have more than 375,000 members, and is still quite healthy financially. But its revenues have also not kept pace with inflation.

USA Swimming’s chief executive, Tim Hinchey, who joined in 2017, was dismissed in August over a lack of trust within the organization, especially from coaches. The organization is looking for a new chief executive now.

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ATHLETICS: Diamond League prize money up to $9.24 million in 2025; new “Diamond+” events will pay up to 67% more at each meet!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

As previously announced, the Wanda Diamond League will increase its prize money to $9.24 million in 2025 from about $6.90 million in 2024, but without any details. Now we know.

In 2024, the Diamond League in-meet payouts were:

● 2024: $25,000 per event in 14 Diamond League meets
($10,000-6,000-3,500-2,000-1,250-1,000-750-500).

● 2024: $60,000 per event in the Diamond League Final
($30,000-12,000-7,000-4,000-2,500-2,000-1,5000-1,000).

For 2025, there will be four tiers: an increased standard event pay-out of $30,000-plus, a payout of $50,000-plus for four events per meet (about $7 million total) and $2.24 million for the Diamond League final (with pay now for places 9-12, if applicable) for Diamond and new, Diamond+ disciplines:

● 2025: $32,000 per Diamond discipline at 14 meets
($10,000-6,000-4,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and 500 for 9-12)

● 2025: $53,000 per Diamond+ discipline at 14 meets
($20,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500 and 750 for 9-12)

● 2025: $62,000 per Diamond discipline at the Diamond League Final
($30,000-12,000-7,000-4,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 and 500 for 9-12)

● 2025: $104,000 per Diamond+ discipline at the Diamond League Final
($50,000-20,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000 and 1,000 for 9-12)

What events will be Diamond+? The announcement explains:

“There will be four (two male and two female) Diamond+ Disciplines at each series meeting and eight (four male and four female) at the Final. Each meeting will announce their Diamond+ Disciplines in the first half of 2025.”

The total athlete support package was summarized:

● “Including promotional fees for top athletes, a total of around 18 million USD will be paid to athletes in total over the course of the 2025 season.”

● “As every year and in addition, around 6 million USD will be invested in athlete services such as travel and transport, accommodation and medical and physio provision.”

As usual, the schedule stretches over the spring and summer, from April to the end of August:

● April (1): Xiamen
● May (3): Suzhou, Doha, Rabat
● June (4): Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris
● July (3): Eugene, Monaco, London
● August (4): Chorzow, Lausanne, Brussels, Zurich

In terms of conflicts, the new Grand Slam Track program starts early from 4-6 April in Kingston (JAM) and the first Diamond League meet comes on 26 April in China. The next meet, from 2-4 May in Miramar, Florida, conflicts with the Suzhou Diamond League (3rd), but the other two are clear, on 30 May-1 June in Philadelphia and 27-29 June in Los Angeles. The Grand Slam Track payouts are to be $100,000 for each winner, down to $10,000 for eighth place.

The increased prize money follows the lead of World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) to inject more athlete pay into meets, as well as the pressure from the new Grand Slam Track program, and the Athlos NYC meet in September, which had limited fields and paid $60,000-25,000-10,000-8,000-5,000-2,500 for each event.

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PANORAMA: Another conviction in Tokyo 2020 bid-rigging scandal; special women’s swim suits approved; a women’s 400 m WR in 2025?

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2020: Tokyo ● Another company in the Tokyo 2020 bid-rigging scandal has been found guilty and a senior executive handed a suspended sentence.

Event-management firm Cerespo was found to have participated in a six-party bid-rigging scheme to award about $4 million in Tokyo 2020 contracts to stage test events prior to the 2020 Olympic Games, and then to obtain much more lucrative contracts for venue management – about $294 million – during the Olympic Games, which were eventually moved to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

High-profile Japanese ad agencies Dentsu, Hakuhodo and the Tokyu Agency, and event-management companies Cerespo, Fuji Creative Corp., and Same Two, Inc., were involved, coordinating the program between February and July 2018 with Yasuo Mori of the organizing committee’s Operations Bureau.

The Tokyo District Court fined Cerespo ¥280 million (about $1.78 million U.S.) and sentenced Yoshiji Kamata to 22 months in prison, with the sentence suspended for four years. All of the individuals sentenced in this scandal have received suspended sentenced. Kamata, 61, said he will appeal the conviction.

● Alpine Skiing ● Norway’s Timon Haugen grabbed his third career FIS World Cup victory in the Slalom in Alta Badia (ITA) on Monday, holding on to his first-run lead and winning in 1:45.40. That was comfortably ahead of Swiss Loic Meillard (1:46.53) and Norwegian teammate Atle Lie McGrath (1:46.66).

Jett Seymour was the top American, in 13th, at 1:48.31. The men’s tour heads to Bormio (ITA) for a Downhill and Super-G this weekend.

● Aquatics ● World Aquatics completed its rules revisions for 2025 and beyond and included an important change for women’s swimsuits:

“Updated regulations now permit the use of specially designed swimwear for women during their menstrual periods. These swimsuits prioritise functionality and discretion while adhering to performance standards.”

A significant change was made for water polo, standardizing the field of play for both men and women at 25.60 m by 20.00 m, or 84-0 by 65-7 1/2 in feet and inches. Pool depth remains at not less than 1.80 m (5-10 3/4).

● Athletics ● Paris women’s 400 m Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (DOM) has East German Marita Koch’s astounding world record of 47.60 in her sights for 2025.

Speaking with Panam Sports, she reflected on her 48.17 win in Paris – she’s now no. 4 all-time – and looked ahead:

“I’m betting on the work my team and I have done on my legs, and I know that if God allows it, I will be able to break the world record, which is my greatest desire.

“I just have to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect day and the perfect track. I know it can be done. The results of the Paris Olympic Games showed me that it can be done.

“I know that I’m going to work on the small details I have [to fix] to be able to break the world record, although I’m happy with breaking 47.99 seconds.”

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LOS ANGELES 2028: LA28 organizing committee 2023 tax return shows a loss of $66.03 million, but that’s actually an improvement!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The LA28 emblem designed by Olympic gold medalist swimmer Simone Manuel (USA)

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

A $66.03 million annual loss is not usually the basis for optimism, but a review of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Organizing Committee’s Form 990 tax return for 2023 gives an insight into future funding to come.

LA28 has not posted its returns on its Web site, but has included them in its required annual report to the City of Los Angeles, made available in June the following year. So, the posting of its 2023 IRS Form 990 return by ProPublica is a much earlier-than-usual glimpse of the financial status of the LA28 organizers.

(It’s worth noting that the Form 990 information will vary somewhat from the audited financial statements, probably not available until the City’s annual report next year, since the accounting methods differ. But much of the data will be the same.)

For 2023, what would normally be considered fairly dismal results are actually an improvement:

● Revenue was $12.34 million, down from $53.66 million in 2022.
● Expenses were $78.37 million, down from $140.22 million in 2022.
● Losses were $66.03 million, down from $86.56 million in 2022.

● Assets were $141.71 million, up from $65.05 million in 2022.
● Cash and receivables were $74.93 million, up from $56.42 million in 2022.
● Net assets were –$219.69 million, down from –$153.67 million in 2022.

The hidden bright spot was in deferred revenue – income which will be declared later – which went from $180.00 million at the end of 2022 to $280.80 million at the end of 2023. This is sponsorship revenue which is starting to come in, but for accounting purposes, is shown as a liability. The significant increase is a good sign.

There was only $12.34 million in revenue, mostly from donations ($8.00 million), plus a little more than $2 million each in investment income and hospitality sales. LA28 does intend to solicit donations, noting:

“Starting in 2021, the organization began receiving contributions to support its mission of hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The organization is actively working at developing its strategy for philanthropy and public contributions.”

Spending was $78.37 million, primarily for the 157 staff members:

● $34.74 million for salaries, benefits and payroll taxes
● $16.95 million for other program expenses
● $15.29 million in grants, to the PlayLA youth sports initiative
● $5.41 million in rent, office expenses, insurance and technology
● $2.44 million in rights payments
● $1.53 million for legal, lobbying and accounting services
● $1.02 million in advertising and promotional costs

That’s $77.38 million of the $78.37 total.

The big number of $16.95 million for program expenses is not broken out in the return, but a note on payments to contractors shows that 42 different outside companies received $100,000 or more from LA28 during 2023, led by engineering giant AECOM, which was paid $5.12 million. Security services firm Gavin de Becker & Associates was paid $1.36 million.

LA28 also paid significant amounts to senior staff members who have since stepped down. Former chief executive Kathy Carter was shown with reportable income in 2023 of $1.995 million; former Chief Business Officer Brian Lafemina received $3.12 million, and former Chief Legal Officer Tanja Olano – who left in 2024 – received $1.02 million in 2023.

The return also includes information on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties (USOPP) joint marketing venture with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its director, Chris Pepe, retired in 2024; he received $928,358 in 2023.

Seven other employees were paid more than $500,000, nine others were paid more than $200,000; a total of 91 staff were paid more than $100,000. An explanatory entry on the return noted that all executive salaries had been benchmarked by an outside firm and approved by the Board of Directors.

There are more questions to be asked, but the audited financial statements – whenever they are made available – will answer many of those.

Some perspective is needed on these numbers and the LA28 “net assets” total of –$219.69 million, as LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman – who has served without pay – confirmed to reporters in November that approximately $4.6 billion in revenue has been contracted for LA28 already.

This comes from the International Olympic Committee’s pledge of at least $1.335 billion, and the remainder from contracts with sponsors, hospitality providers and licenses for merchandise sales. Ticket revenues will be on top of that.

So, some money is coming in and much more is on the way. But the exodus of the prior leadership team at LA28 and the USOPP means that it will be up to new chief executive Reynold Hoover and new USOPP head John Slusher to do more with the money they have, and for Slusher to bring in more.

But the costs will be enormous; one example is in staffing. While LA28 reported 157 staff at the end of 2023, Paris 2024’s post-Games report showed 3,020 at the end of the year before its Games (i.e., the end of 2023) and 4,200 at the time of the Games.

Using the same timeline, Hoover & Co. will need to hire 2,863 more people by the end of 2027. On Monday (23rd), the LA28 jobs site showed job openings for 23 positions.

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RUSSIA: Sports Minister and ROC chief applauds “no final divorce,” says Russian return to sport “will be difficult”

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

After being forced out of international sport almost entirely after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and then allowed back in in very limited fashion for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, December has been a good month for Russian sport:

● Russian swimmers were allowed to compete as “neutrals” at the World Aquatics 25 m Championships in Budapest (HUN) from 10-15 December and won 10 medals, including six golds, setting a world record in the men’s 4×100 m Medley relay.

● Last week, the International Skating Union decided to allow a very limited number of Russian athletes to participate in Olympic qualifying events (only) in the 2025-26 season in figure skating, speed skating and short track, subject to a review to ensure these athletes are not supporting the war against Ukraine.

However, there is hardly much joy among Russian sports officials about these openings. Said Russian sports minister and Russian Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyarev on Friday:

“The process of a full return to international sport will be difficult, but events such as the International Skating Union’s decision to allow our athletes to participate in the Olympic qualifications while still in neutral status, or the recent successful performance of Russian swimmers at the World Championships, are important steps along this path.

“This is definitely better than a final divorce and self-isolation.

“We will continue to develop this trend, supporting our athletes and systematically improving the conditions for their participation in international competitions. This process requires time, great effort and unity of our community.”

From a total ban in February 2022, following a request from the International Olympic Committee, Russian participation as “neutrals” has been allowed by several summer Olympic federations following a December 2023 IOC directive. Teams, however, have been banned entirely.

Russians qualified 48 athletes for Paris 2024 in eight sports – canoeing, cycling, gymnastics (trampoline), judo, swimming, taekwondo, tennis and wrestling – but after the IOC’s own “neutrality” review, a total of 15 Russian athletes were accepted in six sports: canoeing, cycling, gymnastics (trampoline), judo, swimming, taekwondo and tennis.

Now the regulations for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games are coming, with the ISU trying to get ahead of the process, even before the IOC speaks on the issue.

A complicating factor in all of this will be the IOC Presidential Election in March in Greece. Russian comments have indicated a preference for candidates such as cycling federation head David Lappartient (FRA) or gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe (JPN), or veteran IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch, all seen as moderates on allowing Russian athletes to compete internationally once again.

But there is considerable worry that if World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) is elected, that Russians will be banned entirely. Russian athletes continue to be banned from international track & field events.

Sports Minister Degtyarev is well aware of the possibilities.

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ATHLETICS: USA Track & Field tax return for 2023 shows federation with $5 million loss, revenue down again and a negative net worth!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ USA TRACK & FIELD ≡

Bad news, again.

The Form 990 Federal tax return for 2023 for USA Track & Field was posted by ProPublica, after having been filed with the Internal Revenue Service on 14 November. In short:

● Revenue declined again to $35.01 million, from $37.94 million.
● Loss for the year of $5.60 million, after a loss of $6.72 million in 2022
● Declared reserves from $597,933 in 2022 to –$4.491 million in 2023

These totals are at 31 December 2023, so USATF has gone almost an entire year since these numbers were current. It has not, as of Sunday evening (22nd) posted this tax statement on its Web site, or its audited financial statements for 2023. And, of course, nothing for 2024.

The tax return shows that the federation is in financial difficulty, but not out of money. The return showed:

● $1.07 million in cash
● $10.62 million in investments
● $7.26 million in deferred revenue, likely advanced sponsor payments

The major change listed on the return is an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses from $4.67 million at the end of 2022 to $9.05 million at the end of 2023. So, the organization’s net assets were –$4,490,686 at the end of 2023.

(Please note that these tax-report figures are not the same as the audited financial statements – not yet posted – which use a different accounting method. But the results will not be too different.)

USATF revenues in 2023 remained in the same narrow range – excepting the pandemic year of 2020 since the decades-long, current Nike sponsorship package came into effect in 2014 (figures from financial statements for all but 2023):

● 2014: $35.05 million
● 2015: $30.40 million
● 2016: $38.43 million
● 2017: $33.67 million
● 2018: $36.71 million
● 2019: $37.24 million
● 2020: $23.30 million (Covid impact)
● 2021: $35.52 million
● 2022: $36.54 million
● 2023: $35.01 million (Form 990 figure)

Essentially, the 2023 revenue of $35.01 million is the worst since 2017, and comes from the same sources as prior years:

● $19.17 million in sponsorships
● $8.47 million in donations
● $2.51 million in membership dues
● $1.36 million in media sales revenue
● $1.33 million in sanctioning fees
● $1.32 million in events and tickets

That’s $34.16 million out of a $35.01 million total.

Where did the money go?

● $10.03 million to athletes for prize money and support
● $9.25 million for staff salaries, benefits and payroll taxes
● $6.72 million in other items (security screening, team services)
● $2.11 million in insurance
● $2.03 million in U.S. Olympic direct-athlete support
● $1.92 million for non-U.S. programs (such as pre-Paris training camp)
● $1.66 million in other expenses (not detailed)
● $1.63 million in team gear and equipment
● $1.14 million in information technology services
● $1.13 million in travel expenses

That’s $37.62 million out of a total of $40.61 million in expenses.

In the financial statements for 2022, there was an explanation that the dive in net assets was due to the $9.9 million paid by USATF to the organizing committee of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon as support for the staging of the meet. USATF had no such obligation for 2023; perhaps the financial statements – when posted – will have more details.

USATF staffing totaled 95 individuals in 2023, down from 97 at the end of 2022. Chief executive Max Siegel received reportable compensation of $1.17 million and Chief Operating Officer Renee Washington received $609,775. There were six others paid more than $200,000 and an additional seven who received more than $100,000.

This was the third straight year with net losses for USATF and skipping the $8.28 million surplus from the Covid year of 2020, the organization has shown an operating loss for five straight years, back to 2018. In 2025, USA Track & Field will take charge of Paralympic track & field governance in the U.S., an added responsibility.

USATF got through 2024 and despite all of the financial concerns, American track & field athletes had one of the finest Olympic performances in history, with a staggering 34 Olympic medals, including 14 golds.

How the federation moves forward with a newly-elected volunteer President, former race walk Olympian Curt Clausen, and uncertain finances will be an issue not only for U.S. track & field athletes, coaches, associations and fans, but also for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, already planning for a home Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

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PANORAMA: NCAA chief stands up for transgenders; Vonn returns 14th in St. Moritz Super-G; Roberts wins sixth BMX Freestyle Park Worlds gold!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Six-time UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Champion Hannah Roberts of the U.S. (Photo: Wikipedia via Nicholas Sheard).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● NCAA ● There are enormous problems in collegiate sport today, but comments from NCAA President Charlie Baker at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last Tuesday raised questions once again about the organization’s view of transgender men in women’s competition.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) asked Baker about the NCAA’s policy of allowing transgender men to play on women’s teams, with Baker stating, “Because we believe that is consistent with Federal policy.”

Hawley also asked about the NCAA policy, “transgender student athletes should be able to use the locker room, shower and toilet facilities in accordance with their gender identity,” with Baker replying:

“Everybody else should have an opportunity to use other facilities if they wish to do so,” and “I believe our guidelines give people optionality in how they choose to use their facilities. … We told the local folks who hosted our tournaments that they need to make accommodations for the people who are playing.”

Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) asked Baker if a biological male would also have a physiological advantage playing against a biological female, and Baker stated, “There’s not a lot of research on it, but it’s certainly debatable.”

Kennedy pressed further, saying “you don’t think that a biological male has an advantage every time competing against a biological female? Is that your testimony?”

Baker backpedaled, saying, “No, I think the way you defined it, yes, I would agree with you.”

The issue was highlighted during the 2024 women’s volleyball season as San Jose State received forfeits from five teams, including in the Mountain West Conference tournament, for using a player who identifies as female, but the forfeiting teams believe is a biological male.

● Skiing ● Reports in German media said that the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) had reached agreement with most of its dissident national federations unhappy with the terms of its centralized media rights concept.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported Thursday that discussions had been concluded with the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, leaving only Austria outstanding. The report noted that “concessions” had been made in the talks, but did not detail them.

FIS has already started work on a marketing effort that will offer (essentially) worldwide rights in a single sale beginning with the 2026-27 winter season, which FIS chief Johan Eliasch (GBR) made a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, seeing it as the best way to increase revenue for the sport and for competing skiers.

● Alpine Skiing ● Austria’s Cornelia Huetter won her second World Cup race in two weeks in the Saturday Super-G at the women’s World Cup in St. Moritz (SUI). Her 1:55.18 time was 0.18 better than Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami (1:15.36), with Italian 2018 Olympic Downhill winner Sofia Goggia (1:15.51). American Lauren Macuga tied for seventh (1:15.93 and Lindsey Vonn, 40, in her return to the World Cup at age 40, was a very creditable 14th in 1:16.36!

Sunday’s second Super-G was canceled due to rough weather.

The men’s World Cup speed events in Val Gardena (ITA) saw 34-year-old Mattia Casse (ITA) get his first career World Cup gold in Friday’s Super-G in 1:28.23, with American Jared Goldberg – 33 – just 0.01 behind, winning his first career World Cup medal!

Swiss superstar Marco Odermatt, the reigning World Cup champion, was third in 1:28.66.

Odermatt claimed his third win of the season and 40th career World Cup gold in Saturday’s Downhill in 2:03.10, ahead of teammate Franjo von Allmen (SUI: 2:03.55) and Beijing 2022 Downhill silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the U.S. in third (2:03.56), his third career World Cup medal.

On Sunday, the men’s World Cup was in Alta Badia (ITA) for a Giant Slalom, and Odermatt was ready, standing third after the first run and then had the co-fastest second run in the field to win in 2:31.45. France’s Leo Anguenot was second in 2:32.20 for his first career World Cup medal. River Radamus was the top American, in 15th (2:33.81).

The Alta Badia stop will conclude with a Slalom on Monday.

● Athletics ● Spain’s Mohamed Katir, the 2023 World Championships men’s 5,000 m silver medalist, has been banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit for four years, for tampering:

“Katir … was found to have falsified travel documents (namely a travel Itinerary, boarding pass and booking confirmation) in an attempt to mislead investigators as they probed the veracity of his explanation for a Whereabouts Failure that occurred on 28 February 2023.”

He was originally suspended in February 2024, and his new ban will run concurrently with that whereabouts ban, meaning he will be able to return to 6 February 2028. AIU chief Brett Clothier (AUS) added:

“Gone are the days in athletics when explanations offered in anti-doping cases are just accepted at face value. Thanks to strong investment in investigations, since its inception in 2017, the AIU has prosecuted 25 Tampering cases.”

The AIU has been busy with other sanctions, including Kenyan distance runner Ezekiel Kipkorir (KEN), for three years from 5 December 2024 for Testosterone; he’s a 1:02:08 half-marathoner and 2:11:398 marathoner.

Athlete Refugee Team distance runner Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (originally SSD) was banned for three years from 30 April 2024 for Trimetazidine; she’s run 17:01.36 for 5,000 m.

The AIU provisionally suspended 2:33:48 women’s marathoner Sheila Chebet (Ethiopia) for Tramadol; Kenyan runner Elijah Kipkosgei for Triamcinolone acetonide (a 2:16:49 marathoner), and Ukraine’s 2023 European Indoor shot put bronze medalist Roman Kokoshko (21.84 m indoors in 2023/71-8) for whereabouts failures.

● Biathlon ● At the IBU World Cup in Annecy (FRA), Norway went 1-2 in the men’s 10 km Sprint with 23-year-old Martin Uldal getting his first World Cup medal – and win – ahead of star Johannes Thingnes Boe, 23:13.5 (0 penalties) to 23:14.9 (1).

Boe returned Saturday for the 12.5 km Pursuit and won in 31:25.4 (1), ahead of France’s Eric Perrot (31:53.0/0) and two-time World Champion Emilien Jacquelin (32:12.9/2),

Sunday’s 15 km Mass Start saw older brother Tarjei Boe – also a former seasonal World Cup champion – get his first win of the season, in 37:20.8 (1), over Danilo Riethmueller (GER: 37:24.8/1) and J.T. Boe (37:30.5/3).

Beijing Olympic women’s 12.5 km Mass Start gold medalist Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won the women’s 7.5 km Sprint in 21:19.2 (1), barely ahead of Franziska Preuss (GER: 21:20.6/0). Preuss came back on Saturday to get her second win of the season in the 10 km Pursuit in 29:09.9 (1), beating Julia Simon (FRA: 29:37.2/2).

Preuss was back on the podium for the 15 km Mass Start on Sunday, but the win went to 20-year-old Selina Grotian for her first World Cup win, in 38:35.4 (1), with Preuss second in 38:48.1 (0).

● Boxing ● American women Olympians showed strongly at the USA Boxing National Championships in Richmond, Virginia, winning four of 10 classes.

Alyssa Mendoza, the 2022 national champion won at 57 kg over Deborah Grant in a 5:0 decision; Jajaira Gonzalez, national champ in 2021, took the 60 kg class, beating Lisa Greer, 5:0; Morelle McCane won the 65 kg division by beating Marie-Angelis Rosendo by a 5:0 decision, and 75 kg Tokyo 2020 Olympian Naomi Graham won by 5:0 against Kendra Samargis.

Yoseline Perez, the 2024 World Youth Champion, took the 54 kg class with a 5:0 decision over Kayla Gomez, and two prior national champions won again: Jennifer Lozano at 54 kg with a 3:2 decision against Noelle Haro, and Isabella Winkler at 70 kg, beating Christine Forkins, 4:1.

Emely Sandoval won at 46 kg; Sarai Brown-El won the 48 kg class and Ruby Martinez took the 80 kg division.

In the men’s division, Paris Olympian Roscoe Hill won at 50 kg over Edgar Herrera in a 5:0 decision, and 2021 World Champion Robby Gonzales was a 5:0 winner against Steven Colome at 80 kg.

Seven of the other eight men’s finals went to decisions; Malachi Georges won the 90 kg class as the referee stopped his bout against Rishon Sims at 1:42 of the third round.

Four men’s finals had unanimous, 5:0 decisions, with Thomas Covington winning at 65 kg over Ramon Ordonez; Dustin Jimenez won at 65 kg over Thomas McElroy; Frank Espinoza took the 75 kg crown by beating Keith Saunders and Patrick O’Connor beat Daniel Brown at 85 kg.

There were two close finals, with Marcellus Smith winning by 3:2 against Orlando Zamora at 55 kg, and Aaron Waldron won a 3:2 decision over Carlos Flowers at 70 kg. In the 90+ kg final, Kelvin Watts won on a 4:1 decision against Steven Williams.

● Cycling ● At the UCI World Urban World Championships in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Paris Olympic champ Jose Torres (ARG) had to settle for silver in the men’s Freestyle Park final, as Australia’s Logan Martin won his third Worlds gold by 94.30 to 91.60.

Martin scored 91.10 on his first run, with Torres leading, but posted his big score on the second run while Torres had trouble and scored on 2.00. American Justin Dowell, the 2018 World Champion and second in 2022, got the bronze with his first-round score of 90.74 for his third career Worlds medal.

The women’s Freestyle Park final was another showcase for American star Hannah Roberts, who had the two best runs in the entire field, scoring 95.70 in the first round – the eventual winning mark – and 94.58 in round two. China had the next five placers, with Sibei Sun taking silver (94.06) for the second consecutive year and Xiaotong Fan (93.72) the bronze.

Roberts won her sixth Worlds gold, out of seven UCI Worlds ever held and is the only rider to win a medal in all seven Worlds (6-1-0).

● Fencing ● “The report concludes that there is no substantial proof implicating any U.S. athlete or U.S. referee in deliberate manipulation during the Olympic qualifying period while still calling for important reforms to maintain public trust in the weapon and a complaint to the Grievance and Discipline Committee.”

That’s from USA Fencing, reporting the results of an independent investigation into alleged match manipulation in Sabre, which also included separate reports on individuals who were implicated:

“As a result, USA Fencing is initiating at least one disciplinary proceeding immediately and contemplating additional next steps to address concerns of member compliance with USA Fencing’s Code of Conduct and USA Fencing Rules. The potential violations do not affect the conclusions in the public reports regarding bout manipulation in the Olympic or Paralympic qualifying periods.”

The questions regarding match manipulations were primarily around officiating; the announcement stated the report noted:

“While some evidence of questionable refereeing practices was found, including a disciplinary action against referees at the San Jose [North American Cup], the preponderance of evidence did not show that any other referees were involved or that USA Fencing member athletes benefitted from manipulation during the Olympic qualifying period.”

● Figure Skating ● At the Japanese national championships, three-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto won her fourth national title, scoring 228.68 points and won both segments. Sixteen-year-old Mao Shimada was second at 219.00.

Yuma Kagiyama won the men’s competition for his first national title at 297.73 points; sixteen-year-old Rio Nakata was second with 263.99.

● Football ● “Netflix has secured the exclusive US rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for 2027 and 2031, marking the first time the tournament will appear on a streaming service.”

This is a major change in U.S. rights sales for a FIFA World Cup, with the matches on a streaming service and not on broadcast or cable television. The deal covers the 2031 Women’s World Cup, for which the U.S. will be a bidder.

The deal covers all languages and Netflix has committed to both coverage in both English and Spanish.

● Freestyle Skiing ● Canadian star Reece Howden got his first FIS World Cup Ski Cross victory of the season in Arosa (SUI) last week, beating 2023 World Champion Simone Deromedis (ITA), and then got a second win in Innichen (SUI) on Saturday, beating Beijing Olympic runner-up Alex Fiva (SUI) and Deromedis.

In between, Florian Wilmsmann (GER) won the Friday final in Innichen ahead of Youri Duplessis Kergomard (FRA) and Johannes Aujesky (AUT).

Canada’s Marielle Thompson, the 2014 Olympic Ski Cross gold medalist, led a Canadian sweep in Arosa, ahead of India Sherret and Hannah Schmidt. In Innichen on Friday, Beijing Olympic co-bronze medalist Daniela Maier (GER) won over Swiss Talina Gantenbein.

Maier doubled her pleasure on Saturday with another win, this time ahead of Joei Galli (ITA); it’s Maier’s third career win, as she tripled her gold total on the weekend.

Two-time Olympic medalist Alex Ferreira of the U.S. took the men’s World Cup Halfpipe title at Copper Mountain, Colorado, scoring 94.75 on his second run to win over Canada’s 2023 World Champion, Brendan Mackay (91.25) and triple Olympic medalist Nick Goepper (USA: 89.25).

Olympic champ Eileen Gu (CHN) won the women’s Halfpipe with her 90.50 first-round effort, her 18th career World Cup win, five of which have been in the U.S. Britain’s Zoe Atkin was second (at 89.75) and Canada’s Cassie Sharpe third (89.00). American Svea Irving was fourth (85.75).

The Moguls World Cup in Bakuriani (GEO) saw a win for two-time Worlds runner-up Benjamin Cavet (FRA) at 84.04, beating all-time wins leader Mikael Kingsbury (CAN: 82.93). Cavet was second in the Dual Moguls final to 2023 Worlds runner-up Walter Wallberg (SWE), with fellow Swede Filip Gravenfors winning the bronze final.

The women’s Moguls victory went to American Olivia Giaccio for her third career World Cup gold over 2018 Olympic champ Perrine Laffont (FRA), while American Jaelin Kauf, the 2022 Olympic silver winner, took the bronze.

Kauf returned to win the Dual Moguls on Saturday over Rino Yanagimoto (JPN, with Laffont winning the bronze.

● Nordic Combined ● The three-man battle at the top of the FIS World Cup standings continued in Ramsau (AUT), with defending champion Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) winning Friday’s 10 km race and 98 m jumping with 132.5 points, ahead of teammate Jens Oftebro (125.2). On Saturday, Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger got his third win of the season in the 98 m jumping and 10.0 km race in 24:10.3, with Ilkka Herola (FIN: 24:11.3) in second and fellow German Julian Schmid (24:19.9) in third.

Riiber now leads Schmid and Geiger by 595-545-528 after seven of 19 events.

There is no doubt about the women’s leader, as Norwegian star Ida Marie Hagen, the defending World Cup champ, continued her seasonal sweep, winning her third and fourth events. She won Friday’s 98 m jumping and 5.0 km race in 16:42.7, followed by Karuka Kasai (JPN: 17:46.7), then took Saturday’s event in 13:42.0 over Nathalie Armbruster (GER: 14:10.5).

No one was even close.

● Ski Jumping ● Austria’s Jan Hoerl got his second win of the FIS World Cup season in Engelberg (SUI), jumping off the 140 m hill, with 310.5 points on Saturday, coming from second to first on his final jump. Teammate Daniel Tschofenig had to settle for second at 304.0.

Tschofenig and Hoerl traded places on Sunday, despite high winds and snow, with Tschofenig scoring 274.8 points to 269.7, with teammate Stefan Kraft making it an Austrian sweep at 268.0.

In Saturday’s women’s competition, reigning World Cup champion Nika Prevc (SLO) got her ninth career victory on Saturday, scoring 283.4 and ending the three-event win streak of German Katharina Schmid, the two-time Olympic silver medalist (272.5).

Sunday’s women’s jumping had to be canceled due to worsening weather after 48 of 55 jumpers had completed their first-round tries.

● Snowboard ● Beijing 2022 Olympic champ Ayumu Hirano led a Japanese sweep of the FIS men’s World Cup Halfpipe in Copper Mountain, Colorado on Friday, scoring 97.00 to 94.75 for 2021 World Champion Yuto Totsuka and 92.75 for Ruka Hirano (unrelated).

Japan also took the women’s gold, with 15-year-old Sara Shimizu (90.50), beating China’s three-time World Champion Xuetong Cai (88.50) and 2023 Worlds bronzer Mitsuki Ono (JPN: 88.00). It’s Shimizu’s first World Cup medal, in her second World Cup start.

In the men’s Parallel Slalom final in Davos (SUI), Arvid Auner (AUT) won the gold-medal final over 2023 Worlds Parallel Giant Slalom runner-up Dario Caviezel (SUI), and Fabian Obmann (AUT) took the bronze. It’s Auner’s third individual career World Cup win.

Japan’s Tsubaki Miki won the women’s gold for her fifth career World Cup victory, beating Michelle Dekker (NED) in the final, with Flurina Baetschi (SUI) winning the bronze.

● Swimming ● Olympic gold-medal winner Cody Miller announced his retirement from competitive swimming in a video on Wednesday (18th). He won the Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 in the men’s 100 m Breaststroke and won gold on the men’s 4×100 m Medley. He was also a gold medalist on the 4×1 Medleys at the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.

He finishes with a 100 m Breast of 58.87 from Rio 2016, at the time an American Record; that mark still ranks 27th all-time and no. 5 all-time U.S.

● Table Tennis ● Three-time Olympian and five-time national champion Kanak Jha won his first U.S. Open Championships title in Las Vegas, Nevada, defeating Jinbao Ma (USA) in the men’s final, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1.

Yan Guo (CHN) took the omen’s Singles event over Asuka Sasao (JPN) by 4-2 (11-4, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5). Japanese teams swept the Doubles, with Seiya Numamura and Tonin Ryuzaki winning the men’s final, Sasao and Reina Aso taking the women’s title, and Koyo Kanamitsu and Minami Ando winning the Mixed Doubles.

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MILAN CORTINA 2026: Int’l Skating Union to allow up to 24 Russian athletes to try to qualify for 2026 Winter Games

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ RUSSIA & BELARUS “NEUTRALS” ≡

The International Olympic Committee’s formula for “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AIN) for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games led the International Skating Union to announce a parallel program to allow the possibility of Olympic qualification for up to 24 Russian and 24 Belarusian athletes for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina (ITA).

Friday’s announcement referred to ISU communication 2680, with 10 pages of specific regulations, and a question-and-answer document, including:

● “The ISU recognizes that in case the IOC will allow AINs to participate at
the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (“OWG 2026”), a pathway should be in place for AINs to qualify.”

● “The Russian and Belarusian national federations/Belarusian National Olympic Committee will each be able to nominate:

“o Maximum one Athlete and one substitute (in case of injury prior to qualification) per individual event (One pair for Pair Skating, One couple for Ice Dance) in Figure Skating

“o Maximum one Athlete and one substitute (in case of injury prior to qualification) per individual event in Speed Skating / Short Track Speed Skating”

● “By latest February 28 2025, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia, Russian Skating Union and Belarusian Skating Union/Belarusian National Olympic Committee will be able to nominate to the ISU one Athlete and one substitute (in case of injury prior to qualification) per individual event in Figure Skating/Speed Skating/Short Track Speed Skating, one pair for Pair Skating and one couple for Ice Dance who can participate as AINs.

● “A special screening, conducted with the support of specialist external contractors, will ensure that the Nominated Athletes and Substitutes who will be accepted as AINs have neither publicly supported nor are publicly supporting the invasion of Ukraine and are not linked to Russian/Belarusian military or security agencies.”

The ISU is taking a “better to be prepared” attitude toward Russian and Belarusian participation at the 2026 Winter Games, with a limited opening:

● The openings for participation are only four Olympic qualifying events in Figure Skating, Speed Skating and Short Track and not for any other ISU competition.

● One entry, who meets the ISU’s criteria – essentially the same as the IOC’s for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – will be allowed to enter the figure skating Olympic qualifier in China from 17-21 September 2025, the four speed skating World Cup events in November and December 2025 and the four Short Track World Tour events in November and December 2025.

● So, the maximum number of entries for figure skating is eight (12 athletes) for men and women; for speed skating is 12 for men and women and six in short track, for men and women for each country. That’s a total of 24 for Russia and for Belarus.

There are also special doping procedures, and rules allowing substitutes in case of injury.

The ISU Q&A notes that number of Russian figure skaters at Beijing 2022 was 18, vs. six now possible for 2026; 16 speed skaters, vs. 12 possible for 2026, and 10 short track racers, vs. six possible for 2026.

Although it will be expected that Russia will win places in all four figure-skating events, it’s not clear how much success they will have in speed skating or short track.

Moreover, if the IOC follows through for Milan Cortina with the same procedures it used for Paris, it will have its own review panel for Russian and Belarusian entries as “neutrals.” That panel for Paris:

● Russia: Reduced federation-approved entries from 48 to 15.
● Belarus: Reduced federation-approved entries from 32 to 17.

The Q&A also included a note on whether the Ukrainian federation was consulted in this policy:

“The ISU maintains its condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine and continues to provide financial support to Ukrainian Skaters through various initiatives, including the ISU Development Program, contributions to the Ukrainian Skating Federation, and a support program for displaced skaters. At the same time, the ISU remains independent in its decisionmaking from all its Members.”

The regulations did note that information about possible neutral athletes concerning support for the war against Ukraine can be submitted by outside sources, an element that Ukrainian sports officials have deemed crucial to eliminating war supporters.

Russian reaction to the ISU announcement was muted. Iconic figure skating coach Tatayana Tarasova told the Russian news agency TASS:

“I have positive emotions about the decision. I was sure that we would be allowed. What do I think about the strict requirements? Is there another way? Each competition has specific rules by which they are selected.

“I think that one quota is completely unfair, but I understood that they would not do it any other way.”

The Acting President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation Anton Sikharulidze was more positive:

“This is good news for all of us, our athletes will participate in the qualifying competitions for the 2026 Olympic Games.

“We are glad that world sports life continues, and we will prepare, as before, to be one of the leaders in world figure skating. I think that we will definitely discuss this with our guys, coaches within the federation and let everyone know how the selection will be held. The news is completely new, we must carefully look at it, study it and make a decision.”

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PANORAMA: Vonn returns to World Cup; Grand Slam Track signs last five “Racers”; Neugebauer and Valby take Bowerman Awards

By
Rich Perelman
-
Bowerman women’s winner Parker Valby (l) with host John Anderson (USTFCCCA video screenshot).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● A new ANOC report commended 14 National Olympic Committees for “sustainability wins” at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Capo Verde, Czech Republic, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Slovenia and Switzerland.

● New Zealand ● High Performance Sport New Zealand announced “$162.8 million directly into 36 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) over the next four years through to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. [NZ$1 = $0.56 U.S.]

“$40.7 million per annum will go directly to NSOs for their campaigns, high performance programmes and performance pathways.

“In addition, HPSNZ will invest $22 million per annum in Tailored Athlete Pathway Support (TAPS), a programme of investment to sports which supports the wellbeing and performance of eligible athletes in the high performance system.”

Top-level sports which received funding increases included Rowing, Yachting, Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling and Para Cycling, and Canoe Racing and Para Canoe, while “aspirational sports” Canoe Slalom, Gymnastics, Para Waka Ama, Speed Climbing, Tennis, and Para Table Tennis also will receive increases.

Sports with decreased support included Equestrian, Swimming, Triathlon, Hockey, Basketball and Rugby’s All Blacks Sevens. Sports not receiving funding are Diving, Surfing, Golf, Badminton, E-Sports, and Football.

The announcement also specified proposed medal targets for the 2028 Olympic Games of 14-18, and 9-14 for the 2028 Paralympics, and 10-plus medals at World Championships across non-Olympic and Paralympic sports. New Zealand won 20 Olympic medals (10-7-3) in Paris in 2024, and nine Paralympic medals (1-4-4).

● Alpine Skiing ● She’s back! U.S. star Lindsey Vonn left the FIS Alpine World Cup circuit after crashing in a Super-G at Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) on 20 January 2019.

Now, with a career total of 82 wins, she will race in the World Cup again this weekend at St. Moritz (SUI) in the two Super-G races, at age 40, and after a successful partial knee replacement surgery earlier in the year. And she has a goal:

“Ultimately, if I can make it to Cortina, that would be my goal,” looking ahead to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. She’s a four-time Olympian already – 2002-06-10-14 – and a three-time Olympic medalist, including the 2020 Downhill gold.

“I was in survival mode the last years of my career. Almost every prep period I got some sort of injury, some sort of setback.

“Now I’m stronger, I don’t think about my knee. I think about how I’m going to execute the race. And that’s a totally different mindset than I was in before.

“I’m in a position where I’m not I’m not sitting on the ski, I’m working the ski, and that generates power, and that’s a lot faster than what I was doing in the last few years of my career.

“I’m having so much fun. My partial knee replacement went so well and I have no pain and no swelling. And I just started on this adventure and I thought, ‘Let’s give it a try.’

“I can’t tell you how big a difference it makes to be able to ski without pain. It’s a completely new world for me, I haven’t felt this good for 15 years. I’m excited to be back.”

● Athletics ● Grand Slam Track announced its final “Racer” athletes, filling out its 48-member core squad that will compete in all four meets in 2025:

● Freddie Crittenden (USA) ~ Olympic men’s 110 m hurdles sixth
● Caleb Dean (USA) ~ NCAA men’s 400 m hurdles champion
● Zharnel Hughes (GBR) ~ 2023 World men’s 200 m bronze medalist
● Brittany Brown (USA) ~ Olympic 200 m bronze medalist
● Diribe Welteji (ETH) ~ 2023 World women’s 1,500 m silver medalist

The remaining 48 competitors – Challengers – will be paid an appearance fee to compete at individual Slams.

The meet format: “Racers and Challengers will be assigned to compete in one of the following categories, and will all race in two events during each Slam: short sprints (100m/200m), short hurdles (100H or 110H/100m), long sprints (200m/400m), long hurdles (400H/400m), short distance (800m/1500m), or long distance (3000m/5000m). All competitors’ final placement score will be determined by their combined finishing order between the two races.”

The meets are scheduled for 4-6 April 2025 in Kingston (JAM); 2-4 May in Miramar, Florida; 30 May to 1 June in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 27-29 May in Los Angeles, California.

The annual Bowerman Awards for the top collegiate track & field performers of the year were handed out at the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association convention in Florida on Thursday, with collegiate stars from Texas and Florida taking the honors.

German decathlon star Leo Neugebauer from the University of Texas won the men’s award for his wins at the NCAA Indoor heptathlon and his world-leading 8,961 win at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. At the Olympic Games in Paris, he won the silver medal at 8,748. His Eugene win ranks him no. 6 all-time.

The women’s award went to Florida distance star Parker Valby, who won the NCAA Indoor 3,000 m and 5,000 m titles and then took the outdoor wins in the 5,000 and 10,000 m, all in meet-record times. The Olympic Trials runner-up at 10,000 m, she finished 11th at the Olympic Games in Paris.

● Football ● A crowd of 45,000 women – and only women – attended Monday’s match at the Naghsh e Jahan Stadium in Isfahan (IRI), to see Sepahan beat Persepolis 2-1, following a 2023 mandate from the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation’s (FFIRI) disciplinary committee “for the men’s fixture (home and away) to be played exclusively with women in attendance.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) added:

“FIFA has been in constant contact with authorities in IR Iran for several years regarding women and girls having the possibility to attend football matches, and after last year’s Tehran Derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal where 3,000 women and girls were in attendance, this latest development comes as a glowing representation of how our game is inclusive and open for everyone to enjoy.”

Iranian authorities had banned women from attending football matches for years and led to an infamous incident in which Sahar Kohdayari – the “Blue Girl” – set herself on fire in September 2019 after attending a match, being arrested and then sentenced to six months in prison.

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IOC CANDIDATE STATEMENTS III: Samaranch sees member votes on hosts, more athlete promotion; Watanabe wants a 50-sport Olympics in 10 countries!

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC Presidential candidates (l-r): Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Morinari Watanabe (JPN).

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

(Third of three parts reviewing the Candidate Statements for the IOC Presidency, to be voted on in March 2025 at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.)

The International Olympic Committee published Thursday (19th) the candidate statements of the six men and one woman contending to be the next IOC President, from 2025 to 2033. A look at each and the positions the candidates are taking to appeal to the membership, in alphabetical order.

● Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP)

The son of the transformational IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP), who served from 1980 to 2001, the junior Samaranch is now 65 and has been an IOC member since 2001, longer than any of the other candidates. As such, he is eligible for a four-year extension to age 74, sufficient to complete an eight-year first term.

His statement of 42 pages (about the same as the others, but showing one page at a time), opens by underscoring his experience and a deeply-held perspective:

“The next IOC President must balance honouring tradition and embracing a forward-thinking vision while bringing proven experience in sport and business, both inside and outside the Olympic Movement. The next IOC President will face trials beyond past precedents or what we can foresee today. …

“Effective leadership is based on four principles: Experience, Perspective, Judgement, and Collaboration. Experience provides the foundation for understanding, Perspective frames the opportunities and risks in proper context, and Judgement provides the wisdom, ethics, and critical thinking necessary for good decisions. The basis for all of this is Collaboration. I bring these qualities to this campaign, driven by a lifelong passion for Olympism.”

His statement launches directly into a series of “action points” – 40 in all – around six priorities:

● “The IOC”
● “The Olympic Games”
● “The Athlete”
● “The Olympic Movement”
● “Society and the Olympic Movement”
● “The Business of the Olympic Movement”

Samaranch continues the one theme echoed by all candidates, that the IOC members must become more involved in the Movement and contribute more to decision-making in the future. The members are making their desires known, but Samaranch goes further, stating “We must also revisit the age limit [to 75] to ensure we are not arbitrarily losing the benefits of experience and knowledge.”

Further, he suggests better member support and a stronger promotion of the members to their own national governments, and to “Recognize IOC Members as global ambassadors of sport by advocating to their governments for diplomatic support.”

Samaranch also supports returning the Host City selection to the membership, with “A final list of the suitable candidates should then be submitted to the Session” and notes that the new flexibility in having Games held in multiple cities or regions of a country (or even in multiple countries), can be a negative as well:

“Excessive widespread Games may affect the authenticity and communal spirit of the Olympics, where the Olympic Village serves as the cornerstone of the Games experience and brand.”

Further, “The IOC must strengthen oversight and guide OCOGs in effectively presenting the Olympic brand, including sponsorship, marketing, and client relationship management.”

For athletes, he supports “clear guidelines” for defining the women’s competition category, and give athletes access to video of their own performances for their personal use in promotion on social media. This is a significant expansion of the ability for Olympians to promote themselves at their highest-profile event. This would extend to Olympians of prior Games as well, something which will be widely welcomed by the athlete community.

Samaranch would like to see more engagement with media of all kinds, whether in traditional formats or on social platforms, all of which can help promote the Olympic Movement.

He also suggests more efforts in bringing physical activity on a par with academic subjects, promoting the health benefits of sport as a topic to work with National Olympic Committees in individual countries, a worthwhile goal.

As for the business aspects of the IOC, he – like the other candidates – wants to reexamine how the IOC’s relationships with broadcasters can be deepened for the benefit of both sides. And to help athletes continue to promote themselves and the Games, “Encourage our Media partners to be more flexible with athletes regarding their social media activities during Games-time, while respecting existing Olympic rules and obligations, for mutual benefit.”

He wants new sponsorship levels to be created, “exploring new avenues of promotional exposure at the Games while fully respecting our Clean Venue and Field of Play Guidelines,” and suggests that an “Olympic Donor Programme” could raise $1 billion within five years to support IOC projects such as the Olympic Museum and Refugee Olympic Team.

Similarly, the Olympic Broadcasting Services team – which now services the Games only – could be open to producing other events for outside clients, and the Olympic Channel could be more open to co-productions and new distribution models, reducing the IOC’s underwriting of their full cost.

In many ways, Samaranch’s manifesto is the easiest to grasp as it offers very clear, concrete steps he wants to take to expand member influence and services, significantly expand athlete promotional opportunities and find new revenue sources. His lifetime business experience in finance is a theme which runs behind his ideas, and he underplays his multinational financial and charitable work.

He will be a formidable candidate, especially for IOC members who are and were athletes and have known how difficult it has been to promote themselves at an Olympic Games due to the IOC’s historic rules to protect the exclusivity of their broadcast rights-holders.

● Morinari Watanabe (JPN)

The just-re-elected head of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), Watanabe joined the IOC in 2018, linked to his federation. At 65, he can serve, with an extension, to 2033, enough for an eight-year first term.

His statement is notably brief, just five pages, but launches into a series of observations and suggestions for change:

“The Olympic Games have grown so large, and it is now economically and environmentally difficult to host them in most cities. The Olympic Games can be seen as a way of demonstrating the political power of large nations. This has led to a negative perception of the Olympic Games.

“The current model of the Olympic Games began in the 18th century. In the 18th century, there was no television and the main means of transport were ships. Now, in the 21st, technology has developed and we enjoy using various travel and communication technologies, including the internet. In this context, we will study the development of the new model of the Olympic Games.”

In this context, Watanabe starts off with a stunning, radical proposal for the restructuring of the Games:

● “Stage the Olympic Games in five cities from the five continents, in the same period of time.

● “IOC and IFs can choose a city that will provide an environment with less burden on athletes.

● “Significance of the Olympic Games: Bringing the five continents together

● “The Games will be broadcast and streamed 24 hours a day, which will unite the world.

● “10 sports per host city, 50 sports in total.”

A similar change in format would be used for the Winter Games as well, spreading them out worldwide. By doing this, the economic impact of each host city would be drastically reduced, allowing even small cities to be hosts. Wow.

He would follow up with an “Olympian Forum” at the end of each Games year for interaction in one place at one time, without the interference of having competitions.

Watanabe proposes changing the IOC governance to a “House of Representatives” of National Olympic Committee and International Federation presidents and a “Senate” of the current IOC. So proposals would be discussed in the “House” and then voted on in the “Senate.” Another wow.

He sees an expansion of an abuse “Hotline” for athletes and for compliance reporting, yet also expanding the availability of coaching expertise by using artificial intelligence on a worldwide basis.

Watanabe posits that the future is in health care, as populations continue to age, and sees opportunity for the IOC in meeting that need.

It’s a wild, out-of-the-box approach to an IOC Presidential campaign, and while there will be those who simply dismiss Watanabe’s candidature and his ideas, it will not be a surprise if some of them are the basis of future development in the Olympic Movement.

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IOC CANDIDATE STATEMENTS II: Coventry embraces digital outreach, Eliasch emphasizes business, efficiency; Lappartient has a steady hand

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC Presidential candidates (l-r) Kirsty Coventry, Johan Eliasch and David Lappartient.

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

(Second of three parts reviewing the Candidate Statements for the IOC Presidency, to be voted on in March 2025 at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.)

The International Olympic Committee published Thursday (19th) the candidate statements of the six men and one woman contending to be the next IOC President, from 2025 to 2033. A look at each and the positions the candidates are taking to appeal to the membership, in alphabetical order.

● Kirsty Coventry (ZIM)

Coventry, the Minister of Sport, Art and Recreation in Zimbabwe, is the only woman in the candidate field and at 41, the youngest, with no age issues relative to the Olympic Charter. A five-time Olympian, a seven-time Olympic medalist in swimming and an IOC member since 2013, she has been deeply involved in sport and has been a key player in the IOC Athletes’ Commission and as the head of multiple Olympic Coordination Commissions.

Her 24-page submittal highlights five priorities:

● “Harness the Power of Sport”
● “Maximize Collaboration & Engagement”
● “Strengthen Partnerships for Mutual Growth”
● “Champion Sustainable Development”
● “Advance Credibility & Trust”

True to her athlete background, she emphasizes athletes and sport in her opening section:

“Athletes face growing pressures to represent their clubs, countries, and compete in numerous events worldwide and this requires us to create an environment where athletes are further supported and valued. Recognizing that athletes are more than competitors, we must continue to prioritize their mental health, physical recovery, and amplify their holistic well-being to help them thrive throughout their athletic careers and beyond.”

She wants to increase visibility in the years between Olympic Games, especially using artificial intelligence. She promises more support for the National Olympic Committees, but especially the International Federations:

“Actively involving IFs means initiating a new approach by which IFs would be in a leading position when it comes to their sport at the Games. It also means that IFs would be in a better position to draw full benefit of increased revenues generated by this new approach, including the opportunities offered by the Olympic Qualifiers, the Olympic E-Sports Games and the exploitation of AI and digital engagement activities.”

She also promises better communications, as a path for better outreach:

“Improved internal communications between us will lead to better external communications where traditional media and journalists will have more access to sharing our ideas and triumphs. But this also means we may face greater criticism. We should be okay with this. My years of facing public scrutiny in the pool, in parliament and as chairperson of my various IOC portfolios, has built a confidence and strength within me to take full responsibility for all our decisions.”

And that creates significant opportunities for worldwide engagement, one person at a time:

“Digital platforms, AI-powered fan engagement tools, and innovative media solutions can extend the Olympic experience to audiences in regions with limited traditional coverage. Leveraging AI technology can also create immersive experiences, empowering fans to curate their own viewing experiences. By bringing the Olympic Games directly into the hands and hearts of people everywhere, the IOC can reinforce its commitment to solidarity, expand its global footprint, and create a stronger connection with younger, digitally savvy audiences.”

Coventry emphasized the need for maintaining a focus on sustainability and carefully considering the burden an Olympic or Winter Games places on a host community. As for credibility, her commitment is “Zero tolerance for corruption, doping and unethical behaviour.”

Coventry is the preferred candidate of IOC President Thomas Bach (GER); given her relative youth and experience in sport and her government roles in Zimbabwe, will she be the right person to lead at a time when the world is in conflict? That’s a question for the IOC membership to decide. Coventry says she wants to tackle that challenge:

“So often, these differences are rooted in misconceptions. When given the chance to connect on a level playing field, we discover a willingness to embrace new perspectives, accept without judgment, and work together toward a shared purpose.”

● Johan Eliasch (GBR)

The long-time chief executive of the Head sporting goods company, the Swedish-born billionaire is now the company chairman and was elected to the IOC in mid-2024 as the President of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), which he is restructuring, especially in the commercial sector. As such a new member of the IOC, his candidature is the most surprising.

At 62, he would be able to serve to age 70 at 2032 (a year short of a full first term), but can be extended for four years, leaving him just short of a second term of four years. His 25-page manifesto pictures the Earth on the cover, extending his long focus on environmental and sustainability issues, but is visually striking, using comic-style and lithographic color sets of sporting images to engage the reader.

He summarizes his program in 12 short statements:

● “We need a fresh strategic plan.”
● “Equality for all members.”
● “Businesslike and entrepreneurial.”
● “More for less.”
● “Sporting excellence front and centre.”
● “Our athletes come first.”
● “Women’s sports have to be ring-fenced.”
● “The greatest show on earth.”
● “Digitalisation changes everything.”
● “AI is the new reality; embracing it is essential.”
● “Sustainability must be central to the IOC agenda.”
● “The IOC is, first and foremost, a team.”

Eliasch wants a new, five-year business plan for the IOC, with more efficiency, a better experience – before, during and after the Games – for athletes, go digital-first to engage the audiences of today and tomorrow and a bold approach to sustainability.

His summary also notes, “I will initiate a review of all sports and formats to maximise their attractiveness to fans.” That will send chills down the spines of some IOC members who represent sports which already lag in popularity.

The core of his candidacy is his enormous success in life, in business, technology and government:

“If we are to stay ahead of the game, the IOC needs a safe and experienced pair of hands who can hit the ground running and is capable of bringing members and others on a journey to an ever-brighter future. We need highly experienced leadership, gained over decades at the sharp end of sports administration, business, politics and philanthropic endeavours.

“Our next president must have steered a large organisation and managed change within it; faced a blizzard of decisions to make every day; and not only made decisions but overseen their delivery too. The experience of personally leading a multi-faceted global organisation cannot be picked up on the job. The demands of such a role are intense at any time, but now – at this juncture of rapid geopolitical, technological and cultural change – they are exceptionally challenging, demanding exceptional experience. This is, to paraphrase a political slogan, no time for a novice.”

He also emphasizes the need for better involvement of IOC members and their shared passion for what sport can bring. But he comes back to achievement:

“There must be zero complacency in our drive to excel. We ask our athletes to challenge world and Olympic records, and we need to offer the same level of administrative and commercial skills to match and showcase their extraordinary talents.”

He is crystal-clear on protecting women’s sport from males who have experienced puberty, prefers empowering many athletes vs. giving prize money to a few, wants to bring sport and entertainment closer together and explore mixed relays of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

As for the future of the Games as a televised spectacle:

“Three big shifts are shaping and disrupting this landscape: the shift from live programming to highlights; from traditional formats to storytelling; and from traditional commercial models to You Tubers, free streaming with presenting partners, product placement and so on. In this context, staying relevant is a very real challenge. We must stay ahead of the curve – both digitally and in live events.”

For sponsors, current and future, brand integration and activations are key and are a new area for the IOC to better explore. And the Games themselves can be improved: “I am confident that with new technologies and closer involvement by the international federations we can deliver future editions of the Games more efficiently, at significantly less cost – and at an even higher standard of quality.”

He also proposes “a new Forest City initiative, in which a portion of rainforest which is the exact size of the host city is conserved, meeting the criteria of permanence, leakage and additionality.” He likes the idea of a Winter Games site rotation among permanent host areas, and continuing the “neutral athlete” concept pioneered in 2024.

● David Lappartient (FRA)

The President of the Union Cycliste Internationale and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF), Lappartient, 51, has no age issues, but was voted into the IOC only recently, in 2022. He has been Bach’s primary agent with the e-sports community, giving him a higher profile within the IOC in the past year, making him a more attractive candidate.

He filed a colorful, 27-page statement which headlines eight major challenges he sees ahead for the IOC:

● “Apprehending the Challenges of Global Instability:
● “Dealing with Climate Issues”
● “Taking into Account Technological Challenges and Artificial Intelligence”
● “Promoting Universal Olympic Values”
● “The Future of the Olympic Games”
● “Future Revenue Streams and the Olympic Movement”
● “Turning Sport into a Tool for a Better World”
● “Consolidating the IOC and Guaranteeing Exemplary Governance”

Lappartient urged caution on the way Olympic Games are expanding, but appreciated the change in bidding procedures that re-encouraged cities and countries to want the Games again:

● “We are receiving numerous bids again, but we should avoid an XXL approach. This is really important if we want to continue encouraging bids across the world, with particular consideration for the model of the Winter Olympic Games against the backdrop of global warming.”

● “The number of bids to organise the Olympic Games, which had been decreasing in a context of soaring budgets, has bounced back following the adoption of Agenda 2020 and ‘The New Norm.’ Selecting the host cities of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games far in advance was the right move because it insulated the IOC and the members of the Olympic Movement from the need to make an immediate decision and creates the right conditions for a calm debate on the future of the Olympic Games and their stakeholders.”

Like other candidates, Lappartient emphasizes more decision-making for the membership, and wants the IOC membership to achieve gender parity no later than 2036. He also wants to increase the number of IOC members to admit more athletes to the group.

His manifesto recites a long list of issues which need to be addressed, but includes a few specific ideas or suggestions. He ends with a 30-item list of pledges, however, which are more concrete.

These include better dialogue and roles for IOC members, opening high-performance centers with NOC confederations and the International Federations, more athlete representation, “taking the Olympic Games to Africa,” an emphasis on maintaining political neutrality and creating an “Agenda 2036.”

In an interview published in the manifesto, he sums up the reason for his candidature as:

“The IOC Presidency is a key role requiring a broad skill set: in-depth knowledge of sport, diplomacy, management, finance and international relations, natural leadership and the ability to bring people (back) together. I believe that I have these skills, as well as the desire to serve the IOC and the Olympic Movement and the level of experience required to run as a candidate.

“These turbulent times in every aspect of life demand a president who can keep a steady hand on the helm in a crisis and defend our positions, someone who has ample experience and is in synch with the world of today.”

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IOC CANDIDATE STATEMENTS I: Al Hussein says rethink ads, members to vote for host cities; Coe offers referendum after four years

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC Presidential candidates (l-r) Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR) and Sebastian Coe (GBR).

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≡ IOC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ≡

(First of three parts reviewing the Candidate Statements for the IOC Presidency, to be voted on in March 2025 at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.)

The International Olympic Committee published Thursday (19th) the candidate statements of the six men and one woman contending to be the next IOC President, from 2025 to 2033. A look at each and the positions the candidates are taking to appeal to the membership, in alphabetical order.

● Prince Feisal Al Hussein (JOR)

An individual member of the IOC since 2010, Al Hussein is the younger brother of Jordan’s King Abdullah II. At 61, he is eligible to serve a full term to 2033 and his membership could be extended for four years to 2037.

His 20-page manifesto emphasizes sport as a catalyst for a better world, and wants to engage the IOC members in a larger role to make the organization more impactful:

“I firmly believe the IOC’s greatest strength lies in its membership – a diverse and exceptional group of individuals from every corner of the globe. Should I have the honour of leading this Movement, I am committed to harnessing the unique talents and insights of our Members to shape an Olympic future that is innovative, sustainable and inclusive.”

He promotes a vision with three main ideas:

● “Inspire Imagination”
● “Ensure Integrity”
● “Develop Inclusion”

Al Hussein proposes an “Olympic Agenda 2036″ which would see increased revenues, a potential change when Olympic Games are held in view of climate issues, the re-formatting of the Youth Olympic Games as part-festival and part-elite competitions and more engagement with youth, especially through digital means.

His policy priorities are instructive:

● “Reimagine the TOP programme with current and future partners.”
● “Insure our assets and programmes benefit partners between Games.”
● “Establish regional IOC offices co-located with Continental Associations.”
● “Reimagine advertising models to ensure broadcasting rights value.”
● “Optimise our Games revenue distribution model, valuing athletes.”

What does “benefit partners between Games” or “Reimagine advertising models” mean? How will better revenue distribution “valuing athletes” work: is this prize money?

His integrity plank emphasizes athlete safeguarding at all levels, and sustainability. The inclusion section wants more IOC member participation in decision-making and a stronger role for women at all levels of sport, on and off the field.

One clear element in his priority list: “Enable Members to decide the electorate for future host cities” and he also wants to increase the IOC member age limit to 75 from the current 70.

● Sebastian Coe (GBR)

An IOC member since 2020 as President of World Athletics, Coe, 68, would require an extension to serve to 2030 and a change in the age limit to serve a full term to 2033.

Coe’s 22-page statement continues the theme he has carried through more than a dozen interviews he has done with media of all kinds, starting with “I would like to share our Olympic STAGE with all of you, the people with the collective capacity to grasp our opportunities and address our challenges.”

His program uses the acronym STAGE:

● “Sport First”
● “Tomorrow’s Generation”
● “Athletes at the Heart”
● “Growth”
● “Empowerment”

He makes a unique offer on page 5, doubling down on his willingness to be part of a more collaborative IOC team:

“That requires an urgent review of governance structures to deliver a fundamental rebalancing of the roles and responsibilities of the membership and the Executive.

“My focus is on embedding transformative change over the next four years after which I will put myself forward for re-election. You, the members, will be the judges of whether I have delivered.”

The IOC Presidential first term has been eight years for a long time; Coe proposes a unique referendum that would confirm him or reject him within the age-70-plus-four-years-extension, removing (for now) the need to change the Olympic Charter age rules.

Coe promises to extend what he demonstrated at World Athletics: protection of the women’s category, a powerful anti-doping effort, and “maintaining focus on sport and athletes for the full Olympic cycle.”

He wants to appeal to youth more directly, and wants to promote the value of sport more directly to governments:

“The Olympic Movement and Governments share common agendas to build healthy communities. I will tirelessly promote and reinforce the idea that good sports policies are also good education, health, social and nation building policies with measurable returns. Investment in sport is a powerful investment in young people and their futures.”

And Coe is front-and-center about athletes and money:

● “Athletes’ financial well-being will also be prioritised, in consultation with all stakeholders, ensuring their contributions are rewarded fairly.”

● “Athletes drive the value of the Games. I will develop programmes that could allow all athletes to share the commercial rewards they help generate, empowering them as partners, not just participants.”

These are references to the World Athletics’ award of $50,000 to each Paris 2024 gold medalist. Coe has never apologized for making prize money available, but did tell other federations that he was sorry for a lack of communication and consultation about it beforehand.

And as to growth, modernization is his key, especially with new revenue models: “We must start listening to the consumer and deliver what the audience wants, when they want it, where they want it and with a barrier-free physical and digital experience.”

He has called for more IOC member input, crystallizing the issue this:

“Many members have shared concerns that decision-making is overly centralised, leaving them feeling disconnected from the direction of the Movement. They want a more inclusive approach to governance, one that embraces reform and fosters transparency. NOCs and IFs want stronger collaboration and clearer pathways to contribute meaningfully, irrespective of their size.”

He finished by emphasizing his experience, as a two-time Olympic 1,500 m champion, as an athlete advocate, head of a National Olympic Committee, one of the largest International Federations, an Olympic organizing committee and multiple roles in government.

But his offer to serve four years and stand again is an aggressive and insightful play against his age and the Olympic Charter limitations, and makes him a more attractive candidate.

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PANORAMA: New Celine Dion video from Paris 2024 opening; Kamila Valieva appeals again; 2030 Winter Games already in financial trouble?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Is the French Alps 2030 Winter Games already in money trouble?

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● A new, four-minute video of Celine Dion’s performance of “Hymme a l’amour’ during the Paris 2024 opening ceremony from the Eiffel Tower balcony, has been released here.

It was her first public performance in four years, and almost two years since announcing a diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● Yet another appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal was made on behalf of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva concerning her disqualification for doping confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (and the subsequent loss of Russia’s figure skating Team gold at the 2022 Winter Games).

Her prior appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal was dismissed in October; she is serving a four-year ban through 24 December 2025 for a doping positive from a 25 December 2021 test.

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● The FrancsJeux.com site reported that the formation of the 2030 organizing committee has become more complex than expected and former Prime Minister Michel Barnier (FRA) – who was the co-head of the Albertville 1992 organizing committee – has been called in to help as an IOC advisor. The new organization was supposed to be opened by 24 December; it is now considered possible that Barnier will head the organizing committee (again).

Further, after the 2030 Games budget had been set at €1.975 billion (€1 = $1.04 U.S.), FranceInfo reported on a summer review from the French IGF – General Inspectorate of Finances – that found:

“The forecast result of the [organizing committee] immediately presents an imbalance, which the mission estimates at between 850 and 900 million euros, to be covered by public authorities.” This is double the amount expected to be supported under the bid budget.

● Olympic Winter Games 2034: Salt Lake City ● As with French Alps 2030, the Salt Lake City organizing committee will not be opened by 24 December, but is expected to be inaugurated in January. The final meeting of the bid group, the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, took place on Wednesday.

● International Olympic Committee ● “We are not fully utilising the potential of the IOC… the question is, how can we unlock that potential?”

That’s Jordan’s Prince Feisal Al Hussein, 61, speaking to Reuters this week about his candidacy to be the IOC President.

“A key part of this involves inclusivity – bringing them into the fold, ensuring their voices are heard, and making them feel they are an integral part of the process. It’s important that they don’t feel decisions are being dictated from the top down, but rather that their perspectives matter, and they can actively contribute.”

This is a theme already raised by other candidates such as Sebastian Coe (GBR) and Morinari Watanabe (JPN). Feisal also noted that the continuing questions of climate suitability for both the Olympic Games and the Winter Games must be considered in placing the events in the future, potentially away from the mid-summer timeframe preferred by American and European broadcasters, the IOC’s largest funders.

As for his own appeal to the members, he explained, “I believe that I’ve always had credibility because I speak very frankly. I don’t try and say things that I think people want to hear. I say what I really believe because I think you must be frank and honest if you want to build a relationship.”

Ukrainian Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi told Agence France Presse that the seven candidates for the IOC Presidency must continue to maintain pressure against Russian sports participation in view of the continuing war against Ukraine:

“Our position is clear: sports cannot be a propaganda tool for an aggressor state. There can be no return under the national flag of a country that continues to wage the largest war in Europe since World War II.

“If IOC presidential candidates want to be global sports leaders, they must embody the principles of justice.”

And he offered to show each of the candidates what the Russian invasion has meant:

“We would invite them to visit Ukraine, see destroyed sports facilities, and talk to the families of deceased coaches and athletes. Perhaps then they would understand that allowing Russia to return under its national flag is not just a dubious step but a concession to Russian hybrid influence.”

● World Anti-Doping Agency ● A new study published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis showed that there was a significant drop in positive tests for erythropoietin (EPO) and other EPO-receptor agonists (ERAs) after an athlete receives a first-ever doping test.

A review of 1.68 million doping tests carried out over an 8-year period, from 2016-23, showed 390,167 tests for EPO and related agonists, with 522 adverse findings or 0.13%. Moreover:

“It was observed that 43.1% of all ERA AAFs occurred on the first sample ever collected for an athlete, decreasing to 14.1% on the second test, and continuing to decrease for each successive sample collection.”

The authors further explained:

“Because [out-of-competition] testing is based on a whereabouts system, whereby athletes provide their location for testing purposes, athletes are also explicitly aware that they could be subjected to [out-of-competition] testing.

“In order to test positive during a competition, an athlete must either have mis-managed their doping regime, felt that the risk of being tested was very low, or be uneducated about anti-doping in general and the potential consequences of testing positive.

“Comparing the number of [in-competition] AAFs occurring on the first test ever for an athlete to those occurring on the second test already shows a significant decrease, and by the third test the rate of [in-competition] positivity decreases by almost half.”

Observed: The lesson here is, athletes need to start getting tested early.

● Great Britain ● UK Sport announced Monday:

“Today we can reveal our greatest investment to date with £330m in Government and National Lottery funding set to benefit more than 50 sports as they embark on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games cycle.” (£1 = $1.26 U.S.)

Grants were made to five groups of sports: Olympic world-class (18), Paralympic world-class (18), Olympic development (9), Paralympic Development (1) and LA2028 new sports (5). The biggest recipients were:

● £30.125 million: Cycling
● £28.750 million: Aquatics
● £24.850 million: Rowing
● £23.950 million: Sailing
● £20.450 million: Athletics

Of the headlining Olympic sports, 16 of 18 received increases from the 2021-24 quad, but Athletics and Canoeing got less.

● Athletics ● Now, this is an athlete promoting herself directly! Olympic women’s 800 m champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) announced a new meet, telling Athletics Weekly:

“I’m beyond excited to announce the Keely Klassic, my first track race since becoming Olympic champion. This event is all about bringing energy, passion, and top-tier athletics to the fans. It will be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, with some of the UK’s best athletes competing, and a special focus on the 800 m.

“I’m also thrilled to attempt to break the world [indoor] record – this is an opportunity for me to take my career to the next level while giving back to the sport that has given me so much.”

There’s more: the record is 1:55.82, which was set on 3 March 2002 by Jolanda Ceplak (SLO), which was also the day that Hodgkinson was born! The meet will be on 15 February 2025 in Birmingham.

● Biathlon ● Speaking with the French-language Ski Chrono site, International Biathlon Union President Olle Dahlin (SWE) was asked about readmitting Russian athletes as “neutrals,” as have several other federations:

“As things stand, no. … We have made clear decisions. If the war stops, the executive committee could lift the sanctions, or we could address this issue at a future IBU congress.”

● Football ● FIFA announced The Best FIFA Football Awards for 2024, with Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior named the top men’s player and Spain’s midfielder Altana Bonmati was named the top women’s player for the second straight year.

U.S. women’s keeper Alyssa Naeher was honored as the top women’s keeper, and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was voted the best men’s keeper.

U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes (GBR) won for the top women’s coach, and Carlo Ancelotti (ITA), coach of Real Madrid in La Liga, took the men’s honor.

Among the many other awards, the U.S. women placed three on the Best XI, including Naeher in goal, defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Lindsey Horan.

Star U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn, 39, announced her retirement after 219 appearances with the national team and contributing to two FIFA Women’s World Cup wins and one Olympic gold.

She first played with the U.S. team in 2008, but became a fixture by 2011 and was a member of the 2012-16-20 U.S. Olympic teams and the 2011-15-19 Women’s World Cups. Across her 16-year span with the national team, she did not score a goal.

After her All-American college career at Virginia, she played for eight different U.S. clubs, both in the defunct WPS and the NWSL.

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ATHLETICS: Four-year study reviewed 1.44 million online comments, with just 0.09% abusive, but the abuse was intense

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ SOCIAL MEDIA ABUSE ≡

At least at the Olympic and World Championships level, there isn’t that much social-media abuse hurled at athletes, but where there is, it’s intense.

That’s what the data show from a new report from World Athletics, sharing data from Threat Matrix from its artificial intelligence-supported surveys from the four major events in the sport from 2021-24: two Olympic Games and two World Championships.

At the top level, the amount of abuse is small. Across the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games and the 2022 and 2034 World Championships:

● 1,441,583 messages were analyzed on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

● A total of 1,258 abusive comments or posts – that’s 0.00087265% of the total – rounding to about 0.09% were reported to the platforms, involving 254 accounts.

However, Paris 2024 showed an unwelcome trend of increase, with 809 abusive posts out of 355,873 total posts, or 0.23% after just 59 abusive comments at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene or 258 at the 2023 Worlds in Budapest. Worse, 82% of all Paris 2024 abuse targeted just two athletes!

This is similar to what happened at Tokyo 2021, where abusive comments were 63% concentrated on two athletes, both female. The overall numbers of athletes targeted was small, but has increased over the last two years, and as events were located in Europe:

● 23 at Tokyo 2020 (7 men + 16 women)
● 27 at Oregon 2022 (11 + 16)
● 47 at Budapest 2023 (21 + 26)
● 42 at Paris 2024 (21 + 19 + 2 non-binary)

The primary areas of abuse were racism (18-35% of abuse) and sexism. The report noted:

“[T]he majority of abuse targeting athletics athletes was sent in English. However, Spanish was also seen in large volumes – particularly during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“The languages of abuse sent appear to correlate with the native language of the athlete receiving the abuse. For example, during Paris 2024 the second most targeted individual was a Spanish speaking athlete, and the majority of Spanish language abuse was targeted toward them.”

Further, online abusers appeared to be aware of the efforts to stop them and used emojis in increasing quantities in 2023 and 2024 to try and avoid machine detection related to speech patterns.

The overwhelming majority of abuse took place on Twitter/X, with Instagram a distant second in 2023 and 2024. As a result, World Athletics took action to assist several targets:

“25 athletes have been offered year-round AI protection on some of their social media platforms after having been identified as highly-targeted individuals during major events – this will be expanded over the next year(s).”

The next steps are an action plan by World Athletics to continue to extend its safeguarding program, exploring the depth and type of future protections.

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ATHLETICS: College T&F and X-C coaches told “Our sports are under siege,” asked “will you watch from the sidelines as our sports fade into irrelevance?”

By
Rich Perelman
-
USTFCCCA chief Sam Seemes, ringing the warning bell for his sports in the era of professional college athletes (USTFCCCA video screen shot).

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≡ USTFCCCA CONVENTION ≡

“Simply put, our sports do not measure up in these areas.”

Very few people outside of the world of college cross country and track & field can tell you what “USTFCCCA” stands for, but the annual convention of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association is underway in Grande Lakes, Florida.

USTFCCCA chief executive Sam Seemes, the former LSU assistant coach and head of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials organizing committee, who has led the organization since 2005, told the attendees on Tuesday that unless significant change comes soon, collegiate track and field and cross country as they exist today may not exist in the future.

In a carefully-crafted, 11-minute opening address – in fact, 911 words, a perfect metaphor for essentially a “911″ emergency call – rang the alarm for these sports in view of the massive changes coming to all collegiate sport with the House vs. NCAA settlement that will channel about $20 million a year for the “Power Four” football schools to athletes, almost exclusively to football and basketball players. That means trouble for everyone else, and Seemes made this excruciatingly clear. Some highlights:

● “THREAT: Let me be blunt: Our sports are under siege. Not in some distant future, but right now. The threats are real and immediate:

“– Shrinking opportunities for student-athletes
“– Vanishing budgets
“– Disappearing scholarships
“– Reduced coaching positions
“– Complete program elimination
“– Replacement by sports perceived as more valuable

“If you think I’m being an alarmist, wake up. Every headline, every report, every analysis of collegiate sports points to an uncertain future for programs beyond football and basketball.

“How did we get here? Through collective inaction. While stakeholders buried their heads in the sand, our foundation eroded. University Presidents, tasked years ago with controlling athletic spending, instead accelerated it beyond sustainability. The NCAA and its membership, comfortable in its status quo, failed to adapt. And yes, we in track & field and cross country must look in the mirror – we’ve failed to position our sports for the future by resisting change at every opportunity.”

● “VALUE: The metrics of value in collegiate athletics have fundamentally shifted. Most of us entered coaching believing in the intrinsic value of mentoring young athletes, using sport as a vehicle for education and personal growth. These values – once the cornerstone of collegiate athletics – have been superseded by revenue generation, TV ratings, and marketability.

“Let’s be crystal clear: Nothing is guaranteed anymore. Our sport’s place in collegiate athletics is not a birthright. Yes, we have the highest participation numbers. Yes, we’re among the most diverse sports on campus. Yes, we produce exceptional graduation rates. But here’s the harsh reality – participation numbers and diversity statistics may make for good public relations, but behind closed doors, they’re not driving decisions.

“What’s driving these value decisions today? Let me be specific:

“– Media rights revenue
“– Donor engagement
“– Social media impressions
“– Attendance figures
“– Corporate sponsorship

“Simply put, our sports do not measure up in these areas.”

● “CHANGE: The path forward demands transformation. Not incremental adjustments, but fundamental change in how we conduct our sports. And let me be clear – change means changing. Not talking about change. Not planning to change. Actually changing NOW.

“I see some uncomfortable faces in the audience. Good. We should be uncomfortable. Comfort is what got us here.

“Consider this: While we’ve been conducting competitions the same way for years, other sports have revolutionized their presentation to become more consumable products for institutions and the public.

“I challenge each of you: Are you willing to commit to change for the betterment of our sports? Will you make decisions not just for your team or yourself, but for the collective future of track & field and cross country?

“If you’re waiting for your institution, conference, NCAA, USATF, USOPC, World Athletics, or Congress to fight this battle – stop waiting. They won’t save us. We must save ourselves.”

● “EXPOSURE: The first step toward survival is revolutionizing how we present our sports to the public. We must package our competitions in an engaging, consumable format that excites audiences and attracts broadcasters.

“Let’s be honest: All-day meets with endless time trials don’t engage the public and never will … nor with cross country meets with “tempo runs”. We need competitions with clear narratives, dramatic moments, and real stakes.

“The time for comfort is over. We’re not just competing with football and basketball anymore – we have been outmaneuvered by other sports in your athletic departments that have embraced change and adapted to modern demands.”

And Seemes did not stop there, adding an outline of what can be done:

“Our path forward is clear but challenging:

“1. We must create tangible value for our institutions
“2. We must implement meaningful change in how we operate
“3. We must prioritize the spectator and viewer experience
“4. We must revolutionize how we present our sport

“The choices ahead won’t be easy. They’ll require courage, creativity, and yes, compromise. I’m asking you to approach these challenges with an open mind – not just about what needs to change, but about how you personally can be part of that change.

“Smart choices rarely feel comfortable in the moment. They often require us to let go of what’s familiar, and that is not easy. But smart choices, made with careful consideration and an eye toward the future, are what our sport desperately needs right now.”

Seemes provided one of the clearest looks yet at the plight of almost every college sports except football and basketball. What happens now is key, and the NBA just provided an example on Tuesday night.

In the second NBA Cup Final, played on a neutral court in Las Vegas, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81, to win the tournament, which was a new concept to increase interest in the NBA regular season, especially while NFL football still dominates the headlines.

It was a response to a problem of attention and interest by the NBA, which recognized an issue and did something about it.

Track & field and cross country have long had this problem and track, especially, has disappeared as a team sport thanks to brutal scholarship cuts, allowing 12.6 scholarships for each men’s team and 18 for women. That is changing dramatically with the House vs. NCAA settlement, if it goes through.

Assuming it does, schools will face new roster limits for each sport and can offer scholarships to all athletes on that roster. For cross country, the limits will be 17 for men and women, and for indoor and outdoor track, 45 for each, expected to begin with the 2025-26 academic year.

That’s a little more than the current average roster size for track & field, which is 39-40 at present. But what schools can afford to spend that much on cross country or track – schools will be permitted (but not required) to offer scholarships to all athletes – and while an Oregon could award 45 scholarships for cross country and track & field, who else in the Big 10 would follow?

Further, the roster sizes in track & field especially will limit what schools can do with walk-ons, who have filled in today’s rosters beyond the 12.6 men/18.0 women limits.

One way to address the issue of profile and notice is to bring back team scoring, whether on a dual, triangular or quadrangular basis, so fans will know who won and lost. Many a track coach has been asked, “did you win?” after a meet, and was unable to give a straight answer.

But Seemes has officially rung the warning bell, especially for track & field, which was the sport in which the first-ever NCAA Championship was ever held, in Chicago in 1921. A little more than a century later, the NCAA’s first championship sport could be one of the first to suffer in the era of professional college football.

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ATHLETICS: Coe calls 2024 “one for the ages,” both on and off the track, welcomes new investment in the sport, but says there is more to be done

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (Photo: Stephen Pond, Getty Images for World Athletics).

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS ≡

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) was in a good mood in a Monday online news conference, especially when he was asked – as a two-time Olympic 1,500 m champion – about the Paris 1,500 m, where American Cole Hocker shocked everyone to win the gold medal ahead of Britain’s World Champion Josh Kerr with a brilliant sprint down the straight:

“As a race, it was a very good race and it had everything in it. I remember sitting with [FIFA President] Gianni Infantino [SUI] who I’d invited to come and watch the championships that night. And he said, ‘Oh my God, if there’d been one night – if I’d known – this is the one I would have chosen.’ So I said, well, you should come back more, Gianni, it’s more interesting than football. And with less of a determined outcome.”

Coe laughed, recalling his own joke with the FIFA chief, but he noted that that’s how good the season was, with spectacular performances everywhere.

“It’s been a very, very successful year. Look, as an athletics enthusiast, I would go so far as to say – in athletics terms – it’s been one for the ages. … Clearly, Paris was a big moment in the year, it cemented our sport absolutely at the epicenter of the Olympic Movement. …

“It’s invidious to pick out one performance from Paris, but I’m still trying to come to terms with what Sydney McLaughlin [-Levrone] did on the track that day [world women’s 400 m hurdles world record of 50.37]. I mean, I haven’t seen a more definitive Olympic win since David Rudisha [KEN 800 m world record] back in 2012.”

And Coe pointed to the impact that these performances and others have elevated the sport outside the oval as well:

“In a way they demonstrate a momentum that has delivered in another one of our key areas and metrics and that is extending the income streams. Finding new income streams and certainly the welcoming and introduction of new partners. And that’s an important message from the market, because the market is pretty unforgiving animal and when partners come to you, they’re making all sorts of decisions not just based on the fact that I’m saying nice things about athletics but based on their own analysis and analytics.

“They’re data-driven. The days of CEOs who like athletics, rugby or football, or saying well, that’s where we’re going to put our sponsorship spend is over. I understand that probably better than most because that’s what I do. That’s my business; that’s what I do when I’m not doing this. And that’s a very big statement by the market that companies like Sony and Honda, supplier partnerships with Deloitte, supporter partnerships and Morinaga, Pocari Sweat, Corpay are all coming to us, and they’re making judgements, judgements about a sport that’s moving in the right direction, and they’re making judgements about the excitement and the personalities that are on display amongst the athletes. All these come together.

“They’re making judgments about a well-governed sport as well. So that’s also been a pleasing element.”

There are problems. Coe pointed to “the atrocious gender-based violence that we witnessed earlier in the year [including the death of Ugandan marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei]. It’s not uniquely attached to sport, but we did feel a responsibility to at least sit down with the right people and the right partners to see whether there was anything that we could constructively do.”

Asked about the situation with Russia, Coe explained:

“We have two separate issues here. The first was around doping. And I can tell you that we got into good shape. We created a task force, we worked painstakingly for seven years. Some years we’re better than others; some years took us forward, and some years took us back. But we now have the Athletics Integrity Unit across this, we have 40 athletes in the international Registered Testing Pool and we have safeguards in place that tell me that is a downside more secure than it’s ever been.

“And we have people working within the [Russian] federation that we know and we trust, and … it is a new federation, and it is also a new National Olympic Committee. So that is one issue that we felt we completed the journey.

“Of course, other things [war against Ukraine] intervened, so that is really not within our control and it’s not something you can set up a task force to deal with. And so we watch that closely. But from a point of view of simple humanity, I just hope to Christ this finishes, because you know I’ve been to Ukraine and you know the suffering is extraordinary.”

Russia has essentially been banned from the sport since the state-sponsored doping scandal broke open in 2015.

Coe was brighter when talking about the new events coming online, whether it’s Grand Slam Track or the federation’s Ultimate Championship in 2026, explaining “I think there’s just a recognition, and I take comfort from the fact that we now have created, in World Athletics, a platform where people think that the sport is something that is worth investing in. …

“I hope these events add luster to what we’re already creating, and just a recognition that they don’t happen overnight, it’s a massive amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. … I would encourage anybody that wanted to invest in that space to do so.”

Asked about more coordination of the calendar, which is getting more and more crowded, Coe was – in one way – in favor of it:

“It is awfully crowded. It’s better than the alternative. … Look, we have to be conscious about that … I would rather give them more opportunities to be able to triage than sitting there going ‘well, you know we’re having to scrape a season together’ and we don’t have the pathways and the programs to choose. …

“I am never going to force-feed athletes into programs that aren’t going to work for them and I know the primacy that they have and the primacy their coaches have and that has to be respected.

“But I think that I would rather have more events and look, it’s really important if we want to be a professional sport, we have to do more than be a professional sport from sort of May through to September. We really do have to broaden it with it.

“If you think about it, we have a very, very small shop. Yes, we have lots of other things going on at the same time, but look let’s be blunt: it’s our World Championships that deliver 95% of our income. It’s our World Championships that get the billion-plus eyeballs on what we’re doing.

“We need to extend the length of the season. We need to have more competition and we need to be able to do that not only to give the athletes the pathways, but hopefully to create better financial stability for them. And those are all the things that we wake up here at World Athletics every day trying to trying to figure out.”

Coe was also enthusiastic about the early ticket sales – about 200,000 so far – for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and looking to place cross country into the Olympic Winter Games in 2030 or 2034. To that end, he said that discussions are on now about possibly moving the Cross Country Worlds into December, especially now that it will be held in odd years beginning in 2027.

This was a very good year, but Coe emphasized there is a lot to do to make sure future years are just as good or better:

“I can tell you at this very moment, in this building, in the lead-up to Christmas, there are probably three or four people who are doing nothing else other than thinking about what ‘26 looks like. and the work that goes on behind-the-scenes to make that happen and we’re two years out.”

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LOS ANGELES 1984: Congressional resolution introduced to honor the 1984 Games and its 40-year legacy, the LA84 Foundation

By
Rich Perelman
-
A House Resolution asks to remember the transformative 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and its legacy, the LA84 Foundation that followed (Photo: Wikipedia).

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“Resolved, That Congress –

“(1) recognizes and commemorates the 40th anniversary of the LA84 Foundation and of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, honors the impact of the LA84 Foundation over the last 40 years and honors the athletes of Team USA and the organizers of the Games for their achievements, and celebrates the enduring legacy of these Games, which continue to inspire advancements in sports, technology, equity, and global unity; and

“(2) celebrates the LA84 Foundation and the city of Los Angeles for its enduring contributions to the Olympic movement, its leadership in sports diplomacy and play equity, and its ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable society through sport, arts, and culture.”

That’s from House Resolution 1610 introduced by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-California) on 6 December, whose 37th Congressional District covers the mid-city area which is home to the LA84 Foundation on Adams Boulevard.

The Resolution text as introduced includes a well-researched, 22-point description of both the Games and the work of the LA84 Foundation, which was granted a 40% share of the financial surplus of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, to serve youth in the greater Los Angeles area through sports. The list of “Whereas” recitals included:

● “Whereas the city of Los Angeles had the distinct honor of hosting the XXIII Olympiad from July 28 to August 12, 1984, marking a transformative moment in the history of international sports, media, and technology, setting a new standard for future Olympic events, and immortalizing a defining moment in Olympic history and in the history of Los Angeles.”

● “Whereas this entrepreneurial spirit and strategic foresight not only ensured the financial viability of the Games, but also laid the foundation for the sustainable growth of future sporting events such as the upcoming 2026 World Cup, 2026 NBA All-Star Game, 2027 Super Bowl LXI, and 2028 Olympic Games, all hosted in Los Angeles.”

● “Whereas the achievements of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games are inextricably linked to the contributions of thousands of volunteers, community leaders, local businesses, and public officials who worked together to ensure its success, highlighting the strength and unity of the people of Los Angeles.”

● “Whereas the LA84 Foundation is celebrating 40 years of impact as a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, as the LA84 Foundation was founded with a portion of the financial surplus from the 1984 Games to provide access to sport and play to kids by investing in local communities.”

● “Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported 4,000,000 youth, trained 200,000 coaches, built or refurbished 400 fields, pools, and courts, and funded 2,500 nonprofit partners over the last 4 decades, continuing to remove barriers and expand resources to ensure all young people have access to the transformative power of sports, play, and movement regardless of their background.”

● “Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported youth programming in the 8 southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.”

There were a lot more, including a reference to the important and under-appreciated LA84 Foundation Digital Library, a crucial Olympic Movement resource for casual and professional researchers alike.

The resolution was introduced by Kamlager-Dove with 26 co-sponsors, all from the California delegation; she said in a statement:

“The 1984 Olympic Games not only promoted cultural exchange through sports diplomacy, but also left a lasting impact by creating the LA84 Foundation, an organization that invests in youth sports programs and public education in underserved communities.

“The ’84 Olympics showcased the strength of diversity and the enduring power of sports by bringing the world together through healthy competition, something we can all appreciate in these increasingly divided times. I am proud to introduce this resolution that celebrates LA84’s success and ongoing efforts to build a more just, inclusive society through arts, culture, and sports.”

H.Res. 1610 was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration.

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PANORAMA: L.A. City Council asked for permit exemptions for LA28; more Russians want to compete as neutrals; $290,417 for Walsh in Budapest!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Los Angeles City Council chamber at City Hall (Photo: City of Los Angeles)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Traci Park, a member of the Los Angeles City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, moved Friday to assist the LA28 organizing committee with expedited approvals from City agencies. The motion includes:

“I therefore move that the Los Angeles City Council authorize and direct the City Planning Department, in coordination with the City Attorney, the Department of Building and Safety, and other relevant departments, to draft an ordinance to exempt Olympic and Paralympic temporary and permanent venues, training facilities, security perimeters, broadcast and media centers, transit infrastructure, live sites and fan zones, and associated structures from the requirements of City planning approvals, zoning regulations and conditions, including, but not limited to Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), and conditions tied to such permits, Site Plan Review requirements, height restrictions, setback requirements, limitations imposed by Specific Plans, and any other planning or zoning regulations that could delay or impede the rapid deployment and or use of essential facilities.”

Park’s motion also asks that the California exemption for Olympic Games work (Title 14, sec. 15272) regarding the non-applicability of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) be implemented for the 2028 Games.

Her motion cites the existing overload of the City Planning Department and states, “This approach is consistent with actions taken by the City of Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympic Games, where similar exemptions were granted to ensure the swift construction of the necessary infrastructure and venues.”

The motion will no doubt be sent to the Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games for consideration by Park and others.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“Metro”) outlined Friday its intentions for a possible $200 million in Federal funding related to 2028 Olympic service needs. The primary spending targets of such a grant:

● $54 million: Key station improvements
● $25 million: Games Enhanced Transit System
● $25 million: Metrolink
● $20 million: Integrated transportation management
● $16 million: Light Rail speed improvements
● $15 million: First mile-Last mile support
● $15 million: Fare system modernization
● $12 million: Mobility hubs
● $9 million: Games Route Network
● $6 million: Bus priority corridors

The $200 million was listed in a Senate bill for transportation funding for Fiscal Year 2025, but was not in the House version.

A California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) presentation on the Games Route Network submitted in August offered some specifics for the Games Route Network, to be used for official vehicles transporting athletes, officials, media, staff and others directly involved in the Games.

The early plan is to “Create dedicated lanes for use of Games Family Vehicles by temporarily converting HOV, HOT, GP, and/or shoulders to facilitate exclusive games-related travel. Emergency vehicles will have access, but general traffic will be prohibited from using these dedicated travel lanes.”

(“HOV” are high-occupancy vehicle lanes; “HOT” is high occupancy-toll lanes and “GP” are general-purpose lanes.)

A preliminary map of possible freeways for Games Route Network lanes was also included.

● Olympic Council of Asia ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal by Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah, filed in December 2023, challenging the nullification of his July 2023 election as OCA President.

The CAS panel ruled the appeal inadmissible and confirmed the September 2024 election of India’s Raja Randhir Singh as President.

● Russia ● Attitudes are changing in Russia about competing as “neutrals.” Gymnastics stars such as Tokyo 2020 Team gold medalists Angelina Melnikova and Victoria Listunova were reported to be amenable to competing as neutrals if allowed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Russian artistic gymnasts refused to compete as neutrals to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Further, most of the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team has agreed to compete as neutrals, if allowed by the FIG, beginning in the April World Cup events in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Russian swimmers competed as “neutrals” at the World 25 m Championships in Budapest (HUN) and won 10 medals, including six wins.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented 39 Russian Paralympic “neutrals” with national awards, including the Order of Honor, Order of Friendship and the Order of Merit.

● Basketball ● The U.S. men won their third FIBA 3×3 Americup in San Juan (PUR), taking the final from defending champ Puerto Rico by 21-18, completing a perfect, 5-0, tournament. James Parrott led the Americans with eights points in the final, followed by Dylan Travis with seven and Mitch Hahn had four, with Henry Caruso adding three.

The American women, winners in 2021 and 2023, lost to Canada in the final by 19-18 in overtime, as Katharine Plouffe made the winning shot, the last of her game-high 11 points. Brittany Sykes led the U.S. with nine, followed by Azura Stevens (4), Abbey Hsu (3) and Maddy Siegrist with two. Canada finished at 5-0, with the U.S. at 4-1.

● Football ● FIFA apologized to the Ukrainian Association of Football for its error at the draw for the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying competitions, showing a map which depicted the Ukrainian territory of the Crimea as part of Russia.

Russian invaded and has illegally occupied the Crimea since 2014; a letter from FIFA Chief Member Association Officer Elkhan Mammadov (AZE) included:

“The infographic in question was developed by an external third-party service provider. Upon recognising the issue, we have taken immediate steps to address the situation, including working to have the image removed from circulation. Additionally, we are conducting an internal review to ensure such oversights do not recur in the future.

“We fully understand the delicate sensitivity of this matter and while the incident was unintentional, we sincerely regret any concern it may have caused and appreciate your understanding as we work to address this situation responsibly.”

UEFA announced a 156% increase in prize money for its 2025 women’s championship – EURO 2025 – with a €41 million total as against €16 million in 2022. (€1 = $1.05)

Each of the 16 competing teams will receive €1.8 million for making it to the tournament (vs. €600,000 in 2022), with the remaining amount in performance bonuses for group stage and playoff wins.

The maximum that could be earned by an undefeated champion is €5.1 million.

● Ice Hockey ● The U.S. women raised another trophy, this time the 2024 Women’s Hockey Euro Tour in Tampere, Finland, with the Americans and Canadians playing as guests.

The U.S. and Canada both won their two groups games, and in the playoffs, the Americans beat Sweden in one semi (5-0) while Canada beat Finland, 3-0.

In the title match, the U.S. – actually a collegiate select team – came from 1-0 down at the end of the first period to score three times in the second, by Lacey Eden, Tessa Janecke and Sydney Morrow, for a 3-1 lead. In the third, Jocelyn Amos and Alex Law tied the game within four minutes.

It was Abbey Murphy with a go-ahead goal for the U.S. just another 80 seconds after Law’s score that turned out to be the winner, and Sloane Matthews got an empty-netter for the 5-3 final.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) announced that three more Executive Board members have been named, including Dr. Doug Stull, elected as the head of the Medical Committee after having been a member since 2016.

He’s the younger brother of new UIPM President Rob Stull, the team physician for the University of Kansas and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Kansas Health System.

● Swimming ● World Aquatics named Swiss Noe Ponti and American Gretchen Walsh as the men’s and women’s swimmers of the meet at the World 25 m Championships that concluded Sunday in Budapest. Ponti won three events and set two world records, while Walsh had an astounding meet, with five individual wins, two relay wins and 11 world records.

World Aquatics also published a list of the athletes winning the most money from at the federation’s events in 2024 – it did not pay athletes for placements at the Paris Olympic Games – with the top five:

● 1. $343,000: Kate Douglass (USA)
● 2. $285,000: Regan Smith (USA)
● 3. $277,000: Noe Ponti (SUI)
● 4, $275,000: Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● 5. $174,000: Leon Marchand (FRA)

Most of this money was from world-record bonuses, sweeps of events at the World Cup and places at the 2024 World Championships in Qatar and the World Short-Course event in Budapest (relay prize money is apparently not included in these totals).

Swimswam.com ran a check on the money-winners from the Short-Course Worlds, with Walsh (of course) at the top, making the assumption that relay prize money is split equally among all participating swimmers in the heats and finals (rounded to the nearest dollar):

● 1. $290,417: Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● 2. $142,500: Regan Smith (USA)
● 3. $125,000: Noe Ponti (SUI)
● 4. $118,417: Kate Douglass (USA)
● 5. $114,667: Summer McIntosh (CAN)

Among countries, the U.S. won $974,000 as a team, with Canada a distant second at $241,000 and Russia (as “neutrals”) at $220,500.

World Aquatics named French Olympic star Leon Marchand and Canada’s McIntosh as its swimmers of the year on Sunday.

Marchand stormed to wins in the 200 m Breaststroke, 200 m Butterfly and the 200 and 400 m Medleys to become the leading French star of the Paris Olympic Games. McIntosh took three golds and a silver in Paris, then won three events and set three world records at the World 25 m Championships just concluded.

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U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE: Sykes says LA28 making good progress; WADA and USADA talking to each other

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chair Gene Sykes

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee had its final Board meeting of 2024 online, with a great appreciation for the success of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but also looking forward to 2025 and the start of the run-up to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, to Los Angeles for 2028 and to the start-up of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee in Salt Lake City.

Closest to home was the recent visit of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission to Los Angeles in November. USOPC Board Chair Gene Sykes noted that this visit brought more than 50 people to L.A. and the meetings, over 3 1/2 days were the most comprehensive yet. As for where the LA28 organizers stand now, Sykes noted that “they are in good shape and making great progress.”

Asked specifically about sponsorship sales, Sykes explained:

“They are capitalizing on Paris. There’s been a quite a strong number of indications of interest that have evolved into real discussions and they are making good progress.

“As you saw, they just appointed John Slusher, long-time Nike marketing executive, as the head of the USOPP, the joint venture between the USOPC and LA28, which is responsible for all marketing activities. I think that’s a very constructive step as well.

“So I think there are generating very, very good commercial interest and I expect they’re going to do very well in 2025 in particular, because the excitement coming out of Paris is exceptionally high, and so the visibility of these next games in the entire Olympic Movement is stronger than it’s been in some time.”

Chief executive Sarah Hirshland spoke to the surprising news that Lake Placid is being enlisted as a back-up site for the bobsled, luge and skeleton events for Milan Cortina 2026, in case the sliding track under construction in Cortina is not completed in time:

“Let me start by saying Milan Cortina is certainly incredibly focused on creating a sliding center that will be part of their Games in Italy, and we are excited about that and actually hold promise that that will happen. You may know there is a plan focused on the initial homologation of that venue in March.

“So we will keep our fingers crossed, that’s what’s best for Milan Cortina. And that’s what best for athletes, Team USA and others.

“However, as you also know, we have an incredible venue in Lake Placid and early on when there was question about the viability of a sliding center in Italy, we raised our hand and said if you need support or you need assistance, we’re here to help.

“So we are in dialogue with the organizing committee to ensure that if they have obstacles that they can’t overcome in their own sliding center, that were here to be able to help support and ensure that sliding athletes have a great experience around the Games.

“We’re excited about that. It’s certainly not the ideal first choice or first plan. But if it’s required, our country and the state of New York and Lake Placid and the organizers up in Lake Placid, who host so many events on an annual basis, we’re ready, and we’ll be happy to help support.”

As for Salt Lake City in 2034, the organizing committee is under formation and the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games – the bidding organization – will hold its final meeting this week. The founding of the actual organizing committee is expected in January.

Sykes spoke to the continuing war of words between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, offering an optimistic view that at least the sides are in contact:

“I would actually say that the situation has improved to the degree that WADA and USADA are talking with each other, as opposed to addressing each other through press releases and so forth.

“It’s not an easy relationship because they have some fundamental issues which are unresolved issues, but they are very much engaged in an effort to see how can they make an agreement between the two of them to move forward.

“Now it’s it’s one which we hope will get resolved relatively soon. But they were both together in Riyadh [KSA] last week, or the week before last actually [for WADA Board meetings]. And so that the level of engagement is both more respectful and it’s encouraged by us and others so that everyone realizes it’s very important that WADA is respected, while at the same time WADA performs a very important role that the sports community expects WADA to perform, and USADA and others have had questions.

“They’ve had the outside investigator do their report, and that’s provided some opportunity for some improvements and adjustments which I think will be constructive in reaching a conclusion here.”

The USOPC named Purdue University President Mung Chiang to its Board, to fill the remainder of Sykes’ term as an independent member of the Board, also a help in the collegiate community as the NCAA’s largest athletics programs are undergoing fundamental changes in structure and finances.

Hirshland noted:

“We’re continuing to engage with our colleagues across the landscape of collegiate sport, at the NCAA, at conferences, and at individual institutions to really understand the potential impact of the landscape as schools are responding to the pending House settlement and to the evolving NIL [name-image-likeness] environment and certainly, the potential for Congressional intervention.

“I will tell you we are, however, heartened by what we’ve heard from many athletic directors who are facing these new revenue obligations. The commitment to Olympic sport is a priority on campuses across the country and we continue to hear that. And we’re excited by it. We are willing and will continue to work with all who seek a solution that protects Olympic and Paralympic sport opportunity for student athletes.”

That will be an issue to watch closely – very closely – in 2025.

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LANE ONE: Lyles, Holloway, Benjamin now planning Track vs. NFL sprint challenges in a Jake Paul-Mike Tyson style promotion!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ SCENE & HEARD ≡

Olympic men’s 100 m champion Noah Lyles is stirring the pot again, but this time he has help.

Lyles and fellow Paris Olympic gold medalists Grant Holloway (110 m hurdles) and Rai Benjamin (400 m hurdles) launched their “Beyond the Records” podcast with a 53-minute show on 12 December, including talk on how the Lyles vs. Tyreek Hill trash talk is evolving into a multi-race show.

The podcast spends a lot of time discussing how all three experienced the Paris Olympic Games, including Lyles explaining that he had Covid-19 when he won the 100 meters by a whisker in Paris. He says he tested negative that day, but had the virus in him at the time and it finally impacted him the next day, during the 200 m heats.

But he’s looking to the future, and has continually hinted that the August chatter between he and Miami receiver Hill (a 10.19/20.12 man in 2012) is moving toward a showdown … eventually.

Lyles referenced his showdown with streamer IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.), who has a 33 million audience on Twitch, on 6 November in Orlando. Watkins Jr. was video-called by YouTuber MrBeast (James Donaldson) during a live stream, who was standing with Lyles, and Watkins Jr. challenged Lyles to a race.

Watkins Jr. made the three-hour race to Orlando and promptly got out to a small lead on Lyles, who zoomed past him to win the 50 m race without much effort. (No blocks, no starting gun, no timing gear, but it was recorded).

In the podcast, Lyles explained to Benjamin and Holloway (edited for clarity):

“If I finished the race by beating him so bad, nobody’s going to want to see a rematch, nobody’s going to want to come back.

“And I already knew that the headline is going to be, ‘Speed almost beats Noah,’ then what’s the next headline? How is Noah gonna beat Tyreek Hill?

Benjamin: “Here we go, Tyreek. you’re next brother.”

Lyles: “So now people think that Tyreek might actually have a chance no matter if it’s actually true or not.

Holloway: “Did you guys, you got anything set up for that or is it in the works, we’re gonna have to find out in the next couple episodes?”

Lyles: “I got some news coming, you definitely going to want to stick around for the next few episodes I promise you that.”

Benjamin: “Chat, we’re cooking chat. We got something good.”

Lyles: “We putting in the spices now, the pot has been on, the water’s been boiled, like we put in the spices now. You guys are definitely going to want to stay tuned to these next few episodes. I’m telling you every time that we get together new information is going to be coming out.”

Benjamin: “We should we should get Speed on the podcast to break down the race between you and him.”

Holloway: “I like it I want to hear both sides, and then when you race Tyreek and spank him too, he’s next. We’ll bring him on to watch film. I’m looking forward to that Noah, I really am. I mean I think that’s going to be not just for track and field, but I think it’s going to open up a lot of eyes to really how everybody else always says football and track speed, da da da da, so you got my attention.”

Lyles: “Hey if we have an undercard would you race?”

Holloway: “What you want me to do?”

Lyles: “I’ve seen you [Holloway] run a 60; I haven’t seen you [Benjamin] run a 60.”

Holloway: “He [Benjamin] ran 9.9. He’s good.”

Benjamin: “I ran 10.0, bro, come on. … I’m a 10.0 guy.”

Holloway: “I’ll race on the undercard.”

Benjamin: “Who would you race?”

Holloway: “I’m calling [2019 World 100 m champ] Christian Coleman out.”

Lyles: “No no no, it has to be track versus other sports, like a DK Metcalf [Seattle Seahawks receiver] … we’re talking Christian versus [Kansas City receiver] Xavier Worthy in a 40.”

Benjamin: “I would want to see that. I would actually really want to see that.”

Holloway: “Well, I’m might take all the track heads but Coleman can do no wrong in my eyes.”

Benjamin: “Now, Christian would spank you [Holloway], brother.”

Holloway: “Yeah, he would but that’s part of the game. If I lose, I’m losing to the G.O.A.T.”

Benjamin: “One of the greatest starters of all time.”

Holloway: “Hey, and guess the second-greatest starter of all time? (meaning Holloway.)”

Benjamin: “Me? (all laugh) … That’s truly exciting bro, we’ve got some exciting things for you guys to see.”

Lyles: “So Grant would you race DK Metcalf? “

Holloway: “Of course.”

Lyles: “So would you take him in a 40?”

Holloway: “Of course.”

Lyles: “You want to tell him that?”

Holloway: “DK, you probably don’t know me. I’m a huge fan, you’re on my fantasy, so keep doing your thing bro. But hey, let’s do it man. If Noah’s gonna do Tyreek, and if we can get Coleman and Xavier Worthy, look, I’ll take the undercard with you. I think it’d be good.

“Now when you line up next to me, I might look like a little boy, but we got to see what the speed is like.”

Benjamin: “What would the format be? I feel like it would be good to like do it at the All-Star Weekend.”

Lyles: “I’m already giving too much information. I want to give more, but the best I can say is it’ll be very Mike Tyson-Jake Paul type.”

Benjamin: “It would be cool to do a crossover at the [NFL] Pro Bowl though, you know what I mean and I’m just saying, Pro Bowl. Listen, NFL, if you’re listening NFL execs, track crossover at the Pro Bowl.”

The 2025 NFL Pro Bowl, which is now a skills contest and a flag football game, is scheduled for 2 February 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Coincidentally, that’s a good time for the track folks, as the indoor season will have started. But it’s not likely to happen that fast.

Metcalf famously ran 10.37 for ninth in a heat at Mt. SAC on 9 May 2021 during the Covid pandemic. Worthy ran the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds (non-automatic timing) at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest on record, and has a 100 m best of 10.65 from 2019.

Oh yes, the next Benjamin-Holloway-Lyles episode comes on 19 December.

None of this is by happenstance, you understand.

The point is that track & field, via Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, the Athlos NYC meet underwritten by Alexis Ohanian and now Lyles putting together a track vs. football exhibition program – suddenly three races instead of one – are all part of a new effort inside and outside of the sport to raise the profile, in part because the athletes and performances are at an all-time high.

Will it work? It’s not clear that any of these promotions are going to get track & field to even where the WNBA or NWSL are now. But they are stirrings of new interest and new enthusiasm from inside and outside the sport. This is good, very good.

Moreover, none of these are happening through USA Track & Field, which is fine. For years, then-AAU Executive Director and later TAC [now USATF] chief executive Ollan Cassell said he would be happy to have some other entity run meets and his governing body could be a governing body, instead of a promoter.

If Grand Slam Track is successful in 2025, if the Athlos NYC projects expands and if Lyles is able to pull off his track vs. football race card, the next step is calendar coordination that brings in USATF, existing promoters, the Diamond League and others.

The history of U.S. sports shows this over and over again, as early as 1903 when the National League and American League agreed to play the first baseball World Series. And much later, the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, the NHL-WHA merger in 1979, and, internationally, the Open Era in tennis beginning in 1968 and so on.

The outcome of these successful transformations was a year-long calendar that involved everyone on agreed-to terms and created stability on which these sports were built. If, at the end of all of the talk, there is a cohesive outcome for the sport – which must involve World Athletics – it has a real chance to grow.

And that’s the ultimate outcome that athletes, coaches, officials and fans are all looking for.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Vonn to return to skiing World Cup on 21 December; Degtyarev elected Russian NOC chief; World Boxing up to 60 members!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Mikhail Degtyarev, now the Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (Photo: Wikipedia via the Office of the President of Russia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Rachael Gunn, the Australian break dancer known as “Raygun,” had her lawyers send a letter threatening legal action against the producer of a show about Gunn by Sydney comedian Steph Broadbridge.

The premiere of “Raygun: The Musical” was scheduled for Saturday, but was canceled. Gunn said in an Instagram video:

“People had assumed we had developed it and we had approved it and it damaged many relationships, both personal and professional. This is why my management had to work to quickly to shut it down.

“It was really unfortunate that the show had to be cancelled so close to the launch. I know that the artist would have put a lot of work into it and that really sucks but had we known about it sooner, there could have been a different outcome. …

“The reason we did that is because we were notified that there were applications from other parties trying to trademark my name and image for commercial purposes.”

Gunn participated in the Paris 2024 Games and lost her three breaking battles in the qualifying round by a combined score of 180-0. She has been both ridiculed and celebrated since.

● Russia ● Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, running unopposed, was elected as the President of the Russian Olympic Committee on Friday (13th), by 197-0, with two abstentions.

Degtyarev, 43, is under sanctions from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine and the U.S. for urging Russian citizens to fight in the invasion of Ukraine.

He said after his election:

● “[The ROC’s Charter] sets out clear goals, those being: to lift all restrictions, full participation of our athletes in all international competitions under the national flag of Russia, integration into international sports organizations, restoration of the status of RUSADA [the Russian Anti-Doping Agency] and recognition of our committee within the IOC.”

● “Russia has faced unprecedented external pressure, with thousands of our athletes being subjected to discriminatory sanctions. The purpose of these sanctions is clear – not only to marginalize Russian sports but to provoke us into rash decisions and shutting the door entirely.

“It’s no mystery what they’re after. Russia will either be kept off the world stage for decades or it may never return at all.”

● “It is crucial that we keep our emotions in check, so that we can avoid this fatal scenario, and make sure our athletes can keep bringing home medals at international tournaments, to Russia. They [the neutral athletes] have never hidden their Russian citizenship. The whole world knows what country they represent and they sympathize with them.”

Appointed as the national sports minister in May, Degtyarev will hold both positions. He came to the sports ministry after having served as governor of the eastern Khabarovsk Krai region from September 2021 until 2024.

Also elected were ice hockey team executive Roman Kramar as Director General of the Russian Olympic Committee, and Viktor Berezov as Secretary General.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● A USOPC staff member was placed on administrative leave on Thursday (12th) in advance of an internal investigation on allegations of sexual abuse by a coach in 2010.

The USOPC was acting on reports of abuse from U.S. Biathlon team members; The Associated Press had reported extensively on the story previously and noted that the USOPC “did not name the employee, but Gary Colliander was the only USOPC coach named in the AP report.”

The AP further reported on Friday:

“Colliander resigned his position with the Maine Winter Sports Center. He was hired in December 2016 by the U.S. Paralympic team, where he is associate director of high performance for U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing.”

● Alpine Skiing ● Three-time defending FIS men’s World Cup champion Marco Odermatt (SUI) won his second race in a week at the Giant Slalom in Val d’Isere (FRA), taking the lead on the first run and then hanging on as the weather got worse and worse.

Austria’s Patrick Feurstein came from 24th to first on the second run, but Odermatt was just good enough – 21st on the second run – to win by 2:11.66 to 2:11.75. Fellow Austrian Stefan Brennsteiner was third at 2:11.78; River Radamus was the top American, in 17th.

Sunday’s Slalom was the first win of the season for Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), who was second after the first run to France’s Steven Amiez, but ended up winning in 1:36.40 as Amiez did not finish the second run. Fellow Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath took the silver in 1:36.92; Jett Seymour was the top American, in 21st at 1:38.89.

At the women’s World Cup at Beaver Creek, Colorado, defending Downhill discipline champ Cornelia Huetter (SUI) got her first medal of the season with a win in 1:32.38, ahead of 2018 Olympic champ Sofia Goggia (ITA: 1:32.54) and defending World Cup champ Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI: 1:32.74). Rapidly-improving American Lauren Macuga was fourth in 1:32.90., and Breezy Johnson was 13th.

Goggia, returning after a broken leg 10 months ago, moved up to the top of the podium at the Sunday Super-G, winning in 1:03.90 to 1:04.38 for Gut-Behrami, with Ariane Raedler (AUT: 1:04.45) in third. Macuga was the top U.S. finisher, in 12th place (1:05.30).

After five years in retirement, U.S. star Lindsey Vonn, 40, said she will return to the World Cup at St. Moritz (SUI) on 21-22 December, with two Super-G races on the program. She said in a Friday news conference:

“It was pretty soon after [her April hip surgery] surgery in the rehab process that I was already doing things that I hadn’t done in years. I feel stronger now than I did in my mid to late 20s. My body is cooperating. And thankfully, that titanium piece is really working out well.” …

“I definitely have goals and expectations and I’m trying to be as patient as possible with myself on this journey and take it step by step and not skip any steps. I know my way back to a competitive level might take a race or two, but I certainly intend on on getting back to where I was before.”

It going to be a while before fellow U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin returns, as she explained on Instagram:

“Had a little unexpected surgery on Thursday evening [12th] after feeling a bit under the weather. Turns out I had a little cavity deeper than the wound tract that was filled with old hematoma and wasn’t properly draining with wound vac or normal packing…so we went in to wash it out and close it with sutures and a little JP drain to keep the drainage flowing.

“So that’s that for now…will share more updates as we know more about what the next bunch of weeks have in store. So thankful for all of the wonderful care and support I’ve received!”

Shiffrin crashed on the second run of the Giant Slalom in Killington, Vermont on 30 November and has been getting treatment since.

● Badminton ● China scored three wins at the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou (CHN), with Yu Qi Shi (CHN) taking the men’s Singles from Anders Antonsen (DEN), 21-18, 21-14, and Zhi Yi Wang (CHN) winning the women’s Singles from Yue Han (CHN), 19-21, 21-19, 21-11.

Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang (CHN) won the Mixed Doubles from Tang Jie Chen and Ee Wei Toh (MAS), 21-18, 14-21, 21-17.

In the men’s Doubles, Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen (DEN) got a 21-17, 17-21, 21-11 victory over Sze Fei Goh and Nur Izzuddin (MAS), and Ha Na Baek and So Hee Lee (KOR) swept aside Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida (JPN) in the women’s Doubles by 21-19, 21-14.

● Biathlon ● Five-time IBU World Cup champion Johannes Thinges Boe swept both men’s IBU World Cup events in Hochfilzen (AUT), first taking the 10 km Sprint in 24:23.1 (one penalty), in a Norwegian 1-2, ahead of Sturla Langreid (24:27.3/0). France’s Fabien Claude (24:29.9/0) was third, and American Campbell Wright was 10th (25:04.2/0).

Boe then won Saturday’s 12.5 km Pursuit in a tight finish over Emilien Jacquelin (FRA) and Laegreid, 32:16.5 (2) to 32:20.0 (1) and 32:20.3 (1). Wright was the top American in 16th.

The French defeated Norway in the men’s 4×7.5 km relay, 1:23:04.3 (10) to 1:23:53.3 (8).

Germany’s Franziska Preuss, the 2015 Worlds Mass Start runner-up, won the women’s 7.5 km Sprint for her second individual World Cup gold in 21:06.0 (1), with France’s Sophie Chauveau (21:13.7/0) second. France’s two-time Worlds relay gold medalist Lou Jeanmonnot won her second race of the season in the 10 km Pursuit in a runaway in 29:48.5 (0), followed by Vanessa Voigt (GER: 30:22.3/3), with Preuss third (30:23.8/3).

Germany won the women’s 4×6 km relay over France, 1:16:13.7 (4) to 1:17:19.4 (13).

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Four-time Olympic gold medalist Francesco Friedrich (GER) continued through the IBSF World Cup in Sigulda (LAT), taking the Saturday Two-Man races in 1:38.68 with Simon Wulff aboard, ahead of 2023 World Champion Johannes Lochner (GER), with Georg Fleischauer (1:39.03). Frank Del Duca and Carsten Vissering had the top American sled, in 11th (1:40.31).

The Sunday Two-Man racing had Lochner and Jorn Wenzel winning in 1:39.24, winning both runs. Brad Hall (GBR), with brakemen Taylor Lawrence and Greg Cackett on different runs, was second in 1:39.45 and Friedrich and Alexander Schuller ended up third (1:30.54). Del Duca and Charles Volker finished fifth in 1:40.11.

European champion Lisa Buckwitz (GER) won the women’s Monobob in 1:46.89, coming from third to first on the second run, ahead of two-time World Champion Laura Nolte (GER: 1:46.98). The U.S. entries finished sixth (Kaysha Love: 1:47.42), eighth (Elana Meyers Taylor: 1:47.62) and 11th (Kaillie Humphries: 1:47.88).

Olympic champ Nolte (with Leonie Kluwig) took the Two-Woman win in 1:48.59 from teammates Kim Kalicki and Neele Schuten (1:48.70), with the American sled of Love and Jasmine Jones third in 1:49.22. Also for the U.S., Humphries and Emily Renna finished 10th in 1:50.61 and Meyers Taylor and Azaria Hill were 11th in 1:50.75.

In the men’s Skeleton, Britain’s Marcus Wyatt and Matt Weston, who had won seven of the 12 medals this season coming in, went 1-2 and took over for injured Olympic champ Christopher Grotheer (who had won all four races this season), with Wyatt in 1:39.51 and Weston in 1:39.76. Austin Florian was the top American in seventh (1:40.65).

Olympic bronze medalist Kimberley Bos (NED) won her first medal of the season in the women’s racing, winning in 1:42.81, ahead of three-time European champ Janine Flock (AUT: 1:42.97). Mystique Ro was the top American, in seventh (1:43.56).

● Boxing ● More federations have joined with World Boxing, which welcomed Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Myanmar and Palestine at its 12 December Executive Board meeting. That’s now 60 federations in all.

Astana (KAZ) was selected to host the 2027 World Elite Championships.

In a related development, the new Asian Boxing continental confederation met for the first time on 12 December, with 20 members, announcing an Olympic Boxing Summit in February 2025 to promote the future of boxing on the Olympic program.

Under the guidance of interim President Pichai Chunhavajira, also the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, has obtained two commercial sponsors for World Boxing, bolstering its finances. Thailand will also open an academy for referees and judges and for technical officials, in Bangkok, next year.

● Cross Country Skiing ● Norway’s four-time World Cup champ Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo extended Norway’s win streak in the FIS World Cup to six races in Saturday’s Freestyle Sprint in Davos (SUI), winning in 2:22.86, ahead of Lucas Chanavant (FRA: 2:24.24) and Norwegian teammate Erik Valnes (2:25.27). Ben Ogden of the U.S. was sixth (2:37.82). Norway also won the Team Sprint over Sweden.

Norway’s Martin Nyenget got his second win of the World Cup season on Sunday in the Classical 20 km, in 55:37.8, well ahead of Iivo Niskanen (FIN: 55:50.9) and Hugo Lapalus (FRA: 56:12.9). Gus Schumacher was the top American, in 21st (57:59.7).

Olympic Sprint champ Jonna Sundling (SWE) took the women’s Freestyle Sprint in 2:44.90, ahead of Norwegians Mathilde Myhrvold (2:47.23) and Julie Myhre (2:47.62). Seasonal leader Jessie Diggins of the U.S. was sixth (2:49.78). Sweden won the women’s Team Sprint over Norway.

Norway’s Astrid Slind got her third medal – and first win – of the season in Sunday’s Classical 20 km in 1:02:38.4, in front of Kerttu Niskanen (FIN: 1:02:48.5) and comebacking Norwegian star Therese Johaug (1:02:51.9). Johaug, back after a five-year retirement, has four medals in five World Cup distances races held so far this season.

Diggins of the U.S. was seventh in 1:04:24.9 and teammate Rosie Brennan was eighth in 1:04:41.8.

● Diving ● Stanford All-American Jack Ryan was the star of the USA Diving Winter Nationals in Bloomington, Indiana, winning three events. He took the 1 m Springboard title at 792.65 over Quentin Henninger (720.05), the 3 m Springboard win with 852.40 in front of Carson Tyler (766.95), with Henninger third (739.60).

Ryan teamed with Henninger to win the 3 m Synchro in 825.72 points, over Joshua Sollenberger and Luke Sitz (378.96). Max Weinrich and Dash Glasberg won the 10 m Synchro at 663.18, and Weinrich took the men’s 10 m platform victory at 587.30 over Maxwell Flory (577.30).

Mia Vallee won the women’s 1 m by 518.50 to 506.75 over Hailey Hernandez, the two-time 2023 Pan Am Games bronze medalist, and Vallee doubled in the 3 m Springboard at 576.65 to 575.95 for Anna Kwong.

Lily White and Bailee Sturgill won the 3 m Synchro at 513.12, over Kyndal Knight and Kwong (497.70).

Paris Olympian Daryn Wright won the women’s Platform title, scoring 655.65 to 575.10 for Anna Lemkin. Lemkin and Lanie Gutch took the Synchro 10 m with 506.64 points.

● Freestyle Skiing ● The FIS World Cup Ski Cross season opener was in Val Thorens (FRA), with Italy’s 2023 World Champion, Simone Deromedis taking Friday’s final from 2023 Worlds runner-up Florian Wilmsmann (GER) and 2019 Worlds bronzer Kevin Drury (CAN). On Saturday, Olympic silver winner Alex Fiva (SUI) took the gold in the final from Adam Kappacher (AUT) and Drury.

Canada’s Marielle Thompson, the 2018 Olympic winner, took the women’s final on Friday, with two-time Olympic bronze medalist Fanny Smith (SUI) second and Olympic bronzer Daniela Meyer (GER) third. India Sherret (CAN) won the second race over Maier and Thompson.

● Luge ● Austria was the big winner at the FIL World Cup in Oberhof (GER), taking three of the four races, including the men’s Singles, as 2023 World Champion Jonas Mueller won in 1:25.321, sweeping both runs. Brothers Nico Gleirscher, the 2024 Worlds runner-up, and David Gleirscher went 2-3 for the Austrian sweep, in 1:25.556 and 1:25.836. Jonny Gustafsson was the top American, in 12th (1:26.601).

Germany’s Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Gubitz won the men’s Doubles in 1:23.275, beating triple Olympic champs Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (1:23.483) and Olympic bronze winner Thomas Steu, now with Wolfgang Kindl (AUT: 1:23.483) got third. Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa had the top American finish, in ninth (1:23.893).

World Champion bronzer Madeleine Egle (AUT) won the women’s Singles, winning both runs in 1:24.019, ahead of teammate Lisa Schulte (1:24.175), with 2021 World Champion Julie Taubitz (GER: 1:24.194) in third. Ashley Farquharson was the top American, in fifth (1:24.426).

Younger sister Selina Egle teamed with Lara Kipp – the reigning World Champions – to win the women’s Doubles in 1:24.844, with two-time World Champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER: 1:25.105) second and Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby in third (1:25.576) for their second medal of the season.

● Short Track ● Reigning World Champions figured big in the ISU World Tour in Seoul (KOR), especially for the U.S. and Canada.

Kristen Santos-Griswold, the U.S.’s reigning women’s 1,000 m World Champion, took two races, in the 500 m (43.362) over Canada’s Florence Brunelle (43.511), and then the 1,500 m in 2:27.075 in front of 2023 European runner-up Hanne Desmet (BEL: 2:27.103) and fellow American Corinne Stoddard (2:27.290).

World 1,500 m champ Gil-li Kim of South Korea won the women’s 1,000 m in 1:30.884, ahead of Danae Blais (CAN: 1:31.010) and Santos-Griswold (1:31.161). Canada won the 3,000 m relay.

Canada’s William Dandjinou, the 2024 World Champion at 1,000 m, won that race in 1:24.548 over Jens van’t Wout (NED: 1:24.741) and also won the 1,500 m in 2:14.313 over 2023 World Champion Ji-won Park (2:14.738). Fellow Canadian and triple Olympic medalist Steven Dubois took the men’s 500 m in 41.681 over countryman (and 2024 Worlds bronzer) Jordan Pierre-Gilles (41.579); American Brandon Kim was fifth (56.813). China won the men’s 5,00 m relay.

The 2,000 m Mixed Relay went to Korea (2:38.036).

● Ski Jumping ● The career year continues for Germany’s Pius Paschke, who won his fourth event of the season at the FIS World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt (GER). Off the 142 m hill, he won both rounds to pile up 294.1 points, ahead of Gregor Deschwarden (SUI: 287.7) and Daniel Tschofenig (AUT: 281.7).

On Sunday, Paschke did it again, scoring 290.4 to win over Michael Hayboeck (AUT: 290.0) and Kristoffer Sundal (NOR: 284.7).

Paschke and Andreas Wellinger teamed up for Germany to win the team event, 873.3 to 850.0 over Austria.

In the women’s World Cup in Zhangjiakou (CHN), two-time Olympic silver medalist Katharina Schmid (GER) scored 237.0 points off the 106 m hill to win over Eirin Kvandal (NOR: 210.0).

Schmid doubled up on Sunday for her third World Cup win in a row with 221.1 points, winning both jumps, over 2021 World Champion Ema Klinec (SLO: 208.9) and Lisa Eder (AUT: 200.6).

● Ski Mountaineering ● The ISMF World Cup season opener was in Courchevel (FRA), with familiar faces in front once again.

The 2023 men’s World Champion in the Sprint, Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, won his specialty in 2:45.1, just ahead of Arno Lietha (SUI: 2:45.8). In the Vertical race, 2023 World Champion Remi Bonnet (SUI) was the dominant winner in 19:47.9, with teammate Aurelien Gay (SUI) a distant second in 21:38.2, and Xavier Gachet (FRA) third in 21:45.7.

In the women’s Sprint, four-time national champion Emily Harrop (FRA) was a decisive winner in 3:14.7, well ahead of Marianne Fatton (SUI: 3:22.6). Five-time World Champion Axelle Gachet Mollaret (FRA) won the women’s Vertical in 25:30.0, with Harrop second in 25:42.9, and Sarah Dreier (AUT: 25:57.5) in third.

● Snowboard ● Bulgaria’s Radoslav Yankov won his fourth career FIS World Cup gold in the Parallel Giant Slalom in Carezza (ITA) on Thursday, beating Tim Mastnak (SLO) in the final. Mastnak got his second medal of the season after winning in Yanqing.

Italy got a win in the women’s final from Jasmin Coratti, beating Aleksandra Krol-Walas (POL).

At Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) on Saturday, the men’s Parallel Giant Slalom went to Daniele Bagozza over Italian teammate Aaron March in the final. For Bagozza, it’s his seventh individual career World Cup gold.

Sabine Payer (AUT), the 2023 Worlds bronzer in the Parallel Slalom, took the women PGS over Krol-Walas, as Coratti got the bronze.

In the season opener for Snow Cross in Cervinia (ITA), Austrian Jakob Dusek won the men’s race over Cameron Bolton (AUS) and Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA). France’s Lia Casta, 18, took the women’s final for her first World Cup gold, ahead of Australia’s 2023 Worlds silver winner Josie Baff.

● Squash ● At the WSF World Teams Championships in Hong Kong, Egypt continued as the true power in this event, winning both the men’s and women’s titles again.

The men’s final matched Egypt and England once again, for the sixth straight time – going back to 2011, and the Egyptians won their fourth consecutive title by 2-0, now winning six of the last seven titles.

Egypt came in as the three-time defending women’s champions, in a re-match with the U.S. from 2022, and won again by 2-0 for their fourth title in a row and six of the last eight.

Squash has been added to the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

● Weightlifting ● The 2024 IWF World Championships in Manama (BRN) concluded with North Korea finishing on top, winning nine of the 20 classes and 16 medals (9-5-2) overall, China was second at nine medals (4-2-3), ahead of Iran (4: 0-1-3).

In the men’s heavier classes, Kazakhstan’s Artyom Antropov won the men’s 102 kg class, lifting a combined total of 400 kg to finish just ahead of Tokyo Olympic 96 kg winner Fares El-Bakh (QAT: 399 kg). Ryan Sesler of the U.S. was 11th (366 kg). At 109 kg, Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Nurudinov won at 424 kg, including a world-record 242 kg in the Clean & Jerk. It’s his third Worlds gold, after wins in 2013 (105 kg) and 2022 (109 kg). Dadash Dadashbayli (AZE) was second at 400 kg. Kolbi Ferguson of the U.S. was eighth (381 kg).

In the super-heavy category at +109 kg, Varazdat Lalayan (ARM) – Paris silver winner at 102 kg – won the Snatch and was third in the Clean & Jerk to triumph with a 467 kg total, ahead of Tokyo silver medalist Ali Davoudi (IRI: 459 kg). Aaron Williams of the U.S. was seventh (401 kg).

China swept the higher weights in the women’s division, with 2023 World 71 kg winner Guifang Liao taking the 81 kg gold with 278 kg, well ahead of Paris runner-up Sara Ahmed (EGY: 262 kg). American Mariah Park was 10th (231 kg).

At 87 kg, Yan Wu was the winner at 272 kg, winning all three segments, with Australian Eileen Cikamatana taking silver at 257 kg. Kayla Kass was the top American, in 15th (226 kg). The +87 kg division saw a win for Yan Li (CHN), who got a world record in the Snatch at 149 kg, , won the Clean & Jerk at 175 kg and took the overall gold at 324 kg. South Korea’s Hye-jeong Park lifted 295 kg combined for silver.

The U.S. finished with just the one gold for Olivia Reeves in the women’s 71 kg class.

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SWIMMING: Six more world records as Short-Course Worlds closes with U.S. winning 39 medals and Walsh with 11 world records! Yowsah!

By
Rich Perelman
-
She’s a superstar now: American Gretchen Walsh won five individual golds and was part of 11 world records! (Photo: World Aquatics)

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ WORLD 25 m CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The record-breaking did not stop on the final day of the World Aquatics 25 m (short-course) Championships in Budapest (HUN), with six more world records:

● Men/200 m Freestyle: 1:38.61, Luke Hobson (USA)
● Men/4×100 m Medley: 3:18.68, Russia [Neutral Athletes B] (Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Andrei Minakov, Egor Kornev)

● Women/50 m Freestyle: 22.83, Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● Women/100 m Backstroke: 54.02, Regan Smith (USA; relay lead-off)
● Women/200 m Backstroke: 1:58.04, Regan Smith (USA)
● Women/4×100 m Medley: 3:40.41, United States (Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass)

Just as on Saturday, Walsh opened the finals with another world record – her ninth of this meet – in the women’s 50 m Free final, leading teammate Douglass at the turn by 0.12 and finishing in 22.83, bettering her own mark of 22.87 from the semis. Douglass was second at 23.05 and Kasia Wasick (POL) took the bronze at 23.37.

Smith completed an impressive sweep of the 50-100-200 Backs with a second world record, winning the 200 m Back in 1:58.04, taking down her 1:58.83 from the Singapore World Cup in early November. She led from start to finish and was a huge winner over Canadian star Summer McIntosh, second in 1:59.96 – a World Junior Record – with fellow American Phoebe Bacon in fourth (2:00.76).

Luke Hobson of the U.S. had already set the world record in the men’s 200 m Free from his 1:38.91 lead-off leg on the gold-medal-winning 4×200 m Free Relay, but he lowered it in the final of the 200 m Free to 1:38.61, taking the lead by the 75 m mark. Hobson, 21, finished well clear of Maximillian Giuliani (AUS: 1:40.36) and Lucas Henveaux (BEL: 1:41.13). Fellow American Kieran Smith was fifth in 1:41.57.

The U.S. women wrapped up the meet with another world record in the 4×100 m Medley, with Smith, Lilly King, Walsh and Douglass steaming to a 3:40.41 time, utterly destroying the old mark of 3:44.35 by the U.S. from 2022. Smith rocketed from the start and touched in 54.02 for her 100 m Back leg, breaking her own record of 54.27 from the Singapore World Cup on 1 November, and her second world mark of the day!

To be clear, Smith won all three Backstrokes and set world records in all three events!

Great Britain was a distant second in 3:47.84 and China was third in 3:47.93.

In the men’s 4×100 m Medley, the U.S. had the early lead from Shaine Casas, but dropped to third on the Breaststroke leg with Michael Andrew and on Butterfly from Dare Rose. Jack Alexy got the Americans up to second with a furious 44.53 final leg to finish in 3:19.03, but the Russian back half of Andrei Minakov and Egor Kornev made the “Neutral Athletes B” team clear winners in a world record of 3:18.68. That broke the 3:18.98 mark from 2022, shared by Australia and the U.S.

Defending champion Jordan Crooks (CAY) broke the 20-second barrier with his spectacular 19.90 in the semis of the men’s 50 m Free, but was a little slower in the final, winning easily in 20.19. Brazil’s Guilherme Santos moved up from third to second on the final lap in 20.57, followed by Americans Alexy (20.61) and Chris Guiliano (20.78).

China’s Haiyang Qin got his second gold of the meet, taking the men’s 50 m Breast in 25.42, well ahead of co-silver medalists Emre Sakci (TUR) and Russian “neutral” Kirill Prigoda, both in 25.56. Qin also won the 100 m Breast title.

Olympic 200 m Back champ Hubert Kos (HUN) won the men’s 200 Back in 1:45.65, just missing the world record by 0.02, but getting a European and meet record in the process. A distant second was Lorenzo Mora (1:48.96); American Jack Aikins was fifth (1:50.60).

World-record holder Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong won her third straight title in the women’s 200 m Free, touching in 1:50.62, within 0.31 of her 2021 mark of 1:50.31. Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey got a national record of 1:51.49 in second, passing American Claire Weinstein on the final lap. Weinstein got the bronze and a second World Junior Record on the day – she’s 17 – of 1:51.62. Australian star Lani Pallister, the 800 m Free winner, was fourth (1:51.75) and American Paige Madden (1:52.93) was sixth.

The world-record holder and defending champion in the women’s 50 m Breast, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte, was a convincing winner in 28.54, well ahead of Qianting Tang (CHN: 28.86 and American star King (28.91). For King, it was her 13rh career World Short-Course Champ medal (6-6-1).

The final medal table had the U.S. with an overwhelming performance with 39 medals (18-13-8), ahead of Canada (15: 4-5-6), Australia (12: 2-5-5) and the Russians – as “Neutral Athletes B” – with 10 medals (6-4-0). This is the most medals a U.S. team has won since the 2004 World Short-Course Champs in Indianapolis (41: 21-10-10), and the second-highest total ever. Wow.

The assault on the record books was epic: 30 world marks were set in 22 events. The women had 20 marks in 15 events and the U.S. had 17 of those. Among the men, 10 records in seven events, with the U.S. getting four of those.

Walsh was the star of the meet, no doubt, with five individual wins, two relay wins, nine individual world records and two more on relays. Her individual world records alone earned her $225,000 in record bonuses!

But Smith’s meet cannot be skipped: a sweep of the Backstrokes, world records in each and another world record – personally and for the team – in the Medley Relay. And what about McIntosh: three wins, all in world-record times and a World Junior Record behind Smith in the 200 m Back! And McIntosh – still 18 – won golds in Freestyle, Butterfly and the Medley, plus a Backstroke silver. Is there anything she can’t do?

The men’s meet had fewer records, but had the first sub-20 in the 50 m Free for Crooks and Swiss star Ponti won three events and got and got world records in two of them.

Crazy. Unbelievable. Stunning. Sure, only short-course, but this was almost incomprehensible. The 2025 World Championships – long course! – will be in Singapore starting on 11 July. Can’t wait!

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SWIMMING: Two more world records for Gretchen Walsh, a third for Summer McIntosh and six in all at 25 m Worlds!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Eight individual world records (so far) for U.S, star Gretchen Walsh at the World Short-Course Champs! (Photo: World Aquatics)

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≡ WORLD 25 m CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The onslaught of world records at the 2024 World Aquatics 25 m (short-course) Championships continued on Saturday, with six more marks, including two more from American star Gretchen Walsh:

● Men/50 m Freestyle: 20.08, Jordan Crooks (CAY) in heat 10
● Men/50 m Freestyle: 19.90, Jordan Crooks (CAY) in semi 2
● Men/100 m Butterfly: 47.71, Noe Ponti (SUI)

● Women/50 m Freestyle: 22.87, Gretchen Walsh (USA) in semi 2
● Women/ 100 m Butterfly: 52.71, Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● Women/400 m Medley: 4:15.48, Summer McIntosh (CAN)

Walsh won her fourth individual event on Saturday, opening with a third world record in the women’s 100 m Fly in 52.71, dropping her own mark of 52.87 from the semifinals. This was the first meet she had ever tried the event and she got three world records in three rounds of swimming. A distant second was Tessa Giele (NED) in 54.66.

Walsh came back to get another world record in the semifinals of the women’s 50 m Free, touching in 22.87 in the second semi, taking down Dutch star Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s 22.93 from 2017 (and she received her gold medal from Kromo in the victory ceremony!). Fellow American Kate Douglass was the no. 2 qualifier, winning semi one in 23.35. The final is on Sunday.

Walsh’s world records in these events also had world marks on the men’s side!

The men’s 100 m Fly was the second world record of the meet for Swiss Noe Ponti, already the 50 m Fly and 100 m Medley winner, in 47.71, eclipsing American Caeleb Dressel’s 47.70 mark from 2020. Ponti won easily, with Maxime Grousset (FRA: 48.57) second; Dare Rose of the U.S. was eighth in 49.37.

In the men’s 50 m Free semis, Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands – third in the 100 m Free – raced to a world record in the morning heats at 20.08, removing Dressel’s 20.16 from 2020. Then Crooks went wild in the semis, becoming the first to break 20 seconds, at 19.90 in semi two. He’s the overwhelming favorite in Sunday’s final. Jack Alexy of the U.S., the 100 Free winner, won semi one in 20.51.

Canada’s McIntosh had already won the women’s 400 m Free and 200 m Fly in world-record times, and added her best event, the 400 m Medley with another world mark of 4:15.48. She destroyed the 2017 mark of 4:18.94 by Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia and won by 4.66 seconds over American Katie Grimes (4:20.14). Incredible, frankly.

The men’s 400 m Free final went to Russian “neutral” Ilia Borodin in 3:56.83, ahead of American Carson Foster (3:5745); Trenton Julian of the U.S. was eighth in 4:05.81. The men’s 800 m Free was won by Zalan Sarknay (HUN) in 7:30.56, beating German star Florian Wellbrock (7:31.90).

The final event of the session was new for these championships, a Mixed 4×100 m Medley, with no official world record to be set, but a world’s best time. The Russian “neutral” team got control of the race early, with Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Arina Surkova and Daria Klepikova winning in 3:30.47.

The U.S. was eighth after the first two legs from Regan Smith and Lilly King, and eighth after Rose finished on the Fly leg. But Alexy moved hard on the Free leg (44.63!) and closed to within 0.08, but not quite enough.

Smith’s opening 100 m Back leg was timed in 54.19 and as an opening leg (from a standard start), is faster than her world mark of 54.27 and should be recognized. But there was no notation on the official results, or the records lists.

So, only one more day to do in this record-shattering meet, with the U.S. now at 30 medals (14-11-5), ahead of Canada (13: 4-3-6) and Australia (11: 2-4-5). And Walsh will be back in action in the women’s 40 m Free and the Medley Relay!

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SWIMMING: U.S. on fire, as Walsh (3), Smith, Douglass, U.S. 4×2 Free (2) get seven world records in one session at 25 m Worlds!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Why not smile? Kate Douglass gets another world record at the World Aquatics 25 m Champs! (Photo: World Aquatics)

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≡ WORLD 25 m CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

There were many star swimmers who skipped this year’s World Aquatics 25 m (short-course) Championships. So the meet is making bigger stars out of Americans Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass and Regan Smith.

Those three set five world (short-course) records on Friday while the U.S. men’s relay also got into the action (twice):

● Men/200 m Freestyle: 1:38.91, Luke Hobson (USA) ~ relay lead-off
● Men/4×200 m Freestyle: 6:40.51. United States (Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Shaine Casas, Kieran Smith)
● Women/50 m Backstroke: 25.23, Regan Smith (USA)
● Women/200 m Breaststroke: 2:12.50, Kate Douglass (USA)
● Women/100 m Butterfly: 53.24, Gretchen Walsh (USA) ~ in heats
● Women/100 m Butterfly: 52.87, Gretchen Walsh (USA) ~ in semis
● Women/100 m Medley: 55.11, Gretchen Walsh (USA)

In the morning heats, Walsh crushed the 2022 World 100 Fly Record of 54.05 by Maggie Mac Neil (CAN) in the women’s 100 m Fly, touching in 53.24 and finishing almost 2 1/2 seconds ahead of the next fastest qualifier! It was her first race at the distance in short-course meters. Unbelievable.

She then improved in the evening semifinals, winning the second semi in 52.87, mauling her own mark and dropping more than a second off Mac Neil’s record in a single day.

Less than 30 minutes later, Walsh was back in the pool for the 100 Medley final and scored again, winning the gold and improving her own record from the semis from 55.71 to 55.11! It’s Walsh’s third world mark in this event since October, and her sixth world record of the meet, which means she has collected $150,000 (so far) in individual world-record bonuses, plus a share of the U.S. women’s record in the 4×100 m Free relay. This is amazing.

Teammate Kate Douglass came in second, in 56.49, with Beryl Gastaldello (FRA: 56.67) in third. Douglass was coming back for her second event, after she won the 200 m Breast, also in world-record time at 2:12.50m taking down her earlier 2:12.72 from the Singapore World Cup at the start of November.

It’s also Douglass’ second world record of the meet, after her 2:01.63 in the women’s 200 m Medley! Russian Evgenia Chikunova was a distant second (as a “neutral”) in 2:16.83, ahead of Alex Walsh of the U.S., who won bronze in 2:16.83.

Two races later, Mac Neil lost another world record, as American star Regan Smith took the women’s 50 m Back in 25.23, an 0.02 improvement on Mac Neil’s 25.25 from the 2022 Short-Course Worlds. She was followed by teammate Katharine Berkoff in 25.61 for the silver, and Kylie Masse (CAN: 25.78) got the bronze.

Jillian Cox of the U.S. had the fastest time of 15:41.29 in slower heats of the women’s 1,500 m, but that ended up good enough for bronze, as the “faster” race had only two who bettered her time: Paris bronze medalist Isabel Gose (GER: 15:24.69) and Simona Quadarella (ITA: 15:30.14).

The U.S. did get a shock as the team of Michael Andrew, Matt King, Claire Weinstein and Alex Shackell finished ninth in 1:31.06 in the heats of the Mixed 4×50 m Freestyle and did not advance to the final. Italy won the final in 1:28.50, ahead of Canada (1:28.60).

However, the men’s 4×200 m Freestyle team of Hobson, Foster, Casas and Kieran Smith won in 6:40.51, crushing the U.S. mark of 6:44.12 from the 2022 short-course Worlds. Wow. Australia was second, but way back in 6:45.54. Another $25,000 to be split four ways.

Hobson got another world mark for himself as the lead-off man, touching in 1:38.91, breaking the 1:39.37 mark by German Paul Biedermann from way back in 2009!

Swiss Noe Ponti, already with two world records here, set a meet record to win the men’s 100 Medley in 50.33, ahead of Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT: 51.11). Andrew was fourth in 51.37.

Russia’s Miron Lifintsev won his second event of the meet in the men’s 50 Back in a world junior record of 22.47. Spain’s Carles Coll Marti, who swims at Virginia Tech, won the men’s 200 m Breast in 2:01.55, with the U.S.’s A.J. Pouch in sixth (2:02.84).

The medal table shows the U.S. with 18 total medals (9-6-3) to nine for Canada (3-2-4) and seven for Australia (2-2-3). The meet closes on Sunday. Will the U.S. still be in Dreamland?

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PANORAMA: L.A. City Council directs 63%+ hotel worker raise by 2028, with LA28 impacts; Ellison, Stutzman up for World Archery Awards

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-3 on Wednesday, directing the City Attorney to prepare ordinances to increase the minimum wage for “tourism workers” from the current $18.78 to $19.73 per hour to $22.50 in February 2025, $25.00 in 2026, $27.50 by 2027 and $30.00 by 2028.

City News Service reported that “The Living Wage Ordinance applies to city contractors and ensures that employees are paid a set living wage, setting a cash wage rate and health-related benefits. The Hotel Workers Minimum Wage ordinance requires hotel employers with 60 or more guest rooms to pay their employees the specified minimum wage and provide 96 compensated hours of off time, and at least 80 additional hours of uncompensated time off per year.”

The report also noted a letter from the Hotel Association of Los Angeles sent to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee that included:

“These increases constitute an approximately 70% increase in wage and health benefits costs to hotels in 2025. By the time of the 2028 Olympics, the increase will be close to 100%.

“To put it plainly, this staggering increase in costs makes it infeasible for most if not all signatory hotels to participate in LA28’s hotel room block.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The official sports schedule for the 2026 Winter Games was disseminated this week and skiing and snowboard star Ester Ledecka (CZE) is not happy.

The surprise winner of the 2018 PyeongChang women’s Super-G gold medal, she has also won the Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom gold in 2018 and 2022. Now, the  2026 Olympic schedule shows that the women’s Alpine Downhill and the Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom are on the same day – 8 February – with the PGS qualifying starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina and the Downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo at 11:30 a.m., about 200 miles east.

Ledecka is readying for the Alpine World Cup Downhill and Super-G at Beaver Creek, Colorado this weekend and said she has asked the Czech Olympic Committee for assistance:

“It’s like someone has broken your dream. So please change it. Please, please, please. It’s my biggest dream to do both. I can create a great show for people.”

● Archery ● Nominees for the World Archery Awards were announced, with eight Americans nominated.

Paris Olympic runner-up Brady Ellison was nominated in the men’s Recurve division, Paris Olympic Mixed Team bronzer Casey Kaufhold in the women’s Recurve division; James Lutz and Sawyer Sullivan in men’s Compound (and Sullivan in the Breakthrough category).

Paralympic Compound champion Matt Stutzman was nominated in the Para men’s category, along with Jason Tabansky, and Tracy Otto in the women’s Para. Fans can vote through 10 January.

● Cycling ● The use of inhaled carbon monoxide as a optimizer for altitude training is now under attack by the Union Cycliste Internationale, which “will propose to its Management Committee that the use of carbon monoxide (CO) by riders be banned on medical grounds.

“The decision will be made by the executive body of the Federation at its next meeting, which will take place in Arras, France, on 31 January and 1 February 2025. …

“Its use in a medical setting, by qualified medical personnel, and within the strict context of assessing total hemoglobin mass, would, however, remain authorised.”

● Weightlifting ● North Korea took a ninth gold at the IWF World Championships in Manama (BRN), with Kuk-hyang Song taking the women’s 76 kg and winning all three segments, with 116 kg in the Snatch, 148 in the Clean & Jerk and 264 kg in total. Colombia’s Miyareth Mendoza was a distant second at 248 kg.

Four-time Worlds silver medalist Mattie Rogers of the U.S. failed on her three Snatch attempts and did not place.

Kazak Nurgissa Adiletuly won the men’s 96 kg class at 388 kg, placing fourth in the Snatch and second in the Clean & Jerk to edge Georgia’s Revaz Davitadze (387 kg) and Iran’s Ali Alipour (also 387 kg).

With six classes left, the North Koreans have won nine golds and 14 medals, with China a very distant second at six medals (1-2-3). The championships close on Sunday.

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PARIS 2024: Organizing committee budget shows a financial surplus, by about €26.8 million, as Estanguet exits

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower (Photo: Ibex73 via Wikipedia)

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≡ OLYMPIC GAMES 2024 ≡

The Paris 2024 organizing committee reported to its board on Thursday that its seven-year effort to stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games ended with a modest financial surplus.

The initial summary reports indicate that the organizing committee ended with a surplus of about €26.8 million, or about $28.1 million U.S., thanks to strong ticket sales revenues.

There were three primary revenue drivers (€1 = $1.05 U.S.):

● €1.489 billion: tickets and hospitality
● €1.238 billion: domestic sponsorships
● €1.228 billion: International Olympic Committee contribution
● €204.1 million: Public funds (for Paralympics)

The total was €4.480 billion, or 1.3% higher than the €4.397 expected at the last budget check in March of this year. The ticketing and hospitality sales were remarkable with a record total of about 12.1 million tickets sold, and an outstanding 17.2% rise over the €1.270 billion target.

(Ticket sales were €1.333 billion with another €156 million from hospitality sales.)

The organizing committee’s costs came to €4.453 billion vs. an expectation of €4.397 billion in March, and so there was €26.8 million left over from the organizing committee’s side.

These figures do not include the state funding for building projects, handled by the SOLIDEO government subsidiary, of €3.2 billion, which was sufficient to complete all of the projects on time. However, additional public support for a deficit – of about €30 million – will now not be needed.

The split of the €26.8 million surplus is to go three ways according to the agreement with the IOC:

● 60% or €16.08 million for sports programs in France
● 20% or €5.36 million to the CNOSF (National Olympic Committee)
● 20% or €5.36 million to the IOC

The Paris 2024 report pointed out that the costs had risen since the bid projections had been made in 2016, but revenues increased even more (dollar amounts shown from the IOC evaluation report):

● $3.964 billion in bid revenue projections
● $4.704 billion actual revenue: +18.7%

● $3.964 billion in bid expense projections
● $4.676 billion in actual expense: +17.9%

Paris 2024 finance director Patrice Lacroix explained that the increase in expenses  from the bid was due to multiple factors, including staging the opening on the Seine River, the addition of four sports and the nation-wide promotional campaign “Terre des Jeux” and … inflation. Lacroix said, “From 2023, the shock was enormous; between 300 and 400 million euros.”

With the financial surplus reported – the ultimate happy ending – Paris 2024 organizing committee chief Tony Estanguet announced his resignation, and will take a well-earned rest. The organizing committee itself will wind up in mid-2025, after the settlement of all accounts, distribution of materials and the assembly of its official report.

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SWIMMING: Wins for Alexy, Walsh and 4×2 relay, two world records and eight medals for U.S. at Short-Course Worlds!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Unstoppable: American star Gretchen Walsh (Photo: USA Swimming).

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≡ WORLD 25 m CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The wave of record performances continued on Thursday at the World Aquatics 25 m (short-course) Championships in Budapest (HUN), with three world marks amid a torrent of great U.S. performances:

● Women/200 m Butterfly: 1:59.32, Summer McIntosh (CAN)
● Women/100 m Medley: 55.71, Gretchen Walsh (in semis)
● Women/4×200 m Freestyle: 7:30.13, United States (Alex Walsh, Paige Madden, Katie Grimes, Claire Weinstein)

Walsh led off Thursday’s finals with her second individual gold with a 50.31 American Record in the women’s 100 m Free, breaking her own mark of 50.49 from the semifinals, and just 0.06 from the world mark. Teammate Kate Douglass was second for much of the race, but France’s Beryl Gasteldallo came home hardest and got second, 50.63 to 50.73.

Walsh returned for the semis of the 100 m Medley and cruised through the second semi, setting another world record of 55.71, slashing her October mark of 55.98. Douglass won the first semi in 56.88; the final is Friday.

American sprint star Jack Alexy won the men’s 100 m Free in 45.38, trailing teammate Chris Guiliano at the halfway point, but moving into the lead on the third lap and touching the clear winner. Guilherme Santos (BRA: 45.47) and Jordan Crooks (CAY:45.48) passed Guiliano coming home, and Guiliano had to settle for fourth (45.51).

The U.S. quartet of Alex Walsh, Paige Madden, Katie Grimes and Claire Weinstein combined for a win and another world record in the final event, the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle, winning in 7:30.13, with Weinstein blowing the race open on the final leg (1:50.31). They crushed the Australian mark of 7:30.87 from the 2022 Worlds in the process, finishing ahead of Hungary (7:33.39) and Australia (7:33.60).

Canada’s McIntosh powered to a second gold in the meet with a brilliant world record of 1:59.32 in the women’s 200 m fly final, and crushed the 1:59.61 mark from Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) from 2014. U.S. star Regan Smith was a solid second in an American Record of 2:01.00, breaking Kelsi Dahlia’s 2:01.73 standard from 2018. Fellow American Alex Shackell was fourth in 2:03.23.

Ilya Kharun of Canada followed with his own win in the men’s 200 m Fly in 1:48.24, to equal the meet record, a clear winner over Alberto Razzetti (1:48.64), with American Trenton Julian in fifth (1:50.51). Kharun moves to equal-second all-time in the event.

China’s Qianting Tang, the 2021 winner, won the women’s 100 m Breast final over defending champ Lilly King of the U.S., 1:02.38 to 1:02.80. And China won the men’s 100 Breast with Haiyang Qin (55.47) winning his first short-course Worlds gold.

Australian Elijah Winnington came from third at the 300 m mark and took the men’s 400 m Free final in 3:35.89, with Americans Kieran Smith and Carson Foster tying for the silver in 3:36.31.

After three of six days, the U.S. had 13 medals (7-3-3) to nine for Canada (3-2-4) and five for Australia (1-2-2); the meet concludes on Sunday.

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