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TSX REPORT: Crouser leads U.S. shot sweep, Fraser-Pryce leads Jamaican 100 sweep; Nageotte-Morris and Holloway-Cunningham both 1-2 for U.S.!

Twice Olympic Shot Champion and World Champion: Ryan Crouser of the U.S. (Photo: Adam Eberhardt for Tracktown USA)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 6 ~ Sunday, 17 July 2022

An emotional night of finals saw wins for the home team in the men’s shot, women’s vault and men’s 110 m hurdles, and a historic Jamaican sweep in the women’s 100 m, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce winning an astonishing fifth World Championships gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

It was an astonishing night for U.S. fans at Hayward Field in Eugene, as the U.S. won seven medals and qualified a bunch of athletes for future finals. The crowd was loud and the scene was electric:

● Men/110 m Hurdles ● Defending World Champion Grant Holloway (USA) blew out of the blocks in semi one and went unchallenged to win in 13.01 (wind: -0.6 m/s), with Britain’s Josh Zeller second in 13.31. Semi two was another blow-out, this time for NCAA champ Trey Cunningham of the U.S., finishing all alone in 13.07 (+0.3), ahead of Spain’s Asier Martinez (13.26). Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) got control of the third semi in mid-race and won in 13.02w (+2.5), with American Devon Allen at 13.09w.

Parchment was hurt during warm-ups for the final and had to withdraw, with the Americans arrayed in lanes 3 (Allen), 4 (Holloway) and 6 (Cunningham). Then, Allen was called for a false start, just 1/1000th faster than the allowed 1/10th of a second, leaving only six to run.

Off the gun, Holloway reacted slowly, but got to the lead quickly and was never headed, in 13.03 (+1.2). Cunningham was strong in the middle of the race, then held off Martinez, 1308-13.17 for the silver. Poland’s Damian Czykier was fourth in 13.32.

● Women/100 m ● The semis were tense, starting with St. Lucia’s (and NCAA champ for Texas) Julien Alfred being disqualified for a false start in semi one. On the re-start, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson had the lead in mid-race, but Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) led at 90 m, but Jackson surged again in the final 10 m to win in 10.84 vs. 10.89 (-0.2), with TeeTee Terry of the U.S. third in 11.04. Jamaican star Elaine Thompson-Herah was challenged by Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) right to the tape, but won 10.82-10.87 (-0.2), with American Melissa Jefferson getting third with a lunge at the line in 10.92. Former USC sprinter Tynia Gaither (BAH) suffered a false start in semi three; four-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce started well and zipped through in 10.93, with American Aleia Hobbs charged from fourth to second in 10.95. Jefferson advanced to the final, but Terry did not.

In the final, it was Fraser-Pryce got out with Asher-Smith, but the Jamaican was unmatched in the middle of the race, storming to a fifth Worlds gold in 10.67 (+0.8), ahead of teammates Jackson (lifetime best 10.73) and Thompson-Herah (10.81), with Jackson getting and staying ahead by mid-race. Asher-Smith was fourth in 10.83, equaling her lifetime best; Hobbs ran 10.92 for sixth and Jefferson was eighth in 11.03.

Jamaica celebrated a sweep, just as in Tokyo, but with Fraser-Pryce winning instead of Thompson-Herah.

● Women/Pole Vault ● The real jumping started at 4.60 m (15-1), with eight clearing, and then only Sandi Morris (USA), Nina Kennedy (AUS) and Tina Sutej (SLO) clearing 4.70 m (15-5) on their first try. Olympic champ Katie Nageotte of the U.S. cleared on her second try, and Rio 2016 gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) made on her third. Those five moved to 4.80 m (15-9) with Morris and Kennedy clearing on their first try and Nageotte on the second.

But Nageotte got a world-leading, first-try clearance at 4.85 m (15-11), but then Kennedy missed twice, but Morris cleared on her second try. Stefanidi missed twice and after an earlier miss, was eliminated. So the medalists were set and Kennedy passed to 4.90 m (16-0 3/4).

Nageotte missed, then Kennedy had her third try (but first at 4.90) and missed, clinching the bronze. Morris missed twice, Nageotte missed all three and on her final try, Morris fell short and the U.S. 1-2 had Nageotte adding a world title to her Olympic gold and Morris won a third straight Worlds silver after 2017 and 2019.

The third American, NCAA champ Gabriela Leon cleared 4.30 m (14-1 1/4) and finished 12th.

● Men/Shot Put ● World-record holder Ryan Crouser was fifth in the order in the first round and methodically reached 22.21 m (72-10 1/2) to take the lead, but only for a few minutes as defending champ Joe Kovacs (USA) reached 22.63 m (74-3) to take over. Then the no. 3 American, Josh Awotunde, shoved Crouser into third with a lifetime best of 22.24 m (72-11 3/4) to move into second place!

What would Crouser do? Into the lead at 22.71 m (74-6 1/4), with the order maintained into the fifth round. Then New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, the 2017 champion, moved into fourth at 22.08 m (72-5 1/4) and started a chain reaction. Awotunde got another lifetime best at 22.29 m (73-1 3/4), then Kovacs took the lead at 22.89 m (75-1 3/4)!

Crouser was game and exploded with another huge throw, measured at 22.94 m (75-3 1/4)!

In the final round, Kovacs managed 22.42 m (73-6 3/4), leaving Crouser with the Worlds gold, his first after his silver in Doha in 2019. Awotunde’s third place completed the American sweep; the fourth American, Tripp Piperi, was eighth at 20.93 m (68-8).

● Men/Discus qualifying ● In Group A, Slovenian star Kristjian Ceh got his auto-qualifier on his first throw at 68.23 m (223-10) and Simon Pettersson got it on his second (68.11 m/223-5), as did Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna (68.91 m/226-1) and Matthew Denny of Australia (66.98 m/219-9).

In Group B, 2017 World Champion Andrius Gudzius (LTU) qualified at 66.60 m (218-6) and Lukas Weisshaidinger (AUT) reached 66.51 m (218-2).

Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) didn’t make the auto-qualifier, but advanced at 65.95 (216-4). American Sam Mattis reached 65.59 m (215-2) and qualified eighth; the other Americans did not advance: Andrew Evans in 18th (62.20 m/204-1) and Brian Williams in 28th (58.25 m/191-1).

● Men/400 m Hurdles semis ● Olympic silver medalist Rai Benjamin moved strongly on the second turn and led into the straight, loafing on the run-in but winning in 48.44, with Jaheel Hyde (JAM: 49.09) second. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos cruised through the second semi in 47.85, with Trevor Bassitt of the U.S. a solid second in 48.17. In semi three, Norway’s world-record holder Karsten Warholm ran hard for eight hurdles and cruised home in 48.00, with France’s Wilfried Happio second with a lifetime best of 48.14 and American Khallifah Rosser qualifying for the final in third in 48.34.

● Men/1,500 m semis ● All three Tokyo medalists – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Tim Cheruiyot (KEN) and Britain’s Josh Kerr – were in semi one and Ingebrigtsen had the lead at the bell, running with World Indoor Champion Samuel Tefera (ETH). Cheruiyot came up to challenge for the lead on the final turn, and he and Ingebrigtsen led into the straight and then Kerr surged to take the win in 3:36.92, with Mario Garcia (ESP: 3:37.01) also flying to the line and Ingebrigtsen and Cheruiyot in 3-4 (3:37.02-3:37.04). American Johnny Gregorek finished eighth in 3:37.35.

Semi two saw Stewart McSweyn (AUS) taking it out, with world leader Abel Kipsang following closely and they led at the bell. Britain’s Jake Wightman fought his way into second with 200 m left and Kipsang took the lead. Spain’s Mohamed Katir charged past McSweyn and ended up second, edging Wightman, with Kipsang winning, 3:33.68-3:34.45-3:34.48. McSweyn qualified in fifth in 3:35.07; American Josh Thompson was seventh in 3:35.55, but qualified for the final on time.

● Women/Heptathlon ● Things heated up in the shot, where world leader Anouk Vetter (NED) got a lifetime best of 16.25 m (53-3 3/4), but with Belgium’s twice Olympic champ Nafi Thiam got a season’s best of 15.03 m (49-3 3/4). American Anna Hall got a lifetime best of 13.67 m (44-10 1/4). After three events, Thiam had 3,127 points to 3,003 for Vetter.

In the 200 m, Hall dominated with a win in 23.08, a lifetime best, moving her to third overall at 3,991. Thiam is the leader at 4,071 and Vetter stands second at 4,010. Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) stands sixth at 3,798.

The meet continues Monday at 6:15 a.m. with the women’s marathon.

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TSX REPORT: Tola surges to marathon gold, Andersen hammers U.S. gold and Cheptegei wins 10,000 m in Worlds morning session

World Champion: Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola!

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 5 ~ Sunday, 17 July 2022

Sunday’s program began with the men’s marathon at 6:15 a.m., then will continue at 10:35 a.m. with the 100 m hurdles of the women’s heptathlon. This post will be added to later …

● Men/Marathon ● The flat, three-loop course started in 57 F temperatures and overcast skies just after 6:15 a.m. with 62 men on the line at Autzen Stadium, with Olympic marathon legend Frank Shorter the actual starter.

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono, the 2019 Boston and Chicago Marathon winner, did not start as he was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit as he “tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List as a metabolic modulator. Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat.” He tested positive during a 23 May 2022 out-of-competition test, but the result was received 47 days later from the lab in Lausanne (SUI) instead of the usual 20 days: “The AIU has made a formal complaint to the laboratory in relation to this unacceptable delay, which has denied the opportunity for another Kenyan athlete to take the place of Mr Cherono in the marathon.”

(Remember that a long delay in the result for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva from the Stockholm lab caused the still-unresolved issues with the Beijing 2022 Team Event. This is a problem.)

In the race, the contenders ran together in a lead pack of 30, passing the half in 64:08 with Shumi Dechasa (BRN) leading most of the time. At the end of the second loop – 28 km – Dechasa had the lead at 1:25:11, but with 31 others still in contact.

The pace began to grind on the pack, with Dechasa and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola – the 2017 Worlds runner-up – leading after 31 km, with 22 still in contention. The group was down to 14 by 32 km, with Tola pushing and Kenya’s three-time World Half Marathon champ Geoffrey Kamworor and Belgium’s Olympic bronze medalist Bashir Abdi closest.

Tola attacked after 32 km and broke away, with six chasing but seven seconds behind by 34 km after Tola threw in a 2:43 kilometer and found no challengers to his surge. Abdi, Mosinet Geremew (ETH), Kamworor and Cam Levins (CAN) were closest, but Tola was moving away smartly, up 12 seconds by 35 km and 17 seconds at 36 km, running kilometers in about 2:46.

Abdi and Geremew moved ahead of Kamworor and Levins with 6 km left, but the four were together by 38 km. Abdi and Geremew forged an expanding lead by 40 km and then fought each other for the silver and bronze.

Tola was 39 seconds up by 38 km and cruised to the win – accompanied by a group of bike riders on the other side of the road – in a brilliant 2:05:36, shattering the World Championships meet record of 2:06:54 by Kenyan Abel Kirui from 2009. Tola won by 1:08!

Geremew moved ahead of Abdi after 40 km and won his second consecutive Worlds silver (2:06:44) and Abdi got third in 2:06:48. Levins was sensational, taking more than two minutes off his lifetime best and set the Canadian record at 2:07:09. Kamworor was fifth in 2:07:14.

It was the second straight 1-2 for Ethiopia after Lelisa Desisa and Geremew went gold-silver in Doha in 2019. The Americans: Galen Rupp, suffering from back pains during the race, finished 18th in 2:09:36; Elkanah Kibet was 24th in 2:11:20 and and Colin Mickow was 46th in 2:16:37.

● Men/400 m heats ● South Africa’s Rio 2016 gold medalist Wayde van Niekerk is back from injury and won the first heat impressively in 45.18. In heat two, world leader Michael Norman of the U.S. worked the far turn and came into the home straight with a lead and cruised in at 45.37. Fellow American Michael Cherry ran hard early and won heat three in 45.81.

The third American, Champion Allison, took over the fourth heat in the final 75 m and won in 45.56. Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori won heat five in 44.87 over Grenada’s London 2012 gold medalist Kirani James (45.29). The final heat went to Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) in 45.49. The semis are on Wednesday.

● Women/400 m heats ● Olympic champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) had no trouble in heat one, winning easily in 51.10, but American Kendall Ellis was sixth (52.55) and was eliminated. Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson was a comfortable winner in the second heat in a seasonal best of 50.15, moving to no. 6 on the 2022 world list. Sada Williams (BAR) won heat three in 51.05.

Olympic silver winner Marileidy Paulino (DOM) dominated heat four (50.76), with American Lynna Irby third in 51.78. Fiordaliza Cofil – the Dominican anchor on the Mixed 4×400 m team – won heat five in 51.19, with Talitha Diggs (USA) second in 51.54. The final heat went to Poland’s Anna Kielbasinka in 50.63. The semis are on Wednesday.

● Women/Hammer ● American Brooke Andersen entered as the world leader and favorite and took command immediately at 74.81 m (245-5) in the first round, only to lose the lead to fellow American – and world no. 2 – Janee’ Kassanvoid in the second round at 74.86 m (245-7).

Canada’s Cam Rogers, the collegiate record holder at Cal, got into her third-round throw and took the lead at 75.52 m (247-9). But then Andersen got unstuck and sent the ball-and-chain to 77.42 m (254-0) in the fourth round and re-took the lead. And Andersen was hot, extending her lead to 77.56 m (254-5) in the fifth round.

No one could challenge the top three and Kassanavoid did not improve in round six, clinching the bronze. Rogers also did not improve on her sixth throw, settling for silver and Andersen won the second straight World title for the U.S. by bombing her final throw out to 78.96 m (259-1), a third straight improvement, the no. 2 throw in the world this season and the no. 4 in U.S. history!

American Annette Echikunwoke managed only 68.12 m (223-6) and finished 12th.

● Men/10,000 m ● It was 75 F for the 24 starters at 1 p.m. with Olympic champ Selemon Barega (ETH), world-record holder Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) and world leader Grant Fisher (USA) on the line.

The first half saw the runners strung out in a line, but with a dozen in contact with the leaders. Nothing changed until two laps to go, with Barega pushing the pace against seven others, and being challenged by Stanley Mburu (KEN), Olympic fourth-placer Berihu Aregawi (ETH) and Cheptegei. Barega had the lead at the bell, but Cheptegei got the lead heading into the backstretch and was working hard to maintain it against Barega, Aregawi and Mburu with Canada’s Moh Ahmed and Fisher both closing.

The all-out sprint from 200 m out saw Cheptegei maintaining the lead and no one could catch him, winning in 27:27.43 and moving up from silver in Tokyo. Mburu, who fell on the first lap and was shoved a few laps later, got the silver in 27:27.90 and Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), one of the early leaders, sprinted up for the bronze (27:27.97). Fisher surged in the final 75 m and passed two, but ended up fourth in 27:28.14, ahead of Barega (27:28.39) and Ahmed (27:30.27).

Cheptegei defended his 2019 Worlds gold in this event and will now go for the double in the 5,000 m, where he is Olympic champ from Tokyo.

● Women/Heptathlon ● American Michelle Atherley led the 100 m hurdles, running 13.12 in the second section, ahead of a 13.17 lifetime best from Annik Kalin (SUI). Double Olympic champ Nafi Thiam (BEL) scored a lifetime best of 13.21 in the first section, smashing her 2017 mark of 13.34.

Thiam was sensational in the high jump, winning at 1.95 m (6-4 3/4), ahead of Adrianna Sulek (POL: 1.89 m/6-2 1/4) and American Anna Hall (1.86 m/6-1 1/4). The shot put and 200 m will follow this afternoon.

American 400 m star – and two-time NCAA champ – Randolph Ross was also tossed from the World Championships by the Athletics Integrity Unit. He received a Notice of Allegation – and a provisional suspension“for tampering with the doping control process. The allegation arises out of the athlete’s conduct during the course of an investigation into a potential whereabouts violation. There was an unsuccessful attempt by the AIU to test Mr Ross on 18 June 2022 and the investigation into this matter concluded when Mr Ross was interviewed by the AIU in Eugene on 14 July.”

This not only eliminates Ross from the men’s 400 m, but impacts the U.S.’s 4×400 m relay plans.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cycling ● Stage 15 of the Tour de France was decided by an all-out sprint at the end of a 202.5 km ride in 100 F heat with Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen edging countryman Wout van Aert for his first career Tour stage win in 4:27:27. Dane Mads Pedersen was just behind in third.

The route from Rodez to Carcassonne included a couple of crashes – one of which involved race leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) – more protesters on the road and other antics, but after breakaway attacker Benjamin Thomas (FRA) was caught with 800 m to go, it was a flat-out sprint for the line.

The leaderboard remained unchanged as Vingegaard rejoined the race after his fall and finished 23rd. He retained his 2:22 lead on two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and 2:43 on Britain’s Geraint Thomas. Monday is a rest day, followed by three straight mountain stages in the Pyrenees that may well decide the race.

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TSX REPORT: Kerley leads U.S. men’s 100 m sweep, plus Ealey takes shot and Wang scores a shock gold at Eugene Worlds

Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley is now 2022 World Champion! (Photo: jenaragon94 via Wikipedia)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 4 ~ Saturday, 16 July 2022

The “world’s fastest man” title went to American Fred Kerley as part of a U.S. sweep in the final of the men’s 100 m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. The U.S. got a second gold from women’s shot star Chase Ealey and China took a shocking long jump gold on the second day.

Attendance was much better on Saturday evening, although not completely full, but the crowd at the new Hayward Field was loud and appreciative. Here’s what happened:

● Women/100 m heats ● Seven heats, with the all-Jamaica Tokyo podium sweeping the first three.

Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson won heat one in 11.02 (wind: +0.7), four-time World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce cruised – now 35 – to a 10.87 win in heat two (-0.2) and double Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah took heat three in a very relaxed 11.15 (+0.2).

Lots of stories in heat four, as Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) came on late to edge American TeeTee Terry 10.92-10.95 (+0.8), with the fourth Jamaican, Oregon star Kemba Nelson, third in 11.10. South Africa’s Carina Horn was one of those with visa trouble, but got to Eugene and was fourth in 11.29.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith ran away with heat five in an impressive 10.84 (+1.2), just 0.01 from her lifetime best! Aleia Hobbs of the U.S. won heat six easily in 11.04 (+0.1) and Swiss star Mujinga Kambundji won heat seven in 10.97 (-0.1), with American Melissa Jefferson second in 11.03. Four Jamaicans and three Americans all advanced.

It didn’t impact the semifinals, but there was an important subtext to heat three, as Saudi sprinter Yasmeen Aldabbagh lined up next to, and ran against, Israeli Diana Vaisman. It wasn’t close, as Vaisman was fifth in 11.29 and Aldabbagh was seventh in 13.21, but there was a time not long ago where Saudi authorities would never have permitted one of their athletes to compete head-to-head with an Israeli. The Iranians still don’t. So a small, but noteworthy, show of co-existence on the track in 2022.

● Women/Shot Put ● World leader Ealey of the U.S. threw first and put the field on notice with the no. 2 throw of the year at 20.49 m (67-2 3/4), with defending World and Olympic champ Lijiao Gong (CHN) responding with a 19.58 m (64-3) to move up to second.

Ealey reached 19.82 m (65-0 1/2) to start the second round, but Gong got closer at 19.84 m (65-1 1/4) and hunted Easley with a third-round 20.23 m (66-4 1/2) in round three. Neither improved in round four, then Gong got into her fifth round toss at 20.39 m (66-10 3/4), closer, but still second.

But Gong could not improve in the sixth round and after Ealey’s foul, the American celebrated a world title based on her first-round throw. It’s Gong’s seventh Worlds medal, after two golds in 2017 and 2019 (now 2-2-3) across 13 years.

Jessica Schilder (NED) moved to third with a national record of 19.77 m (64-10 1/2) in the second and fifth rounds. Canada’s Sarah Mitton also got out to 19.77 m in the sixth round, but was fourth since Schilder did it twice.

American Jessica Woodard was eighth at 18.67 m (61-2) and teammate Maggie Ewen finished ninth at 18.64 m (61-2).

● Men/Long Jump ● Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) stomped on the field in the second round at 8.30 m (27-2 3/4), and appeared to be cruising in the lead. World leader Simon Ehammer – the Swiss decathlete – jumped up to second at 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) and then Cuba’s Maykel Masso reached 8.15 m (26-9) for third. Tentoglou stretched to 8.29 m (27-2 1/2) in round three to consolidate his lead, with American Steffin McCarter fourth (8.04 m/26-4 1/2) and teammate Marquis Dendy (8.02 m/26-3 3/4) fifth.

Tentoglou got to 8.24 m (27-0 1/2) in round four and then extended his lead at 8.32 m (27-3 3/4) in round five. But then China’s Jianan Wang dropped a bomb with a season’s best of 8.36 m (27-5 1/4) finale, improving from 8.03 m (26-4 1/4) in the third and fifth rounds.

Tentoglou was strong on his final jump, but got only to 8.20 m (26-11) and had to settle for silver, with Ehammer third. Masso, McCarter and Dendy finished 4-5-6.

● Men/1,500 m heats ● Three heats with the top six to go through and six more on time, with Ethiopia’s two-time World Indoor Champion Sam Tefera leading at the bell and passing Charles Grethen (LUX) on the home straight to take the lead before being passed late by Ollie Hoare (AUS), 3:36.17-3:36.35. Defending champ Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) qualified in fourth, but American Cooper Teare was 13th (3:41.15).

Norway’s Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen was the headliner in heat two, and he settled in behind Stewart McSweyn (AUS) in the early going. McSweyn towed the field through the bell and won just ahead of Charles Philbert-Thiboutot (CAN) and Ingebrigtsen, 3:34.91-3:35.02-3:35.12. American Johnny Gregorek was a qualifying sixth in 3:35.65.

World leader Abel Kipsang (KEN) was the focus of the final heat, but the race was controlled by Britain’s Josh Kerr, who took the bell and then led all the way around to win in 3:38.94. Kipsang, New Zealand’s Sam Tanner and Spain’s Mohamed Katir were 2-3-4 coming into the final straight, but American Josh Thompson stormed up on the inside to get second at 3:39.10, then Kipsang (3:39.21) in the mass finish with William Paulson (CAN: 3:39.21), Tanner (3:39.33) and Katir (3:39.45).

● Women/1,500 m semis ● World Indoor Champion Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) tired of the slow pace in the first half of semi one, then moved to the lead and was never headed on the way to a 4:01.28. Behind her, Britain’s Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir and Australia’s Jessica Hull cruised home 2-3 in 4:01.78-4:01.81. American Cory McGee ran into an auto-qualifying fifth on the final straight in 4:02.74, but Elle St. Pierre was 11th in 4:09.84.

All eyes were on Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN) in semi two, and she went to the front right away, only to be passed from frontrunner Nozomi Tanaka (JPN). Kipyegon got serious with 500 m to go, with American Sinclaire Johnson and Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha trailing. Kipyegon led at the bell and was unchallenged, winning in 4:03.98, with Meshesha and Johnson qualifying comfortably in 4:04.05 and 4:04.51.

● Men/100 m ● The semifinals saw South Africa’s Akani Simbine just edge American Trayvon Bromell, with both in 9.97 (+0.3) in the first race, then a U.S. 1-2 in semi two with Christian Coleman starting well, but then passed by Kerley in the last 40 m, 10.02-10.05 (+0.1). Olympic champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA) withdrew from semi three due to injuries; Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won in 9.90 to 9.93 for Marvin Bracy (USA; wind -0.1), placing all four U.S. entries in the final.

Bracy was in lane three, Kerley in four, Coleman in seven and Bromell in eight, with Simbine in five and Seville in six. Off the gun, Coleman got the best start – as expected – but Kerley and Bracy moved best in mid-race and Bracy had the lead at 70 m and 80 m. But Kerley closed and then moved hardest in the final 5 m and just edged Bracy at the line, timing 9.86 to 9.88.

Meanwhile, Bromell was revving in lane eight and moving toward the lead at the tape and got third (9.88) by 0.002 to Bracy. Seville was fourth in 9.97; Coleman finished sixth in 10.01.

It’s the first U.S. sweep at the Worlds since 1991, when Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Dennis Mitchell took the medals in Tokyo. Wow!

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TSX REPORT: Fajdek hammers down fifth Worlds gold, and Gidey wins three-way sprint in women’s 10,000 at Eugene World Champs

Just THIS CLOSE in the women's 10,000 m World Championship, with Ethiopia's Letsenbet Gidey winning ... barely (Official Seiko Photofinish)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 3 ~ Saturday, 16 July 2022

Friday’s bright sunshine gave way to clouds and 65 F temperatures on Saturday morning and early afternoon at a half-filled Hayward Field in Eugene for the second day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships. There were two finals, with brilliant wins by Ethiopian star Letsenbet Gidey at 10,000 m and a Polish 1-2 in the men’s hammer. Event by event:

● Women/Triple Jump qualifying ● Venezuela’s world-record holder Yulimar Rojas was the first jumper in the order and auto-qualified even with a take-off way behind the board at 14.73 m (48-4). One and done.

Four others reached the 14.40 m qualifying mark: Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR: 14.54 m/47-8 1/2), Dominican Ana Jose Tima (14.52 m/47-7 3/4), Finland’s Kristiina Makela (14.49 m/47-6 1/2) and Shanieka Ricketts (JAM: 14.46 m/47-5 1/4). Americans Keturah Orji (14.37 m/47-1 3/4) and Tori Franklin (14.36 m/47-1 1/2) qualified seventh and ninth and Jasmine Moore reached 14.24 m (46-8 3/4) and missed out in 13th.

● Women/High Jump qualifying ● It took only 1.90 m (6-2 3/4) to qualify with world leader Yaroslava Manuchikh (UKR) as one of nine to clear 1.93 m (6-4) and move on to the final. Teammate Iryna Gerashchenko and Australia’s Eleanor Patterson also cleared 1.93 m, but no Americans qualified. Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.86 m (6-1 1/4); Rachel Glenn only 1.80 m (5-11 1/4) and Rachel McCoy managed 1.90 m, but finished 17th.

● Women/Steeple heats ● Ex-Kenyan Norah Jeruto, now running for Kazakhstan, ran away with heat one, taking charge from the start and creating a huge lead, winning by almost 10 seconds in stunning 9:01.54, the no. 4 performance of 2022! Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew and Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani (lifetime best) ran away from American star Emma Coburn, 9:11.25-9:12.14-9:15.19, for the auto-qualifying spots.

The second heat was led by Olympic champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) for most of the race, but Britain’s Aimee Pratt took the lead at the bell, with NCAA champ Courtney Wayment (USA) on her shoulder into the backstraight. Chemutai drove hard to get to the lead, followed by Mekides Abebe (ETH), then Abebe took the lead into the far turn, with six running for the three auto-qualifying spots. Abebe had the lead into the final straight, but could not hold off France’s Alice Finot, who won in 9:14.34, with Abebe second (9:14.83) and a mad dash for third won by Albanian Luiza Gega over Wayment, 9:14.91 to 9:14.95. Chemutai faded to a stunning fifth in 9:16.66 and Pratt was sixth in 9:18.91, a national record.

The final heat had six women together at the bell, with Kenya’s Celliphine Chespol and Slovenian Marusa Zrimsek leading on the backstraight, with Winfred Yavi (BRN) and American Courtney Frerichs separating from the rest of the field. The final sprint had Chespol winning in 9:16.78, Zrimsek a surprise second in 9:17.14, then Yavi (9:17.32) and Frerichs (9:17.91)

All three Americans finished fourth, but all advanced to the final on time.

● Men/110 m Hurdles heats ● NCAA champ Trey Cunningham of the U.S. took the first heat in 13.28 despite hitting hurdles six and 10 (wind: -0.5 m/s). Defending champ Grant Holloway of the U.S. drew lane one, but blew away the field in heat two, winning in 13.14 (+0.4).

U.S. champ Daniel Roberts had control of heat three, but hit hurdle seven and then crashed into the eighth hurdle and did not finish. Spain’s Asier Martinez won in 13.37 (-0.3). Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) came on in mid-race to win heat four in 13.17 (+0.2) and American Devon Allen labored through the fifth heat, hitting most of the hurdles, but managed to win in 13.47 (+0.4).

● Men/Hammer ● Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki of Poland got the ball rolling – so to speak – at 80.07 m (262-8) in the second round and was joined by teammate and four-time World Champion Pawel Fajdek, who took the lead at 80.58 m (264-4), only to be passed by Norway’s Elvind Henriksen at 80.87 m (265-4).

Nowicki upped the ante in round three, reaching 81.03 m (265-10), but Fajdek would have none of it, spinning out to a world-leading 81.98 m (268-11) to take the lead. But that was it. Fajdek won his fifth Worlds gold leading a Polish 1-2, with Nowicki taking a fourth Worlds medal, but first silver after bronzes in 2015-17-19. Henriksen stayed third, with Quentin Bigot (FRA) fourth at 80.24 m (263-3).

Among men’s field eventers at the Worlds, only Sergey Bubka (UKR/vault) has more golds than Fajdek, with six from 1983-97; Germany’s Lars Reidel also has five, in the discus, from 1991-2001.

American Rudy Winkler was sixth at 78.99 m (259-2), with Daniel Haugh in eighth (78.10 m/256-3) and Alex Young 12th in 73.60 m (241-6).

● Women/10,000 m ● Japan’s Ririka Hironaka, Britain’s Eilish McColgan and Kenyan Olympic 5,000 m winner Hellen Obiri towed the field through the half in 15:19.31, but gave way to Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye and Letsenbet Gidey by 7,000 m, with Obiri going nowhere.

Those three were at the head of a lead pack of nine which slowly shrank to seven with two laps to go and included defending champ and the Tokyo Olympic winner, Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan. After injuries and a lack of training, did she have the devastating kick that won two golds last year?

At the bell, it was Gidey and Obiri in the lead, but any of the top six could win it. Gidey and Obiri led into the far turn, but now Hassan was coming, and coming hard. She moved into third with 100 m to go, but her sprint gave way to Kenyan Margaret Kipkemboi in the last 20 m, who got third.

At the front, Gidey had the lead, but only by a step on the charging Obiri. Gidey, the world-record holder, gritted her teeth and looked behind at Obiri three times in the final 50 m, but held on to win in a world-leading 30:09.94, to Obiri’s lifetime best of 30:10.02. Kipkemboi was third in 3:10.07, a lifetime best, with Hassan at 30:10.56.

American Karissa Schweizer, with the lead pack for most of the race, was ninth in 30:18.05 – a huge lifetime best and now no. 3 all-time U.S. – ahead of McColgan (30:34.60). Americans Alicia Monson and Natosha Rogers were 13th and 15th in 30:59.85 and 31:10.57.

● Men/400 m Hurdles heats ● American Rai Benjamin led off with a win in heat one in 49.07 with a surge on the far turn, despite an NBC report that he has right-leg hamstring issues.

World leader Alison Dos Santos (BRA) toyed with the field in heat two, jogging home in 49.41. World-record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR) blew away the field from the start as usual, winning heat three in 49.34. Estonia’s Rasmus Magi won heat four in 48.78, with American Trevor Bassitt fading to a qualifying fourth in 49.17. American Khallifah Rosser dominated the fifth heat – from lane two – winning by a full second in 48.62, the fastest of the day!

Splits from Friday’s Mixed 4×400 m final showed that Americans Elija Godwin and Vernon Norwood had the fastest splits on the first and third legs – 44.71 and 44.40 – but that Allyson Felix (50.15) was nearly caught by Dominican star Marileidy Paulino (48.47) and anchor Kennedy Simon (50.90) was passed by Fiordaliza Cofil (49.92) and Dutch star Femke Bol, who timed 48.95 on her leg, fastest of the anchor runners.

On the visa saga, Athletics Kenya said that all of its athletes received a U.S. entry visa within a week except for sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, whose application was incomplete. He arrived just hours before his heat in the 100 m and qualified to today’s semifinals. A criminal investigation is being opened concerning the alleged inclusion of 32 non-athlete “joyriders” on the visa request list submitted by Athletics Kenya, which the federation says it has no knowledge of.

Good news from the Athletics Integrity Unit, reporting that no positives were found from testing of athletes in “high-risk” countries for doping, including Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Ukraine. Belarus is banned, of course, for collusion with Russia on its invasion of Ukraine, but 1,206 out-of-competition tests were carried out on athletes from the six other countries, including 378 for Kenya, 267 for Morocco and 241 for Ethiopia.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1912: Stockholm ● The International Olympic Committee’s announcement that Jim Thorpe has been recognized as the sole winner of the pentathlon and decathlon events acknowledged the efforts made on Thorpe’s behalf:

“This development has been made possible by the engagement of the Bright Path Strong organisation, supported by IOC Member Anita DeFrantz [USA]. They contacted the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC) and the surviving family members of Hugo K. Wieslander, who was named as the gold medallist in decathlon when Thorpe was stripped of his medals in 1913. They confirmed that Wieslander himself had never accepted the Olympic gold medal allocated to him, and had always been of the opinion that Jim Thorpe was the sole legitimate Olympic gold medallist. When contacted by the IOC, the SOC also declared that Thorpe should be acknowledged as the sole Olympic champion in decathlon at the Olympic Games Stockholm 1912.

“The same declaration was received from the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, whose athlete, Ferdinand Bie, was named as the gold medallist when Thorpe was stripped of the pentathlon title.”

As to the rest of the results of the two events:

“With this decision, Thorpe’s name will now be displayed as the sole gold medallist in pentathlon and decathlon, with the silver going to Bie in the pentathlon and Wieslander in the decathlon. However, James Donahue, from the US, and Frank Lukeman, from Canada, will keep the silver and bronze medals in pentathlon that they were awarded when the results were amended in 1913. The same applies to Charles Lomberg (silver) and Gosta Holmer (bronze), both from Sweden, in the decathlon.”

● Cycling ● Australia’s Michael Matthews won his fourth career Tour de France stage on Saturday with an attack in the final 2 km of the hilly, 192.5 Stage 14 ride from Saint Etienne to Mende. He finished 15 seconds up on Alberto Bettiol (ITA) and 34 seconds ahead of Thibaut Pinot (FRA). There was a modest change in the overall leaderboard, with Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) continuing with a 2:22 lead over two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO), but now 2:43 over 2018 winner Geraint Thomas (GBR).

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TSX REPORT: U.S., Felix score bronze on Mixed 4×4 to close World Athletics Champs opening day in Eugene

This is what a 9.79 win in a 100 m HEAT looks like for American Fred Kerley (Official Seiko Finish Photo)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 2 ~ Friday, 15 July 2022

Just three finals on the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, finishing with the Mixed 4×400 m and a 19th career Worlds medal for Allyson Felix, but it was bronze and not gold.

A formal, but quick Opening Ceremony was held at 4:50 p.m., with Oregon Governor Kate Brown welcoming the event, along with Douglas Imhoff, husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR). Plus a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Duane Reno.

After the women’s 20 km Walk in the morning, the men’s 20 km Walk started at 3:13 p.m. on a 1 km course adjacent to Autzen Stadium, with the Mixed 4×400 m to end the program. Here’s what happened:

● Men/20 km Walk ● The race went off at 81 F temperatures, with Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi – the defending World Champion – leading from the start, but the walkers were bunched at 5 km, with 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) leading at 20:11. Yamanishi led a group of 20+ across the 10 km split in 40:34, then picked up the pace and strung out the field, with 10 in the lead pack by 12 km. By the 15 km mark. Yamanishi pulled Kenya’s Samuel Gathimba and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Koki Ikeda (JPN) to a three-second lead over the rest at 59:57.

Karlstrom pushed back and got to the lead before 16 km, bringing the lead pack down to four. But he fell back at 17 km as Yamanishi pushed the pace again, with Ikeda and Gathimba close. The two Japanese walked together and had a nine-second lead over Hathimba and Kallstrom at the bell, but Yamanishi then stormed away and opened an enormous lead right after 19 km, leaving the silver to Ikeda, and winning his second straight world title in 1:19:07 with a final km of 3:40! Ikeda was at 1:19:14 and Karlstrom – third in 2019 – passed Gathimba for third on the final turn, 1:19:18 to 1:19:25.

The temperature at the finish was 83 F. Yamanishi is the third to win multiple Worlds gold in this event after Maurizio Damiliano (ITA: 1987-91) and Jefferson Perez (ECU: 2003-05-07).

Nick Christie was the top American finisher in 31st in 1:28:28.

● Women/Shot Put qualifying ● Two-time World Champion and Tokyo Olympic winner Lijiao Gong (CHN) led the qualifying with a seasonal best of 19.51 m (64-0 1/4), with world leader Chase Ealey an automatic qualifier at 18.96 m (62-2 1/2). Americans Jessica Woodard (19.08 m/62-7 1/4) and Maggie Ewen (also 18.96 m) also scored auto qualifiers on their third tries.

Adelaide Aquilla of the U.S. got out to 18.33 m (60-1 3/4) on her final try, finishing 14th.

● Men/3,000 m Steeple heats ● Tokyo Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) took control in the final 300 m of the first heat to win in 8:16.65, with Kenyans Leonard Bett and Abraham Kibiwot passing Getnet Wale (ETH) on the final straight, 8:16.94-8:17.04-8:17.49. American Benard Keter passed on the final half-lap, was seventh in 8:21.94 and did not qualify.

Ethiopia’s Olympic silver winner Lamecha Girma led at the bell of the second heat and into the final straight and ran away to win in 8:19.64. Comebacking Rio 2016 gold medalist Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) moved from fourth to second in the final 50 m to edge American Hillary Bor, 8:20.12-8:20.18, with Mehdi Belhadj (FRA) fourth in 8:20.47.

The final water jump was decisive in the final heat, with Haile Amare of Ethiopia taking it cleanly and American star Evan Jager moving from third to second ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Ben Kigen (KEN), who was flailing in the deep end of the water and fell back. Amare won in 8:18.34 with Jager at 8:18.44 and Avinash Sable (IND) third in 8:18.75; Kigen was seventh in 8:22.52.

● Women/Pole Vault qualifying ● The auto qualifying height was 4.65 m (15-3), but the bar didn’t get past 4.50 m (14-9), as 11 cleared, including Olympic champ Kate Nageotte and World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris of the U.S. The third American vaulter, Gabriela Leon, cleared 4.35 m (14-3 1/4) and tied for 12th and made the final as well.

● Men/Long Jump qualifying ● Japan’s Yuki Hashioka was the first to get an auto-qualifier with his second-round leap of 8.18 m (26-10) and was joined by American Marquis Dendy at 8.16 m (26-9 1/4). Sweden’s Thobias Montler was third in Group A at 8.10 m (26-7). Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglu (GRE) led the second group at 8.03 m (26-4 1/4) and tied for fifth overall; American Steffin McCarter reached 7.93 m (26-0 1/4), finishing 11th and advancing to the final.

● Women/1,500 m heats ● The top six in each of three heats made it to the semis, plus the next six fastest on time. Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha and Britain’s Tokyo silver medalist Laura Muir led at the bell of heat one and controlled the race from the front. Five runners separated on the home straight, with Meshesha winning in 4:07.05, Muir second at 4:07.53 and American Sinclaire Johnson a clear fourth in 4:07.68.

Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN) had no trouble winning heat two, maintaining control of the race throughout and winning in 4:04.53. But behind her, it was a sprint down the final straight with Australian Jessica Hull crossing second (4:04.68), Freweyni Hailu (ETH: 4:04.85) third and American Elle St. Pierre fourth (4:04.94).

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay – the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist – took charge of the third heat at the 800 m mark and cruised home in an impressive 4:02.67. Kenya’s Winny Chebet charged down the straight to get second in 4:03.12, with Linden Hall (AUS: 4:03.21) third. American Cory McGee got the last auto qualifier in sixth (4:03.61).

● Men/100 m heats ● Seven heats, with the top three moving through, plus the next three fastest on time. American Marvin Bracy looked easy in winning heat one in 10.05. But Fred Kerley breezed to the win in heat two, winning in 9.79 (wind: +0.1), the no. 3 performance of 2022 … all of which are his! His last four races have been wins in 9.83, 9.76, 9.77 and 9.79. Wow!

Trayvon Bromell easily won heat three, moving away at the finish in 9.89 (+0.6), then Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won heat four in 9.93, ahead of a comebacking Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA: 10.04). Letsile Tebogo (BOT) won heat five over 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake (JAM) in a World U-20 Record of 9.94 to 10.04.

Defending World Champion Christian Coleman of the U.S. exploded out of the blocks and shut it down with 10 m to go and won in 10.08 (+0.5), and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala – who barely got to Eugene after a visa hassle – made it through the final heat, third in 10.10, with Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown winning in 9.98.

● Men/Shot Put qualifying ● Olympic champ and world-record holder Ryan Crouser of the U.S. qualified easily with his opening throw of 22.28 m (73-1 3/4) and teammate Josh Awotunde threw 21.18 m (69-6), close enough to the auto-qualifying distance of 21.20 m (69-6 3/4) to assure getting to the final. In Group B, defending champion Joe Kovacs of the U.S. got his auto-qualifier in the first round at 21.50 m (70-6 1/2), as did former American Nick Ponzio (ITA: 21.35 m/70-0 1/2).

The fourth American, Adrian Piperi, got to 21.03 m (69-0) and also advanced in eighth, so all four Americans will be in the final.

● Mixed/4×400 m ● The U.S. led the qualifying by almost a second at 3:11.75, the no. 9 performance of all time and added Felix on the second leg for the final.

Elija Godwin got the U.S. off to a strong start, handing to Felix with the lead and Felix moved out smartly to a big lead on the backstraight. But Dominican Olympic 400 m silver medalist Marileidy Paulino finished like a rocket and essentially ran Felix (50.1) down on the home straight.

Alexander Ogando had the lead for the Dominicans on the third leg, but was passed by American Vernon Norwood on the home straight and Kennedy Simon had the lead on the final lap. She looked strong through 200 m, but was losing the lead to Dominican anchor Fiordaliza Cofil on the turn and faded to third as Dutch 400 hurdles star Femke Bol got the silver, 3:09.82-3:09.90-3:10.16.

It’s the no. 2 time in history for the Dominicans and no. 4 for the Netherlands. For Felix, she extends her record total of World Championships medals to 19 (13-3-3) in what was likely her final race in a major championships.

The crowd at Hayward Field was disappointing, with plenty of open seats; a full house is expected for the evening sessions for the rest of the week.

The meet is being televised in the U.S. by NBCUniversal, mostly on USA Network, but also on NBC and CNBC on the weekends and on the Peacock streaming service.

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TSX REPORT: Peru’s Garcia Leon upsets China in women’s 20 km Walk for opening gold in World Athletics Champs in Eugene

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 1 ~ Friday, 15 July 2022

The first World Athletics Championships to be held in the United States opened at 9:06 a.m. Pacific time on Friday in front of a few hundred fans at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Canada’s Adam Keenan was the first competitor, in the men’s hammer qualifying, reaching 74.38 m (244-0), but he did not qualify for the final. Poland’s Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki reached the automatic qualifying distance on his first try of 79.22 m (259-11) and American Daniel Haugh led the first group at 79.34 m (260-4).

We’re underway.

The “opening ceremony” appeared to be a 10-minute march of 200 school children around the track at 10 a.m., waving flags of the 192 participating countries.

In the first session:

Men/Hammer qualifying: Four-time World Champion Pawel Fajdek led all qualifiers at 80.09 m (262-9), ahead of Haugh and Nowcki. Americans Rudy Winkler qualified fifth at 78.61 m (257-11) and Alex Young was the final qualifier at 74.67 m (244-11).

Men/High Jump qualifying: Eleven jumpers cleared 2.28 m (7-5 3/4), including Olympic co-champs Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) and Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT). Americans JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen both qualified, as did Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, who – with McEwen – have the best seasonal best in the field at 2.33 m (7-7 3/4).

Mixed/4×400 m heats: The U.S. team of Elija Godwin (44.89), Kennedy Simon (50.64), Vernon Norwood (44.74) and Wadeline Jonathas (51.48) won heat one with a world-leading 3:11.75, easily ahead of the Dutch (3:12.63) and Poland (3:13.70). The Dominican Republic won heat two in 3:13.22, beating Ireland (3:13.88) and Jamaica (3:13.95). The U.S. is the defending champ from the 2019 Worlds, but was third to Poland in Tokyo in 2021.

Men/100 m prelims: The “run-in” races were led by Emanuel Archibald (GUY) at 10.31, ahead of Ebrahima Camara (GAM: 10.37).

Women/Hammer qualifying: American Janee Kassanavoid led the first group with an auto qualifier of 74.46 m (244-3), and teammate Brooke Andersen – the world leader – also got the automatic qualifier at 74.37 m (244-0) to lead the second group. They were 1-2 overall, with fellow American Annette Echikunwoke qualifying fifth at 72.60 m (238-2).

Women/20 km Walk: The first final of Oregon22 started in 80 F temps, with China’s London 2012 gold medalist Shijie Qieyang and Peru’s Kimberly Garcia Leon sprinting to the lead and dumping the field after 3 km, forging an 11-second lead after 4 km and 14 seconds after 5 km (21:42) on the 1 km loop outside of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium. The pair passed 10 km in 43:41 with a 20-second edge on the field, walking about 4:22 per kilometer. Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo, 10th in Tokyo, was all alone in third, with a 36-second lead by 12 km.

At 14 km, Garcia Leon moved ahead and had a two-second edge at 15 km, but then six at 16 km and 18 at 17 km, with Zdzieblo passing a slowing Qieyang at the 17.5 km mark. Garcia Leon won easily in a national record 1:26:58, followed by Zdzieblo, also in a national mark of 1:27:31. Qieyang won the bronze in 1:27:56, her third career Worlds medal (0-1-2). Americans Robyn Stevens finished 24th (1:36:16) and Miranda Melville was 35th (1:39:58).

Garcia Leon – whose best finish was a third at the 2022 World Team Championships – won Peru’s first-ever medal at the World Championships and stopped a five-Worlds winning streak for the Chinese. She also won $70,000 for the victory.

The men’s 20 km Walk follows at 3:10 p.m.

More visa issues, as Britain’s Curtis Thompson “will not compete in the World Athletics Championships men’s marathon this weekend after significant delays in the processing of his US visa.

“UKA had been in close liaison with World Athletics and enlisted help of the UK Government to solve a last minute hold up, however, due to the close proximity to the marathon on Sunday 17 July, Thompson is now unable to travel and compete.”

The BBC reported:

“The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Oregon22 organisers and World Athletics have dealt with 374 cases, with 255 resolved and 20 refused [99 unresolved].

“In some cases, athletes have had delays in getting interviews, or applications have either been late or contained incorrect information.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court again on Thursday and Friday, but with no verdict announced in her trial for “drug smuggling.”

Griner has pled guilty with hopes to obtain a reduced sentence. During Thursday’s hearing, she was praised by members of her Russian club, UMMC Ekaterinburg. Griner’s attorneys expect the proceedings to continue into August; she has been detained since mid-February. U.S. authorities consider Griner to be unlawfully detained.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation elected Italian Ivo Ferriani, 62, for a fourth term as President, which he says will be his last. He ran unopposed. Also:

“The delegates of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton (IBSF) 2022 Congress in Lausanne (SUI) have voted to suspend all athletes of the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia (BFR) or otherwise affiliated to the BFR from participating in IBSF bobsleigh or skeleton competitions until further notice.”

The Congress also made a change that multiple federations are adopting, allowing its Executive Board to take “protective measures” in case of unforeseen events, allowing the suspension of “federations or persons for the necessary time or cancelling/relocating events.”

● Cycling ● Stage 12 of the Tour de France, on a hilly, 192.6 km route ending in Saint-Etienne, saw a final sprint won by Dane Mads Pedersen from Fred Wright (GBR) and Hugo Houle (CAN) in 4:13:03. American Matteo Jorgenson was fifth (+0:30). The overall leader finished in a pack, 5:45 behind; Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) continues to lead two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) by 2:22 and Geraint Thomas (GBR) by 2:26.

● Football ● Six appeals made by Russian football clubs against decisions by FIFA and UEFA which suspended the clubs indefinitely were rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Football Union of Russia and clubs FC Zenit, FC Sochi, PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Dynamo Moscow appealed and lost:

“[T]he Panel determined that the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the public and government responses worldwide, created unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances to which FIFA and UEFA had to respond. In determining that Russian teams and clubs should not participate in competitions under their aegis while such circumstances persisted, the Panel held that both parties acted within the scope of the discretion granted to them under their respective statutes and regulations. …

“The Panel finds it unfortunate that the current military operations in Ukraine, for which Russian football teams, clubs, and players have themselves no responsibility, had, by reason of the decisions of FIFA and UEFA, such an adverse effect on them and Russian football generally, but those effects were, in the Panel’s view, offset by the need for the secure and orderly conduct of football events for the rest of the world.”

● Skating ● The International Skating Union announced the figure skating Grand Prix schedule – at least most of it – for 2022 on Thursday, with four events set in the U.S., Canada, France and Japan, plus the final in Italy. However, the stops in Russian and China will have to be replaced, with the ban on Russian events and China withdrawing in view of continuing Covid uncertainties. One of the events has been replaced and will be held in Espoo (FIN), with one still to be determined.

The schedule will open, as usual, in the U.S. with Skate America, to be held in Norwood, Massachusetts on 21-23 October, followed by Skate Canada International on 28-30 October in Mississauga, Ontario.

● Weightlifting ● The newly-elected International Weightlifting Federation Executive Board met for the first time on Thursday, in Lausanne (SUI). Despite reports of legal challenges to the elections, the Board considered actions to try and retrieve its place on the Los Angeles 2028 program:

“[C]oncrete steps were agreed including commissioning the International Testing Agency (ITA) to increase the number of out-of-competitions tests. Additionally, an international auditing firm will now be appointed to perform a detailed financial, governance and operational due diligence of the IWF covering the past ten years.”

This is yet another report on the IWF’s sordid past, adding to the 2020 report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions and the ITA’s 2021 report of doping issues from 2009-19. Whether this will help satisfy the International Olympic Committee’s concerns is open to question.

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TSX REPORT: Eugene World T&F Champs open today; Thorpe declared sole 1912 winner!; U.S. women vs. Canada in CONCACAF W final

Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Stockholm Games, where he won (then and now) the pentathlon and decathlon (Photo Agence Rol - Gallica, via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World Athletics Champs open Friday, plagued by visa issues
2. IOC recognizes Thorpe as sole winner of 1912 multi-events
3. British Olympic stars pan pre-Paris 2024 FINA Worlds
4. Paralympic control ceded to IFs for biathlon and skiing
5. U.S. women top Costa Rica, 3-0, on to CONCACAF W final

The long-awaited first World Athletics Championships in the United States starts today in Eugene, Oregon, amid controversy over visa issues to enter the U.S. and in the smallest venue to ever host the Worlds, the new Hayward Field. But the competition is expected to be great. The International Olympic Committee has, after 110 years, recognized American icon Jim Thorpe as the “winner” – and not co-champ – of the 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon. Three of Britain’s swimming stars are criticizing the dates of the just-announced 2024 FINA Worlds just months before the Paris Games and may not compete. In a sign of the continuing evolution of Paralympic sport, biathlon and skiing are now under the control of the IBU and FIS and no longer managed by the International Paralympic Committee. And the U.S. and Canada will face off next Monday for the CONCACAF W Championship and a berth in the Paris 2024 Games.

1.
World Athletics Champs open Friday, plagued by visa issues

“The Oregon22 organising committee and World Athletics are working closely with the USOPC to follow up on Visa applications, the majority of which have been successfully resolved.

“We continue to follow up with those outstanding visa issues.

“International travel in general has become more challenging due to the pandemic and we are extremely grateful for the help and experience of the USOPC in helping to resolve issues that have come up in the last few weeks.”

That’s the statement coming from the Oregon22 organizers of the first-ever World Athletics Championships in the United States after waves of stories and tweets on Tuesday and Wednesday by athletes unable to obtain entry visas in time to compete.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, no. 3 on the men’s world 100 m list for 2022, finally got his travel permit on Thursday and will be traveling overnight to Eugene, where the heats of the men’s 100 m begin at 6:50 p.m. Pacific time; he’s expected to arrive just a few hours prior. No heat sheets were posted for the men’s 100 m by 10 p.m. Pacific time Thursday; watch for Omanyala to somehow be in a later race.

And the complaints have started about the athlete housing at the University of Oregon. Belgian 400 m star Kevin Borlee, who ran for Florida State and is competing in his sixth Worlds, told RTBF Belgium:

“Frankly, it’s disrespectful and unworthy of an event like this, world championships that are still aimed at top athletes. All year round, we make efforts to take care of recovery, sleep, these important little things that make the difference in the life of an athlete. And there, we land in the United States, we expect everything is big and on top and we find ourselves in a tiny room with really uncomfortable mattresses. Fortunately, we are all housed in the same boat, except the team from the United States who live elsewhere.”

All the noise takes away from the action on and inside the track, which is expected to be sensational:

● The weather is expected to be good but warm: 84 F high for Friday and only one day projected at 90 F, on Tuesday; otherwise, highs of 81-87 F and very little chance of rain. Wind could be an issue, projected at 8-10 miles per hour (3.6 to 4.5 m/s).

● NBC has strong coverage on its Peacock streaming service and weekday coverage on USA Network and weekend broadcasts on CNBC and NBC.

Track & Field News has posted its formcharts for men and women, projecting 33 total medals for the U.S. and 14 wins, which would be far more than any other country. The all-time medals record is 31 by the doped-up East German team in 1987, followed by 30 for the U.S. in London in 2017.

The award of the Worlds to be U.S. and to the smallest facility it has ever been held in – the rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene – was based on the belief that it would be a catalyst for the sport in the United States, but that is yet to be seen. What is true is that you will see a lot of carping in the press about the conditions, but brilliance on the field.

(Long-time British journalist Pat Butcher has already complained, “Doha [2019] was bad enough, ridiculously high temperatures and pathetically low crowds; following that with Eugene, aka Nowheresville, Oregon is compounding a felony, and is a further measure of the decline in interest and importance of Track & Field Athletics, whose heyday is getting increasingly distant.”)

The Sports Examiner will post session-by-session coverage of the Worlds; sign up here to receive our reports by e-mail shortly after each session concludes.

2.
IOC recognizes Thorpe as sole winner of 1912 multi-events

Completing a process which took 110 years, the International Olympic Committee has declared American Jim Thorpe as the formal winner – again – of the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon in Stockholm.

Thorpe won both events and was saluted as the “greatest athlete in the world,” but was disqualified in 1913 by the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. and the IOC for having played minor league baseball in 1909 and 1910, making him a professional athlete. Thorpe passed in 1953, but his family continued the effort to have him reinstated. The IOC, under Juan Antonio Samaranch, reinstated Thorpe in January 1983 and his family was presented with replica medals at a colorful ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

However, he was only declared a “co-champion” with Ferdinand Reinhardt Bie (NOR) in the pentathlon and Hugo Weislander (SWE) in the decathlon. The IOC’s new decision, first reported by the Phoenix-based IndianCountryToday.com, now shows Thorpe as the winner in both events, with Bie and Weislander as the silver medalists, as they were in 1912.

ESPN quoted IOC President Thomas Bach (GER): “This is a most exceptional and unique situation. It is addressed by an extraordinary gesture of fair play from the concerned National Olympic Committees.”

Thorpe, a Sac and Fox, was one of the greatest athletes in history. He was a legendary All-American college football player at Carlisle Academy and went on to careers in the National Football League (a 1923 All-Pro) and in Major League Baseball from 1913-19. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.

3.
British Olympic stars pan pre-Paris 2024 FINA Worlds

“I ain’t going.”

“It’ll be interesting to see what athletes thought having a World Championships after 3 years in a row of them that it would be a good idea with the Olympics that year too. January just isn’t the right time [in my opinion].”

“I’d love to which (if any) athletes were asked about this decision: July 2023 Worlds … 6 months later … Jan 2024 Worlds and then July 2024 Olympics. A totally bizarre decision and one I hope gets reconsidered! Surely just move it to 2025?”

Those were the reactions of British Olympic swimming medalists (1) James Guy (two relay golds), (2) Adam Peaty (100 m Breaststroke gold) and (3) Duncan Scott (200 m Free, 200 m Medley silvers) to the FINA announcement that a 2024 World Championships would be held in Doha (QAT) from 2-18 February, six months ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Due to chaos caused by the Covid pandemic, the regular cycle of FINA Worlds for 2019-21-23-25 has been completely disrupted, with Worlds in 2022 (Budapest as a replacement), Fukuoka (2023), now Doha in early 2024 and, supposedly, Kazan (RUS) in 2025, although with the war in Ukraine, the latter event is in doubt.

The tug-of-war over athlete schedules and preferences will continue, with wide reporting of a FINA plan to qualify relay teams for Paris via the Doha Worlds except for the top three placers in the relays at the 2023 Worlds in Fukuoka. In contrast, for Tokyo, the 12 top teams from the 2019 Worlds qualified and the next-fastest four countries also qualified on time.

Swimming is a sport which has traditionally not raced that much, although the experience of the International Swimming League has changed some attitudes. But when it comes to training for the Olympic Games, nothing – not even World Championships – has stood in the way. And what of the ISL is able to re-start its program in 2023, which runs in the late fall and into January?

4.
Paralympic control ceded to IFs for biathlon and skiing

Demonstrating the continuing integration of Paralympic sport, governance of four of the 10 sports now managed by the International Paralympic Committee have been handed over to the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).

This is a sea-change for the IBU and FIS, which will oversee Para Biathlon (IBU and FIS jointly) and Para Alpine Skiing, Para-Cross Country Skiing and Para Snowboard (FIS), with transition meetings now underway. The FIS Congress approved the move with 94% in favor at its May Congress.

A 2019 governance report, agreed to by the IPC’s General Assembly, determined that the sports currently under IPC control – Alpine Skiing, Athletics, Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Dance Sport, Ice Hockey, Powerlifting, Shooting, Snowboard and Swimming – should be either handed over to the International Federation for the able-bodied section of the sport, or a separate governing body should be created. Said IPC President Andrew Parsons (BRA):

“At the 2021 IPC General Assembly, IPC members provided a strong mandate for the IPC to cease acting as the international federation for 10 sports by the end of 2026. Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country and Para snowboard will be the first sports to depart the IPC, alongside Para biathlon, while good progress is being made on the remaining six.”

The remaining six include the summer Olympic sports of Athletics, Shooting and Swimming, the winter sport of Ice Hockey, and Powerlifting and Dance Sport.

5.
U.S. women top Costa Rica, 3-0, on to CONCACAF W final

It was a struggle early in 95 F heat in San Nicolas de la Garza (MEX), but the U.S. Women’s National Team struck twice in the first half and stopped Costa Rica, 3-0, in the first semifinal of the CONCACAF W Championship.

Although the Americans had the best of the play in the first half, and almost completely controlled the last 25 minutes, it was 0-0 after multiple missed chances for most of the half. But the ball possession and the pressure paid off; after a corner in the 34th minute, an Andi Sullivan shot was blocked, rolled on the ground and was popped into the goal by Emily Sonnett for a 1-0 lead and Sonnett’s first international goal.

The U.S. continued looking for chances and in the third minute of stoppage time, a brilliant backheel pass by Rose Lavelle in the box found Mallory Pugh for a left-footed score for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Americans had 61% of the possession – it looked like more – and a 8-0 edge in shots.

The second half was more U.S. offense, but better Costa Rican defense and offense (thanks to subbing in some of its better players) that actually made U.S. keeper Casey Murphy handle the ball a couple of times under pressure. The U.S. had some chances, but didn’t score until 90+4 when a Kristie Mewis lead pass was brought down by Alex Morgan, who couldn’t get a shot, but Ashley Sanchez was in position for a right-footed laser for the 3-0 final. The Americans ended with 64% possession and a 15-2 final total on shots.

In the second semi, Canada outclassed Jamaica, 3-0, on goals by Jessie Fleming (18th minute), Allysha Chapman (64th) and Adriana Leon in the 76th.

That brings up a rematch of Canada’s iconic 1-0 win over U.S. in the Tokyo Olympic semifinals on a Fleming penalty in the 75th minute, on the way to the gold medal in 2021; the U.S. took the bronze.

The medal matches will come on Monday (18th) in Guadalupe, with the winner qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games and the runner-up and third-place team playing at a later date for the second Olympic berth from CONCACAF.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World Games 2022: Birmingham ● The 11th World Games is heading toward the close this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, with champions crowned in several sports that have featured as standard or “added” events at the Tokyo Games.

The U.S. women won the Softball title, defeating Japan, 3-2, in the final, with two-time Olympic silver winner Monica Abbott, 36, getting the win, and Veddriq Leonardo (INA) and American Emma Hunt winning the Sport Climbing Speed titles.

In Rhythmic Gymnastics, individual events were featured – only the All-Around is an Olympic event – with Daria Atamanov of Israel winning Ball and Ribbon. Bulgaria’s Boryana Kaleyn won on Hoop and Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli won on Clubs.

With 143 of 223 events complete, Italy leads all medal-winners with 42 (10-20-12), followed by Ukraine (32: 9-9-14) and Germany (30: 18-2-10). The U.S. is seventh with 21 (8-9-4).

Still to come are the much-anticipated Flying Disc Mixed Ultimate tournament, and the three divisions of Tug of War, at one time an Olympic event itself.

A highlight was the debut of Flag Football in the World Games as an invitational sport, under the direction of the International Federation of American Football, supported by the National Football League. The U.S. won the men’s final, played with five-a-side teams, by 46-36 over Italy, while Mexico won the women’s gold over the U.S., 39-6.

The IFAF announced a “Vision28″ program to lobby for inclusion as an added sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games; the pitch:

“Flag football is a short, non-contact format of American football, which is the United States’ most popular sport. Flag is played by teams of five and prioritizes speed, creativity and athleticism – qualities that align with modern sports consumption habits and are popular with Gen Z audiences. It is also adaptable to a wide range of venues – stadiums, indoor arenas and temporary urban sports parks – making it a flexible and low-cost proposition for multi-sport event organizers.”

The IFAF claims active federations in 72 countries, and promotes flag football as an effective way to extend the game to women without the violence of the 11×11 tackle format.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● A follow-up to Tuesday’s story on the finances of the USOPC, that even with $898.6 million in total assets, it isn’t enough.

The USA Deaf Sports Foundation announced Tuesday that Boston-area designer Jeff Mansfield, a three-time Deaflympian in ice hockey, was elected as the organization’s new president. He had previously served two terms on the USADSF Board and been the liaison with the USOPC.

Mansfield left no doubt of one of his top priorities:

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes deserve more. Today, we are seeing widening disparities between the Olympics and Paralympics on one side and Deaflympics on the other. The time to build a broad movement to invest in Deaf sports is now. Such a movement is necessary to champion the rights, justice, and dignity of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people everywhere.”

No matter how much money the USOPC apparently has, it’s not enough. Not even close.

● Athletics I ● There was lots of talk about taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa and especially Nairobi in Kenya, but the lure of a celebration in front of a full house in Tokyo’s new, 68,000-seat National Stadium was too much to pass up as Tokyo was awarded the 2025 Worlds by the World Athletics Council on Thursday. Per the announcement:

“The other candidates for the event were Nairobi, Silesia [POL] and Singapore, all of which were deemed strong enough and experienced enough to host the event. Tokyo scored the highest of the four candidates in the bid evaluation across the four focused areas: the potential for a powerful narrative; revenue generating opportunities for World Athletics; a destination that will enhance the international profile of the sport; and appropriate climate.”

It will be the second time in Tokyo after the 1991 Worlds, immortalized by the men’s long jump final in which American Mike Powell set a world record of 8.95 m (29-4 1/2) to edge countryman Carl Lewis (8.91 mw/29-2 3/4w), with Lewis winning the men’s 100 m in a world record of 9.86.

The U.S. was also recognized with another Worlds award, this time for cross country. The 2024 cross-country Worlds will be in Medulin and Pula in Croatia and the 2026 Worlds in Tallahassee, Florida. It will be the first cross country Worlds in the U.S. since Boston hosted in 1992.

● Athletics II ● World Athletics confirmed that a total prize purse of $8.498 million will be available for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, with a $100,000 world-record bonus sponsored by TDK and World Athletics.

The prizes for each event have been upgraded thanks to the use of $2 million in fines paid by the Russian Athletics Federation for anti-doping violations. The top eight finishers will receive $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000, with $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6.,000-4,000 for relays.

Another award to be decided at the Worlds – as has been the case since 2003 in Paris – will be from the International Fair Play Committee. Its award for an action or moment which epitomizes fair play will be chosen from a list of five nominated by an eight-member jury. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite on World Athletics social media channels in the week following the Worlds to help determine the winner.

● Cycling ● Only a minor change at the top of the 109th Tour de France from Thursday’s 12th stage, a misery-inducing, 165.1 km, triple climb with an uphill finish to the Alpe d’Huez. Five riders ascended the Alpe d’Huez with six minutes on the rest of the peloton, then Britain’s Tom Pidcock moved away with 10 km remaining – all uphill – and won the stage by 48 seconds over Louis Meintjes (RSA), 2:06 over four-time Tour winner Chris Froome (GBR) and 2:29 ahead of American Neilson Powless.

Leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) stuck like glue to two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and they finished 6-5, with Geraint Thomas (GBR) seventh. After 12 stages, Vingegaard still leads by 2:22 over Pogacar, 2:26 over Thomas and 2:35 over Romain Bardet (FRA), who fell from second to fourth. The next three stages are hilly, but challenging, through Sunday.

The 2022 Tour de France has made only a modest impression on the U.S. TV audience, with last week’s stages topping out at 411,000 viewers last Saturday and averaging 350,000 viewers across six shows on USA Network from Tuesday through Sunday (5th-10th).

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For our updated, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Russian participation in Paris ‘24 looking bleaker; Sant-Price tries to get a sponsor on Twitter; visa issues keeping athletes out of Eugene?

The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
Comments? Click here. ★

★ Tell your friends to sign up for The Sports Examiner e-mails now, just in time for session-by-session coverage of the World Athletics Championships
coming Friday! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. The new obsession: will Russia compete in Paris ‘24?
2. Vingegaard displaces Pogacar as Tour de France leader
3. London 2012 800 m silver winner Amos hit for doping
4. A moment in the life of an unsponsored athlete
5. Visa issues dogging athletes trying to get to Eugene

Former World Anti-Doping Agency head and IOC member Craig Reedie spoke openly about Russia not competing in Paris in 2024 as qualification event entry is closed to their athletes. At the Tour de France, two-time champ Tadej Pogacar was supplanted, somewhat unexpectedly, by 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard, but with 10 stages to go. At the Athletics Worlds coming up, 800 m star Nijel Amos was suspended for doping and more than a dozen athletes may miss the event due to U.S. visa issues. U.S. sprinter Marybeth Sant-Price needs a sponsor and tried to get Lululemon interested via Twitter!

1.
The new obsession: will Russia compete in Paris ‘24?

Close observes of the Russian situation within international sport are now openly questioning whether the continuing Russian war on Ukraine will eliminate Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The most explicit explanation came from International Olympic Committee Honorary Member Craig Reedie (GBR), a power player for a quarter-century and the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency when it suspended Russia for its state-sponsored doping program from 2011-15.

Making the rounds with British media on Monday to promote his autobiography, Reedie said:

“A decision is going to have to be taken on what happens to each of these two countries, and my guess is that the general feeling would be that they should not qualify.

“Most people are struggling with how we could achieve some degree of representation, but at the moment, there is no clear way to do it. Therefore, you maintain the status quo.”

The IOC asked international federations not to allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in their sports and most have done so, although cycling, judo and tennis have allowed to participate as neutrals.

“So there’s a real issue for the federations, who have a clear instruction which they’ve agreed to that they won’t invite Russians and Belarusians to take part in events.

“On the face of it, it’s unlikely that anybody would qualify other than those three sports which don’t do it that way. And will they be able to qualify [from those three sports]? I’m not sure.”

The clock is beginning to tick against Russia and Belarus as the qualifying events for Paris 2024 are beginning in earnest in the fourth quarter of 2022 and then in 2023. However, some sports such as swimming and track & field qualify according to performances and those deadlines go well into 2024.

Russian Wrestling Federation head Mikhail Mamiashvili told the Russian news agency TASS, “I am ready to admit that the formation of this position is unprecedented pressure on international federations.

“Olympic selection in wrestling will begin with the 2023 World Championship, it was planned in Krasnoyarsk, and so far everything is on standby. But what kind of selection can there be if the best team in the world is absent? Wood is cut, chips fly.”

The same from Russian Fencing Federation chief Ilgar Mammadov: “Reedie creates public opinion so that we are not allowed to the Games. Today, he; tomorrow, another; the day after tomorrow, the third; this is just the beginning. They understand that the Olympic qualification will begin at different times, with us, in the spring of 2023. And they do [so] so that by this time we will not return.”

2.
Vingegaard displaces Pogacar as Tour de France leader

Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia had looked just invincible in the opening half of the 109th Tour de France. He won stages 6 and 7 and had worn the famed yellow jersey for five straight stages.

But he had some difficulty in Tuesday’s Stage 10 triple climb in the Alps, as the contenders finished 8:54 back of winner Magnus Cort (DEN) and Pogacar’s lead was sliced to 11 seconds over Lennart Kamna (GER) with 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) still 39 seconds back.

On Wednesday, it got tougher, on the nasty, 151.7 km ride from Albertville to the top of the Col du Granon, with half the route consumed with a 61 km climb from 493 m to 2,630 m at the Col du Galibier, then down and finally a 12 km, 1,061 m rise to the finish. And Vingegaard was ready, taking charge with an attack on the last 4 km that earned him the victory in 4:18:02, 59 seconds up on Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

Pogacar could not respond and finished seventh, 2:51 behind the winner and fell to third place, with France’s Romain Bardet a full 2:16 behind the leader now and Pogacar +2:22. Britain’s 2018 Tour winner Geraint Thomas is fourth (+2:26) with Quintana fifth (+2:37).

This was Vingegaard’s first career Tour de France stage win and he has a big lead, but with 10 stages to go, including four more mountain stages, starting with Thursday’s triple climb, 165.1 km ride from Briancon to L’Alpe de Huez. This was the breakthrough that Vingegaard has been looking for, but can he maintain his advantage in the Alps, and then the Pyrenees next week?

3.
London 2012 800 m silver winner Amos hit for doping

Botswana’s Nijel Amos has been among the best men’s 800 m runners in the world since his brilliant, 1:41.73 silver-medal performance at the London 2012 Games, ranking no. 3 all-time.

After being the world leader in 2021 at 1:42.91 and with a seasonal best of 1:44.92, he was ready to run for a medal again at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, but was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Tuesday (12th).

Amos tested positive on 4 June from an out-of-competition test for “Metabolites of GW1516, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List as a metabolic modulator. Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat and GW1516 was originally synthesized and evaluated for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and other disorders caused by metabolic problems. GW1516 is not an approved substance for human use and WADA has advised of its health risks for athletes.”

Amos was in Eugene “and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.” He also had to abandon the 2019 Worlds in Doha (QAT) due to injury, and was eighth at the Tokyo Games after being advanced following a pile-up with American Isaiah Jewett in the semis. Now he’ll be – at best – a spectator in Eugene.

4.
A moment in the life of an unsponsored athlete

Damian Warner, Canada’s Olympic Champion in the decathlon, announced on Twitter on Tuesday his new sponsorship agreement with apparel brand Lululemon:

“It’s official. I couldn’t be happier to announce that I’ll be wearing @lululemon from here on out.

“The gear – and the team – are providing all the support I need both on and off the track. Stoked to see what we’ll achieve with this partnership. Let’s get started!”

Five and a half hours later, American sprinter Marybeth Sant-Price tweeted:

Hey @lululemon, I’m a professional track and field sprinter. I have an indoor world championship bronze medal & a pr of 10.95 in the 100m. I’m currently unsigned and would love the opportunity to represent you!!”

This set off a storm of replies, including, but not limited to:

10.95 100m and you’re willing to settle for a third-tier apparel company like
@lululemon? Heck, @ChampionUSA could easily make you a better offer. Surprised neither
@ASICSamerica nor @PUMARunning haven’t made offers. Maybe what you really need is a good agent (try @TrackDiddy).”

These are endorsement contracts, it’s not like the NBA or NFL. Companies need to get a return on their investment and, yes, it’s subjective. They have budgets that are typically set in October- November for the following year. Track & Field needs better agents and more prize money.”

● World 110 m hurdles champ Grant Holloway: “I had the opportunity to meet @mb4_price this March & she is nothing but the definition of an individual who is hardworking & dedicated to her craft. Any company will be lucky to have her a part of their team.”

Sant-Price replied to Holloway, “I appreciate this to no end! It’s been a wild, discouraging at times, crazy journey. Waiting (and working) for my moment.”

To some silly replies that criticized Lululemon, Atlanta 1996 star Michael Johnson tweeted:

“Very successful company expands its involvement in this sponsor desperate sport. Athlete reaches out via Twitter asks company to sign her too. People in track start shaming the company on Twitter. This is NOT the way!”

But Lululemon didn’t help, responding minutes later to Sant-Price:

“We love the hustle – both on and off the track. That said, we’re unable to accept NCAA athletes into our programming at this time. Be sure to hit us up when you graduate though!”

Replied Sant-Price:

“I am a professional athlete. No longer in the NCAA. I was injured in college and told to completely retire from the sport. I came back after 3 years of being out and got a WORLD championship medal and am currently one the top US 100m sprinters.”

Lululemon did better, responding:

“That’s awesome to hear – send us a DM to chat more about what opportunities might be available for you.”

Nothing is easy. Nothing.

5.
Visa issues dogging athletes trying to get to Eugene

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, no. 3 on the world men’s 100 m list for 2022 and South Africa’s Luxolo Adams, no. 5 on the world 200 m list, are among multiple athletes who may not make it to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene due to visa issues for entry into the United States.

Omanyala wrote on Instagram Wednesday, “I haven’t travelled to Oregon yet and the 100m is in two days.” He joins a reported 10 South African athletes who have visa issues, including Adams, Clarence Munyai (10.04/20.33 in 2022), Zakhiti Nene (44.92 400 m), Sokwa Zazini (49.17 400H), women’s sprinter Carina Horn (11.07) and others.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Syria’s Majd Eddin Ghazal, the 2017 Worlds high jump bronze winner – and Syria’s only entrant this year – has withdrawn due to visa problems.

It’s not a good look for the U.S., for the Eugene organizers or World Athletics.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Commonwealth Games ● The XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) will open on 28 July, but Northern Ireland (and former British) sprinter Leon Reid has been refused entry after a “security risk assessment.”

Reid, 27, was convicted in February for allowing his apartment to be used in the production of crack cocaine. He received a suspended sentence and 220 hours of community service.

Reid had been selected to run the 200 m (20.82 this year), was a Tokyo Olympian and competed in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. According to Northern Ireland officials:

“Commonwealth Games NI is currently seeking clarity on any potential appeal mechanism, and the athlete has been offered well-being support as he deals with this news.”

● Aquatics ● The first FINA World Championships was held in 1973 and held two, three or even up to five years apart before starting a two-year cycle in 2001. Thanks to Covid and the massive chaos it has caused in the worldwide sports schedule, it will now hold three Worlds in 21 months.

Tuesday’s announcement that a Worlds will be held – for the first time – in an Olympic year, in Doha (QAT) from 2-18 February, places three in consecutive years:

2022: 18 June to 3 July in Budapest (HUN)
2023: 14-30 July in Fukuoka (JPN)
2024: 2-18 February in Doha (QAT)

The original schedule had Fukuoka hosting the 2021 Worlds, pushed aside by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games. Covid killed a 2022 Worlds in Fukuoka, but Budapest stepped in and Fukuoka was handed a 2023 Worlds, which was the year that Doha was supposed to host.

The next Worlds is also in doubt, as it was handed to Kazan (RUS) – host in 2015 – but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, who knows? Back to Budapest again?

● Basketball ● Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid, born in Cameroon, received French citizenship last week, potentially clearing the way for him to compete with the French team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. France defeated the U.S. in group play in Tokyo and lost a tight, 87-82 gold medal game last summer; Embiid could be a difference-maker.

● eSports ● Russia has announced a “Games of the Future” to be held in Kazan in 2024, featuring “new disciplines using modern technologies, digital environment and physical activity. The format of the competition involves the use of the latest developments in the field of e-sports, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, information technology and artificial intelligence.”

Teams from clubs from 16 countries are expected to be invited, but will not be “national teams.” A first test of the concept comes on 21 September in “football combined (EA FIFA + futsal), basketball (EA NBA + 3v3 basketball), drone racing (DCL The Game simulator + drone piloting) and Beat Saber – VR rhythm game.”

A project to watch carefully.

● Weightlifting ● Another doping sanction, this time handed down by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to Gennady Muratov, now 35, the 2015 European Championships 105 kg bronze medalist, extending his ban from 2024 to 2028.

He was originally suspended from September 2021 to May 2024, but was penalized again for “prohibited participation during the period of Ineligibility.

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TSX REPORT: Latest push to popularize T&F in the U.S.; Paris 2024 still fighting over basketball venue; great fencing worlds logo for Cairo!

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (Photo: Leaders Business Summit)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. T&F leaders promise again to raise sport’s profile in U.S.
2. Paris 2024 settles vexing venue issues, but not basketball
3. Cycling shows €21.3 million surplus thanks to IOC TV money
4. World Games: Halfway home, the magic is happening
5. U.S. Women out-fight Mexico, 1-0, in CONCACAF W

The leaders of World Athletics, USA Track & Field and others all agree that having the World Championships in the U.S. – in Eugene, Oregon starting on Friday – is a must-succeed opening to re-ignite interest in the sport nationwide. How to get there is another question. The Paris 2024 organizers announced their re-arrangement of venues for three sports, but are still tussling with the basketball federation on preliminary games. Compared to athletics, cycling is a richer federation, but its 2021 finances were saved by the International Olympic Committee’s television rights share. The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, are continuing and are spreading the magic that only a multi-sport event can bring. At the CONCACAF W Championship, the U.S. women struggled to a 1-0 win over Mexico and advanced to the semifinals, perhaps to meet old foe Canada in the final?

1.
T&F leaders promise again to raise sport’s profile in U.S.

“This is a very important market place for us, it’s the largest sports market in the world and we need to be there in higher profile,” World Athletics President Seb Coe (GBR) told Reuters for a Monday story.

Former British hurdles star Jon Ridgeon, now the World Athletics chief executive noted of the World Athletics Championships that start Friday in Eugene, “We have great live TV slots every evening on NBC and the U.S. team should perform spectacularly and I think that alone will really help grow audiences and our fan base in America.”

Coe further told Scott Reid of the Southern California News Group:

“Every sport is wanting to get into the U.S. It is still the most potent of the sports marketing environments. Every member federation I sit down with is doing everything it can to get into the U.S. and for good reason. We have that opportunity this year. I see this as very much a runway through to [the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics] and in simple terms, we have to do everything we possibly can to create a greater perception and penetration of track and field not just in the U.S. but globally.

“But if you create that in the U.S., which is still the powerhouse of track and field, but perversely you still have athletes who are known globally but can still walk through their own towns in anonymity. We have a really important role and job to play here, and in my latest communication to member federations at the end of the year I have talked about the importance for all of us of making the most out of Oregon ’22.”

Reid spoke to multiple voices about the state of professional track & field in the U.S., including the usually-invisible Max Seigel, chief executive of USA Track & Field; World Athletics Council member Willie Banks, U.S. 800 m Olympian Nick Symmonds, 1996 Olympic icon Michael Johnson and NBC commentators and Olympic stars Ato Boldon (TTO) and Kara Goucher. Said Symmonds:

“Everybody always says the sport of track and field is dying. I just think that’s silly. The sport of professional track and field is dying. But the sport of track and field is alive and vibrant and healthy as I’ve ever seen it. It’s incredible.”

Banks pointed to more meets with prize money being added and perhaps a betting aspect. Siegel promised 4-5 meets in an eight-week window in the future, with prize money on par with the current Diamond League international circuit.

Said Johnson, the Atlanta triple gold medalist in the 200-400 m and 4×400 m: “All of these things are the equivalent of putting a band-aid on a catastrophically broken leg,” suggesting instead a private-equity play for the professional aspect of the sport; he cited the role of the PGA as tournament provider and promoter vs. the governing-body position of the U.S. Golf Association.

2.
Paris 2024 settles vexing venue issues, but not basketball

The 2024 Olympic venue merry-go-round has mostly been settled, with the Paris 2024 organizing committee agreeing to stage preliminary rounds of boxing and the modern pentathlon fencing segment in Hall 8 of the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte, near the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport northeast of Paris. The shooting competitions will be staged at the national shooting center in Chateauroux in central France, about 270 m km (~ 168 miles) south of Paris. These were fixed quickly and quietly.

The remaining tug-of-war is on preliminary basketball matches. The international federation (FIBA) rejected use of a technically sound exhibition hall in Paris, based on condemnations of some of the French national team players. Paris 2024 has now approved moving the early basketball games to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, 225 km north of Paris (~140 miles). It’s a retractable-roof facility which can seat up to 50,186, but has been very successfully used for EuroBasket 2015 and the Volleyball World League. FIBA wants to stay in Paris and neither side is budging; the International Olympic Committee will end up with the final say.

Is this a crisis? No; there is plenty of time. But it’s a good illustration of the kinds of problems that organizing committees deal with constantly, working with the IOC, the federations and the National Olympic Committees, which sometimes get much more than annoying. As the FrancsJeux.com site notes, “[T]he soap opera drags on. Above all, it gives the impression of [Paris 2024] as a ship struggling to stay on course.”

Not true for Paris so far, but then perception is reality, yes?

3.
Cycling shows €21.3 million surplus thanks to IOC TV money

With so much debate this week about the future of track & field in the U.S., it’s worth a look at another high-profile federation is doing. The UCI is doing quite well, thank you.

The Union Cycliste Internationale, founded in 1900, is one of the oldest and most respected of the International Federations, with cycling on the Olympic program since 1896. For years, it consisted of road cycling and track events, but added mountain biking in 1996, BMX in 2008 and BMX Freestyle in 2020.

And it’s a strong federation financially, with CHF 102.9 million in assets (~$104.7 million U.S.) and CHF 62.6 million (~$63.8 million U.S.) in reserves. Where its revenues came from describes the level of commercial (if not fan) interest in the various types of cycling:

● CHF 13.527 million: Road cycling (52.6%)
● CHF 5.354 million: Mountain biking (20.8%)
● CHF 2.600 million: Track cycling (10.1%)
● CHF 2.392 million: Cyclo-cross (9.3%)
● CHF 1.268 million: BMX Racing (4.9%)
● CHF 0.584 million: BMX Freestyle (2.3%)

Dwarfing all of this is the once-every-four-years receipt of a share of the IOC’s television rights sales money, which for Tokyo was CHF 22.333 million or $24.5 million U.S. The UCI is a tier 2 federation, receiving the same amount as basketball, football, tennis and volleyball and behind the tier-one sports of athletics, gymnastics and aquatics.

Thanks to the Olympic TV money, the UCI showed a surplus of €21.256 million (~$21.65 million) for 2021, much better than the €1.01 million (~$1.03 million) loss for 2020.

The UCI receives very significant money from the hosts of its World Road Cycling Championships, a major tourist draw, and the federation is rolling the dice on multiplying its impact by the creation of a once-every-four-years grand World Championship, to first be held in Glasgow (GBR) from 3-13 August 2023. This will include road, track, mountain biking, cyclo-cross, BMX, artistic cycling and para-cycling events, with significant financial support from the Scottish government and the City of Glasgow. This could be a huge upgrade for the UCI, or a bust, but a forward-looking gamble from a fairly stable federation to try and leverage fan interest clustered primarily in one part of the sport to all parts of the sport.

4.
World Games: Halfway home, the magic is happening

Comprised of sports and events which are not on the Olympic program, the World Games attracts the top athletes in sports like Compound and Field Archery, Floorball, Finswimming, Lifesaving and a lot more.

Would anyone in Birmingham, Alabama care? Would it make any difference? It may be.

Dennis Pillion is the statewide natural resources reporter for Alabama.com and filed a Monday story that veterans of multi-sport events will instantly recognize. Titled “The World Games are turning Birmingham into a weird, wonderful melting pot,” Pillion noted the commotion a group of five Ukrainian gymnasts caused when they walked to the Starbucks counter inside a Target store:

“The random Starbucks sighting is something repeating across Birmingham this week, as the city rolls out its welcome wagon for thousands of athletes, coaches and officials from 63 countries.

“[Gymnast] Dima [Lovusov] may have been just being polite, or using the only English words he knew, but it’s hard to think that the city isn’t making a good impression on its visitors from all over the world, even south of Homewood on I-65 who haven’t ventured downtown in a while.”

On a walk with his wife, Pillion saw the impact of the Games:

“You can tell almost instantly which people were there from the United States and which ones weren’t. For the athletes, team jerseys that read Chinese Taipei or Finland, are a dead giveaway, and it’s got to be one of the rare moments in Birmingham’s recent history where you’re more likely to see the flag of Finland than the Bass Pro Shops logo. …

“We didn’t actually go into any events on Sunday, but in a way we didn’t need to. Birmingham still had the air of a city of the world more than a city of the South, and was filled with locals looking to experience new and different cultures, events and sports and to reflect the famous Southern hospitality back to the world.”

This is what an international multi-sport event does, especially in towns and cities which have not held them before. It is one of the hidden legacies of these kinds of events, something different and memorable.

On the fields of play, the competitions continue, with 116 of the 223 medal events completed. Keen fans of Olympic sport will see some familiar names, like Bart Swings (BEL), winner of the Beijing 2022 Mass Start events in speed skating, winning golds in the inline track skating men’s 10,000 m eliminations and 10,000 m points eliminations and then two more in the road speed skating 10,000 m points and 15,000 m eliminations. Olympic archery medalist Brady Ellison of the U.S. won silver in the Men Field Archery, and Paige Pearce won a bronze in the women’s Compound, a potential event for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Break dancing, which will be on the Olympic program for Paris 2024, saw Americans Victor Montalvo and Jeffrey Louis go 1-2 in the men’s division and Ami Yuasa (JPN) win the women’s contest, ahead of American Sunny Choi.

The biggest winners so far include Swings, with four golds, matched by Germany’s Nina Holt (4 in Lifesaving) and Johana Viveros (COL: 4 in track and road speed skating). There’s more to come, with Mixed Ultimate Flying Disc still to come; American Flag Football, sponsored in part by the NFL, with the U.S., Mexico, Austria and Italy into the men’s semis and Mexico, Austria, Panama and the U.S. in the women’s semis.

Italy has won the most medals so far with 36 (8-16-12), followed by Germany (27: 16-2-9) and Ukraine (24: 9-6-9); 61 countries have won medals so far, with the U.S. scoring three golds, eight silvers and four bronzes so far. The Games conclude Sunday; highlights air nightly on the CBS Sports Network.

5.
U.S. Women out-fight Mexico, 1-0, in CONCACAF W

The final game of the CONCACAF W Championship Group A was a battle – a true battle – between the undefeated U.S. women and host Mexico, which had lost both of its games, at San Nicolas de la Garza.

Neither team could score, despite the U.S. holding 70% of the possession in the first half, but only generating five shots to three for Mexico. The second half saw more Mexican possession, but also more aggression, with substitute midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle red-carded in the 73rd minute for stomping on Rose Lavelle’s ankle, that was confirmed by video review.

Even playing 11×10 didn’t help the U.S., as it could not get the ball into the net, despite a good chance for Alex Morgan in the 79th. But in the 89th minute, an Emily Sonnett header could not be cleared, bounced in front of the Mexican goal and sub Kristie Mewis hit the ball with her stomach and it bounded in for the only goal of the game. The fouls, a yellow and a red card for Mexico in the second half added 10 minutes of stoppage time, but the U.S. did finally prevail, 1-0. The Americans had 67% of the possession and a 15-5 edge on shots for the game.

Added to Jamaica’s 4-0 win over Haiti, the U.S. won Group A with a 3-0 record and a 9-0 goals-against total, ahead of Jamaica (2-1). Canada (3-0, 8-0 goals-against) won Group B, in front of Costa Rica (2-1). These semifinalists all advance to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 will only be available to the winner. The semis – U.S. vs. Costa Rica and Canada vs. Jamaica – will be on 14 July, with the finals in 18 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2012: London ● In some ways, a Games never ends, especially when lots of new construction was part of the process. In a lengthy article, The Guardian’s architecture and design critic Oliver Wainwright argues that the Olympic renovation of the East End is a failure in that it does not deliver the promised improvements in affordable housing and has instead been filled by luxury homes and apartments and businesses that cater to them.

It’s long and detailed and entirely worth reading, especially to see how the project evolved from Mayor Ken Livingstone’s bid concept, to building and operations under the next Mayor, Boris Johnson, and now Sadiq Khan, and the economic forces which have inexorably influenced its direction.

● Athletics ● The list of who won’t be at the 2022 World Championships continues to grow, with defending champions Steven Gardiner (BAH: 400 m) injured and women’s hammer champion DeAnna Price of the U.S. out with Covid. London 2017 javelin champ Johannes Vetter (GER) is also out with injuries.

Tokyo women’s Olympic marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) is out with a hip injury and Burundi’s 2021 Diamond League 5,000 m winner Francine Niyonsaba withdrew due to a stress fracture in a foot.

While Niyonsaba, a medal favorite at the Worlds, cannot compete, South Africa’s double Olympic 800 m champion, Caster Semenya (RSA) is entered in the 5,000 m. Although she did not meet the 15:10.00 qualifying standard, her seasonal best of 15:31.50 did qualify her on the descending order list for the field of 41. Both Niyonsaba and Semenya were moved out of events from the 400 m to the mile due to their elevated testosterone levels under the World Athletics rules for athletes with Differences in Sex Development.

An athlete who put up a big mark that makes him a contender in Eugene is American men’s javelin thrower Curtis Thompson, who got a huge lifetime best at the American JavFest in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on 9 July. His win at 87.70 m (287-9) moves him to no. 7 on the 2022 world list and no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list (with the no. 7 throw in U.S. history, the longest since 2007). Fellow American Avione Allgood-Whetstone won the women’s jav with a lifetime best of 62.13 m (203-10), now no. 6 all-time U.S., but is not on the U.S. team since she didn’t get a qualifying mark by the deadline.

● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France resumed on Tuesday, on a hilly, 148.1 km course with an uphill climb to the finish in Megeve in the southeastern French Alps that had to be stopped for 10 minutes about 35 km from the finish due to a half-dozen climate protesters blocking the road.

Once the racing resumed, the stage was a four-way fight to the finish, with Dane Magnus Cort throwing his bike across the line to beat Australian Nick Schultz, with Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) seven seconds behind and American Matteo Jorgensen fourth (+0:08).

The big news was further back, as the main contenders finish 8:54 back, meaning German Lennard Kamna moved to within 11 seconds of leader Tadej Pogacar (SLO), with last year’s runner-up, Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) still 39 seconds behind, now third. Wednesday brings another big climb up the Col de Galibier and another uphill finish to the Col de Granon.

● Fencing ● You may not have noticed that the 2022 FIE World Championships are coming up this weekend in Cairo (EGY), with a logo which is too good to pass up:

● Football ● Much is written about the long qualifying and preparation period for teams to get to and compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Less well known is the behind-the-scenes prep for team officials, which include physicians and sports medicine staff.

FIFA held a special, two-day seminar last week for all 32 of the team physicians for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar, including the FIFA Tournament Emergency Medicine Course and an overview of all medical services that will be offered on-site during the tournament:

“The latter included the new FIFA standard for field-of-play emergency medical services, specific concussion and cardiac assessment services and the designated hospitals, in addition to a tour of the player medical facilities and an inspection of the dedicated critical care ambulances.”

The new concussion protocol was also explained: “For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, an independent Concussion Assessment and Rehabilitation Service will be offered in Qatar to provide an evidence-based assessment of any player who has suffered a brain injury, including recommendations from concussion experts regarding the player’s return to play.” A “concussion substitute” will be allowed for the first time, aside from the allowed subs during a game.

Similar to the NFL, an “injury spotter” will be employed at all games, to bring attention to the in-stadium FIFA Medical Coordinator of any possible injuries which do not stop play.

All good ideas.

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LANE ONE: USOPC nears $900 million in total assets, spent $200 million on athlete support, with $81 million to athletes in 2021, but needs more

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The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is big. Really big. Bigger than all but one of the International Federations, and likely the third-richest Olympic Movement organization in the world.

The USOPC’s financial statements for 2021 were released at the end of June and show a complex, multi-layered organization that has come out of the most devastating period of the worldwide Covid pandemic with impressive total assets of $898.6 million.

With operations slowly returning to normal and the promotional push in advance of the 2028 Los Angeles Games and a possible Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2030, it is possible to imagine the USOPC as a billion-dollar enterprise – on paper, anyway – by the end of this decade.

How does this 525-employee, 795-volunteer behemoth compare with the largest players in the Olympic Movement? Very well indeed; by total assets from audited financials (* = converted to U.S. dollars, from Swiss Francs):

● $5.609 billion: International Olympic Committee (end 2021)

Selected International Federations:
● $5.492 billion: FIFA (football; end 2021)
● $295.4* million: ISU (skating: end 2021)
● $221.6* million: FINA (aquatics: end 2021)
● $160.8* million: FIBA (basketball: end 2020)
● $133.0* million: FIVB (volleyball: end 2020)
● $132.2* million: FIS (ski & snowboard: end 2021)
● $104.7* million: UCI (cycling: end 2021)
● $55.6 million: World Athletics (end 2020)
● $49.0* million: IIHF (ice hockey: mid-2020)
● $45.3* million: FIG (gymnastics: end 2020)

Financial information for other National Olympic Committees was hard to come by, but the Canadian Olympic Committee had total assets of U.S. $174.7 million at the end of 2021 and the Japanese Olympic Committee had U.S. $72.2 million in assets (converted from yen) at the end of 2020. It’s worth noting that in Japan, 41.3% of its budget for fiscal year 2020 consisted of governmental subsidies.

The USOPC gets no government funding and is still bigger than everyone except the IOC and FIFA. Lots of numbers to show, so go slow. But it’s interesting.

The USOPC’s financials show a three-part organization: the USOPC’s operating division, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, which carries out fund-raising, and the U.S. Olympic Endowment, which has invested the $111.4 million the then-USOC received as its 40% share of the surplus from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and makes grants back to the USOPC itself off the investment income. The stated assets as of the end of 2021:

● USOPC: $497.9 million (operating)
● USOPF: $53.4 million (fund-raising)
● USOE: $492.4 million (endowment)

Of the USOE’s total, some $101.0 million is held on behalf of National Governing Bodies who placed their 20% share of the LA84 surplus with the USOC’s share for joint investment. And the USOPC itself borrowed $133 million during the pandemic and owes $131.1 million, with the notes due to mature in 2031.

Taking out all of the liabilities and holdings for others and the USOPC’s net assets are still a very healthy $568.1 million through the end of 2021. Wow.

So why can’t it spend what it wants on anything it wants?

Once you boil out the USOPC Foundation and the U.S. Olympic Endowment, the USOPC itself has assets of $265.2 million, and had income in 2021 of $459.9 million and expenses of $353.1 million for a net gain of $106.8 million in an Olympic Games year in 2021. The money came mostly from two sources:

● $205.5 million: IOC TOP sponsors and USOPC sponsors
● $191.0 million: IOC TV share and Olympic Trials TV sales

That’s 86.2% of all USOPC revenue for 2021. Contributions were $14.8 million to the USOPC and another $36.0 million to the USOPC Foundation, and there was investment income across all three entities of $50.9 million. Looking at the combined entities, 80.5% of all revenue came from sponsors and TV, with 18.4% from donations and investments; that’s 98.9%.

The money doesn’t come in so quickly in non-Olympic years: $208.2 million in revenue for 2020 and $205.2 million in 2019. So the IOC’s money makes a big difference, perhaps $250 million in an Olympic year and $135 million or more in a Winter Games year!

The USOPC is well aware of the interest in how much it pays athletes, and for athlete-support services. Beginning with the 2020 financial statements, a chart was added to break out the USOPC’s spending on direct-to-athlete payments, athlete support, direct-to-National Governing Bodies payments and NGB support services:

● 2020: $107.7 million, $31.8 million in athlete grants and $57.2 million in NGB grants
● 2021: $158.9 million, $46.1 million in athlete grants and $68.1 million in NGB grants

That’s a 48% increase in a year and a 45% increase in direct-athlete grants; it’s also important to note that some of the NGB grant money also ended up going directly to athletes. The biggest NGB payments for grants went to:

1. $6.8 million: U.S. Ski & Snowboard
2. $5.4 million: USA Track & Field
3. $5.1 million: USA Swimming
4. $3.3 million: USA Gymnastics
5. $2.3 million: USA Bobsled & Skeleton

The biggest recipients of direct-athlete-grant money:

1. $5.5 million: USA Track & Field athletes
2. $4.5 million: USA Swimming athletes
3. $2.9 million: USA Volleyball athletes
4. $2.8 million: U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes
5. $2.7 million: U.S. Paralympic track & field athletes

So, for the clenched-teeth critics who scream that the USOPC spent only 10% on athlete payments ($46.1 million out of $459.9 revenue), the truer figure starts at 34.5% with the $158.9 million in payments to athletes, for athlete services and to the NGBs in cash and services.

Another chart shows the breakdown of $200.1 million (43.5%) spent on “Athlete Excellence” with $80.8 million shown for all athlete grants (18%), plus $40.9 million on Games Support, $23.1 million on Sports Medicine, $22.5 million on training facilities, $6.6 million on Sport Science and so on. This is the figure the USOPC shows as its funding commitment to athlete programs in 2021. And they did spend the money.

And let’s not kid ourselves: athletes need coaches, places to train, sports medicine help and that $40.9 million in support to get to Tokyo and other competitions and back safely.

The USOPC’s top executives are well paid for what they do. The final page of the 2021 financials shows the top 20 staff members by compensation, all of which had total pay (including benefits) of $285,159 or more.

Even with all this wealth, it’s not enough. The 2019 Borders Commission report, which reviewed the USOPC’s structure in the aftermath of the Nassar abuse scandal in gymnastics, noted:

“Elite athletes from other countries often receive significant government funding. The USOPC must establish some program of baseline financial support directly to Athletes, although the Commission realizes that different categories of Athletes will receive different levels of support. The Commission further recognizes that any significant source of such funds must be creatively sourced beyond the current revenue streams.”

The USOPC’s 2019 financials showed direct athlete and NGB support of $96.6 million, which has increased by 22.3% to $121.5 million for 2021. The soon-to-meet Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics will be scrubbing these numbers to better understand what they mean and former USOPC Athletes Advisory Council chair Han Xiao is a Co-Chair and was also a member of the Borders Commission, which provides continuity between these review efforts.

Also looking carefully, not so much at what has happened in the past, but what can happen in the future, will be new USOPC Board Chair Gene Sykes, who will take over in January 2023.

Even with so much money on paper, the USOPC needs more money to create annual athlete stipends and closer cooperation with the National Governing Bodies to develop well-defined competition and training environments that lead to success on the field and create new enthusiasm for Olympic sports as the U.S.’s unequaled NCAA training system teeters on collapse.

The USOPC is rich, but although the rest of the world does not want to hear it, it needs to get richer.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: World Athletics confirms no Russians in Eugene; World Games under way in Birmingham; $3 billion for a 2030 Vancouver Winter Games?

More Worlds medal than anyone else: American sprint icon Allyson Felix (Photo: Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Athletics Worlds: 1,972 athletes, 192 nations, Russians “excluded”
2. Postponed World Games 2022 open in Birmingham
3. Vancouver 2030 Winter Games cost could be $3 billion U.S.
4. Sykes elected USOPC chair for 2023-26 term
5. World Baseball Classic returns for 2023 in Asia and U.S.

After all the build-up, the World Athletics Championships in Eugene start on Friday, but without any Russian athletes, as World Athletics confirmed that they are being excluded due to the war in Ukraine. The World Games, first held in Santa Clara, California in 1981, returned to the U.S. after 41 years, with the opening in Birmingham, Alabama last Friday; competitions continue through the 17th. A feasibility report projects the cost of a 2030 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver at about $3 billion U.S., more expensive than other contenders Salt Lake City and Sapporo. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board elected Goldman Sachs executive Gene Sykes as its new chair, beginning in 2023; Sykes served as the chief executive of the successful Los Angeles bid for the 2028 Games. The always-exciting – but underrated – World Baseball Classic will return for its fifth edition in March 2023, with 20 teams in four pools in Japan, Taiwan, Phoenix and Miami and the semis and finals in Miami. And plenty of results from a busy weekend of sports worldwide.

1.
Athletics Worlds: 1,972 athletes, 192 nations,
Russians “excluded”

The actual entry lists for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene were posted on Friday, with the event set to welcome athletes from 192 nations … but not Russia.

Also posted Friday was a list of 18 Russian athletes who have been approved by the federation’s Doping Review Board to compete as neutrals – the Russian federation continues on suspension – bringing the total to 73 for the year. But:

“In approving these 18 applications, the Doping Review Board noted that, according to World Athletics’ decision of 1 March 2022, all athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia were excluded from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

So, no Russian athletes are on the entry lists for Eugene, eliminating – among others – the six medal winners from the Doha 2019 Worlds, including gold medalists Mariya Lasitskene (women’s high jump), Anzhelika Sidorova (women’s vault), men’s 100 m hurdler Sergey Shubenkov (silver), men’s high jumpers Mikhail Akimenko (silver) and Ilya Ivanyuk (bronze) and 20 km walk silver medalist Vasiliy Mizinov. Out; there are no Belarusian entries either.

Of the folks who are entered:

● There are 1,972 athletes from 192 countries in all
● Men: 1,000 from 164 countries
● Women: 887 from 116 countries
● Mixed: 85 from 16 countries for the Mixed 4×400 m

The most “popular” event in the men’s program is the 100 m, with 76 entries; the smallest event is the decathlon (23) followed by the 10,000 m (27). Same for the women, with 54 in the 100 m, 19 in the heptathlon and 25 in the 10,000 m.

The U.S. team expects to win a lot of medals and there’s a good reason why; look at the largest teams:

Men:
● 87: United States
● 41: Germany and Japan
● 36: Great Britain
● 33: Australia, Brazil and Spain

Women:
● 86: United States
● 42: Germany and Great Britain
● 34: Canada
● 32: Australia and Jamaica

There are 84 countries with one men’s entrant and 49 single-entry countries in the women’s competition. Sometimes, one is enough. The lone Philippine entrant is men’s vaulter Ernest John Obiena – entered after months of infighting between he, his federation and the Philippine Olympic Committee – who stands fourth on the 2022 world outdoor list at 5.92 m (19-5) and is a definite medal contender.

World Athletics reported that 37 of the 43 individual-event gold medalists from the 2019 Doha Worlds will return, as well as 42 of the 43 individual-event winners from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Russian high jumper Lasitskene is the only one missing). Also:

● “Allyson Felix, the most decorated athlete in World Championships history, will have the opportunity of increasing her record tally. The US sprinter has 18 World Championships medals (13 gold, three silver and two bronze) and has been named as part of USA’s mixed 4x400m squad.

● “The Australian team features the oldest and youngest athletes of the entire championships. 49-year-old Kelly Ruddick is entered for the 35km race walk, while 17-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth will contest the 800m. Ruddick will become the oldest ever athlete to compete in a women’s discipline at the World Championships.”

The meet begins Friday and will be televised in the U.S. by NBCUniversal, mostly on USA Network, but also on NBC (seven of the 10 days), CNBC and on the Peacock streaming service.

2.
Postponed World Games 2022 open in Birmingham

Delayed a year by the pandemic, the 11th World Games opened in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 27,000 at Birmingham, Alabama’s Protective Stadium, with Mayor Randall Woodfin telling the crowd:

“We’re ready to put the world on notice: Birmingham is here, and we’re ready once again to change the globe. Over the past few years, our world has seen so much division. From global pandemics to political strife, and to social unrest. But as I look out into this crowd, what I see is a world united, right here in Birmingham.”

The event, which was first held in 1981, is a showcase for sports which are not on the Olympic program, but want to be – Flying Disc for example, which was invented in Southern California and wants to be an added for LA28 – and for Olympic federations to demonstrate events they would like to add to the Olympic program.

The Opening Ceremony included a warm welcome for the large Ukrainian delegation and a heavy musical presence that included a 75-piece orchestra, a 120-member youth choir, a 120-member gospel choir, the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners tuba section and singing stars Nelly, Sara Evans, Shariff Simmons, Sheila E., Tony! Toni! Toné! and Yolanda Adams.

International World Games Association President Jose Perurena (ESP) told the athletes and the audience, “The global pandemic has affected us all, and continues to affect us. We have had to delay the Games by a year and put in place many additional measures. The Organizing Committee, the public authorities, the medical staff and the people of Birmingham have risen to the challenge, enabling us all to be here today. …

“The World Games must serve as bridge-builders. The only walls you will see here in Birmingham are those used by our wall-climbing athletes.”

The competition began on Saturday, with 3,600 athletes from 104 countries competing in 34 sports and 223 events. The first medals were handed out early, with the finals of the outdoor Speed Skating women’s 200 m time trial, won by Colombia’s Geiny Pajaro Guzman in 18.894 at 9:40 a.m. She was followed by men’s winner Duccio Marsili of Italy (17.835).

With the Games in Alabama, American Football has to be on the program, right? And it is, with the NFL partnering with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to debut five-a-side Flag Football in 2022. Eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams are playing from 10-14 July in 40-minute games, with Mexico and Austria in the first men’s match and the U.S. women defeating Panama, 31-25 (five passing touchdowns for the U.S.’s Vanita Crouch!), in the inaugural games.

The World Games continues through the 17th; nightly highlights programs are shown on the CBS Sports Network.

3.
Vancouver 2030 Winter Games cost could be $3 billion U.S.

A Friday report by the British Columbia 2030 Feasibility Team showed that a Vancouver 2030 Winter Games could cost C$3.5 to 4.0 billion or U.S. $2.7 to $3.1 billion:

Organizing Committee: C$2.5 to $2.8 billion (U.S. $1.9 to $2.2 billion)
Public (Governments): C$1.0 to $1.2 billion (U.S. $774 to $929 million)

The organizing committee funds are assumed to come from the IOC’s contribution, domestic sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandising and other revenue.

The government funding is for “renewing venues for another 20 years”; for building new housing in the area to be initially used as the Olympic Villages and C$560 million or more (U.S. $433 million) for security.

This is in contrast to the 2010 Vancouver Games cost of C$3.6 billion (in 2022 dollars, about U.S. $2.8 billion), thanks to having to build multiple venues. The governmental costs for 2030 are essentially to use the Games as a reason to refresh the competition sites, which are already busy with domestic and World Cup competitions, and to build more local housing, plus the inevitable security costs.

And the Vancouver projected total is higher than the 2030 budgets proposed by Salt Lake City of $2.2 billion (not including security) and $2.4-$2.6 billion for Sapporo (JPN). The next step is approval within the Vancouver bid groups this summer and then regional and national governmental reviews in the fourth quarter.

4.
Sykes elected USOPC chair for 2023-26 term

The former chief executive of the Los Angeles 2028 bid, Gene Sykes, was elected as the new Chair of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, effective 1 January 2023.

Sykes, 64, was selected in a vote last Friday by the USOPC Board over former, two-term Federation Internationale de Ski Council member Dexter Paine, also a member of the USOPC Board as a representative of the National Governing Bodies Council since January 2021.

Both men are in finance, Sykes as co-chairman of Global Mergers and Acquisitions and co-chairman of the Global Technology, Media and Telecom Group at Goldman Sachs & Co., working out of Los Angeles, and Paine as the founder and chair of Paine Schwartz Partners, a leading global private equity firm.

Observed: Their expertise in finance and especially in investments says a lot about why they were the final candidates, replacing Susanne Lyons, a former marketing executive at Visa, who has served as Chair since January 2019.

The USOPC needs more money to do the things (1) athletes, officials and National Governing Bodies want funding for and (2) the USOPC hopes to do. The recently-released USOPC financial statements for 2021 showed the organization was nearing $1 billion in assets – $898.6 million – and had reserves of $568.1 million. But it’s not enough.

For 2021, the USOPC had revenue of $492.7 million, which includes its share of revenue from the International Olympic Committee’s Tokyo 2020 television rights and sponsorship sales (and its own domestic sponsorships) of $396.5 million (80.5%). There was also $39.8 million in donations (8.1%) and $50.9 million in investment income (10.3%).

But that’s more than twice as much as in 2020 ($208.2 million) or in 2019 ($205.2 million). More athlete funding? More NGB funding for coaching education, sport safety and events? That means more money, something Sykes knows a lot about.

Could a private equity partnership to create more nationally-relevant events be on offer?

5.
World Baseball Classic returns for 2023 in Asia and U.S.

The World Baseball Classic is back! The springtime, national team tournament – featuring major-league players – was last held in 2017, with the planned 2021 edition postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic to 2023.

After Japan won the first two editions in 2006 and 2009 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013, the U.S. finally won in 2017 at Dodger Stadium. The 2023 schedule is once again compact, with the tournament taking place from 8-21 March 2023, in Chinese Taipei, Japan and the U.S. The first-round sites, scheduled for 8-15 March:

Pool A: Taichung (TPE)
● Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Italy, Netherlands + a qualifier

Pool B: Tokyo (JPN)
● Australia, China, Japan, Korea + a qualifier

Pool C: Phoenix (USA)
● Canada, Colombia, Mexico, United States + a qualifier

Pool D: Miami (USA)
● Dominican Republic, Israel, Puerto Rico, Venezuela + a qualifier

The top two teams in each pool will move on to the quarterfinals in Tokyo and Miami, with the semis and final (21 March) in Miami. While it takes place during spring training for the Major Leagues, the intensity of national team play makes the WBC a compelling event which continues to have unrealized potential.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

Lots of results after a busy weekend of events around the world:

● World University Games ● The North Carolina bid for the 2027 World University Games got a boost from the North Carolina State Legislature, which approved a grant of $25 million toward the organization of the WUG if North Carolina should be selected as host over Korea’s Chungcheong Megacity bid.

The bid committee estimates the total cost of the event at about $100 million, with the remainder to come from sponsorships, media rights, ticket sales, donations and merchandise. Depending on how the funding is delivered, the state funds could help solve  one of the challenging aspects of a winning bid: having the money to start up the organizing committee and gather staff to begin the planning process.

● Athletics ● Sometimes, your timing is off. Tara Davis, the NCAA indoor and outdoor women’s long jump champion in 2021 and the Olympic sixth-placer in Tokyo, suffered three fouls at the USATF Nationals this year and didn’t make the World Championships team for Eugene.

But at 23, she’s not going anywhere, and won impressively in a high-performance meet at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center on Saturday at 7.24 mw (23-9w) with a wind-aid of 2.8 m/s. Only one other woman had jumped 7 m this season, but Davis got three in a row! She began with a foul, then got out to 7.01 mw (23-0w), got a wind-legal jump of 7.03 m (23-0 3/4) – now the no. 3 mark in the world for 2022 – before her winning jump of 7.24mw. She passed her last two rounds; she’s already thinking about Budapest in 2023 and Paris in 2024.

Behind her was Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl at 7.13 m (23-4 3/4), a national record and – with legal wind – and now the new world leader for 2022, replacing her 2016 best of 7.05 m (23-1 3/4). She’s headed to Eugene.

● Cycling ● If two-time defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO) doesn’t win a stage, he isn’t far back. He concluded the first full week of the most famous race in cycling with a 39-second lead after finishing 7-1-1-3-5 in the last five stages.

In the first climbing stage of 2022 – Stage 7 on Friday – Pogacar showed brilliant form as he won a final sprint over 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) on the uphill finish to La Super Planche des Belles Filles in 3:58:40; with a second stage win in a row, he increased his overall lead to 35 seconds over Vingegaard. Saturday’s stage was a hilly, 186.3 km route to Lausanne with Belgian Wout van Aert winning his second stage in 2022 in 4:13:06, out-sprinting Michael Matthews (AUS) and Pogacar, whose lead increased to 39 seconds.

On Sunday, Luxembourg veteran Bob Jungels won his first stage ever at the Tour, riding away in the final 60 km of the 192.9 km, triple climb route for 22-second victory over Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP) and 26 seconds over fellow Spaniard Carlos Verona. Pogacar was fifth (+0:49), with Vingegaard right alongside. Third overall is Britain’s Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner, now 1:17 back. Le Tour continues through the 24th.

At the 33rd Giro Donne in Italy, Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten rode away from the field on the challenging, double-climb eighth stage on Friday and claimed a 59-second win that answered the question of whether she could be a three-time winner of the biggest race in women’s cycling. The victory increased her lead to 2:13 over Italian Marta Cavalli. Van Vleuten was fourth in Saturday’s difficult, triple-climb ninth stage, won by American Kristin Faulkner by 59 seconds over Cavalli, in 3:36:36 over 112.8 km.

On Sunday, she finished a casual 64th in the flat, 90.5 km final stage, with the final sprint won by Italy’s Chiara Consonni (2:12:04). Van Vleuten (27:07:26) won the overall title by 1:52 over Cavalli and 5:56 over Spain’s Mavi Garcia; Faulkner was 11th (+18:31). With wins also in 2018 and 2019, Van Vleuten joins four others who have won the Giro Donne three or more times.

The third of three stages of the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup concluded in Cali (COL), with American Jennifer Valente the star. The gold medalist in Tokyo in the women’s Omnium, Valente won the Elimination Race, then the Omnium and finally the Madison, teaming up with Colleen Gulick! The other multi-event winners were Nicholas Paul (TTO), who took the men’s Sprint and Keirin; Italy’s Jonathan Milan, in the men’s Pursuit and the Team Pursuit, and Martha Bayona Pineda (COL), winner of the women’s 500 m Time Trial and Keirin.

● Football ● It’s a story which grabbed the world’s attention in May 2015, when seven arrests were made before a FIFA meeting in late May in Zurich on corruption charges. Over the next seven years, many more arrests and convictions were made, but two of the highest-profile executives won their day in court last week.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (SUI) and former French star and later UEFA President Michel Platini (FRA) were both acquitted of fraud in a Swiss court in Bellinzona. The case revolved around a 2011 payment by FIFA to Platini of CHF 2 million ($2.64 million at the time) for advisory services from 1998-2002, which the court found to be legitimate.

The Swiss prosecution had called for Blatter, 86, and Platini, 67, to receive suspended jail sentences for “criminal mismanagement” and “misappropriation,” but could not prove their case.

● Judo ● The Budapest Grand Slam was seen as a major tournament, and the results showed it, with Japan winning eight of 14 divisions (!) and France’s 10-time World Champion Teddy Riner serving notice that he is planning for a fifth Olympic Games and a fourth Olympic gold in 2024.

Japanese judoka won three men’s classes, with Olympic champ Hifumi Abe taking the 66 kg, Sanshiro Murao winning at 90 kg and Kentaro Iida collecting the 100 kg gold. Japan won five of the seven women’s divisions: Funa Tonaki (48 kg), Haruka Funakubo (57 kg), Megumi Horikawa (63 kg), Saki Niizoe (70 kg) and Wakaba Tomita (+78 kg).

Riner, who won the +100 kg Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 and was third in Tokyo, won the men’s title in his first post-Olympic appearance. None of his four bouts took longer than 2:49 and he won by ippon in the final against Jelle Snippe (NED) in 40 seconds.

In the 81 kg division, former Iranian World Champion Saeid Mollei, who left under threat from the regime if he didn’t throw his matches at the 2019 Worlds to avoid facing eventual winner Sagi Muki of Israel, finished second to Brazil’s Guilherme Schmidt. Now 30 and fighting for Azerbaijan, Mollaei faced Muki in the third round and won a tense battle with an ippon 47 seconds into overtime. A battle between friends, who are both winners.

● Sport Climbing ● Indonesia speed-climbing ace Kiromal Katibin stunned the crowd at the IFSC World Cup at Chamonix (FRA) with another world record in the Speed qualifying, flying up the 15 m (49 feet) course in 5.00 seconds!

It’s his fifth world mark since May 2021, posting new records of 5.25, 5.17, 5.10, 5.09 and 5.04, the last two a week ago in Villars (SUI). But it didn’t help in the final, as Jinbo Long of China won the event at 5.11. Katibin was eliminated in the round of 16 and finished ninth in 5.89.

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TSX REPORT: Griner enters strategic guilty plea in Moscow; Ukraine welcomed in Chula Vista; Canadian swimmer Harvey drugged at Worlds

Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine celebrates after winning the Women's High Jump on day two of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 2022 (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Griner enters strategic guilty plea to Russian drug charges
2. Ukraine World Athletics team welcomed in Chula Vista
3. Athletics: Cubans defecting, wrong shoes, no hope for the sport?
4. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey drugged at FINA Worlds
5. U.S. women stop Jamaica in CONCACAF W group play, 5-0

American basketball star Brittney Griner entered a guilty plea to “drug smuggling” charges in Moscow in a move to receive a light sentence and set up her eventual release. Ukraine’s nearly-40 member team for the World Athletics Championships, with three strong medal contenders, is training at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center, along with athletes from nine other countries. In the meantime, Cuba has seen three stars – in the men’s 200 m, long jump and triple jump – all withdraw, possibly to defect to other countries, while Venezuela’s Olympic triple jump champ Yulimar Rojas was refused entry in the long jump for wearing the wrong shoes. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey recounted on Instagram the horror of being drugged and unconscious for 4-6 hours at a party following the FINA Worlds in Budapest last month. The U.S. Women’s National Team sailed past Jamaica in CONCACAF W Championship group play by 5-0 and qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

1.
Griner enters strategic guilty plea to Russian drug charges

Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner, 31, pled guilty to drug smuggling charges in court in Moscow, a strategic move aimed at reducing any sentence and possibly expediting her freedom. She told the court, “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law.” According to CNN:

“Griner’s plea came on the second day of her trial, at which a prosecutor accused her of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Prosecutors argue Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia’s territory and put the prohibited substances into a backpack and a suitcase, according to TASS, another state news agency.”

One of her Russian attorneys, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters on Thursday: “We, as her defense, explained to her the possible consequences. Brittney stressed that she committed the crime out of carelessness, getting ready to board a plane to Russia in a hurry, not intending to break Russian law.” The next hearing is scheduled for 14 July and the plea is hoped to result in a light sentence.

Griner has been held since 17 February and is considered unlawfully detained by the U.S. government. It has been widely speculated that she could be part of a prisoner exchange for a Russian national held in U.S. prison.

2.
Ukraine World Athletics team welcomed in Chula Vista

Ukraine’s 37-member team of athletes and coaches is getting ready for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center – south of San Diego – through 13 July before leaving for Oregon.

While the first arrivals came on 30 June, a welcome reception was held on 7 July with Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and representatives of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Yes, Chicken Kiev was served.

Ukrainian head coach Oleskii Serdiuchenko said, “We are very grateful for your kind and very important support and assistance in these difficult times for Ukraine.

“In spite of the war in Ukraine, with the help of our international friends, we continue to prepare our team and still willing to take part in the World Athletics Championships.”

Ukraine has high hopes for medals in Eugene, especially in the women’s high jump, where World Indoor Champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Tokyo Olympic fourth-placer Iryna Herashchenko are 1-2 on the 2022 world high jump list at 2.03 m (6-8) and 1.98 m (6-6), respectively. Long jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, the 2019 Worlds silver medalist, is also a medal contender, currently sixth on the world list at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4).

Although no longer operated by the USOPC, the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center continues as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site and has multiple teams preparing there for the Eugene Worlds including Brazil, Chile, Estonia, India, Israel, Norway, Portugal, Singapore and the U.S.

3.
Athletics: Cubans defecting, wrong shoes, no hope for the sport?

Track & field is a crazy sport, with 44 different individual events coming up at the World Championships starting 15 July in Eugene. Here’s the latest chaos with the Worlds a week away:

● Women’s Olympic triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela will not be allowed to compete in the long jump, even though her 6.93 m (22-9) mark from 8 June would be number four on the world list for 2022.

The issue was that Rojas was wearing triple jump shoes during that competition in Guadalajara (MEX), a violation of the new World Athletics rules on sole thickness. Long jump shoes are limited to 20 mm sole thickness, while triple jump shoes may have 25 mm soles. Tweeted Rio 2016 women’s vault champ Katerina Stefanidi (GRE):

“I competed in 1 comp (only) this year that did an actual spikes check. They randomly selected 1 athlete from wPV. She showed them a different set of spikes and competed in the TJ shoes that aren’t allowed for PV. Rules are rules but are they being enforced the same for everyone?”

Said a Scottish commenter of the shoe rules:

“I knew that, and I’m not a professional athlete. Boggles the mind that she didn’t.”

● Things are tough in Cuba. Reynier Mena, who moved to no. 3 on the world list for 2022 in the men’s 200 m with his sensational 19.63 win in La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI) last week, is shown on the qualification list for the Worlds, but was reported not to be competing due to filing for a change of allegiance to Portugal, where he lives.

If true, Mena is following the same path as Olympic triple jump champ Pedro Pablo Pichardo, who switched to Portugal in 2018; Olympic long jump silver medalist Juan Miguel Echevarria – who has not competed in 2022 – is also mentioned as transferring to Portugal and has withdrawn from the Worlds.

Andy Diaz, the world’s no. 2 triple jumper at 17.68 m (58-0 1/4) also withdrew from the Worlds and staying with his Italian club, Livorno Libertas.

Rachel Bachman’s 23 June Wall Street Journal story “Track and Field Aims to Capture an Emerging Market: The USA was summarized in her tweet:

“The United States has the world’s best track and field athletes.

“But the sport lags way behind No. 1 in popularity.

“Track and field leaders plan to change that. They aim to make it a top-five sport in the US by the LA 2028 Olympics”

Replied Stefanidi – a Stanford grad – sarcastically on Twitter:

“In 2017 they were aiming to make it a top-five sport in the world in 5 years. Big success.”

4.
Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey drugged at FINA Worlds

A terrible incident, and a warning to always – always – be on guard. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey, 22, who won a women’s 4×200 m Free relay bronze as a prelim swimmer and was eighth in the 200 m Medley at the recent FINA World Aquatics Championships, wrote a poignant, eight-panel post on Instagram, explaining that she was drugged – possibly by a spiked drink – at a party following the end of the swimming events on 25 June:

“I’ve debated for awhile on if I should or if I shouldn’t post anything. But I’ve always been transparent with ya’ll and these situations sadly happen too many times for me to stay silent.”

The panels were illustrated with photos of bruises she received and she explained:

“On the last night of the World Championships, I got drugged.

“At the time I wasn’t aware of what got inside of me, I just remember waking up completely lost; with our team manager and doctor at my bedside. I remember celebrating my competition while also being reasonable and aware of my next objective, which is the Commonwealth Games. But, then, I don’t remember anything. There’s this four-to-six-hour window where I can’t recall a single thing. …

“Some friends told me afterwards that they had to [carry] me while I was unconscious…”

She said that beyond the bruises, she suffered a rib sprain and a small concussion. “To anyone reading this, please be careful. I thought I was safe, that it would never happen to me, especially while being surrounded by friends. But it did … and I wish someone had educated me on the matter prior to that night.”

Swimming Canada spokesman Nathan White told the Canadian Press, “We are aware there was an incident the night before departure from Budapest. As soon as team staff became aware, Mary received excellent medical treatment from our team physician on site, and was cleared to travel home.

“Staff have been in contact with Mary since her return and we are offering her support. We continue to gather information on the situation, and the file has been forwarded to our independent Safe Sport officer.”

5.
U.S. women stop Jamaica in CONCACAF W group play, 5-0

After beating Haiti by 3-0 last Sunday, the U.S. Women’s National Team took a firm grip on Group A of the CONCACAF W Championship with a 5-0 victory over Jamaica in Guadalupe (MEX).

The game opened quickly with Jamaican midfielder Jody Brown getting a shot on U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher in the second minute and then the U.S. struck, with Sophia Smith scoring from right to left past Jamaican keeper Rebecca Spencer for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Smith struck again just three minutes later, with a shot from the right side for a 2-0 lead. Mallory Pugh scored in the 27th minute, but the goal was overturned on video review. The U.S. had 67% of the possession and led in shots by 10-2.

U.S. star Rose Lavelle got the third goal in the 59th minute, taking a cross from midfielder Ashley Sanchez and finishing with a right-footed shot across the goal. After a foul on striker Midge Purce in the box, Kristie Mewis converted a penalty shot in the 83rd minute; Trinity Rodman scored in the 86th for the 5-0 final. The U.S. finished with 68% possession and up 20-4 on shots.

The U.S. is now the only unbeaten in the group (8-0 goals-against total) and will finish against Mexico on the 11th (Monday), with the semifinals beginning on the 14th. The American women are now qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup; the tournament winner qualifies for the Paris 2024 Games.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Games ● The World Games 2022 began Thursday night in Birmingham, Alabama, to be followed on 28 July by the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. In between will be the 21st Maccabiah in Israel, from 12-26 July, and in August comes the second European Championships.

Just completed were the Mediterranean Games in Oran (ALG), the 24 June-5 July Bolivarian Games in Valledupar (COL), the first Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe (FRA) and the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas in June. The 2022 World University Games in Chengdu (CHN) was re-scheduled for 2023, but coming up on 9 August is the fifth Islamic Solidarity Games. Now you know.

Lots more than just the Olympic Games, which started the entire multi-sport movement, but was not followed up with another new event until the 1923 International Universities Championships in Paris.

● Athletics ● Now 75, Bob Beamon’s legacy is secure as the 1968 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s long jump and his stunning world-record leap of 8.90 m (29-2 1/2) in Mexico City, which created the term “Beamonesque” for an achievement almost beyond comprehension.

Originally from New York, he competed at UTEP and was inducted into the Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame in January as a member of the Class of 2021. He is now lending his expertise and prestige to RunRite Track & Field, which under the brand of The Indoor Track, is opening a series of indoor facilities, with the first to open in Plano, Texas on 6 September, with locations in Allen and McKinney also slated.

Beamon, who spent most of his professional career working with youth in the Miami area, is interested in giving youngsters the opportunity to learn about track & field and explore their abilities.

● Cycling ● Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar is putting his stamp on the 109th Tour de France early, with a final-sprint victory on the hilly, 219.9 km Stage 6 ride on Thursday, taking the overall lead in the race. He burst away from Michael Matthews (AUS) and David Gaudu (FRA) and now owns a four-second lead over American Neilson Powless and 31 seconds on last year’s runner-up, Jonas Vingegaard (DEN). Friday will be the first climbing test, with an uphill finish to La Super Blanche des Belles Filles.

The sixth stage of the 33rd Giro Donne in Italy featured a tough, uphill finish on the Passo del Maniva, won by France’s Juliette Labous in an 8 km solo attack that routed the field. Race leader Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) was second (+1:37) and second-place Mavi Garcia (ESP: +1:41) was third. Two-time winner Van Vleuten continues to lead, now by 0:31 over Garcia and 1:10 ahead of Marta Cavalli (ITA) with three stages left.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal by the Danish Modern Pentathlon Association against the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), allowing the UIPM to proceed with its plan for a new fifth discipline to replace riding.

“The present CAS decision only means that a proposal may be submitted by the UIPM EB to the IOC in view of the possible replacement of the equestrian discipline at the 2028 Olympic Games. Any subsequent format change of the modern pentathlon event would have to be adopted by the competent bodies according to the procedures set by the UIPM Statutes.”

● Triathlon ●Our policy outlines that Triathlon is a sport for everyone and that transphobic behaviour will not be tolerated. It confirms that Triathlon is a gender-affected sport and so for competitive events (those races that have prizes, times, and/or rankings) for athletes over the age of 12, there will be two categories; a Female Category, (for those who are the female sex at birth), and an Open Category, (for all individuals including male, transgender and those non-binary who were male sex at birth.”

That’s from British Triathlon’s Wednesday announcement of its new policy (operative 1 January 2023) concerning transgender athletes in “competitive activity,” defined as an event “run under the auspices of British Triathlon or the Home Nations involving any or all of official timing/results, qualification, or rankings and involving participants of 12 years of age or greater.” For recreational events, entrants may compete “in their self-identified Gender, without providing any additional evidence.”

The federation consulted with its members, receiving 3,167 responses – about 10% of the entire membership – with “approximately 8 out of 10 members” approving of the policy that was issued this week. It’s a stiff policy, but follows up on the approach announced by the International Aquatics Federation (FINA) and others; World Triathlon has not announced its policy yet.

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TSX REPORT: Giant U.S. team named for T&F Worlds; sprint star Steiner angry about leaked (?) contract terms; Paris 2024 finances OK for now

The medals for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene starting 15 July. (Photo: Oregon22)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. USA Track & Field confirms giant, 151-member Worlds team
2. Was sprinter Steiner’s Puma contract leaked, or not?
3. Paris 2024 audit says finances are manageable … for now
4. Vancouver 2030 bid climbs over 50% support in poll
5. Brisbane 2032 CEO search begins with 18-page brochure

An enormous team, loaded with talent was announced for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene by USA Track & Field; the all-time medals record of 30 by the U.S. in 2017 could be in jeopardy. One star, sprinter Abby Steiner, was offended by a tweet “reporting” her sponsorship deal with Puma which was widely repeated, but has not been confirmed. The Paris 2024 organizers were reported to have received an encouraging, passing grade on budget stability from its independent audit committee. A public poll shows increased support for a Vancouver 2030 Winter Games bid, but barely over the 50% mark. Brisbane 2032 is looking for its chief executive; the job is explained in a gaudy, 18-page brochure! And here comes the 11th World Games in Birmingham, Alabama that kicks off Thursday night.

1.
USA Track & Field confirms giant, 151-member Worlds team

A monster, 151-member American team for the 2022 World Athletics Championships was named by USA Track & Field on Tuesday, including the Lyles brothers in the sprints and relays.

The roster includes nine 2019 Worlds gold medalists Christian Coleman (men/100 m), Noah Lyles (men/200 m), Donavan Brazier (men/800 m), Grant Holloway (men/110 m hurdles), Christian Taylor (men/triple jump), Joe Kovacs (men/shot), Nia Ali (women/100 m hurdles), Dalilah Muhammad (women/400 m hurdles) and DeAnna Price (women/hammer). Doha winner Sam Kendricks (men/pole vault) has been battling injuries and was not listed.

Tokyo Olympic gold medalists on the team include Ryan Crouser (men/shot), Athing Mu (women/800 m), Sydney McLaughlin (women/400 m hurdles), Katie Nageotte (women/vault) and Valarie Allman (women/discus).

Sprint icon Allyson Felix qualified for the relay pool in the Mixed 4×400 m and will compete in her 10th World Championships.

Thanks to Diamond League seasonal championships in the men’s 400 m, women’s shot and women’s discus, plus the women’s Combined Events Challenge, the U.S. has four entries in 14 events for 2022. At present, U.S. athletes are world leaders in 16 of the 44 individual events to be contested.

Even some athletes who finished in the top three at the USATF Nationals, but did not have the requisite qualifying standard got in thanks to their standing in the World Athletics World Rankings. A few top-three finishers did not have the Worlds qualifying mark and were replaced with lower-placed athletes. Injuries also played a part; decathlon medal contender Garrett Scantling was not named, and Tokyo women’s marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel is hurt and was replaced by American record holder Keira D’Amato.

Perhaps the happiest story from the announcement was the listing of Josephus Lyles – Noah’s young brother – in the men’s 4×100 m replay pool after his fifth-place finish in the 200 m in 19.93.

The U.S. set the all-time record with 30 total medals at the 2017 Worlds in London and with a formidable team, could challenge or surpass that total at the first Worlds ever held in the U.S., beginning 15 July.

2.
Was sprinter Steiner’s Puma contract leaked, or not?

University of Kentucky sprint star Abby Steiner is one of 2022’s brightest stars, winning the NCAA 200 m title in a world-leading 21.80 and then taking the USA Track & Field championship in a then-world-leading 21.77. She’s heading to the World Championships as a medal favorite.

She announced that she was skipping her senior season and turning professional, leading to a 4 July tweet by Sacramento State coach Kenny McDaniel:

“Abby Steiner just signed a 2 million $ deal with Puma!!!

“Biggest contract signed by a female in track and field out of college. Congratulations #! Good for the sport.”

No other confirmation was forthcoming and some outlets reported it as fact and some as rumor. Steiner was not amused, writing on Twitter, in pertinent part:

“[P]eople trying to leak my deal and contract have been some of the most invasive and bothersome narratives I have seen. This information is between my sponsor and me. Any source outside of that is simply speculation. …

“It is common knowledge that contracts are not public. My income is not public record, nor should be reported as such. Any reporter should know this, and reporting otherwise is extremely harmful in a time period of life that is already stressful.

“Please keep in mind that athletes are human. We are worth more than being used in attempts to gain social media likes. A simple DM to me could have prevented false narratives in our track community. As reporters, former athletes, and coaches who should understand the pressures athletes face, I urge you to be mindful of this for the next athlete.”

Puma is no stranger to major-league athlete deals in track & field as the long-time sponsor of Jamaican icon Usain Bolt and current men’s vault world-record holder Mondo Duplantis, among others. But McDaniel’s statement is unconfirmed and he has not commented further.

Observed: True or not true, assertions such as McDaniel’s are commonplace in all areas of reporting and Steiner will not be the last to have such personal details stated publicly, regardless of her feelings in the matter. She’s a professional now, and in the public eye; this type of scrutiny comes with fame … and fortune, of whatever size.

3.
Paris 2024 audit says finances are manageable … for now

The Paris 2024 organizers have sounded the alarm on the costs of the upcoming Olympic Games and have made clear their concerns and a need for all stakeholders to minimize costs wherever possible. But there are positive signs.

The French-language FrancsJeux.com site reports an internal Paris 2024 audit review shows a clear understanding that the costs of the event must be controlled. Expected to be presented to the Paris 2024 Board on 12 July, the report notes “a structured and effective system for managing and controlling its expenses” that “is based on competent personnel, robust tools and proven procedures.”

Suggestions for better control include isolating the areas which are specifically subject to inflationary pressures and inserting indexes into contracts which pin inflationary increases to known financial references. And, while the domestic sponsorship program remains targeted to bring in €1.1 billion (~$1.12 billion U.S.), it would not hurt to surpass this if possible. The fashion and wines and spirits group LVMH – Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Tiffany, Moet Hennessey and many more – is seen as a possible new top-tier partner.

The Paris 2024 annual report for 2021 showed that 60% of the revenues for the €3.979 billion (~$4.05 billion U.S.) organizing committee budget have been secured, including 65% of the €1.099 domestic sponsorship projection, with three years remaining (and not including the just-announced CarreFour sponsorship).

The budget contingency was raised slightly from €300 million to €315 million.

In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche, Paris 2024 head Tony Estanguet said that the Games security force would comprise 22,000 people in all, expected to be contracted by the end of 2022.

4.
Vancouver 2030 bid climbs over 50% support in poll

GamesBids.com reported that an online survey in British Columbia showed that support for a Vancouver bid for the 2030 Winter Games has crawled over 50%, a significantly better result than last December.

Then, the poll found 45% against and 43% in favor; the new poll showed 54% in favor or strongly in favor of the bid, to be led by Four Host First Nations – Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Lil’wat – and the municipal governments of Vancouver and Whistler. The leadership of the First Nations made a significant difference in attitudes toward the bid.

The report noted that enthusiasm for the bid was similar to that of Sapporo (JPN), where polls have shown from 52% to 65% in favor of the bid. This is in stark contrast to the 87% approval for the Salt Lake City bid, with only 11% opposed.

The International Olympic Committee is expecting to narrow its focus to one potential host by the end of the year.

5.
Brisbane 2032 CEO search begins with 18-page brochure

The Brisbane 2032 organizing committee is looking for a Chief Executive Officer, with the position and situation described in an illustrated, 18-page brief on what the job is and what the Board is looking for. The position profile includes:

“As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you will have overall responsibility for the strategic direction and operations as well as accountability for the financial goals of Brisbane 2032.

“The CEO will be accountable to the President and the Board for delivery of the overall outcomes and results of Brisbane 2032. You will be responsible for the creation of the organisation and oversee the planning and implementation of a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic programs. The initial focus will be on strategic, financial, and business planning, stakeholder engagement, and the establishment of the organisation in consultation and collaboration with the President and Board.”

The Board President, former Dow Chemical chair Andrew Liveris, wrote of the position:

“I’m looking for someone visionary that understands how to turn innovative ideas into
a reality that will revolutionise the visitor and spectator experience for mega-sporting
events to come.

“I’m looking for someone with financial acumen who has demonstrated experience in
managing the fiduciary responsibilities of a multifaceted, multibillion-dollar business
operation, while respecting our contractual commitments for cost-neutral Organising
Committee deliverables.

“I’m looking for the person that knows how to ensure Brisbane 2032 showcases our
region, state and nation to the world.

“All of which begs the question – Is this you?”

The 2032 Games project is expected to cost $4.5 billion U.S. The search is being coordinated by the Odgers Berndtson search firm, with applications due by 19 August.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizing committee committed to the City of Los Angeles to work cooperatively on business procurement, local hiring and sustainability and is actively reaching out to community organizations and stakeholders. A new report shows that LA28’s first round of discussions included 79 organizations, with recommendations from the City to expand the list by another 217 groups.

The groups cover a wide range of communities and interests, including, but not limited to Arts for LA, the Black Cooperative Investment Fund and Heal the Bay to the Byzantine Latino Quarter Pico Business Improvement District and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Selections for the working groups are slated to be completed by the end of the year.

● Mediterranean Games ● The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games in Oran (ALG) concluded on Wednesday, with 24 of the 26 entered countries winning at least one medal. Italy led the parade with 159 medals (48-50-61) in the 234 events in 24 sports, followed by Turkey (108: 45-26-37) and France (81: 21-24-36).

● World Games 2022 ● Ready or not, the 11th World Games, comprising 30 sports with 3,600 athletes from 110 countries, is ready to launch in Birmingham, Alabama. The opening comes at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium on Thursday evening and continues through the 17th.

The U.S. will have the largest team at 373, with 160 from Japan and Ukraine will send a large delegation of 140. A bevy of sports angling for inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games will be on display, including Archery (Compound), Flag Football, Flying Disc – which originated in the L.A. area – Lacrosse, Orienteering and many more. The opening program on Thursday will include performances musical guests Sara Evans, Nelly and (of course) Alabama.

The CBS Sports Network will show World Games highlights – in one-hour packages – each day beginning on Friday (8th), with added highlights program on Paramount+ Premium.

● Cycling ● Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France was only decided at the line with Simon Clarke (AUS) throwing his bike across the finish to edge Taco van der Hoorn (NED), Edvald Boasson Hagen (DEN: +0:02) and American Neilson Powless (+0:04) in 3:13:35 for the flat (but partially cobbled), 157 km route from Lille to Wallers-Arenberg. The overall leaderboard tightened up considerably with Wout van Aert (BEL) remaining in the yellow jersey by 13 seconds over Powless, but now with 11 riders within a minute of the leader.

The Tour made a modest impression on U.S. television viewers last week, with Stage 1 drawing 224,000 on USA Network Friday morning, 345,000 on Saturday morning (Stage 2) and 347,000 on Sunday (Stage 3). A highlights program on Saturday on NBC did best, with 541,000 watching.

The Giro Donne in Italy completed Stage 5 (of 9) with Dutch star Marianne Vos winning for the second time and for the 32nd time in her career in this race. She won a final sprint from Lotte Kopecky (BEL), Silvia Persico (ITA) and American Kristin Faulkner in 2:58:30 for the 114.7 km ride from Sarnico to Bergamo. Two-time winner Annemiek van Vleuten maintained a 25-second lead over Mavi Garcia (ESP) on the overall leaderboard.

● Football ● While the European Super League of the top clubs from England, Spain and Italy famously imploded in 2021, the concept is alive and well in Africa, where the African Super League will commence in August 2023 with the continent’s top 24 teams – per their FIFA rankings – and a prize purse of $100 million.

In contrast to the purely private European venture, the African version has the backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and will exist alongside the ongoing African Champions League program which will be open to all club teams on the continent.

● Tennis ● The Women’s Tennis Association levied fines of just over $1 million against the British Lawn Tennis Association and All England Lawn Tennis Association – organizers of Wimbledon – for refusing to allow Russian and Belarusian players in the 2022 tournament.

The fines of £620,000 (~$753,000 U.S.) against the LTA and £207,000 (~$250,000) against the AELTA are being appealed. Said AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton, “We stand by the decision we made, we are deeply disappointed at the reactions of the tours to that decision,” noting that the tournament had little choice in view of the British government’s insistence on the bans. The WTA and the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals removed the tournament’s ranking points for 2022, but the tournaments are progressing anyway.

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TSX REPORT: Why Mondo didn’t try for a world record at Stockholm; 29% of USATF top-3 are unsponsored; 35 nations call for Russian bans

Olympic champ and world-record holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden (Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Duplantis had 160,000 reasons to skip a WR try at Stockholm
2. Study shows 29% of USATF top-3 open aths unsponsored
3. Edwin Moses on his 1980 world record and the boycott
4. Reps of 35 nations call for Russian suspension in sport
5. U.S. women shut out Haiti, 3-0, in CONCACAF W opener

For those who are track & field professionals, it not only a sport, but their business. This was underlined by Swedish vault star Mondo Duplantis, who made a good business decision not to go for a world record in front of home fans last week. For others who finished in the top three at the USATF Nationals, business isn’t a good as almost a third do not have a lead commercial sponsor. Then there is Edwin Moses, who was not allowed to compete at the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the U.S. boycott, but set a world record just two weeks before to show who would have won. A statement by ministers of 35 nations calls for Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue to be suspended due to the war on Ukraine. The U.S. women’s team won its opener in the important CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico.

1.
Duplantis had 160,000 reasons to skip a WR try at Stockholm

It’s a business, baby.

Mondo Duplantis, on only his sixth jump of the competition, cleared 6.16 m (20-2 1/2), the highest vault ever outdoors. Would he try for an absolute world record of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2)?

No, and there are good reasons why. Said the winner afterwards:

“I wanted to come here today and try to do something special. … I just remember I was trying to focus really hard to not hitting the bar. And once when I did, I was over the bar and then I just started to run like an idiot. … I feel like I am definitely in shape to win my title and maybe to do something special in Eugene.

“I am in a great shape and it is all about building to the world champs. I don´t really feel the pressure; only the pressure I put on myself. I think I could go high in Oregon and it is important to be in my best shape there. Today was a confirmation that I can do it.”

He’ll be looking forward to the Worlds in Eugene for many reasons, including winning a world title, the only major championship he has not won. He was ninth in his debut in 2017 and second in 2019. Now he’s the favorite.

But there are other things at stake, like money. The Diamond League pays $10,000 for a win, with no mention of a world-record bonus. At the World Championships in Eugene:

● Prize money is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for the top eight places, and

● World records earn a $100,000 bonus!

So, with a win in Eugene and a world record, Duplantis would earn $170,000 vs. $10,000 for his win in Stockholm (and no bonus).

No wonder he didn’t try for the record in Stockholm. And he had 160,000 reasons why.

2.
Study shows 29% of USATF top-3 open aths unsponsored

An intriguing review of athlete sponsorship by former 3:34.54 1,500 m man Kyle Merber, writing for Citius Magazine, showed that among post-collegians, 24 of the 83 top-three finishers at the recent USATF Championships are unsponsored.

Merber broke down the top-three finishers in the 34 events – 102 medalists in total – and found:

● 59 were sponsored (40 track; 19 field)
● 24 were unsponsored (5 track, 19 field)
● 19 were collegians (9 track, 10 field)

So, 59 of the 83 top-three finishers who were post-collegians were sponsored (71%) and 29% were not. By group, 40 of 45 track athletes were sponsored, but only 19 of 38 field athletes.

Of the 59 sponsored athletes, Nike supports 29, followed by adidas (10), New Balance (6), Tracksmith and Puma (4 each).

Merber further notes the continuing difficulties for athletes using the one college-style facility available to professionals:

“USATF is cutting the budget of many athletes who are currently based out of the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista — the closest thing to a college environment that most top-level athletes, particularly field eventers, have available. …

“[D]espite this arrangement being incredibly effective at producing medals, those who benefitted from the stability will now be forced to relocate and find new and likely less ideal situations. Rather than taking away the Olympic Training Center, we should be replicating it.”

3.
Edwin Moses on his 1980 world record and the boycott

“I decided to cut a big race loose that day. We didn’t get a chance to go to the Moscow ‘80 games because of the US boycott of the event. I was mad as a mugga mugga that summer knowing that my 2nd gold medal was going to an inferior runner.

“2nd place was 49.02 and third was 50.13 ([German Harald] Schmid and [American Andre] Phillips). This was 42 years ago and the race was two weeks before the Olympics final in the 400 hurdles. It was an exhibition, solo effort.”

So remembered Edwin Moses of his world-record 47.13 on 3 July in Milan, Italy, just 16 days prior to the opening of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, which the U.S. did not attend as the leader of a 65-country boycott.

This was the third of his four world records, and it was East Germany’s Volker Beck who won the cheapest gold medal in Olympic history in 48.70, which would likely have won him a bronze, behind Moses and Schmid, but for the boycott.

Moses went on to set his fourth world mark at 47.02 in 1983 and finished not only with Olympic golds in 1976 and 1984 and two World Championships, but an unforgettable 122-race win streak from 1977-87.

4.
Reps of 35 nations call for Russian suspension in sport

A 1 July statement signed by governmental representatives of 35 nations, including the U.S., called for more sanctions on Russia and Belarus in view of the continuing war against Ukraine:

“● Russian and Belarusian sport national governing bodies should be suspended from international sport federations.

“● Individuals closely aligned to the Russian and Belarusian states, including but not limited to government officials, should be removed from positions of influence on international sport federations, such as boards and organising committees.

“● National and international sports organisations should consider suspending the broadcasting of sports competitions into Russia and Belarus.”

“We call on all international sport federations to take account of these principles, applaud all those that have taken action already, and encourage our own domestic sporting bodies to engage with their international federations to do so.”

The statement noted that where Russians or Belarusians are allowed, they should be noted as not representing their country and the flags and anthems of these countries should be prohibited. The 35 signatories included 29 European countries, plus Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, and was presented by Polish Sports and Tourism Minister Kamil Bortniczuk.

The reaction from the Russian Olympic Committee was swift and furious:

“Unfortunately, the forced escalation of anti-Russian hysteria continues, this is happening in the absence of any reaction to the widespread interference of Western state structures in the affairs of the National Olympic committees, which are ordered to support restrictions and suspensions on a national basis, are forbidden to participate in competitions where Russians compete.”

TASS further noted a report last week from Kurafin Moscow State Law University Rector Viktor Blazheev:

“If you take the big picture, then, according to the latest information from the Ministry of Sports, the IOC, the IPC and 95 other international organizations have applied sanctions against our athletes and sports organizations. 12 international federations have decided to suspend the membership of Russian national federations or to exclude them from their membership, 19 international organizations have removed representatives of Russia from their managerial positions.

“At the same time, 14 sports federations allow Russian athletes to participate in competitions in a neutral status.” He noted especially the permission for Russian participation in chess, judo and tennis as neutral athletes.

On Tuesday, the International Ice Hockey Federation appeals board dismissed Russian and Belarusian appeals against the IIHF suspension from international tournaments; Russia is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The European Table Tennis Union barred Russian or Belarusian participation for the 2022-23 season, and the Federation Internationale de Ski extended the Russian and Belarusian ban through the summer season.

5.
U.S. women shut out Haiti, 3-0, in CONCACAF W opener

The CONCACAF W Championship for women is pretty important, as the top two teams in each group qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the winner advances to the Paris 2024 Olympic tournament. The second- and third-place teams will qualify for a play-off to go to Paris.

So, the no. 1-ranked U.S. women – two-time defending champions – opened play on Monday in Group A with a 3-0 victory in 99 F heat over Haiti at San Nicolas de los Garza (MEX). Alex Morgan got two first-half goals, on a feed from Mallory Pugh in the 16th minute and on a header off a cross from Kelley O’Hara in the 23rd for her 117th career goal for the U.S. and a 2-0 lead.

However, Haiti applied pressure later in the half and midfielder Melchie Dumornay slammed a shot toward the net in the 27th minute that was stopped by U.S. keeper Casey Murphy. In the 42nd minute, Haiti was awarded a penalty, but striker Roselord Borgella hit the crossbar.

The U.S. lost two second-half goals to offside calls, then Midge Purce got a goal in the 84th minute to make the final 3-0, with the U.S. owning 69% of the possession and a 17-7 edge on shots. Hardly artistic, but convincing.

The U.S. plays Jamaica next on 7 July, then Mexico on 11 July to finish group play.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) visited the capital of Kyiv at the invitation of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee on Sunday (4th), meeting more than 100 athletes at the National Training Center, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Bach announced that the IOC’s aid fund for Ukrainian athletes will be tripled to $7.5 million to help with preparations for Paris 2024 and Milan Cortina 2026. In addition, he committed to the staging of a Ukrainian Sport Recovery Conference of the Olympic Movement to be held in Lausanne.

● Caribbean Games ● The first Caribbean Games, an under-23 event with 800 athletes competing in seven sports, with 29 nations attending in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. Cuba led all countries with 44 medals (18-12-14), followed by Puerto Rico (32: 15-10-7) and the Dominican Republic (13: 6-4-3).

This is a separate competition from the Central American & Caribbean Games, which will next take place in June 2023 in El Salvador.

● Athletics ● A new contender in the already-hot men’s 200 m: Cuba’s Reynier Mena, who won the Resisprint International in a national record of 19.63 (+1.2) at La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI) on Sunday. That moves him to no. 3 on the 2022 world list, beyond Americans Erriyon Knighton (19.49) and Noah Lyles (19.61).

A very encouraging win for Rio 2016 400 m champ (and world-record holder) Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) in 44.58 at the Stars & Stripes Classic in Marietta, Georgia on Saturday. Battling back from injuries, he’s now 14th on the 2022 World list.

China’s zero-tolerance Covid policy has caused the cancellation of November’s World Half Marathon Championships. World Athletics did, however, award the second World Athletics Road Running Championships to Yangzhou for 2027.

● Baseball-Softball ● Italy’s Riccardo Fraccari was re-elected for a second term as President of the World Baseball-Softball Confederation by 100-43 over France’s Didier Seminet; Fraccari will serve into 2028 and is leading the federation’s efforts to place baseball and softball on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Secretary-General Beng Choo Low of Malaysia was also re-elected.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner wrote to U.S. President Joe Biden, asking for help from her detainment in Russia on “drug smuggling” charges. The U.S. government considers Griner to be unlawfully held by the Russians; her trial began last Friday.

“I realize you are dealing with so much,” she wrote, “But please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home.” She also noted, “I’m terrified I might be here forever … It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate [Independence Day] because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”

● Cycling ● Back on French soil, Belgium scored its second 1-2 of the 2022 Tour de France, with race leader Wout van Aert breaking away in the final 12 km for an eight-second win in the flat, 171.5 km Stage 4 over Jasper Philipsen in 4:01:36. Van Aert now has a 25-second lead over countryman Yves Lampaert and 32 seconds over two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO).

At the Giro Donne in Italy, Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten took over the race lead on Sunday, winning the hilly 126.1 km Stage 3 over Mavi Garcia (ESP) and forging a 25-second over the Spaniard as Italy’s Elisa Balsamo fell and finished well back in 36th. On Tuesday, Balsamo won her second stage over the flat, 126.1 km course in a mass sprint, just ahead of Dutch stars Charlotte Kool and Marianne Vos. Van Vleuten continues to lead Garcia by 0:25 and Marta Cavalli by 0:57 with the race concluding on Sunday.

● Football ● The U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that a further $92 million in funds forfeited from corruption in international football will be sent to FIFA and the CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America). This is on top of the $201 million already sent. According to the DoJ statement:

“To date, the prosecutions have resulted in charges against more than 50 individual and corporate defendants from more than 20 countries, primarily in connection with the offer and receipt of bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies to soccer officials in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments and events and the laundering of those payments.”

● Errata ● Some readers of Monday’s post saw the Olympic memorabilia auction now ongoing as offered by “RRM Auctions.” It’s RR Auctions and the lots can be viewed here; the auction continues through 21 July.

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LANE ONE: Eugene World Athletics Championships nearing evening sell-outs, with an estimated 86% of tickets sold with 10 days to go

The new Hayward Field, with the giant, north-end scoreboard (Photo: University of Oregon)

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coming 15-24 July. ★

Remember the sparse crowds at Eugene’s new Hayward Field for the Prefontaine Classic, NCAA Championships and the USA Track & Field National Championships? They won’t be repeated for the World Athletics Championships beginning on 15 July.

An examination of the online ticket availabilities for the Worlds by TheSportsExaminer.com shows that about 86% of all seats have been sold so far, with most of those in the morning sessions. The evening sessions show sales of about 90% of all available tickets, so Hayward will be rocking in a couple of weeks.

Back in April, TSX exclusively calculated that Hayward will seat about 17,000 in total for the Worlds, with perhaps 14,500 tickets available for sale and the rest used for news media and officials. A shift of some sections appears to have added some seats for sale since then, for about 15,000 tickets available per session.

Over 15 sessions – five morning and 10 evening – that’s 225,000 tickets and our July 4 survey shows that about 31,000 tickets remain, with 21,500 or so in the five morning sessions. That’s a sales rate of 86% overall and 90% for the evening sessions. Excellent and sales are continuing.

The new Hayward Field has 72 seating sections for the Worlds, with 38 on the lower level and 34 on the upper level and temporary seating around the second turn. Let’s check on the day-by-day, session-by-session sales so far:

15 July (Fri. a.m.):
Tickets are available in 29 of 72 sections, with an estimated 4,000 seats still available, with prices from $10 and promotional pricing of many backstretch seats for the 4th of July only at $17.76; these were the $35 lowest-price seats in April. Seats right on the finish line in sections 121-221 are available for $95.

15 July (Fri. p.m.):
There are seats available in 50 sections for the first evening session, with the Mixed 4×400 m the only final. Available tickets are $295 and $175 on the home straight, $130-150-175 on the turn, $150 on the backstraight and $70-95 on the far turn. A little more than 3,000 tickets are shown as available.

16 July (Sat. a.m.):
The men’s hammer and women’s 10,000 m finals are in this session with seats available in 33 sections, priced from $17.76 (on Monday) but otherwise as low as $45 and up to $135. About 1,500 tickets are left.

16 July (Sat. p.m.):
The men’s 100 m, women’s shot and men’s long jump finals are on this program, with seats in 20 sections, but less than 500 tickets remaining in the house. There are a few seats close to the finish line, priced at $315, $375, $520 and $910, with seats around the turn at $115-195 and the backstraight and far turn at $85 to $165. Should be loud!

17 July (Sun. a.m.):
The women’s hammer and men’s 10,000 m final on are Sunday morning, with tickets available in 34 sections. Seats on the home straight are available for $125-135, from $65-95-125 on the turn and $45-95 on the backstraight and the far turn. About 1,500 tickets are left.

17 July (Sun. p.m.):
Terrific program with finals in the women’s 100 m, women’s vault, men’s shot and men’s 110 m hurdles. Tickets are shown to be available in just 18 sections, at $195-315-375-725 and $115-165 and $85 on the far turn. Barely more than 400 tickets are still available.

18 July (Mon. a.m.):
The women’s heptathlon continues, with the long jump and javelin only and only 13 sections sold out. Tickets range from $25-95, with more than 4,500 seats still available.

18 July (Mon. p.m.):
Five finals, with the women’s hep, women’s 1,500, women’s triple jump, men’s high jump and Steeple, with tickets available in 33 sections. Pricing for the best seats is at $150-175-295, or $130-150-175 around the turn and $70-95 on the far turn. About 1,500 seats are left.

19 July (Tue. p.m.):
Four finals, with the women’s high jump and the men’s 400 m hurdles, discus and 1,500 m. This is heading toward a sell-out, with tickets in only 16 sections available. Home straight tickets are $150-175-250-295-680, $150 and $175 on the turn and back straight and $70-95 on the far turn. Barely more than 500 seats remain.

20 July (Wed. p.m.):
Just two finals, with the women’s discus and women’s Steeple, and more tickets available, in 44 sections. Home straight seats are $150-175-250-295-425 and $130-150-175 on the turn and backstraight and then $70-95 on the far turn. More than 2,000 seats appear to be available.

21 July (Thu. p.m.):
The much-anticipated 200 m finals for both men and women are on this day, with seats in 40 sections shown available. Home straight seats are $195-315-375-575, going down to $145-165-195 on the turn and backstraight and $85-115 on the far turn. A little over 1,600 seats are shown available.

22 July (Fri. p.m.):
The men’s and women’s 400 m, the women’s 400 m hurdles and women’s javelin are the finals, with heats in the 4×100 m relays. This session has been essentially sold out for months and seats are only shown in eight sections, with home straight seats for $255-315-375-885-1,450 and just a few other seats available. Monday’s inventory shown just 74 seats remaining.

23 July (Sat. a.m.):
This is day one of the decathlon, with no other events, so no surprise that seats are available of 57 of the 71 sections. Pricing $55-75-95 except for the far turn and as low as $25 on the far turn. Looks to be about 5,000 tickets available.

23 July (Sat. p.m.):
The 4×100 m relay finals and heats of the 4×400 m, plus the men’s 800 m, triple jump and javelin, plus the women’s 5,000 m. It’s a near sell-out, with tickets in just four sections shown and a total of 41 tickets shown. Almost all are on the home straight and cost $930 or $1,550 each.

24 July (Sun. a.m.):
Events 6-9 of the decathlon only, so lots of tickets available, in 60 sections, priced from $25 and up, with a top of $95 on the home straight. Just under 5,000 seats are available.

24 July (Sun. p.m.):
Just 46 seats shown for the final session, with the men’s vault, men’s 5,000 m, the decathlon 1,500m, women’s long jump, 800 m and 100 m hurdles finals and the 4×400 m relays. The available seats are right on the home straight, priced at $930 and $1,550.

So, fears of a feeble crowd can be dismissed, although there are a lot of tickets for the heptathlon and decathlon morning sessions available. In fact, 69% of all remaining available tickets are for the morning sessions; the 10 evening sessions are estimated to have just about 9,000 tickets left.

The high-end hospitality seating offered by Daimani has not sold out and some of these tickets, on the home straight or right on the finish line, have been returned to public sale, but with the VIP accoutrements included in the (elevated) price. The current daily offers have been price-reduced:

Cadence Club , in sections 123-124-125:
● Was $450-550-975-450-875-450-650-1,250-1,250-1,250 in April
● Now $395-495-695-395-650-400-550-850-895-895

Cadence Club Finish line, in sections 121-122:
● Was $950-1,050-1,450-950-1,770-950-1,150-2,250-2,250-2,250 in April
● Now $650-875-1,050-750-1,250-750-950-1,395-1,495-1,495

There is also now an option to upgrade from standard tickets and partake of the hospitality area, food and drinks for $195 per person for the evening sessions.

The new Hayward Field is a beautiful arena for the sport and after the disappointing crowds in 2022 – with the locals saving their money for the World Championships – the award of the Worlds to the U.S. promises to be at least an aesthetic and athletic success. Whether it is financially successful or leaves any legacy for track & field in the U.S. is a debate for another day.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: U.S. women’s water polo dynasty adds Worlds gold; NBC’s Olympic Channel shutters in September; 36 torches and 32 Olympic medal lots up for auction!

Four Worlds golds in a row for the U.S. women's water polo juggernaut after Saturday's 9-7 win over Hungary. (Photo courtesy FINA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S. dynasty uninterrupted: women’s water polo wins Worlds again
2. FINA Worlds end with China’s diving sweep, U.S. tops in medals
3. NBC to cancel low-performing Olympic Channel on 30 September
4. U.S. U-20 men reach first Olympic tournament since 2008!
5. Massive Olympic memorabilia auction features 36 torches!

Water polo isn’t one of the most popular sports in the U.S., but that has not stopped the U.S. women’s national team, which won its fourth straight World Championships gold in Budapest to go along with the last three Olympic titles, with a 9-7 win over Hungary. The hastily-arranged 2022 FINA Worlds were a success, with 130,000 in attendance, a record 45 medals by the U.S. swimmers and China’s second sweep of every event in diving. Less happy is NBC’s cancellation of its cable Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA in September; this was supposed to be the catalyst for year-round visibility for Olympic sports. But the U.S. men’s U-20 team qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic field for the first time since 2008, and a mega-auction of Olympic torches, medals (six from Ryan Lochte) and memorabilia is ongoing.

1.
U.S. dynasty uninterrupted:
women’s water polo wins Worlds again

Three-time defending Olympic victors and three-time defending World Champions, the United States women’s water polo team defeated Hungary in front of a raucous house of 6,000-plus at the Hajos National Swimming Stadium in Budapest, 9-7, to win a fourth straight FINA World Championships title on Saturday.

Maddie Musselman scored five of the nine goals, as the American women led after one period by 2-1, at halftime by 4-3 and then by 7-4 at the end of three quarters. Hungary scored three times in the final period and closed to 8-7, but Musselman’s penalty shot with 49 seconds left made the final 9-7. Ryann Neushul scored three times for the U.S. and Maggie Steffens added one; Greta Gurisatti led Hungary with three scores.

The win was all the sweeter as Hungary had defeated the U.S. in Olympic pool play, 10-9, in Tokyo last year. Said U.S. coach Adam Krikorian:

“We never played in such circumstances, anything similar to that. In the first quarter it was like ‘this is incredible, I can’t hear myself thinking, my players can’t hear me…’ It was amazing, this is the Mecca of water polo, a world champion place. I was thinking, with all honesty, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, it is an honor to be part of this. This result is a huge shot for [coach Attila Biro’s] team and I’m jealous to see this kind of support his team enjoys, to see how the Hungarians love water polo.”

Musselman was named the Most Valuable Player of the final and ended up no. 3 in scoring for the tournament with 20 goals. Stephanie Haralabidis tied for fourth with 18. Keeper Ashleigh Johnson was selected as the Most Valuable Goalkeeper.

The U.S. outscored its six opponents by 94-33 during the tournament and won its seventh FINA World Championship and fourth straight, previously in 2003-07-09-15-17-19 and now 2022.

Since Krikorian came from UCLA in 2009 to coach the women’s team, the American women have won all three Olympic golds and five Worlds in seven tries. In the unbroken streak of major tournament wins from 2015-22, the U.S. women have a combined Olympic and Worlds record of 36-2.

This is a dynasty, and the core of the team should be primed for another world title run in 2023 in Fukuoka and in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games. Of the seven players who logged 20 minutes or more in the final, Musselman is 24, Haralabidis is 27, Johnson is 27 and Steffens is 29. Neuschul is just 22, Rachel Fattal, 28 and Kaleigh Gilchrist is 30. Not going anywhere.

2.
FINA Worlds end with China’s diving sweep,
U.S. tops in medals

A FINA World Aquatics Championships that looked like it might not happen instead ended Sunday with a show of Chinese diving power and the United States overpowering all other nations on the medal table.

With all 74 events completed, the U.S. ended with 49 medals (18-14-17), with 45 coming in a record-setting swimming performance. China was second with 28 medals (18-2-8), including 17 in diving, and Italy was third overall with 22 (9-7-6).

China completed a clean sweep of the diving events, winning all 13 and four more medals besides for a total of 17, followed by Britain with six and the U.S. and Canada with three each. Tokyo silver medalist Jian Yang repeated as World Champion in the men’s 10 m Platform and Yiwen Chen won the women’s 3 m Springboard. Qian Ren and Yu Duan won the Mixed Synchronized 10 m Platform with Americans Delaney Schnell and Carson Tyler third and Chen and Yani Chang won the women’s 3 m Synchro event.

China also swept the diving in 2011 (10-for-10) and came close a couple of other times; the U.S. won all four golds way back at the 1982 Worlds, with Greg Louganis sweeping the men’s titles.

The men’s water polo title went to Spain in a 15-14 thriller over Italy, in a 6-5 penalty shoot-out after the Italians came back from a 6-3 halftime deficit to tie the match at 9-9 in the final period. Greece won the bronze-medal match from Croatia, 9-7; the U.S. finished sixth.

The U.S. swimmers posted a dominant performance, winning a record total of 45 medals (17-12-16) to 17 for Australia (6-9-2) and 11 for Canada (3-4-4), but left some of the swimming intelligentsia unimpressed as multiple Australian and British stars opted for the Commonwealth Games and/or European Championships coming up this month. The U.S. lost Caeleb Dressel to a medical condition after only a couple of days.

So how good was the swimming Budapest compared to, say, the Tokyo Olympic Games? Good, but not quite as good.

In the individual events contested in both, the men’s winning times were better in seven of 14 events in Budapest, but in only four of 14 among the women. That means 11 of the 28 events (39%) were faster in Budapest. If you add in the non-Olympic events and compare them with the 2019 Worlds in Korea, four of six were better in Budapest, so the combined total of 15 of 34 (44%).

If we go back to the 2019 Worlds in Gwangju for all 34 individual events (including the 50 m sprints in Back, Breast and Fly), the men were better in 2022 in eight of 17 events and the women were better in 11 of 17, or 19 of 34 combined (56%).

Budapest was not quite as good – on the clock – as Tokyo, with much less fanfare, and better in more than half of the races vs. the 2019 Worlds.

As for 2022 itself, the Worlds produced world-leading times in 13 of 17 men’s events and eight of 17 women’s events, or 21 of 34 total (62%). Let’s see what happens at the Commonwealth Games and Europeans, but Budapest 2022 was an outstanding Worlds that included three world records (vs. six in Tokyo).

American Freestyle star Katie Ledecky led all swimmers with four golds, but the top multi-medalists stars, with six each, were Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (3-3-0) and American Torri Huske (3-0-3). Four Americans won five each: Ryan Murphy (2-2-1), Claire Curzan (2-0-3), Erika Brown (2-0-3) and Michael Andrew (1-2-2).

There were prizes, too, with the top eight swimmers receiving $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000, so Ledecky won $60,000 plus a share of the 4×200 m Free Relay in which six U.S. swimmers participated, including the prelims. The same pay scale applied to artistic swimming (except for the team events, which got more), diving and open-water swimming. Water polo teams received $80,000-70,000-60,000-50,000-40,000-30,000-20,000-10,000. In all, the prize pool totaled $5.72 million.

FINA announced that more than 130,000 spectators watched the competitions, with more than 2,000 athletes from 180 countries participating. With the between-Olympic Games rhythm still wrecked by Covid-19 and the postponement of Tokyo 2020, there will be a 2023 World Aquatics Championship in Fukuoka, Japan from 14-30 July.

3.
NBC to cancel low-performing Olympic Channel
on 30 September

It was supposed to be the means by which Olympic athletes and Olympic sports would be noted, promoted and celebrated all year round. That was when NBC’s cable Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA debuted in 2017.

On Friday, NBCUniversal announced that it will be ending the channel on 30 September, with a spokesperson telling The Hollywood Reporter:

“In order to best reach our target audiences, we are reevaluating our programming distribution strategy regarding the content that currently airs on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA with our partners at the IOC and USOPC. We will be announcing our exciting new plans for Olympic content in the fall.”

This follows the closure of NBCSN at the end of 2021, with much of the content moved to the Peacock subscription streaming service, USA Network and CNBC on evenings and weekends.

Truth be told, the Olympic Channel: Home of the Team USA had little impact. It was available in 47 million homes at the end of 2021 vs. 80 million for USA Network. Programs on the Olympic Channel were rarely (if ever) rated by Nielsen with 200,000 or more viewers for any program. This was true of the recent FINA World Championships in swimming, where the U.S. team set a record with 45 total medals … but none of the daily broadcasts on the Olympic Channel rated within the top 150 shows on cable on any day.

It was an experiment that failed. And that’s not a good thing for the Olympic Movement in the U.S.

4.
U.S. U-20 men reach first Olympic tournament since 2008!

The U.S. men’s U-20 team capped a brilliant tournament with a 6-0 shutout of first-time-finalist Dominican Republic in the final of the CONCACAF men’s U-20 Championship at San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Sunday evening.

The game opened slowly, but the Americans took a 1-0 lead on a Tyler Wolf goal in the 18th minute and then added a second in the 37th minute from striker Paxten Aaronson and third by Noah Allen in the 39th. The 3-0 lead was doubled in the second half with scores from Jack McGlynn (53rd), Aaronson (55th) and Niko Tsakiris (61st). The U.S. enjoyed 52% of the possession, but piled up an 18-5 edge in shots.

The true impact of the U.S. finish is that the finalists qualified for the Paris 2024 Games – a U-23 tournament with some added older players – the first time the U.S. men will compete in the Games since Beijing 2008!

The Americans defeated St. Kitts & Nevis (10-0), drew 2-2 with Canada and beat Cuba, 3-0, in group play, then skipped past Nicaragua (5-0), Costa Rica (2-0) and Honduras (3-0) in the playoffs before facing the Dominicans. Aaronson led all scorers in the tournament with seven goals and Quinn Sullivan had six, including all three vs. Cuba.

Aaronson won the Golden Ball Award as the top player, Golden Boot as top scorer and U.S. keeper Chris Brady took the Golden Glove. The U.S. outscored its opponents 31-2 in its six games and pitched shutouts in five of them.

It’s the third straight title for the U.S. in this tournament, after wins in 2017 and 2018. Besides the Olympic berth, the U.S., Dominican Republic and semifinalists Guatemala and Honduras all qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia next May.

5.
Massive Olympic memorabilia auction features 36 torches!

Medals, pins, torches and many more items are now up for sale in a 341-item Olympic Memorabilia auction by RR Auctions through 21 July. The program includes a stunning 36 Olympic torches, from summer Games in 1936, 1948, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and Winter Games in 1956, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022. The Innsbruck 1976 Winter torch is expected to bring $20,000, the highest projected price of the group.

There are 32 lots of Olympic medals on auction, including six medals from U.S. swimming star Ryan Lochte, who won 12 medals in all (6-3-3) from 2004-16. Up for auction, to support the Jorge Nation Foundation, which funds vacations for seriously ill children:

● 2004 Athens silver from the 200 m Medley (estimated at $10,000);

● 2008 Beijing bronzes from the 200 m and 400 m Medley ($12,000);

● 2012 London silver from the 200 m Medley and 4×100 m Freestyle Relay, and bronze from the 200 m Backstroke ($60,000).

He’s holding on to his six golds. The other medals expected to bring high prices include a 1924 Chamonix gold ($50,000 estimate) 2020 Tokyo gold ($50,000), and a 2006 Turin Winter Games gold ($40,000) and silver ($25,000).

There are also all kinds of pins, medallions, publications and lots more, with the auction ending on Thursday, 21 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Mediterranean Games ● Did you know that the XIX Mediterranean Games are ongoing in Oran, Algeria? OK, you do now! The 3,390-athlete, 26-nation event is especially noteworthy this year for the first appearance in a multi-sport event by entrants from Vatican City.

The Vatican is not a recognized nation in the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), but Sara Carnicelli ran as a guest the women’s Half Marathon, finishing in 1:17:21, ninth out of 12 entries. It’s a start.

● Athletics ● Remember Wilfried Happio, the French 400 m hurdler who was attacked before his national championship race in Caen and then – with a patch over his eye, covered by a headband worn diagonally across his face – won with a lifetime best of 48.57?

Le Parisien reported that there is more to the story. Turns out the attacker, apparently also an accredited athlete for the meet, was the brother of a woman – a triple jumper – who has now filed a sexual assault charge against Happio for actions dating back to October 2021. The matter is ongoing; the French Athletics Federation had no comment as it had not been officially informed of the complaint. Oh boy.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner’s trial on “drug smuggling” charges began Friday in Moscow, with the hearing lasting three hours before being continued to 7 July. U.S. Charge d’Affaires Elizabeth Rood attended the hearing and said Griner was doing “as well as can be expected.”

● Cycling ● The opening stages of the 109th Tour de France held in Denmark concluded on Sunday, with Belgians Wout van Aert and Yves Lampaert (+0.07) sitting 1-2 in the overall standings with the event heading to France. Defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) stands third (+0:14).

The racing opened with Belgium scoring a 1-2 in the 13.2 km time trial in Copenhagen with Lampaert winning in 15:17 and van Aert in 15:22. Pogacar was third at 15:24. The crash-filled second stage ended with Fabio Jakobsen (NED) stealing the win from van Aert with a late sprint in 4:34:34, with the first smash-up with 22 km left, then Lampaert was part of a pile-up with 19 km left and another, major crash just past the Great Belt Bridge amid strong winds with just 2.8 km left that spared only the top riders. On Sunday, Dylan Groenewegen (NED) won a bunch sprint from van Aert and Jasper Philipsen (both BEL) on the flat, 182 km course from Vejle to Sonderborg.

In Italy, the 10-stage Giro Donne – the top women’s race of the year – home favorite Elisa Balsamo (ITA) won Stage 1 from Dutch star Marianne Vos in a sprint, then Vos and Charlotte Kool (NED) were 1-2 over Balsamo in Stage 2. When racing resuming Monday, Balsamo leads Vos by 0:06 and Australia’s Georgia Baker by 0:12.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing has gone through considerable upheaval in recent months, with eight-year Executive Director Kris Ekeren leaving last September and the federation’s Board removing elected Chair Peter Burchard last October and substituting Treasurer David Arias.

Now, an impressive hire with former USA Weightlifting chief Phil Andrews (GBR) selected as fencing’s chief executive as of 16 August. In more than six years as the head of the weightlifting federation, Andrews saw significant increases in competitive success, athlete funding, coaching education and the international standing of the U.S. federation. He now takes over a federation which has enjoyed wide success in the piste, but need to raise its public profile.

● Figure Skating ● “This season, too, I want to do my best and aim even higher still.” That comment on the Japanese Skating Federation Web site from two-time Olympic men’s figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu, 27, of Japan is the first concrete indication that, despite injury setbacks over the last two seasons, he intends to continue competing. There has been speculation that he would retire, but perhaps not?

● Football ● With the FIFA World Cup coming up quickly in November and guaranteed controversy over offside calls, FIFA announced Friday that it will introduce a “semi-automated” system to warn officials of offside infractions. Using 12 tracking cameras, 29 data points on each player and a sensor inside the ball:

“By combining the limb- and ball-tracking data and applying artificial intelligence, the new technology provides an automated offside alert to the video match officials inside the video operation room whenever the ball is received by an attacker who was in an offside position at the moment the ball was played by a team-mate. Before informing the on-field referee, the video match officials validate the proposed decision by manually checking the automatically selected kick point and the automatically created offside line, which is based on the calculated positions of the players’ limbs. This process happens within a few seconds and means that offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately.” The system has worked well at test events over the past year, but the World Cup will be the ultimate test.

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For our updated, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Duplantis soars 20-2 1/2 for outdoor best in Stockholm; Tour de France starts today; Tokyo 2020 left little impression?

Sweden's Mondo Duplantis saluted by an adoring crowd in Stockholm after a world outdoor best of 20-2 1/2 in the pole vault on Thursday (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. All Mondo, all the time at Diamond League Stockholm: 20-2 1/2!
2. Tour de France starts in Copenhagen (!) Friday
3. Japan: 40% say Olympics left little impression
4. Weightlifting stunner: Urso elected Secretary General
5. USA Gymnastics bankruptcy lawyers getting paid

A special day in Stockholm as home favorite – and now Swedish resident – Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.16 m (20-2 1/2), the highest outdoor vault of all time. The 109th Tour de France starts Friday, with two Slovenian stars as favorites, defending champ Tadej Pogacar and three-time Tour of Spain winner Primoz Roglic. A Japanese government survey last November showed a plurality of responded found the Tokyo Games didn’t impress them much. The initially “elected” Secretary General of the International Weightlifting Federation lost by one vote in a re-run of the election today. And the lawyers in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case have had almost $18 million in fees approved.

1.
All Mondo, all the time at Diamond League Stockholm: 20-2 1/2!

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis thrilled the crowd at the Diamond League Bauhaus Galan at Stockholm Stadium with the greatest outdoor vault in history with second-try clearance at 6.16 m (20-2 1/2).

Duplantis had company early on, with Tokyo Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen (USA) and Rio gold medalist Thiago Braz (BRA) both over 5.93 m (19-5 1/2). Duplantis easily cleared 6.03 m (19-9 1/4) – the outdoor world leader – while Nilsen and Braz missed.

So the bar went to 6.16 m, and on his second try, Duplantis had great speed to the box and projected himself to a staggering 10-12 inches over the bar with his hips and while touching it on the way down, left no doubt of the clearance. It’s the equal-fifth vault of all-time, with Duplantis owning four higher indoor clearances and France’s Renaud Lavillenie having cleared 6.16 m indoors in 2014. Said Duplantis:

“I wanted to come here today and try to do something special. I felt I was in shape and that I have a great support here in Stockholm, where I live now, so that means so extra more. I had a huge advantage of competing on my home turf. It is hard to describe it really. You kind of black out out there. I just remember I was trying to focus really hard to not hit the bar. And once when I did, I was over the bar and then I just started to run like an idiot. …

“I feel like I am definitely in shape to win my title and maybe to do something special in Eugene.”

There were two other world-leading performances, especially Tokyo 400 m hurdles bronze medalist Alison dos Santos (BRA), who stormed to a 46.80 win, the no. 6 performance in history and just 0.06 short of his Olympic bronze performance.

In the men’s 3,000 m, South Sudan’s Dominic Lobalu (on the Athletics Refugee Team) charged past a stumbling Jacob Kiplimo (KEN) to win in a world-leading 7:29.48, to 7:29.55.

In addition to Duplantis, there were five other world leaders in action, with two winning:

● American Chase Ealey, the world leader in the women’s shot, won with the no. 2 throw of the year at 20.48 m (67-2 1/4) in the final round. She had already thrown 20.30 m (66-7 1/4) in round two.

● World leader Anderson Peters (GRN) is showing no let-up in the men’s javelin, winning with the no. 3 throw of the year, 90.31 m (296-3), with Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra (IND) getting a national record at 89.94 m (295-1) in second.

● In the men’s discus, Olympic champ and world leader Daniel Stahl (SWE) gave way to Slovenian rival Kristjian Ceh, who grabbed the win at 70.02 m (229-9) in the fifth round. Ceh took over from 19-year-old Mykolas Alekna (LTU), the NCAA runner-up for Cal and son of 2000-04 Olympic discus winner Virgilijus Alekna. His first throw was his fifth lifetime best of the season at 69.81 m (299-0). Stahl finished third at 67.57 m (221-8).

● Ukraine’s women’s high jump world leader Yaroslava Mahuchikh finished fifth, with Australia’s emerging star Eleanor Patterson winning at 1.96 m (6-5).

● Long jump world leader Malaika Mihambo was only fifth, with Britain’s Lorraine Ugen getting a seasonal best of 6.81 m (22-4) in the fifth round to win.

The men’s 100 m was supposed to feature Tokyo Olympic winner Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA), but coach Paolo Camossi said “The situation is under control. He has a little pain in his glute muscle. It would have been too risky to run today.” So, South Africa’s Akani Simbine won in 10.02 (wind: -0.5 m/s). Algeria’s Slimane Moula had all the speed down the straight to win the 800 m in 1:44.60.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith held off Swiss Mujinga Kambundji, with both at 22.37 (-0.1). In a match-up of the no. 3 and no. 4 women’s 800 m runners this season, Kenya’s Mary Moraa beat Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, 1:57.68 to 1:58.18, both close to their seasonal bests. Daisy Jepkemei (KAZ) won the women’s Steeple in 9:15.77.

Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) came on late to pass Tobi Amusan (NGR) in the women’s 100 m hurdles, 12.46-12.50 (-0.5), with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali (USA: 12.53) third. The Tokyo 400 m hurdles bronze medalist, Femke Bol (NED), tightened her grip on the no. 2 spot on the 2022 world list with a 52.27 win.

In the non-Diamond League men’s long jump, Greece’s Olympic gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou won at 8.31 m (27-3 1/4). The Diamond League will resume after the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

2.
Tour de France starts in Copenhagen (!) Friday

The world’s most important bicycle race, the 109th Tour de France, starts with an individual time trial in Copenhagen on Friday and continues through 21 stages to the finish in Paris on 24 July. The “Grand Departe” this year is from Denmark for the first three stages before racing in France.

The favorite is two-time defending champion, 23-year-old Tadej Pogacar (SLO), along with countryman and three-time Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard was the 2021 runner-up and was a solid second in this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico in March and June’s Criterium du Dauphine. Also not to be underestimated: Britain’s Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner and the winner of the just-completed Tour de Suisse.

It’s a big production:

● 176 riders (22 teams of 8) and 450 team support staff
● 3,349.8 km (2,081.5 miles) across 21 stages to 39 towns
● 2 time trials, 6 flat stages, 7 hilly stages and 6 mountain stages
● 4 mountain ranges: Vosges, Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees
● 28,000 police and firefighters deployed across the entire Tour
● 11 doctors, six nurses and seven ambulances
● 52 sponsors, suppliers, supporters and technical partners

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) issued a statement on its program against “technological fraud” at the Tour:

“Controls for the presence of any possible propulsion and energy accumulation systems hidden in tubes and other bike components will be carried out with the use of three tools: magnetic tablets, mobile X-Ray cabinet and portable devices using backscatter and transmission technologies.

“Before each of the 21 stages, a UCI Technical Commissaire will be at the team buses to check all bikes being ridden at the start of that day’s stage.” Post-stage tests will be carried out on the stage winner, all of the category leaders, 3-4 riders randomly selected and “riders who give rise to suspicion, for example following the pre-stage scan, an abnormally high number of bike changes (in which case the bikes on the team car can also be checked) or other incidents picked up by the UCI Video Commissaire.”

NBC will have coverage in the U.S., mostly on USA Network, with Phil Liggett covering his 50th Tour overall and 45th on television.

With curious timing, the top UCI Women’s World Tour race, the 33rd Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile – known as the “Giro Donne” – started on Thursday with its Prologue stage, won by American Kristen Faulkner. The 10-stage race started in Cagliari and will finish on Padua on 10 July. Dutch riders have won nine of the last 11 times, with 2018-19 winner Annemiek van Vleuten the favorite for 2022, along with Italian star Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman (RSA), Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and Demi Vollering (NED). Stages 6-7-8 are all challenging climbing stages that will likely determine the winner.

3.
Japan: 40% say Olympics left little impression

Kyodo News reported on a post-Olympic, 4,000-person survey in Tokyo and northern Japan that indicated the 2021 Olympic Games made little impression on the public.

The Japan Reconstruction Agency made a survey last November of 1,000 people each from Tokyo and three northern prefectures – Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima – with the results tucked into an appendix of a larger government report on the Games.

One question asked if respondents were “grateful for the reconstruction support, or believed the Olympics sent a message to the world that reconstruction is taking place.” Per Kyodo:

“Only 29.8 percent of the 4,000 people in the survey answered that question by saying either ‘I really think so’ or ‘I think so.’ A total of 38.8 percent answered ‘I don’t think it did much’ or ‘I don’t think so.’”

“Asked their opinion about the best thing from the Olympics, 20.7 percent said, ‘events held in the disaster-hit region,’ while 11.1 percent answered, ‘the torch relay.’ Nearly 40 percent, 39.6 percent, answered ‘nothing in particular.’”

Ouch.

4.
Weightlifting stunner: Urso elected Secretary General

The International Weightlifting Federation’s Electoral Commission improperly declared Peru’s Jose Quinones the winner of the ballot for Secretary General – essentially the federation’s chief executive – last weekend.

Instead of an absolute majority as required, Quinones was “elected” with 68 votes against 60 for Italy’s Antonio Urso and 16 for Iran’s Ali Moradi. Quinones identified the error and an online re-vote on Thursday saw Urso win by 64-63.

Both Quinones and Urso have ties to the IWF during its period of turmoil, as Quinones was an Executive Board member from 203-122 and Urso was a member of the Executive Board from 2008-20.

Observed: Urso’s election could be important for the IWF in that the International Olympic Committee may be more comfortable with him as Secretary General than the controversial Quinones, who has been subject to scrutiny in Peru. But both have been members of the IWF Executive Board while it skidded out of control under former President Tamas Ajan (HUN).

Weightlifting as a sport is not currently on the program for Los Angeles 2028 and whether it is added back will depend in large part on the IOC’s confidence in the IWF going forward. The top two officials in the IWF are now the former Secretary General (2017-22) and a former 12-year Executive Board member. On the surface, not promising.

5.
USA Gymnastics bankruptcy lawyers getting paid

The hundreds of abuse claimants in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case are being processed on the way to receiving $339.5 million in settlement funds from nine groups of insurers. In the meantime, the lawyers are getting paid.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has now approved fee applications from:

Counsel for USA Gymnastics:
● $8,577,884 to Jenner & Block, the lead firm
● $3,472,427 to Plews Shadley Racher & Braun, LLP
● $2,466,911 to Miller Johnson Attorneys
● $452,887 to Rubin & Levin, P.C.

Counsel for the Additional Tort Claimants Committee of Sexual Abuse Survivors:
● $2,993,808 to Pachulski, Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP

That’s a total of $17,963,917 in fees – there were also more than $100,000 in expenses – with $14,970,109 (83%) going to the USA Gymnastics lawyers and the $2.99 million to the counsel for the survivors. No announcement yet on when the payments will be made to the survivors; the specific amounts are being evaluated according to a questionnaire provided to each claimant.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Aquatics ● At the 2022 FINA World Championships, China continued its perfect run in diving, now 9-for-9, with Zongyuan Wang taking his second gold, this time in the 1 m Springboard, over Jack Laugher (GBR). Yuxi Chen and Hongchan Quan won the Women’s Synchro 10m, with Chen getting her second gold. One of the world’s most grueling events is the open-water 25 km Worlds, with Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha winning in 5:24:15.0 (that’s hours, minutes and seconds), out-touching Lea Boy (GER) by 0.2 and Rio 2016 Olympic 10 km champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) by 0.3! It’s Cunha’s fifth Worlds 25 m gold. Italy’s Dario Verani won the men’s 25 km in 5:02:21.5 to 5:02:22.7 for France’s Axel Raymond. In the women’s water polo semis, the U.S. juggernaut continued with a 14-6 semifinal win over Italy. Hungary edged the Netherlands, 13-12, and will meet the Americans for the gold medal on Saturday.

● Athletics ● Blessing Okagbare (NGR), the 2008 Olympic long jump silver medalist and the 2013 Worlds 200 m bronze winner, was suspended for doping violations for 10 years back in February. But that’s not all. The Athletics Integrity Unit has added a full year to her sanction for a new violations for evading sample collection and tampering with the doping control process. And because she competed in a national-team relay six days after skipping sample collection, Nigeria’s qualifying mark for the women’s 4×100 m for the 2022 World Championships was annulled.

● Biathlon ● The International Biathlon Union announced its candidate list for September’s Congress, with President Ollie Dahlin (SWE) running unopposed, as is Vice President Jiri Hamza (CZE). The highly-respected USA Biathlon President and Chief Executive Max Cobb is one of three candidates for Treasurer; if unsuccessful, he will then be a candidate for the IBU Executive Board.

● Fencing ● Russian athletes will miss the 2022 FIE World Championships in Cairo in July after a Swiss court postponed a trial between the Russian Fencing Federation and the International Fencing Federation (FIE) until September. This is one of 21 appeals made by Russian federations contesting competition bans, all as yet unsuccessful.

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TSX REPORT: FIS says “No understanding” of IOC decision on Nordic Combined; sanctions for insults to Chinese sports; indoor archery for 2028?

It's the Year of the Tiger and the Chinese National People's Congress will brook no insults to Chinese sports!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. China passes law allowing sanctions against perceived insults in sports
2. “We have absolutely no understanding of today’s decision by the IOC.”
3. Archery makes smart ask for Compound for LA28
4. Weightlifting requires a re-do on Secretary-General election?
5. Pole vault record watch for Duplantis in Stockholm?

Stuff is happening in China, as a new law was passed to provide for sanctions in case any outsider undermines its “dignity” in sport; there are long-arm implications to this. Shock from the International Ski Federation on Nordic Combined being placed on a death watch for the post-2026 Winter Games. World Archery, alternatively, is making an attractive proposal to expand its program for LA28. The Stockholm Diamond League will feature vault world-record holder Mondo Duplantis today, and U.S. volleyball star Jordyn Poulter got her stolen gold medal back.

1.
China passes law allowing sanctions
against perceived insults in sports

China’s brutal zero-Covid strategy may be spreading to sports via a new law adopted last Friday by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The measure, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, allows “the country to take countermeasures to actions deemed to have undermined its dignity and interests in international sports events.”

What those actions might be are undefined, but apply “if any country, region or organization undermines the nation’s sovereignty, security, development interests or dignity in international sports events.” The new statute will become action on 1 January 2023.

Observed: This is an ominous development, with obvious parallels to the reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beyond any application to a potential invasion of Taiwan (Chinese Taipei in Olympic-speak), watch for new, coordinated action with other so-called “BRICS” countries – Brazil [Russia], India, China and South Africa – which have refrained from criticizing the Russian aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the online BRICS summit last week, and the Summit Declaration noted:

“We commend the progress in sports exchanges and the role it plays in the development of our athletes in a fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory fashion. We look forward to the successful holding of BRICS Sports Ministers Meeting in 2022.”

All part of a possible future alternate world order in sports? Yes, and bears close watching.

2.
“We have absolutely no understanding
of today’s decision by the IOC.”

The IOC’s knife is sharpening. One of the glaring issues for the International Olympic Committee in its drive for gender equity at the Olympic Winter Games has been the lack of a women’s division for the Nordic Combined. The combination of ski jumping and cross country has been part of the Winter Games program for men since the beginning, in 1924. But only for men.

The Federation Internationale de Ski got the message and introduced Nordic Combined for women, with the first World Championship in 2021. The federation expected that women’s Nordic Combined would be included in the 2026 Winter Games program for Milan Cortina.

Instead, the IOC Executive Board slapped the discipline in the face last Friday, not only passing on adding women, but challenging the place of Nordic Combined on the program altogether:

“The EB also discussed the status and challenges of Nordic Combined with regard to international representation, particularly outside Europe, at the last three editions of the Olympic Winter Games. This is demonstrated by the fact that, at the last three editions, the 27 medals available in Nordic Combined were won by athletes from only four NOCs. In addition, Nordic Combined had by far the lowest audience numbers during those Games.

“The decisive argument for keeping Nordic Combined on the Olympic programme for Milano Cortina 2026 was the situation of the male athletes, for whom the Olympic Games are only three-and-a-half years away and who have already been preparing for these Games for many years. This is not applicable for the women’s category as they have had only one World Championship to date, with the participation of athletes from only 10 National Federations. The inclusion of Nordic Combined in the Olympic Winter Games 2030 depends on a significant positive development, particularly with regard to participation and audience.”

In other words, if only a few countries compete and win medals, and no one watches, who cares?

The FIS responded with shock. Said Lasse Ottesen (NOR), the Race Director for Nordic Combined:

“It’s a sad day for Nordic Combined and the entire Nordic family. We have absolutely no understanding of today’s decision by the IOC.

“The development of the Nordic Combined women in recent years has been more than impressive, so that the next logical step would have been their participation in the OWG. The Executive Board’s lack of confidence in the further development of our discipline and the visible misjudgment of the achievements of our women is shocking. Especially since they are already part of the Olympic family through their participation in the Youth Olympic Games. We accept the decision with a heavy heart, but we are not giving up. FIS will now sit down together with the National Ski Associations to create a concept to convince the IOC of the value and attractiveness of our discipline.”

Observed: Although the FIS has serious work to do, the IOC is sending a very clear message to all federations: if no one cares about your sport – as reflected in the number of countries competing and winning medals, and the Olympic viewing audience – we don’t need you.

This is the message that was given to modern pentathlon: make your sport more relevant; it was dropped from the initial program list for the 2028 Games. Nordic Combined would have been dropped if this was 2021 and not 2022. Who else is on this list?

For the purposes of distributing shares of Olympic TV revenue, there are five tiers of international federations. Modern pentathlon is in the fifth tier, along with golf and tennis, which came back to the Games only in 2016. But on the fourth tier are Canoeing, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Taekwondo, Triathlon and Wrestling. Are any of these in danger?

3.
Archery makes smart ask for Compound for LA28

Over the last 30 years, one of the best-managed sports at the international level in archery. Once a sleepy sport which saw thousands of arrows shot without any discernible winner until all of the scores were tallied, it was changed under the stewardship of federation chief Jim Easton (USA) in the 1990s into a dramatic elimination-format event, with each match lasting a half-hour or less.

Building on this success, which saw archery move from the fourth tier in revenue distribution to the third, World Archery is proposing to add Compound Archery to the Los Angeles program for 2028.

Compound bows are complex instruments which use pulleys, cables and scopes and which demand different skills than those for the current (Recurve) format. But even more striking is the format being requested.

Instead of more days of shooting 70 m outdoor archery – as with Recurve – World Archery is proposing three days of indoor archery (!) at 18 m (59 feet), with a men’s, women’s and mixed team event.

This is already a wildly popular format in the U.S., notably at the annual Vegas Shoot, which drew 3,816 archers and 6,000 spectators in 2020 to the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The only facility requirements are a convention hall, and the L.A. area has plenty of those.

Inexpensive to stage. Easy to televise. Already popular, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Dramatic, elimination format. These are ingredients for a successful candidature for adding to the Olympic program in 2028. Compound may not make it, but the idea is well thought out.

4.
Weightlifting requires a re-do
on Secretary-General election?

You can’t make this up. The International Weightlifting Federation, already on the verge of being eliminated from the 2028 Olympic Games thanks to issues of doping, governance and mismanagement, elected new officers at a special Congress on 25-26 June.

But the winner of the Secretary General position, Peru’s Jose Quinones – who has been part of the IWF Executive Board for the past 10 years, while all of the shenanigans went on – pointed out that proper election procedures were not followed.

Instead of having the required majority vote for the position, the election was “decided” at 68-60-16 against Antonio Urso (ITA) and Ali Moradi (IRI). So the IWF announced:

“In the calculation of the final decision, it was found that the Electoral Commission inadvertently and by human error miscalculated the percentage required for an outright win.

“For complete transparency and to ensure the IWF Constitution is followed it has been determined by the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Manager to hold the second round of vote (online) between the top two candidates [Quinones and Urso] to determine the winner of the above mentioned position. As stipulated in the IWF Constitution, all formalities must be completed within 14 days of the Electoral Congress. Therefore, this second round of voting will take place online on Thursday 30 June 2022.”

Hardly a reassuring development for the IOC when considering whether to keep weightlifting on the program for 2028.

5.
Pole vault record watch for Duplantis in Stockholm?

Any time Mondo Duplantis, owner of the four highest vaults in history, is entered in a meet, he’s on world-record watch. But especially so in his “home stadium” in Stockholm (SWE), for the Wanda Diamond League Bauhaus Galan meet on Thursday.

The weather may not cooperate: 75 F temperatures are predicted, but with a 70% chance of rain. But he jumps well at the famed Olympic Stadium: his last three meets there have been victories at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4) in 2019, 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) in 2020 and 6.02 m (19-9) in 2021.

The meet also features home favorite and Olympic champ Daniel Stahl of Sweden in the discus. He’s the world leader with a mighty throw of 71.47 m (234-5) on 21 June, the no. 10 throw this century!

Also featured is Tokyo Olympic men’s 100 m champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA), returning from injury and world leaders in the men’s Javelin, Anderson Peters (GRN), and women’s world leaders Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR: high jump), Malaika Mihambo (GER: long jump) and American Chase Ealey (shot put).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Court of Arbitration for Sport ● Here’s something you don’t hear often: the new Court offices in Lausanne was completed under budget! The CHF 37.2 million project took three years to complete and came in more than 11% under the CHF 42.0 million allocation. The new facility will allow for more hearings to take place concurrently; about 250 hearings are now held annually.

● World University Games ● The 2021 World University Games in Chengdu (CHN) was postponed due to Covid-19, but will now be held from 28 July to 8 August 2023. Maybe. The International University Sports Federation will decide whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete in FISU events in 2023 in October.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Four annual awards were announced during the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly in Colorado Springs last week. The Rings of Gold awards for individuals was co-awarded to 1984 Olympic swimming triple gold medalist Rowdy Gaines and Paralympian Melissa Stockwell, the Rio 2016 Paratriathlon bronze medalist. The Rings of Gold award for a program honored Ready, Set, Gold!, the Los Angeles-based program which brings Olympians into schools to improve student attitudes and wellness, a legacy of the Los Angeles bid to be the U.S. candidate city for the 2016 Games. The Jack Kelly Fair Play Award went to speedskating star Brittany Bowe and the Olympic & Paralympic Torch Award to four-time canoeing Olympian Andy Toro.

● Aquatics ● At the FINA World Championships in Budapest, the Artistic Swimming program concluded with China winning four events, Italy two, Japan’s Yukiko Inui taking both the Solo Technical and Solo Free golds. The powerful Ukrainian team won two events and won five more silver medals. U.S. performer Anita Alvarez, who was pulled from the water at the end of her Solo Free final routine on the 22nd after fainting, skipped the rest of the program to recover. In diving, China is now 7-for-7 after winning the women’s 1 m Springboard (Yajie Li), the men’s 3 m Springboard (Zongyuan Wang) and the men’s 3 m and 10 m Synchro and Mixed 3 m and Team golds. American Sarah Bacon won a silver in the women’s 1 m Springboard. Open-water superstars Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) and Rio 2016 champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) won the 10 km finals (American Katie Grimes was fifth). In water polo, Italy, Greece, Spain and Croatia advanced to the men’s semifinals, while the three-time defending World Champion U.S. women’s team advanced to the semis to face Italy, with Hungary and the Netherlands in the other semi. The championships will conclude this weekend.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team scored a dull, 2-0 victory over Colombia Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah that was extended by a 48-minute lightning delay in the 75th minute. The only goal of the first half came when Sofia Huerta sent a shot from the right side that caromed off the face of Colombian defender Manuela Vanegas for an own goal in the 22nd minute. After the delay, U.S. defender Kelley O’Hara capitalized on a failed clearance and sent a seeing-eye shot across the goal and into the net in the 77th.

● Volleyball ● Good news for Jordyn Paulter of the U.S. women’s volleyball gold medalists from Tokyo, as her stolen gold medal was found. Anaheim police reported that medal was found in a bag thrown away outside a local barbershop, and delivered to the police. A suspect was already in custody and is being charged with residential burglary, vehicle burglary, identity theft and possession of narcotics.

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LANE ONE: Does terrible USATF Nationals attendance mean Eugene is no longer TrackTown USA?

The competition on the track was hot at the 2022 USATF Nationals at Hayward Field, but not many spectators were there to see it. (TSX photo)

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“Can one desire too much of a good thing?”

The answer to William Shakespeare’s question from As You Like It, around 1600, is yes. It applies more than 400 years later to last week’s USA Track & Field National Championships at the new Hayward Field.

With the World Athletics Championships coming to Hayward Field in a couple of weeks, Eugene – population 179,887, ranked 146th in the U.S. – is nearing the end of an unprecedented series of high-level track & field meets all held in one place:

● May: Pacific-12 Conference Championships
● May: Wanda Diamond League Nike Prefontaine Classic
● June: NCAA Track & Field Championships
● June: Nike Outdoor (High School) Nationals
● June: USA Track & Field Senior & Junior Nationals
● July: World Athletics Championships

So far, not one of them has filled the magnificent new facility. In fact, the decline in attendance has been widely noticed by the track & field cognoscenti, but the USATF meet was especially glaring.

The Pre Classic, which has dependably drawn crowds of more than 12,000, hosted 6,447 this year. The NCAA meet, in which the Oregon team has been a consistent feature, drew 8,466-8,451-9,258-9,162 for a total of 35,337 or an average of 8,834.

The official ticket sales figures announced by USA Track & Field:

● 23 June: 2,751
● 24 June: 3,314
● 25 June: 3,664
● 26 June: 3,577

That’s 13,306 or an average of 3,327 per day. And it didn’t look even that full. The last USATF Nationals held in Eugene – at the old Hayward Field in 2015 – drew 38,795 over four days, or 9,699 average per day. The 2016 Olympic Trials at Hayward averaged (!) attendance of 22,122 over eight days.

Wrote David Woods – who has followed the sport for more than 50 years – in the Indianapolis Star:

“Clearly, there is track fatigue in TrackTown because attendance over four days totaled 13,306, as announced by USA Track & Field. It was the lowest ever for a meet that was a world trials, according to official figures.

“Let’s face it: Indianapolis would do better, as long as IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium track were resurfaced. But there has not been a major meet here since the 2007 nationals, and USA Track & Field has taken no action to bring one to its home city.

“Maybe having the World Championships in Eugene, and the extensive NBC coverage, will expand the sport’s niche. More likely, it will not.

“That’s not on the athletes. Never have they been better.”

Tweeted Tokyo Olympic women’s shot put silver medalist Raven Saunders:

Seriously though we had more fans in Tokyo and we weren’t even allowed to have fans !!! Thankful to everyone who did shore up (sic) and show love – we appreciate you guys still”

And it was too much to ask of Eugene fans, given the size of the market, to support all of these meets. Too much of a good thing, and they were taken for granted.

The Pac-12 meet will move on, and while the Pre Classic will return in 2023, the NCAA meet will go to Austin, Texas for a year before coming back for three straight years from 2024-26. The World Athletics Championships will go back to Europe, in a new facility being completed in Budapest, Hungary. No announcement on where the 2023 USATF Nationals will go yet; since 2008, it has only been held in three places: Des Moines (four times), Eugene (eight times) and Sacramento (twice).

Expect strong attendance at the World Championships, with added seating that will expand the Hayward Field capacity to about 17,000. The tickets are fairly expensive, and there is little doubt that Eugene fans voted with their wallets to see the first-ever Worlds in the U.S. vs. competing meets which come to their city all the time.

The question is really not whether Eugene is no longer “TrackTown USA,” but even worse. It’s whether there is any U.S. city which can any longer be called the sport’s hotbed in 2022.

While the stands at Hayward Field were mostly empty, television viewership for the USA Track & Field Nationals was up a little from recent NBC broadcasts of U.S. invitationals. The four hours of the USATF meet available on network and cable drew:

● Jun 24 (Fri.): 214,000 viewers on CNBC
● Jun 25 (Sat.): 1,050,000 on NBC
● Jun 26 (Sun.): 1,052,000 on NBC
● Jun 26 (Sun.): 208,000 on USA Network

Sunday’s USA Network hour turned out to be a delayed broadcast of the distance events moved to the morning due to high temperatures in Eugene. The two broadcasts on NBC were up slightly from the audience of NBC-telecast meets from the prior month:

● May 28 (Sat.): 977,000 for Prefontaine Classic on NBC
● Jun. 12 (Sun.): 835,000 for NYC Grand Prix on NBC

The USATF meet was far behind the PGA Tour Travelers Championship on CBS for both Saturday (1.95 million viewers) and Sunday (2.59 million). But the USATF meet did out-draw ABC’s MLS soccer matches on Saturday (427,000 for Seattle-Kansas City) and Sunday (460,000 for LAFC-New York).

In comparison to the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials held exactly a year earlier, and also at Hayward Field, the 2022 Nationals did poorly, down 67% from 2021 The eight hours of Trials coverage on NBC averaged 3.18 million viewers, more than triple the 2022 network audience.

Cable audiences for track continued to be dismal, with 214,000 on CNBC on Friday and 208,000 on USA Network, but in line with the NCAA Championships on ESPN’s networks two weeks earlier. The NCAA first-day program (8 June) drew 187,000 viewers on ESPN2; the Friday men’s finals had 263,000 on ESPN2 and Saturday’s women’s finals were better, with 603,000 on ESPN.

In comparison to the 2021 Olympic Trials, the 2022 USATF Nationals audience on cable was down by 63%, averaging 211,000 viewers vs. 573,500 on NBCSN in 2021.

None of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League meets, excepting the Pre Classic, have drawn even 200,000 U.S. viewers so far. As Woods noted, the year on the track and on the infield has been stellar, fabulous and inspirational. But not in the stands, or on television, at least so far.

The 2022 World Athletics Championships start on 15 July.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton means appointment viewing on 21 July; Griner on trial Friday; Ninja Warrior an Olympic event?

Noah Lyles setting the record straight on Twitter on what happened in the last 5 m of the USATF men's 200 m final.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton made an electric men’s 200 m final epic
2. Jamaica strikes back as Jackson steals women’s 200 m lead from Steiner
3. Brittney Griner trial set for Friday, but with detention extended again
4. Not sitting still, Russia now supports India’s ambitions for 2036 Games
5. Is Modern Pentathlon bringing the Ninja Warrior show to the Games?

The just-completed USA Track & Field nationals selected a brilliant U.S. team for the upcoming World Championships in Eugene in July, but now the men’s and women’s 200 m races have been elevated to must-see status. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner will be in court on Friday, but her outlook is not good. Russia’s athletes may be mostly banned, but its sports diplomats are now stirring the pot for the 2036 Games. And modern pentathlon is trying out a Ninja Warrior set as a possible new discipline. This is progress?

1.
Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton
made an electric men’s 200 m final epic

Sunday’s men’s 200 m USATF Nationals final that saw World Champion Noah Lyles come from well behind to overtake teen superstar Erriyon Knighton, 19.67-19.69, is now much more than a race for the ages.

It’s getting personal. Will it get crazy? Ugly? Happy?

The race itself was sensational. Knighton, 18, who emerged as an Olympic medal threat last year and finished fourth in Tokyo, came in as the world leader at 19.49, standing no. 4 in history. Lyles, 24, was coming back to his 2019 form when he ran 19.50, now no. 5.

The final started with Knighton destroying the field on the turn, taking a 3 m lead on Lyles going into the straightaway and looking like he was going to run away to his first national title. But Lyles got into an overdrive gear that he alone possesses today and ran Knighton down, actually turning to his left and wagging his finger as he passed him with 5 m to go, winning by 0.02.

While still panting, Lyles told NBC’s Lewis Johnson immediately afterwards:

“I do what it takes to win, and Erriyon got the best of me on the turn. I ain’t worried about that. I saw him reach his top speed , and mine’s faster. So I’m going to catch him and it’s going to take the whole rest of the 100. And that’s what I did.”

Knighton was having none of it, telling Johnson:

“I’m coming back [to the World Championships] to win. The job’s not finished. It’s never finished.”

And he walked away. Knighton is quiet and reserved, exactly the opposite of the gregarious Lyles, who expounded on the race in the mixed zone:

Erriyon is an amazing competitor, I know he’s a little bit disappointed. I think he’s now getting that feel of what it is to have a target on your back, but to be honest, he’ll be fine.

“I know he’s going to come to Worlds and he’s going to bring it. I expect him to PR and I expect myself to PR as well.”

Now we’re creeping up on Michael Johnson’s 26-year-old American Record of 19.32 from the Atlanta Games and Jamaican icon Usain Bolt’s unapproachable (?) world record of 19.19 from the 2009 Worlds in Berlin. Rivalries make races and can push great athletes into history.

Lyles was asked if Knighton might have thought the finger-wagging was directed at him – and why wouldn’t he? – but said:

He might have and I will definitely talk to him after this and let him know that it wasn’t, because I don’t need him to feel like that. That’s not how he should feel. It wasn’t for him. We are teammates. He’s an amazing guy.”

Lyles followed up with a tweet later in the day, picturing the finish:

“This point wasn’t for @ErriyonK

“It was for everyone who keeps counting me out just because a new player has entered the ring. Erriyon is an incredible talent and he has proven that. But that don’t mean I’m just going to lay down and die! Now let’s go sweep @WCHoregon22″

The U.S. has more medal contenders as well, with Fred Kerley third (19.83), Tokyo silver medalist Kenny Bednarek fourth (19.87), and there are other contenders such as Luxolo Adams (RSA: 19.82), NCAA champ Joe Fahnbulleh (LBR: 19.83) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards (19.83).

But now the Worlds has a signature, mano-a-mano match-up between the World Champion and the kid. Mark down the day and time for the Worlds men’s 200 m final: Thursday, 21 July at 7:50 in the evening, Oregon time.

This is why track & field will always have a future.

2.
Jamaica strikes back as
Jackson steals women’s 200 m lead from Steiner

One of the feel-good stories of the USATF Nationals was the women’s 200 m victory by 22-year-old Kentucky star Abby Steiner, who equaled her own world lead of 21.80 in winning the semifinals and then bettered it with a 21.77 win in the final

That moved her to no. 17 all-time, but her status as world leader didn’t last the day.

The Jamaican Championships in Kingston followed in the evening and the surprise winner of the women’s 100 m, Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson, blasted a brilliant field that included two-time Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah, winning in 21.55, the no. 3 performance in history:

● 21.49, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), 1988
● 21.53, Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), 2021
21.55, Shericka Jackson (JAM), 2022
● 21.56, Griffith-Joyner, 1988
● 21.61, Gabby Thomas (USA), 2021

Jackson had previously run 21.81, so the time was a shock, in addition to pulverizing Thompson-Herah (22.05) and two-time Olympic 100 m winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.14). And Jackson, 27, had already won the 100 m final in 10.77, with Thompson-Herah third (10.89) after a lengthy delay.

Jackson, Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah will be favored to sweep the women’s 100 m at the Worlds in Eugene, but the Shericka vs. Steiner story is suddenly another reason to mark 21 July on your calendar. The women’s 200 m final will go at 7:35 p.m., 15 minutes before the men.

3.
Brittney Griner trial set for Friday,
but with detention extended again

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in a Russian court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, with her trial set to begin on Friday, 1 July. The Russian news agency TASS reported:

The Khimki Court of the Moscow Region on Monday extended until December 20 the arrest of two-time Olympic basketball champion from the United States Brittney Griner, accused of drug smuggling,” which would be until 20 December.

The report further explained, “Greiner was arrested for trying to illegally import hash oil into the Russian Federation through Sheremetyevo Airport.”

Griner, 31, has been detained since 17 February and the U.S. government considers her unlawfully held. The Associated Press reported:

“Griner could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned.”

TASS said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, asked about Griner as a part of a prisoner swap with the U.S., indicated that any further actions will have to wait until the trial is concluded.

4.
Not sitting still, Russia now supports
India’s ambitions for 2036 Games

The Russian Sports Minister, Oleg Matytsin, is well versed in the Olympic Movement, having been the well-respected President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) prior to being called to head the ministry. He knows how to operate and despite the widespread ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, he is continuing to try to influence the future.

The latest move came in an interview with Russia’s RIA Sport, where he declared Russia’s willingness to help India with a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, a recognized desire of the Indian Olympic Association.

We are always open to interaction, and always ready to share our experience in organizing the Olympic Games. We have done it many times. If a decision was taken in this direction, Russian experts would be happy to help in the organization of the Olympic Games in India.”

India, to the irritation of the U.S. and NATO, has been mute on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, preferring to keep open ties with Moscow and increase its oil imports. And India – which has hosted the massive Asian Games twice but offered a very poorly-run Commonwealth Games in 2010 – will be front-and-center with the International Olympic Committee as host of its 140th Session in Mumbai on 30 May and 1 June 2023. Good timing.

Matytsin said that the IOC’s requested ban on events in Russia has removed 186 different competitions scheduled in 2022 and 2023 so far. But the Russian minister is already working on influencing a decision which will come in 2026 or much later.

5.
Is Modern Pentathlon bringing the
Ninja Warrior show to the Games?

From its development as a Greek religious festival in 776 B.C.E., the Olympic Games has always had an air of solemnity, even with the inclusion of events such as tug-of-war and, most recently, skateboarding.

So, how about taking Tokyo Broadcasting System’s SASUKE/Ninja Warrior production sets and placing them in the Olympic Games as the fifth discipline in the revised concept of the Modern Pentathlon for 2028?

That is exactly what’s happening in Ankara (TUR) on Monday and Tuesday, where the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne requested and TBS agreed “to provide a Ninja Warrior obstacle course for use as a demonstration of the event in Ankara. This obstacle course is currently used to film local versions of the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior format shown in France, Poland, and other European countries. The Wall Flip, Parallel Pipes, Wind Chimes and Tire Swing obstacles will be featured.”

“Ninja Competitions” is one of two obstacle programs being considered for the federation’s new fifth discipline, replacing riding, although being fought by many of the sport’s premier athletes.

TBS’s SASUKE/Ninja Warrior debuted in 1997 as a sports entertainment program, now seen in more than 160 countries and locally produced in more than 20 countries.

Observed: It’s hard to square a Ninja Warrior event with the Olympic Games in any case, and especially considering that it will be part of a sport that includes the classical disciplines of running, swimming, fencing and shooting. But it makes sense if the Olympics is no more than a television show now. Is it? Or is it something more?

It’s worth noting that Obstacle Racing isn’t even a part of the upcoming 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and that the international federation – known as World Obstacle (FISO) – is not an IOC-recognized federation (as is American Football, now provisionally recognized!).

What’s the UIPM’s other idea? Is it any more credible?

≡ CALENDAR ≡

The U.S. Women’s National Team takes on Colombia in the second of two friendly matches on Tuesday in Sandy, Utah, with kickoff at 7 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN … The 109th Tour de France begins Friday (1st) in Copenhagen (!) with coverage on NBC, USA Network and Peacock through the finish in Paris on 24 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

Aquatics: The pool is closed, but the FINA World Aquatics Championships roll on in Budapest. The Open Water events have started with Olympic 10 km champs Florian Wellbrock (GER) and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha – possibly the fittest person on the planet – winning the 5 km races on Sunday. It’s Cunha’s sixth Worlds open-water gold. China – to no one’s surprise – won the first two diving events, with 2019 World Champion Yuxi Chen repeating on the women’s 10 m Platform.

Archery: Americans Brady Ellison and teen Casey Kaufhold won the Recurve Mixed Team gold at the World Archery World Cup stage 3 in Paris, with Kaufhold winning her first-ever World Cup medal, a great sign for the future for the U.S.

Gymnastics: The USA Gymnastics Championships in acro, rhythmic and trampoline were held in Des Moines with Evita Griskenas winning the All-Around (1st title), Hoop and Clubs, Lili Mizuno taking Ribbon and Alexandria Kautzman winning on Ball. Sarah Webster and Ryan Maccagnan won the individual Trampoline titles.

Triathlon: The World Triathlon Series was in Montreal for the Sprint and Relay World Championships, with Britain sweeping the men’s and women’s Sprint titles (300 m swim, 7.2 km bike phase and 2 km run) with Tokyo silver medalists Alex Yee winning in 21:55 and Georgia Taylor-Brown winning the women’s race in 24:04.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. stars Benjamin, Steiner and Ealey shine at T&F nationals; French hurdler wins national title after beating beaten up!

The 2022 and 2023 World Athletics women's shot put champion, Chase Ealey of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World leads by Benjamin, Steiner, Ealey as hot USATF Champs closes
2. McDonald and Richardson won’t be at Worlds, for different reasons
3. French hurdler Happio beaten up, then wins 400H national title!
4. Ukraine boycotts as Russians win nine medals at Judo Grand Slam
5. Civil war inside Modern Pentathlon continues unabated

The U.S. track & field nationals concluded with brilliant performances at a hot Hayward Field in Oregon, with astonishing back stories from the performers. Things are not as happy elsewhere, with a track & field mugging in France, a Ukranian boycott in judo and the open civil war between the Modern Pentathlon federation and many of its star athletes.

1.
World leads by Benjamin, Steiner, Ealey
as fab USATF Champs closes

A forecast high of 93 degrees forced multiple schedule changes for the final day of the USATF National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, but the competition matched the thermometer.

The women’s shot featured world no. 2 Chase Ealey, who has impressively emerged as the favorite for the Worlds. And she confirmed her status, getting all of her second-round throw, reaching a world-leading 20.51 m (67-3 1/2), the no. 2 throw in U.S. history (and the ninth-best performer world-wide this century)! Ealey closed with an excellent toss of 20.19 m (66-3) just to alleviate any doubt.

Behind her, Tokyo Olympian Adelaide Aquilla got second at 19.45 m (63-9 3/4) and Jessica Woodard was third with a lifetime best of 19.40 m (63-7 3/4). Tokyo silver medalist Raven “Hulk” Saunders ended up fourth at 18.95 m (62-2 1/4).

The much-anticipated men’s 200 m final had World Champion Noah Lyles in lane five, but with teen sensation (and world leader) Erriyon Knighton a lane inside him. And Knighton was off like a shot at the gun, sweeping past Lyles on the turn and into the straight, looking very much like a runaway winner. But Lyles found a gear that perhaps no one else has right now and not only closed a meter gap, but passed Knighton with 3 m left and wagged his finger at the tape: 19.67 to 19.69 (wind: -0.3 m./s)! This was trash running at a Bolt-like level, with a rematch coming at the Worlds. Said Knighton afterwards, “I’m coming back to win. It’s never finished.”

Behind them was 100 m winner Fred Kerley, storming into third on the straight to finish in 19.83, ahead of Tokyo silver winner Kenny Bednarek (19.87) and Josephus Lyles (19.93). Noah Lyles, Knighton, Kerley and Bednarek will all move on to the Worlds.

The questions in the women’s 200 m were about world leader Abby Steiner (21.80) and Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas, who was way off form in the semifinals and started in lane two. But Oregon alum Jenna Prandini and Olympic Trials fourth-placer Tamara Clark ran best on the curve and were 1-2 coming into the straight. Steiner didn’t reach top gear until just 50 m was left, but she flew to the finish and was running away from everyone to cross in a world-leading 21.77 (-0.3), moving her to no. 17 all-time and equal-6th all-time U.S. Clark got a lifetime best of 21.92 in second, Prandini ran a season’s best 22.01 in third. Thomas, looking anguished down the straight, finished last in 22.47.

Tokyo silver medalist Rai Benjamin was expected to breeze to the men’s 400 m hurdles title and took the lead right away. But he eased through the middle of the race and it was emerging star Khallifah Rosser who actually had the lead off the final turn. But Benjamin’s superior speed brought him back to the lead and he won going away in 47.04, fastest in the world for 2022 and the no. 14 performance of all time. Behind him, Trevor Bassitt, the NCAA Division II winner for Ashland, zoomed home for second with a huge lifetime best of 47.47 (no. 11 all-time U.S.), with Rosser also getting into the 47s for the first time at 47.65. The U.S. now stands 1-3-4 in the world for 2022.

The men’s 110 m hurdles saw World Champion Grant Holloway (13.03) and NCAA champ Trey Cunningham (13.09) win the semis, but Holloway – with a direct entry into the Worlds – decided to skip the final. Off the gun, ex-Kentucky star Daniel Roberts had the best start and was clearly in front at halfway, when Cunningham started to move hard and close. Cunningham leaned early, but Roberts kept his form and finish strong through the line in 13.03 (+1.2), with Cunningham at 13.08. Allen, the world leader at 12.84, was in a battle with Jamal Britt for third and got it, as both were timed in 13.09. Upset? Sure, but the U.S. now stands 1-2-3-4 on the world list and all four will be back to Eugene in July.

The men’s 800 m final was a wide-open affair, with no American in the top 35 in the world for 2022. Front-running Brandon Miller, third at the NCAAs for Texas A&M, led Tokyo Olympian Bryce Hoppel through the bell and onto the backstraight. But Hoppel pushed hard going into the turn and had the lead, being chased by Jonah Koech of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Hoppel’s lead was small but steady and he crossed in a season’s best 1:44.60 (no. 18 for 2022) to Koech’s lifetime best of 1:44.74. Miller dove across the line to preserve third over Rio bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, 1:45.19-1:45.23.

The temperature on the track read 93 degrees for the women’s 800 m final, with hopes for an equally-hot time. Tokyo Olympic champion Athing Mu ran from the front, leading World Indoor Champion Ajee Wilson and Olivia Baker through 200 m, 400 m and onto the backstraight. But instead of running away, Mu was challenged hard by Wilson coming off the turn, with Raevyn Rogers making her patented late charge in lane two. Mu and Wilson were together with 50 m to go and Wilson even edged ahead, but Mu had a little more to give and got to the line first in 1:57.16, the no. 2 time in the world for 2022 (she’s the world leader), with Wilson at 1:57.23 (no. 3) and Rogers at 1:57.96 (no. 4). Allie Wilson ran 1:58.35, but only good enough for fourth.

The meet start was moved up to 10:30 a.m. with the women’s 5,000 m going off in 79 F temperatures, with 23 on the line. The 2022 U.S. Cross Country runner-up Weini Kelati and Karissa Schweizer — the 10,000 m national champ – running at the front of the pack on a slow pace, passing 3,000 m in 10:08.35. The running picked up with three laps to go as Schweizer threw in a lap in 67 to lead Elise Cranny and Kelati, with seven still close to the front. Schweizer ran 66.38 for the next lap, with Cranny and Emily Infeld closest and at the bell, it was those four running for the win. Schweizer, Cranny and Infeld sprinted away and then it was Cranny surging down the straight for the win in 15:49.15. Infeld, the 2015 Worlds 10,000 m bronze winner, passed Schweizer in the final 20 m, but Schweizer came back for second, 15:49.32-15:49.42, with Kelati fourth (15:52.57). Cranny and Schweizer repeated their 1-2 finish from the 2021 Olympic Trials.

The men’s 5,000 m also started modestly, with U.S. Steeple record holder Evan Jager and 10,000 m world leader Grant Fisher passing 3,000 m in 7:56.59. Jager dropped out with 3 1/2 laps to go – his Worlds spot already secured – and Fisher, Emmanuel Bor and Abdi Nur were rolling at the front with three laps to go. Fisher zoomed 59.71 and led with two laps to go, then breaking Nur and Bor in a three-man race. At the bell, Fisher had more than three seconds on Nur and was moving away, finishing with a meet record of 13:03.86. Tokyo Olympian Woody Kincaid put on an all-out sprint over the last 200 m to pass Nur for second in 13:06.70-13:08.63, with Connor Mantz passing Bor for fourth, 13:11.81-13:13.15. Fisher ran his last four laps in 4:03.11 to win his first national title; pretty good in 80-degree heat!

Women’s Steeple favorites Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs stayed near the front of the pack, running with BYU’s NCAA champ Courtney Wayment and former Furman All-American Gabbi Jennings. Coburn surged with a lap and a half to go and was unchallenged to the finish in 9:10.63, moving her to no. 8 on the world list. Wayment had the fastest final lap in the field and got second with a lifetime best of 9:12.10, with Frerichs third (9:16.18) and Jennings fourth (9:25.05). It’s Coburn’s 10th national title and she will be back to try for a third career Worlds medal next month.

On the infield, the men’s high jump was quickly down to two: Tokyo Olympians JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen. Harrison looked hampered in the long jump, but found his footing, taking the lead with a first-time clearance at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2). The bar went to 2.33 m (7-7 3/4), the Worlds qualifying standard and McEwen needed to clear it to make it back to Eugene in July. And he did make it on his second try and as Harrison did not, McEwen took his first national title.

The men’s triple jump saw the return of four-time World Champion Christian Taylor, but Donald Scott got out to 17.07 m (56-0) in the first round and no one could catch him and he took his third U.S. outdoor title. Two-time Olympic TJ medalist Will Claye reached 16.93 m (55-6 1/2), good enough for second and he’s on his way to the Worlds too. Taylor, as defending champion, has a direct entry to the Worlds and he came up with an encouraging 16.54 m (54-3 1/4) in the final round for fifth.

The men’s javelin was a final-round win for Virginia’s Ethan Dabbs – the NCAA runner-up – who reached 81.29 m (266-8) to win over Curtis Thompson (80.49 m/264-1).

The prelims are over; the first-ever World Athletics Championships will come to the U.S. next month, starting on 15 July, also at Hayward Field.

2.
McDonald and Richardson won’t be at Worlds,
for different reasons

There are hundreds of stories at the USATF Nationals, with different goals, hopes and dreams for different athletes, their coaches, families and friends. Even with the World Championships coming to the U.S. for the first time ever next month, not everyone was either excited or ready to accept a spot on the American team.

Little-known vaulter Alina McDonald, 24, eighth at the Olympic Trials in 2021, had the meet of her life and moved to 10th on the 2022 world list with her second-place finish at 4.65 m (15-3). Although short of the Worlds qualifying standard, her mark and world ranking would likely get her into the field. But she won’t be going.

She told Sarah Lorge Butler of Runner’s World that since the women’s vault final is scheduled for Sunday, 17 July, she will not participate:

“I won’t be going. I could request that they change it, but I won’t ask for something so large as switch the schedule for me. … I would love to go, it would be a dream come true, but I think it would only be fair to allow the fourth-place finisher – who could do prelims and then finals [on Sunday] – and actually compete in finals, it wouldn’t be right for me to go and then not jump in finals.

“It’s a religious belief and I plan to stick to it. I’m a Christian. I just remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. That’s my plan and I plan to stick to it.

Gabriela Leon finished fourth at 4.60 m (15-1), but also does not have the 4.70 m (15-5) standard, but fifth-placer Emily Grove does.

On the other extreme was sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who failed to get into the final of either the women’s 100 m or 200 m, but asked on Friday on Twitter after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was announced:

Why would I want to represent a country that has no respect for their women the only reason that all of them that make these ‘laws’ exist ?!!!”

In a completely different sphere was a little-noticed, but important gesture by USA Track & Field, which allowed two Ukrainian athletes to compete in the concurrently-held U.S. Junior Championships.

Valeria Sholommistska won the women’s 10 km Walk and Yuliia Petryk was sixth in the women’s 1,500 m, a welcome break from the conflict which has enveloped their homeland.

3.
French hurdler Happio beaten up, then wins 400H national title!

Even track & field isn’t safe. France’s Wilfried Happio was attacked during his warm-up for the 400 m hurdles final at the French national championships in Caen, being punched in the face before the attacker was finally stopped by police.

Happio, the 2017 European Junior Champion, was “coughing up blood,” but managed to finish his warm-up, improvised an eyepatch and a bandage around his head and won the final in a lifetime best of 48.57, his first time under 49 seconds! He qualified for the World Championships in Eugene in July.

The attacker, who actually asked Happio to confirm his identity before attacking him, was arrested. Happio was taken to a hospital for more attention after his win, but is expected to be fine. Wow.

4.
Ukraine boycotts as Russians win nine medals at Judo Grand Slam

The International Judo Federation is among the few federations which allow Russian athletes to compete as neutrals, as at its 30-nation Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam tournament in Mongolia over the weekend. The response was the withdrawal of the Ukrainian federation.

“Everybody who follows world sport in a small way understands that Russian athletes are a key part of this country’s aggressive propaganda politics,” wrote Ukrainian Judo Federation chief Mykhailo Koshliak in an open letter last week.

“Speaking of Russia and sport, it is by no means possible to say that ‘sport is out of politics.’ The silence of Russian and Belarusian athletes and coaches supports the war against Ukraine and kills thousands of Ukrainian citizens.”

The Russians did well, winning nine medals (5-2-2), the most of any entrant, ahead of seven (4-1-2) for Japan. Not sure that anyone but they were happy about it.

5.
Civil war inside Modern Pentathlon continues unabated

Following the Tokyo Olympic incident in which a horse refused to jump and was punched by a German coach, the sport of modern pentathlon has been in an uproar. And it’s getting worse.

The sport’s federation, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), determined that it was necessary to replace riding as part of the event after the Paris 2024 Games, insisting this was at the request of the International Olympic Committee. After a very showy set of meetings with a star-studded advisory board, it decided on Obstacle Course Racing in early May.

But many of the sport’s current and past stars are having none of it. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Joe Choong (GBR), Rio 2016 silver medalist Pavlo Tymoshchenko (UKR), Sydney 2000 bronze medalist Kate Allenby (GBR) and many others are pushing back – hard – against the removal of riding.

On Saturday, the PentUnited athlete group posted a four-page, 16-point program to reform the way riding is conducted within the modern pentathlon, essentially tying itself to the practices of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), which is well entrenched in the Olympic program. PentUnited contends that riding need not be replaced:

“IOC have never asked @WorldPentathlon to remove riding. Of course there are ways to reduce cost, complexity & participation of our equestrian discipline. Equestrian sports are safe in the O prog. It’s just UIPM EB who don’t want riding & that’s what they told IOC #savepentathlon”

For its part, Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) said at last week’s news conference that the IOC is monitoring the UIPM’s activities and waiting on a final presentation on its fifth discipline proposal, importantly including the voice of the athletes, and how the changes will more widely popularize athlete and viewer interest in this tiny sport. In the meantime, the sport is not on the Olympic program for Los Angeles 2028, and if no unity within the sport is forthcoming, it may well be on the outside looking in when the program is finalized next year.

Casual observers can well ask: is a sport that had just 72 athletes from 27 countries at the Tokyo Games really be worth this much fuss?

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TSX REPORT: McLaughlin streaks to 400H world record; U.S. sets medal record at FINA Worlds; did weightlifting just end its Olympic history?

Double Olympic gold medalist and world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin (USA) (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. McLaughlin’s world record highlights USATF Nationals in Oregon
2. Huge drama as U.S. sets medals record at swimming World Champs
3. Olympic sprint icon Thompson-Herah falls to third in Jamaican 100 m
4. Weightlifting federation elections may have ended its Olympic history
5. U.S. women’s footballers cruise past Colombia, 3-0, in friendly

The two sports which provide the U.S. with half or more of its medals at each Olympic Games are track & field and swimming. American domination was on full display on Saturday, at the U.S. nationals in track and the FINA World Championships in Hungary.

1.
McLaughlin’s world record highlights
USATF Nationals in Oregon

The final event of the third day of the USA Track & Field National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon was focused on one question.

What would Olympic 400 m hurdles champ – and world-record holder – Sydney McLaughlin do? Win easy or go for broke?

The answer came quickly, as she pressed from the start, making up the stagger on NCAA champ Britton Wilson just outside her and storming the turn. She was going to win, but how fast? She charged the straight and flew through the tape in a sensational world record – her third – of 51.41!

Wilson, who has a great future in this event, came off the turn in a fight for second and passed Anna Cockrell to finish with a huge lifetime best of 53.08 – no. 10 all-time U.S. – and no. 3 in the world for 2022. Cockrell, meanwhile, lost ground to veteran Shamier Little in the final 50 m and Little got third, 53.92 to 53.98, seasonal bests for both.

As was forecast from her high school days in New Jersey, McLaughlin is becoming the Edwin Moses of the 21st Century. She has won a modest five straight finals in 2021 and 2022, but with world records in three of her last four races. She owns four of the five fastest times in history and five of the top eight. McLaughlin is now one of the faces of this sport, with an unlimited future.

That was the final thrill on a busy Saturday on the track, with additional world-leading performances in the men’s 400 m and women’s 110 m hurdles.

World leader Michael Norman was the clear favorite in the men’s 400 m and he took off hard, moving up on the field through 200 m. On the turn, Norman took control, but was being harassed by Florida’s Champion Allison into the straight. Allison would not go away and chased Norman home to a world-leading 43.56, with Allison enjoying a massive lifetime best of 43.70 (old: 44.29) from the NCAA Championships. Two-time NCAA winner Randolph Ross clinched third in the final 40 m in 44.17 to 44.34 for Georgia’s Elija Godwin and 44.35 for Vernon Norwood.

The women’s 100 m hurdles started with the semis, with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali winning impressively in a season’s best of 12.49, ahead of find-of-the-year Alaysha Johnson (12.60). World-record holder Keni Harrison moved to equal-2nd on the 2022 world list at 12.40 in winning the second semi and setting up a hot final.

Ali withdrew, as she has a direct entry to the Worlds as reigning champion. Off the gun, it was former LSU star Tonea Marshall who got out best, but Harrison took over in mid-race and dueled with Johnson to the tape. Harrison leaned best to win in a world-leading 12.34, with Johnson claiming a lifetime best of 12.35 and moving to equal-6th all-time U.S. Current LSU star Alia Armstrong – the NCAA champion – leaned hard to edge Marshall, 12.47-12.55.

All eyes were on icon Allyson Felix in the women’s 400 m final and she was out like a shot in lane nine, right with the leaders at 200 m. But Tokyo 4×400 m gold medalist Lynna Irby came hard on the turn to take the lead, with Tokyo teammate Kendall Ellis coming up to challenge. But NCAA champ Talitha Diggs moved best in the middle of the track in the final 70 m to win in 50.22, to 50.35 for Ellis and Irby in third (50.67). Felix faded on the turn and finished sixth in 51.24 and should be on the Worlds team on the 4×400 m or mixed 4×400 m relay. She said she will have a final race in the Los Angeles area on 7 August to end her competitive career.

The women’s 1,500 m final started slowly, with Elle St. Pierre at 72.81 after 400 m and then St. Pierre wanted to get out of traffic and threw in a 63.95 lap to lead Karissa Schweizer after 800 m. But at the bell, it was Schweizer leading St. Pierre, Cory McGee and Sinclaire Johnson as those four opened a gap on the rest. St. Pierre had the lead with 300 m left, but Johnson poured on the gas on the backstraight, passed St. Pierre and McGee to take the lead into the straight and ran away to win in 4:03.29 to 4:04.52. St. Pierre fought off Schweizer for third, 4:05.14-4:05.40.

The men’s 1,500 m was up for grabs, with the famous names absent and in 87 F temperatures at the start. The pace was slow and finally picked up at the bell, with all 12 in contention. Sam Prakel took the lead on the back straight, but the event ended in a dead sprint in the home straight, with former Oregon star Cooper Teare coming from fifth into a clear lane to the line in 3:45.86. NCAA sixth-placer Jon Davis of Illinois passed Josh Thompson in the final 20 m for a surprise second – 3:46.01 to 3:46.07 – with Eric Holt having to settle for fourth (3:46.15).

The men’s Steeple started slowly, but all eyes were on U.S. record holder Evan Jager, continuing his odyssey from injury. He took the lead after 2,400 m and was joined by two-time U.S. champ Hillary Bor down the penultimate straight and then charged to the lead at the bell. Jager and Benard Keter stayed close and had broken away from the rest, but could they hang with Bor? That answer was no, as Bor broke away after the final water jump, but Jager was strong and ran away from Keter on the straight to finish 1-2 in 8:15.76 and 8:17.29, with Keter at 8:19.16. Duncan Hamilton closed hard for fourth in 8:20.23. The top four all have the Worlds time standard.

In the field, Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen and former NCAA Division III champ Luke Winder were the only ones to clear 5.70 m (18-8 1/4) in the men’s vault and Nilsen won on fewer misses.

Tokyo 11th-placer Daniel Haugh got a lifetime best of 80.18 m (263-1) in the first round to take the lead in the men’s hammer final and move to no. 5 on the all-time U.S. list. It turned out that no one could do better; American Record holder Rudy Winkler ended up second at 78.33 m (257-0).

The first shock of the day came in the women’s javelin, as world leader and American Record-setter Maggie Malone fouled three times and did not place. But former American Record holder Kara Winger got a seasonal best of 64.26 m (210-10) to win her ninth U.S. title and qualified for the Worlds. Malone will likely also advance to the Worlds given her world ranking.

The women’s triple jump saw two-time Olympian Keturah Orji get out to 14.38 m (47-2 1/4) in the first round to take the lead, but was passed by former American Record holder Tori Franklin in round four (14.59 m/47-10 1/2). No problem: Orji re-took the lead on the next jump, reaching 14.79 m (48-6 1/4), a meet record and the no. 3 jump in American history. NCAA champ Jasmine Moore was a clear third at 14.15 m (46-5 1/4)

In the men’s 200 m qualifying, the reigning World Champion, Noah Lyles, led all qualifiers at 19.95, with teen sensation Erriyon Knighton (20.08), Christian Coleman (20.18) and Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek (20.10) the other heat winners. Fred Kerley, the 100 m winner, qualified easily in 20.29.

The heats of the 110 m hurdles produced four familiar winners: World Champion Grant Holloway (13.11), world all-time no. 3 Devon Allen (13.27), NCAA champ Trey Cunningham (13.13) and 2019 national champ Daniel Roberts (13.28). The amazing Rai Benjamin – the Olympic silver medalist – loafed the first 250 m of his 400 m hurdles semi, ran harder for about 100 m and then jogged in to win in 47.93, a time that only two others in the world have bettered this season! Yowsah! Khallifah Rosser won the second semi in 48.34.

The women’s 200 m showed that world leader and NCAA Champion Abby Steiner continues in shape, leading the qualifying at 22.14. Olympic bronze winner Gabby Thomas won her heat in 22.59, Jenna Prandini won heat three in 22.65 and Sha’Carri Richardson was runner-up in the first heat in 22.69.

The meet concludes tomorrow; broadcast coverage is on NBC from 1-2 p.m. Pacific time, switching to USA Network from 2-3 p.m.

2.
Huge drama as U.S. sets medals record
at swimming World Champs

The final day of the swimming portion of the FINA World Championships in Budapest (HUN) climaxed with the U.S. team setting an all-time medals record, including an American Record and a reversal of fortune … after medals had been handed out in the men’s 50 m Backstroke.

American Justin Ress and world-record holder Hunter Armstrong were 1-2 in the semis and they had the lead when they came up from the underwater start. Ress had the slimmest of leads at midway and the two Americans were clearly 1-2 and Ress extended his final stroke underwater and touched first at 24.12, with Armstrong just behind.

But a video review was signaled and Ress was ruled not to have any part of his body above the water at the finish and was disqualified. That left Armstrong as the winner at 24.14 for his second medal of the meet, but with a bitter taste for winning by disqualification. Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk was moved up to second (24.49) and 100 m Back winner Thomas Ceccon (ITA) to third in 24.51.

USA Swimming protested the disqualification, and the decision was – remarkably – reversed, giving Ress the gold, 24.12-24.14, with Masiuk third. It’s the first individual Worlds medal for Ress and his second gold of the meet. Ress did receive his medal in a specially-held ceremony after the revision of the final results.

Almost as dramatic was the men’s 1,500 m Free final, featuring top five finishers from the Tokyo Games, led by American gold medalist Bobby Finke. At the 500 m mark, Rio Olympic champ Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) had the lead – on world-record pace – over Finke by 2.40 seconds, with Germany’s Tokyo bronze medalist Florian Wellbrock just behind. And he did not let up.

At the half, Paltrinieri, 27, touched in 7:14.94 – still on world-record pace – with Finke bringing up the rest of the field, 4.14 behind. At 1,000 m, Paltrinieri was 1.96 seconds up on the record and then accelerated, up 2.69 by 1,200 m, 2.79 at 1,300 m, 2.81 at 1,400 m, and then he tired. He was only 1.23 seconds up on the record with 50 to go and then finished with the no. 2 mark of all time in 14:32.80. Dazzling, and while not a record, his third Worlds 1,500 gold to go along with his wins in 2015 and 2017.

Behind Paltrinieri, Finke and Wellbrock swam together for most of the race, with Finke making a late charge as usual to grab silver in 14:36.70, smashing Connor Jaeger’s 2016 mark of 14:39.48! Wellbrock was third in 14.36.94.

Italy’s day was made even better with a shocking win over the U.S. in the men’s 4×100 m Medley Relay. Cecchon had the lead on American Ryan Murphy at the turn by 0.58 and that turned out to be crucial. Nicolo Martinenghi increased the lead on the Breast leg, 57.47 to 57.86 for Nic Fink, but Michael Andrew got the U.S. to just 0.40 back with a brilliant 50.06 leg to 50.63 for Federico Burdisso.

Ryan Held actually took the lead on Alessandro Miressi on the Freestyle leg, but couldn’t hold and his 47.36 closer fell short. Miressi split 47.48 and Italy won the gold in a European Record 3:27.51, the equal-third-fastest performance of all time. The U.S. finished in 3:27.79, the fifth-fastest mark ever. Great Britain was third in 3:31.31.

Another upset came in the women’s 50 m Breast final. Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, still just 25, was the London 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 m Breast, but had been in and out of the sport since 2019, when she suffered a doping whereabouts suspension. But she came back to the pool in 2021 and showed some of her old form with a bronze in the 100 m Breast. In the 50, she faced Italy’s world-record holder, Benedetta Pilato, the leading qualifier. Off the start, the two moved ahead of the field, but very close to each other. Meilutyte forged a small lead in the final 15 m and held it on the final stroke for a 29.70-29.80 win, with Lara van Niekerk (RSA: 29.90) third. American Lilly King, the Worlds winner in 2017 and 2019, could not generate her usual speed and finished seventh in 30.40.

One of the greatest sprinters in history – Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom – came in as the world leader in the women’s 50 m Free and a medalist in three straight Worlds – bronze-gold-silver in 2015-17-19 – and was out well and got to the lead at halfway. But she was being challenged by Poland’s 30-year-old Kasia Wasick, no. 2 on the world list this season. It was close, but Sjostrom had the best final stroke and touched in a world-leading 23.98 to 24.18 for Wasick. It looked like Australia’s Meg Harris got third, but American Erika Brown closed hard to tie in 24.38 and earned her first individual medal of the meet.

It was Sjostrom’s 20th career Worlds medal in individual events (10-7-3) and a second gold – also in the 50 m Fly – and third medal of the meet. The 20 medals in individuals events ties Michael Phelps (USA) for the most in FINA Worlds history; Phelps is the all-time leader with 33 total medals, including 13 on relays.

Another new sensation, Canada’s 15-year-old Summer McIntosh was the clear favorite in the women’s 400 m Medley, already having won the 200 m Fly and silver in the 400 m Free. She took the lead from the start and forged a solid lead over 16-year-old American Katie Grimes by the end of the Butterfly leg and was briefly on world-record pace.

These two separated themselves from the field and McIntosh kept churning, up 1.33 seconds on Grimes after the Backstroke and 1.93 seconds up after the Breaststroke leg. But Grimes charged home on the Freestyle finale and moved to no. 5 all-time U.S. at 4:32.67, not far behind McIntosh’s World Junior Record of 4:32.04. Behind them, Hungarian legend Katinka Hosszu was third for a while, but was passed by American Emma Weyant, 4:36.00 to 4:37.89, for the bronze.

The meet’s final event was a stirring fight between the U.S. and Australia in the women’s 4×100 m Medley. Canada’s Kylie Masse, American Regan Smith and Aussie star Kaylee McKeown were within 0.38 at the turn, but then 200 m Breast winner King took over for the U.S. and forged a clear 0.47-second lead at halfway over Australian Jenna Strauch. The key leg was Torri Huske’s 56.67 Fly segment, giving anchor Claire Curzan a 0.99-second lead over 100 m Free winner Mollie O’Callaghan. The Australian closed hard in the final 20 m, but Curzan’s 52.82 brought the Americans home in 3:53.78, the no. 10 performance in American history. Australia finished in 3:54.25, with Canada in bronze position (3:55.01).

The medal table, once revised for Ress’s reinstated win, showed the U.S. with an overwhelming performance and the greatest total ever in a swimming Worlds: 45 total medals (17-12-16) in 42 events, surpassing its total of 38 from the 2017 Worlds, also held in Budapest. This was with sprint superstar Caeleb Dressel having left the meet midway due to a medical condition, and, yes, while Australia and Britain did not field their best teams, this was a stunning performance. Australia was second with 17 medals (6-9-2) and Canada had a quality meet with 11 (3-4-4).

Amazing, epic and historic.

3.
Olympic sprint icon Thompson-Herah
falls to third in Jamaican 100 m

In Rio in 2016 and then in Tokyo in 2021, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah won both the women’s 100 m and 200 m, and she flirted with the iconic 10.49 world 100 m record of Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) from 1988 last season, running 10.54.

But at the Jamaican nationals in Kingston on Friday evening, a lengthy delay threw off her concentration and she ended up only third in 10.89, behind Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson (10.77) and Kemba Nelson (10.88). Said Thompson-Herah, “Honestly, I almost walked away, I only stayed because I wanted to qualify for the World Championships. I felt very flat after waiting so long, fought my way through the line, and was happy that I came third.”

World leader Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.67) had the top time in the heats at 10.70 and as she already has a direct entry into the Worlds, did not compete further. The men’s title was impressively won by 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake in 9.85, his best mark since 2012! Oblique Seville, 21, was second at 9.88.

4.
Weightlifting federation elections
may have ended its Olympic history

The International Weightlifting Federation held chaotic elections at a special Congress in Tirana, Albania on Saturday, with the sport’s future in the Olympic Games very much in the balance.

The IWF has been marred by years of doping positives, governance issues and corruption, but rather than turning to someone with a fresh background, the federation’s new head is a man who has been in the middle of the IWF as an Executive Board member and Secretary General since 2017.

That would be Iraqi Mohammed Jalood, 60. He wasn’t even nominated by his national federation, instead standing as an individual.

In a confused proceeding, nine of the 11 Presidential candidates withdrew before the vote, leaving only Jalood and friend Mohamed Yousef Al-Mana (QAT), but Al-Mana insisted that Jalood had also withdrawn, which would leave him as the sole candidate. The election was stopped, discussions were held and Jalood was ruled to still be a candidate. Then Al-Mana resigned, leaving Jalood to be elected by acclimation!

Further, in the elections for General Secretary and the Executive Board, three members of the existing IWF Board – all with long histories at the federation during its period of excesses – won seats. American Ursula Papandrea, running as a reformer, was one of those who withdrew for President, but was elected First Vice President.

With the election of Jalood and the other Board holdovers, the next step will be up to the International Olympic Committee, which will not be amused by the continuity of a core governance group that has failed so badly. It’s hard to see how the sport makes it onto the Los Angeles 2028 program now.

5.
U.S. women’s footballers cruise past Colombia, 3-0, in friendly

Competing for the first time since April, the U.S. Women’s National Team was an easy winner over Colombia in Commerce City, Colorado, 3-0, with all three scores in the second half.

There was no score in the first half, although the Americans had a 12-0 edge in shots. But Sophia Smith scored in the 54th and 60th minutes, both times with assists from star midfielder Rose Lavelle. Taylor Kornieck scored in the 90th minute (in her first game for the U.S.), as the Americans ended with 72% of possession and a 22-1 total on shots. The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Sandy, Utah.

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PANORAMA: IOC knocks Int’l Boxing Assn. out of Paris ‘24 role; U.S.’s Ledecky wins 19th career FINA Worlds gold; Kerley sizzles 9.76!

Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley is now 2022 World Champion! (Photo: jenaragon94 via Wikipedia)

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Plus: Paris 2024: Nothing is easy as three sports will be moved to new sites = Milan Cortina 2026: IOC announces increase of events from 109 to 116, as ski mountaineering added and Nordic combined barely survives = Russia: 21 national federations have filed exclusion appeals ●

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“At the end, the IOC Executive Board felt that enough was enough and in the interests of the athletes and of the boxing community, the Executive Board of the IOC today decided that the boxing qualifying events and the competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024will not be run under the authority of the IBA.”

International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) told reporters on Friday that the International Boxing Association will not be involved in the administration of the Paris 2024 boxing qualifications or competitions. This extends the removal of the IBA (formerly AIBA) from the organization of the Olympic boxing competitions, as the IOC did for the Tokyo 2020 Games, forming its own organization to run the events quite successfully. McConnell further explained:

“This decision is centered on the athletes themselves and the need I referenced to provide certainty on the Olympic competitions and the Olympic qualifications leading up to Paris 2024. And it follows the continuing and very concerning issues that continue to go on within the IBA. And we’ve referenced any number of times the governance, the refereeing and judging and the financial concerns which remain.

“The IOC administration will therefore finalize, on an exceptional basis, alternative models for the organization of these boxing competitions, working closely with the organizing committee of Paris 2024, and, of course, with athlete representatives.

“And the outcomes of these discussions and suggested recommendations for the models to be put in place will then be presented to the IOC Executive Board. And, finally, whether or not boxing will be included in the sports program for Los Angeles 2028 will be discussed at a later stage.”

McConnell did note that some of the referees and judges who have been certified by IBA will likely be used, as there is a “limited pool” of such officials, but that they would be engaged under strict supervision, as for the Tokyo Games.

Asked if there is a timeline for the IBA to resolve its myriad, McConnell shot back:

“I think we’ve been looking for clarity from AIBA – now the IBA – for several years, and the concerns still remain, in exactly the same areas: governance, refereeing and judging and finance. And I think this is far from the first time I’ve said that … and talking about exactly the same things.”

As for Los Angeles 2028, boxing is not currently on the program, and a future decision will consider the forthcoming actions of the IBA. That’s not a promising outlook.

The IBA’s Board of Directors also met on Friday and issued a statement that it “is deeply disappointed by the IOC’s decision and will now take some time to carefully consider its next steps.”

In view of the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport upholding the appeal of Dutch Boxing Federation President Boris van der Vorst against his disqualification from May’s elections, the IBA Board agreed to hold another Extraordinary Congress, between 24 September-1 October to authorize and hold a new election for President.

Observed: The IOC’s frustration with the IBA is now long and worn and the real question for Los Angeles is not whether that federation can be trusted or reformed by the middle of 2023 – it can’t – when the decision is to be made about 2028. The consideration will inevitably turn to whether boxing – as a sport – should be part of the Olympic Games, especially whether it is compatible with the IOC’s mission for sport as part of a peaceful society.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● Demonstrating that the organization of an Olympic Games is neither straightforward or predictable, the Paris 2024 organizers announced that new sites will be designated for shooting, boxing preliminaries and part of the modern pentathlon.

The shooting events had been at the Terrain des Essences in La Courneuve, but will be moved, and the preliminary boxing bouts and the fencing portion of the Modern Pentathlon will be moved from the Suzanne-Lenglen court at the Roland-Garros Stadium to another site – not yet determined – in the same Seine-St.-Denis area.

The search is still on for a suitable site for preliminary basketball matches after an outcry over the use of a technically adequate, but “unsuitable” temporary arena inside the massive Arena Paris Sud Hall 6.

All this with two years to go. Not at all unprecedented, but an illustration of how difficult it is to organize such a massive event.

● XXV Olympic Winter Games: Milan Cortina 2026 ● The IOC announced the program for the 2026 Winter Games, expanding the event once more by adding eight events and removing one while maintaining the athlete limit at 2,900. The total number of events will rise from 109 at Beijing 2022 to 116:

Alpine Skiing: removal of Mixed Team Parallel

Freestyle Skiing: Men’s and women’s Dual Moguls added
Luge: Women’s Doubles added
Skeleton: Mixed Team event added
Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill added
Ski Mountaineering: a new sport with three events, men’s and women’s sprint and a mixed team relay.

Also, the Alpine Combined is still to be confirmed and could be dropped; the IOC has been trying to get this of this for years. A new format may be considered, with a decision due in April 2023.

Nordic Combined, held only for men and widely expected to be expanded with a women’s division, was instead almost eliminated, essentially due to the fact that it is barely recognized outside of Europe and Japan; the IOC put it this way:

“This is demonstrated by the fact that, at the last three editions, the 27 medals available in Nordic Combined were won by athletes from only four NOCs. In addition, Nordic Combined had by far the lowest audience numbers during those Games.”

Oh yes, the television audience! The future:

“The decisive argument for keeping Nordic Combined on the Olympic programme for Milano Cortina 2026 was the situation of the male athletes, for whom the Olympic Games are only three-and-a-half years away and who have already been preparing for these Games for many years. This is not applicable for the women’s category as they have had only one World Championship to date, with the participation of athletes from only 10 National Federations. The inclusion of Nordic Combined in the Olympic Winter Games 2030 depends on a significant positive development, particularly with regard to participation and audience.”

The IOC said that applications were made for 23 new events and 359 more athletes at the Games, but that the Beijing athlete total of 2,892 will be increased only to 2,900.

● Russia ● The Russian Ministry of Sport announced that 21 national federations have filed appeals against exclusion from international competitions, with 12 filings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Deputy Sports Minister Andrey Fyodorov said “There have been no CAS verdicts yet. All appeals have been accepted. Preparatory procedures are underway. According to our information, decisions on the appeals filed will be made in the second half of the year. We expect that some developments will begin there in August-September.”

Most Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from international competition, with a few International Federations allowing them to play as neutrals, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● Three world-leading performances headlined Friday night’s USATF National Championships from a lightly-attended Hayward Field in Eugene, with seven finals concluded.

The first mind-blower came in the men’s 100 m semis, where Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley stormed to a lifetime best, the world lead and moved to equal-sixth all-time at 9.76 (wind: +1.4 m/s). Second semi winner Trayvon Bromell wasn’t far behind in winning semi two at 9.81 (+1.5), with Marvin Bracy (9.86) and reigning World Champion Christian Coleman (9.87) in close attendance.

Coleman, who already has a direct entry into the Worlds in July, skipped the final, but Kerley was superb again, taking the lead at midway and winning in 9.77, with Bracy at 9.85 and Bromell third at 9.88. Wow!

While this was going on, two-time World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris was busy at the women’s vault, winning an eighth national title (indoors and out) at 4.70 m (15-5) and then raising her won world-leading mark to 4.82 m (15-9 3/4). Alina McDonald was second at 4.65 m (15-3, lifetime best), beating Olympic champ Katie Nageotte on misses.

Only a little later came one of the greatest exhibitions of shot putting in history. Olympic champ and world-record holder Ryan Crouser came in as the world leader at 23.02 m (75-6 1/4) from the Pre Classic in May, then went insane from his favorite ring. He opened at 22.42 m (73-6 3/4) and a foul and then went into orbit:

● 23.12 m (75-10 3/4), the equal-4th throw in history;
● 23.01 m (75-6), the equal-9th performance ever;
● 23.11 m (75-10), the no. 6 performance ever;
● 22.98 m (75-4 3/4), no. 12 ever.

Crouser now owns 12 of the top 15 throws in history and eight of 11 throws ever made at 23.00 m or beyond. Astonishing, brilliant and dominant. Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs was overshadowed, of course, but was a solid second with a seasonal best of 22.87 m (75-0 1/2), with Josh Awotunde third (21.51 m/70-7).

That was the cream, but there was much more. The women’s 100 m was a shocker, with Coastal Carolina’s Melissa Jefferson – eighth at the NCAAs – winning in 10.69w (+2.9), ahead of Tokyo Olympian Aleia Hobbs (10.72w), Twanisha Terry (10.74w) and Tamari Davis (10.78w). Hobbs won her semi in a wind-legal lifetime best of 10.81, just ahead of Jefferson (10.82 lifetime best) and Tamara Clark (10.88). Terry won the second semi with a personal best of 10.87 (+1.8).

Those who worry about collegians and their workload will be startled to know that Jefferson’s national title came in her 12th 100 m of the season and her 35th individual sprint race from 60 m to 200 m.

On the infield, Olympic champ Valarie Allman had no trouble winning the women’s discus at 66.92 m (219-7) on her third throw, ahead of a 64.49 m (211-7) personal best by Laulauga Tausaga-Collins. Veteran Vashti Cunningham won her 10th U.S. high jump title at 1.93 m (6-4).

The men’s long jump was another head-scratcher, with 2019 NCAA Indoor winner Rayvon Grey of LSU authoring a lifetime best of 8.19 m (26-10 1/2) in the third round to edge Steffin McCarter (8.15 m/26-9). No one saw that coming; two-event Tokyo Olympian JuVaughn Harrison managed only 7.86 mw (25-9 1/2w) and was 11th.

In the qualifying, Olympic stars Rai Benjamin (48.41) and Sydney McLaughlin (52.90) led the 400 m hurdles heats. Alaysha Johnson (12.41) and Olympic silver winner Keni Harrison (12.47) had the top marks in the heats of the women’s 100 m hurdles.

The men’s 400 m semis were hot, with Michael Norman and Randolph Ross 1-2 in semi one in 44.28 and 44.36, followed by Elija Godwin in heat two (44.66). Texas A&M’s Brandon Miller and Olympian Bryce Hoppel were fastest in the men’s 800 m semis at 1:46.20 and 1:46.32.

The women’s 400 m had drama as Allyson Felix came from way back to finish fourth in the first semi, won by Talitha Diggs in 50.88. But with Kendall Ellis winning a slower second semi (51.06), Felix squeezed into the final as the no. 7 qualifier. Olympic champ Athing Mu looked completely in control in the women’s 800 m semis in 1:57.55, with Ajee Wilson (2:00.81) the winner of the other semi.

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Swimming ● The penultimate day of the swimming portion of the 2022 FINA World Championships was another demonstration of the greatness of American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky.

There was no doubt that she was going to win a fifth straight Worlds 800 m title and she took off from the start, winning her 19th career Worlds gold, second only to Michael Phelps (26) all-time. Her final time of 8:08.04 is the world leader for 2022 and the no. 5 performance in history, and her fastest since 2018. She now owns the top 27 times in this event.

Behind her was Australian Kiah Melverton, second most of the way, but fell behind Italy’s Simona Quadarella in the late going, but charged in the final; 50 m to get silver in 8:18.77, a lifetime best. Quadarella was third in 8:19.00 and American Leah Smith was fourth (8:20.04).

This was Ledecky’s fourth gold of the week, taking the 400-800-1,500 m Freestyles and on the women’s 4×200 m Free relay. She now owns 22 career Worlds medals (19-0-3), the most ever among women and no. 3 all-time behind Phelps (33: 26-6-1) and Ryan Lochte (27:18-5-4). In Ledecky’s Worlds career, she won four golds in 2013, five in 2015, five in 2017, one in 2019 when she was ill and now four more in 2022. Amazing.

In the women’s 200 m Backstroke, Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown (AUS) was the favorite, but was going to get an argument from Americans Phoebe Bacon and Rhyan White, nos. 2-3 on the world list this season. Bacon was out well and had a clear lead at 100 m and 150 m, but with McKeown charging. The Australian’s last two laps were 31.87 and 31.70 to 32.18 and 32.07 for Bacon and that meant a 2:05.08-2:05.12 victory for McKeown. Whyte was a clear third most of the way, finishing at 2:06.96, to take the bronze.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom – the world-record holder – was the clear favorite in the 50 m Fly final, but was in a fight midway through the race, especially with France’s Melanie Henrique to her right. Sjostrom got control of the event only in the final three strokes and touched first in a world-leading 24.95 for her fourth Worlds gold in this event (2015-17-19-22). Henrique got the silver (25.31), ahead of Chinese star Yufei Zhang (25.32). Americans Claire Curzan and Torri Huske were fifth and sixth (25.43, 25.45).

Sjostrom, now 28, won her 19th career Worlds medal, including nine golds and has medals in six Worlds, beginning way back in 2009.

In the men’s 50 m Free final, Britain’s Ben Proud won this event at the FINA Short-Course Worlds last December and was the favorite coming in. And he looked like it, getting the best start and forging a lead immediately, clearly taking charge by 30 m. But American Michael Andrew – racing in lane two – surged and was closing as they got to the wall in 21.32 for Proud and 21.41, a lifetime best for Andrew and his third individual medal of the meet. It’s Proud’s second career Worlds gold after winning the 2017 50 m Fly, also in Budapest. France’s Maxime Grousset was third in 21.57.

It’s worth noting that although he didn’t make the final, Brazil’s three-time Worlds medal winner Bruno Fratus has now compiled a stunning career total of 100 sub-22 second races in this event. He missed the final by 0.03 in a swim-off after the semis, where he tied for eighth.

Hungary’s Kristof Milak, already the winner of the 200 m Fly, was the obvious favorite in the men’s 100 m Fly final and he delivered in style. He grabbed the lead in the middle of the first lap and extended it continuously, winning by 50.14 to 50.94 over Japan’s Naoki Mizunuma, who won his first Worlds medal. Canada’s Joshua Liendo won his second bronze of the meet, in 50.97, just ahead of Andrew (51.11), coming back 35 minutes after the 50 m Free final.

The mixed 4×100 m Freestyle looked good for Australia, which not only had women’s 100 m Free winner Mollie O’Callaghan on anchor, but Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 relay gold medalist Madison Wilson and Rio 2016 men’s 100 m champ Kyle Chalmers added to the line-up. The U.S. got out best with Ryan Held swimming 47.93 on the first leg, but Chalmers buzzed the field with a 46.98 leg and the Aussies did not look back. Wilson’s 52.25 extended the lead over Huske (52.60) and then O’Callaghan charged to the touch in 52.03 for a world-record time of 3:19.38. That’s 0.02 faster than the U.S. at the 2019 Worlds.

Curzan held down second for most of the final leg, but was passed in the last half-lap by Canada’s 2016 co-gold medalist Penny Oleksiak, 52.11-52.94 for the silver, 3:20.61-3:21.09.

With one day left, the U.S. now has 37 medals (15-8-14), one short of its all-time best of 38 from 2017 (also held in Budapest). Australia has picked up considerably in the back half of the meet and is now a solid second at 15 total medals (6-8-1), with Canada (9: 2-4-3) third.

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THE TICKER: Salt Lake City 2030 bid solid, but what do the others offer? U.S.’s Alvarez saved from drowning at FINA Worlds

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Plus: LA28: Olympic coin bill begins journey through Congress = Athletics: Vault champ Suhr retires = New rules allow road-race marks to count for track qualifying = Weightlifting: Three Russians allowed to run for IWF office this weekend = SCOREBOARD => Athletics: Richardson blows up, Kerley 9.83 world leader at USATFs = Swimming: U.S. stars Murphy and King score historic golds as Americans win three more at FINA Worlds ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“They [the IOC] know that we have an absolutely terrific bid, and we are ready to have Salt Lake host the Winter Games as soon as 2030.”

That was U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chair Susanne Lyons, speaking to reporters on Thursday about the status of the Salt Lake City effort to land the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.

A USOPC delegation had met with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne last week and got a pretty clear picture of what they stood.

“I think the IOC was fairly candid with us about some of the challenges that are presented to them by the U.S. having back-to-back Games. Optically, they really do not have a precedent for giving the same country back-to-back Games.

“There’s some ill feeling, to some extent, about some of the geopolitical climate that surrounded the Beijing Games. You may recall that some of our sponsors were asked to testify in D.C., et cetera, and I think there’s still some unhappiness at the IOC – not directed at the USOPC, of course, or the Salt Lake bid commission – but towards the U.S. government in terms of what they perceive to be a lack of support for the IOC.

“And then I think it’s very realistic to say that given the inflationary situation that’s happening, the tough commercial markets we face, and certainly it’s more complicated for us to host a 2030 Games and try to raise monies that are needed for both L.A. and for Salt Lake, and of course, L.A. has a responsibility to ensure that they are successful, we all want that to happen.

“So, those are kind of the barriers to 2030, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the running for 2030. And by the way, I will say if we’re not 2030, I would say we got very, very favorable signs that we are certainly a leading candidate for 2034.”

So it looks like 2030 or 2034, but the decision may not rest on anything more that the U.S. can do:

What could potentially still makes us a 2030 candidate, really, is dependent on the other bids. And that’s what I think the IOC now is waiting for; our bid is a bit ahead of the bids of Sapporo and Vancouver. They’re waiting to see what other countries can offer for 2030. So, I don’t think they will make any decision about whether they invite us or someone else to 2030 until they have those comparative bids to look at, and at the end of the year, that’s when they will make some determination as to whether they have another city that they prefer to host for 2030.

“But in any case, I will say that while we may still be 2030, we certainly got very favorable signs that indicated that the Games should come back to the U.S. and Salt Lake, very, very soon.”

Lyons explained further:

“Here’s what I left the IOC with: we want to be here when you need us. So, if they come to us and say, we need you for 2030 – this is largely a commercial issue, an issue that is solvable – so I think it is really going to be up to the IOC to decide if they want us or not. If they need us, and they may, this is a problem that can be solved. So, I don’t see huge barriers. It is more complicated for us to do back-to-back Games; it does make complications for L.A. and it is perhaps a little bit more difficult now than it might have been with easier [economic] tailwinds behind us a year or so ago, but certainly we are not out of the running yet.

“As a former marketer, I could argue this both ways. I could say that the package deal of the two Games back-to-back could be very appealing to a sponsor. On the other hand, having a little bit more runway and time to develop those commercial relationships absolutely is beneficial.

“If I had to really say which of those two is probably the most likely, it probably does help us to have some air between those Games, and it helps us have a longer period of time and commitment that we can negotiate with domestic sponsors. But again, if we are needed, if we are called upon, we will find a way to make that work.”

So, it’s now the difficult wait-and-see time for the USOPC and Salt Lake City.

Lyons touched on other issues, noting that chief exec Sarah Hirshland had come with with Covid on the return from Lausanne. The USOPC Board, which met in-person this week, spent a lot of time about future plans, now that the Tokyo and Beijing Games have been completed.

The priorities will be (1) elevating athlete performance and athlete support and welfare, especially as other countries continue to expand their programs, (2) expanding resources, and (3) growing fan support. Lyons explained:

“In order to accomplish that goal of elevated performance, we really need to work with our NGBs – large and small – to face this issue of meeting today’s challenges with the available resources. We have to be flexible and disciplined and we really can’t make do with what we have today. We have to learn to grow the pie, both commercially, philanthropically and through helping the NGBs themselves on ways to financially enhance the monies that they have to support themselves. …

“We need to have Americans engaged with the Olympic & Paralympic Movement. They need to want to hear about our athlete’s stories … We’ve been through kind of a tough patch with these Games – time zones were difficult in Asia, et cetera – we need to re-engage our audience that wasn’t able to connect with the athletes and the team, in Beijing or in Tokyo, and also the lack of fans certainly impacted us as well.”

The USOPC wants to expand the number of sports in which it wins medals, and to have more individual athletes win medals, improve the standards for excellence for sport administration, and it needs more public interest:

“It means increasing share of mind and ‘share of heart’ … bringing in new fans, engaging existing fans in new ways, and we also need to elevate our fund-raising success to new, never-before-achieved levels, and we have been growing our philanthropic success really, pretty astronomically, in recent years and we think there’s an opportunity not just on the major-donor side, but to engage broad bases of Americans, to really support in whatever way they are able – not just financially, but supporting financially even in small ways that engages people – with our movement.”

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● A slow journey has begun for the minting of Olympic coins commemorating the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

California senators Alex Padilla (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D), along with Utah Senator Mitt Romney (R), introduced S. 4392 last week, which would provide for a four-coin program:

● $5 gold coin: 100,000, with a $35 surcharge;
● $1 silver coin: 500,000, with a $10 surcharge;
● 50-cent clad coin: 300,000, with a $5 surcharge, and
● $1 proof coin: 100,000, with a $50 surcharge.

LA28 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will benefit, of course, as “all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties for the objects and purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States.”

The surcharge total, according to the bill, would be $15 million: helpful, but hardly a game changer. For the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a furious legislative battle was fought over the number and types of coins, with only a $10 gold piece and two $1 silver dollars eventually approved. However, 50 million of the silver dollars were produced and two million $10 gold pieces were made; both the L.A. Olympic organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee received more than $35 million each from the program.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

● Artistic Swimming ● Two-time U.S. Olympian Anita Alvarez was saved from drowning at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest (HUN) by her coach, after fainting at the end of her Solo Technical routine.

Embed from Getty Images

Alvarez completed the routine, but sank to the bottom of the pool and American team coach Andrea Fuentes (ESP) – a four-time Olympic medal winner – dove in to retrieve here and bring her to the surface. Alvarez was attended to immediately and removed on a stretcher.

Sky Sports reported that “It was the second time Fuentes has had to rescue Alvarez after she leapt into the pool during an Olympic qualification event last year and pulled her to safety along with the American’s swim partner Lindi Schroeder.”

Fuentes told the Spanish newspaper Marca, “I jumped into the water again because I saw that no one, no lifeguard, was jumping in. I got a little scared because she wasn’t breathing, but now she’s fine. She has to rest.” Alvarez, 25, finished in seventh place (87.6333) and could compete again on Friday in the Women’s Team Free Final, but will obviously be carefully evaluated.

● Athletics ● Jenn Suhr, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s vault, announced her retirement on Thursday.

Now 40, Suhr was hampered in recent years by injury, but was one of the greatest female vaulters in history. Beyond her London triumph, she won the 2008 Beijing Olympic silver, the 2013 Worlds silver, the 2016 World Indoor Championship, the 2008 World Indoors silver and 17 national titles.

Suhr set the still-standing world indoor record of 5.03 m (16-6) in 2016 and had an outdoor best of 4.93 m (16-2) from 2018.

The continuing lack of enthusiasm for longer distances on the track has resulted in a remarkable change in rules by the World Athletics Council.

For both the Budapest 2023 Worlds and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, qualifying times for the 5,000 m and 10,000 m on the track can be met by marks made in road-race events over the 5 km and 10 km distances.

The 10,000 m qualification program for Budapest next year will also provide automatic qualification for the top eight men and top eight women in the World Athletics Cross Country World Rankings. This is an evolution from the 2019 Worlds in Doha, where the top 15 finishers in the 2019 Cross Country Worlds were qualified.

All of this points to a movement of the 10,000 m – especially – from the track to the roads, possibly as part of public-participation road events. The idea is to make the events more accessible, but will it eventually mean the removal of these events from the track entirely?

● Weightlifting ● With the sport’s Olympic future hanging in the balance this weekend with elections at the International Weightlifting Federation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian candidates Maxim Agapitov (President, Vice President and Executive Board), Dmitry Chernogorov (Coaching and Research Committee) and Aleksandr Kishkin (Technical Committee) are eligible to run for office.

The IWF’s Eligibility Determinations Panel had disqualified the three Russians, but the Court noted that the panel had no such power, but only the ability to certify eligibility per the IWF Constitution. So, they will be on the ballot this weekend.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● The USATF National Championships in Eugene got underway on Thursday, with three field-event finals in the women’s hammer, women’s long jump and men’s discus, plus shocks in the men’s and women’s 100 m!

The U.S. women’s hammer throwers stand 1-3-7 on the world list for 2022, and world leader Brooke Andersen won her first national title with her fourth-round throw of 77.96 (255-9), followed by no. 3 Janee Kassanavoid at 76.04 m (249-6). Defending World Champion DeAnna Price finished fourth with a seasonal best of 73.07 m (239-8), while Annette Echikunwoke was third (73.76 m/242-0).

Tokyo Olympian Quanesha Burks got off a big first jump at 7.06 mw (23-2w) and no one could catch here in the women’s long jump. Jasmine Moore, no. 8 on the 2022 world list, also rode the winds to 6.80 mw (22-3 3/4w) and got second.

Rio Olympian Andrew Evans won the men’s discus at a modest 63.31 m (207-8), followed by Dailin Shurts (BYU: 62.32 m/204-5) and Tokyo Olympian Sam Mattis (62.25 m/204-5).

In the qualifying, the shocker came in the women’s 100 m. Tokyo relay silver medalist Aleia Hobbs won the first heat in a quick 10.88, followed by Twanisha Terry (10.92) in heat two. Tamari Davis won heat three in 11.04, but star sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson languished at the start and could not catch up, finishing a non-qualifying fifth in 11.31. Melissa Jefferson won the fourth heat in 11.04 (all wind-legal).

The men’s 100 m heats started with a win by Trayvon Bromell (10.10), but then Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley exploded to a world-leading 9.83 in heat two (wind +1.5 m/s), a lifetime best and moving him to equal-14th all-time and equal-6th all-time U.S.

Defending World Champion Christian Coleman was next, winning in 10.08, and Brandon Carnes and Olympic 200 m medal winner Kenny Bednarek were 1-2 in heat four, both in 10.10.

Many other big stars on the track advanced, including women’s Olympic 800 m champ Athing Mu and World Indoor Champion Ajee Wilson and Olympic women’s 400 m champ Sydney McLaughlin.

Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion, was the leading qualifier in the men’s 800 m in 1:46.49, followed by prep sensation Cade Flatt (1:46.48). But Cole Hocker, sixth in the Tokyo Games, failed to qualify in his men’s 1,500 m heat, finishing sixth in heat one (3:39.57).

In the session-ending 400 m heats, the amazing Allyson Felix won the first race in 52.30, with Jaide Stepter the leading qualifier at 51.05 from heat two and Rosaline Effiong taking heat three (51.17). Michael Norman was the leading qualifier in the men’s heats at a speedy 44.72; Bryce Deadmon was next-fastest at 45.31.

Attendance was announced at 2,751. The meet continues tomorrow, and will be televised on CNBC from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Eastern time.

● Swimming ● The FINA World Championships continued in Budapest, with two familiar American stars earning golds in events they had never won before.

American Ryan Murphy was the focus of the men’s 200 m Backstroke final. The Rio 100-200 m Backstroke gold medalist, he was second here in the 100 m Back and lost his world record, and had never won an individual World Championships gold. He ended that drought in style.

Murphy was the favorite, and moved from third to first on the second lap, leading by 0.66 at the half and then just sprinted away from the field, up by 0.96 at the final turn and winning, 1:54.52 – fastest in the world this year – to 1:55.16 for Luke Greenbank (GBR). American Shaine Casas was steady in third most of the way and won the bronze – his first Worlds medal – in 1:55.35.

American superstar Lilly King won the 50-100 m Breaststrokes at the 2017 and 2019 Worlds, but had never won a Worlds medal at 200 m. She got out well in the final, swimming with teammate Kate Douglass (Tokyo 200 m Medley bronze), Britain’s Molly Renshaw and Australia’s Jenna Strauch. It was Renshaw who had the edge at the halfway mark, with Douglass closest and then Douglass had 0.13 on Renshaw at 150 m. But on the final lap, King surged in the middle of the pool and stormed from fifth to first with 20 m to go and she touched first in 2:22.41 for her fifth Worlds Breaststroke medal, and a huge return from her fourth-place finish in the 100 m Breast, still suffering from illness. She joins Russian Yuliya Efimova as the only ones to win all three women’s Worlds Breast events during their careers.

Douglass faded slightly on the way home, but Strauch was strong and got second, 2:23.04-2:23.20.

In the women’s 100 m Free final, Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, 18, was the qualifying leader and favorite, but Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom led at the turn. But then American Torri Huske (19) took over and had a solid edge halfway home … until O’Callaghan closed like a rocket, taking the lead only at the touch in 52.67, to 52.80 for Sjostrom and 52.92 for Huske, the winner of the 100 m Fly. Fellow American Claire Curzan was eighth in 53.81.

Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook came in not only as the Olympic champ, but the world-record holder in the men’s 200 m Breast final. But while he was eighth at the 100 m mark, he zoomed up to third at the final turn and sailed away to win in 2:07.07, easily ahead of Yu Hanaguruma (JPN) and Erik Persson (SWE: both 2:08.38). American Nic Fink, the 50 m Breast winner and 100 m bronze medalist, was fifth in 2:09.05.

The U.S. men mauled the field in the 4×200 m Freestyle relay, with Carson Foster taking the lead on the second leg (1:45.04) and forging a body-length lead on Australia. Trenton Julian expanded the advantage to 1.89 seconds (1:45.31) and Kiernan Smith finished with a brilliant 1:44.35 leg – fastest of the race – to finish with a win by 3.26 seconds in 7:00.24. That’s the no. 6 performance of all-time and the first American Worlds golds in this event since 2013. Australia was second at 7:03.50 and the British third at 7:04.00.

With 29 of 42 events completed, the U.S. has 32 medals (14-6-12), in sight of its team record of 38 from the 2017 Worlds, with two days remaining. Australia now has 12 medals (4-7-1), followed by Canada (7: 2-3-2).

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LANE ONE: Now it’s Milan Cortina 2026 which shows worries over the financing of its Olympic Games

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“There is no money for the Olympics. Dear Prime Minister, there are four years left and we are worried.”

The headlines come from a letter sent to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and published by the Rome newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano this week.

In it, representatives of the governments of Lombardy and Veneto regions, the cities of Milan and Cortina and of the provinces of Trento and Bolzano complain of the lack of progress in the organization of the Games, especially in the sponsorship sales area.

The Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation – the organizing committee – is headed by former telecommunications executive Vincenzo Novari, and recently reported a loss for the second consecutive year, this time of of €21 million (~$22.2 million U.S.: €1 = $1.06 U.S.). Even more concerning, the letter notes, is that little has been done.

A total of €550 million in domestic sponsorship sales has been forecast, against the total budget of €1.58 billion, or about 35% of the total. But the reporting in Italy is that no sponsorship agreements have been signed, and that Novari mentioned in a recent interview that discussions are ongoing for sponsorships that would total about €280 million.

The International Olympic Committee is contributing $652 million in cash to the organization of the Games (about 39%) and there will be significant ticket revenues. But the domestic sponsorship piece is crucial to the financial health of the Milan Cortina project.

Earlier this month, Tony Estanguet (FRA), the head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, told the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations:

“Without going into too many details, the Covid crisis and the terrible conflict in Ukraine have caused major breakdowns in production, and supply chains. They have also generated an inflationary environment that was impossible to anticipate a few months ago.

“As a result, even though we have already secured most of our revenues, this challenging context puts the Paris 2024 overall budget at risk, since most of our expenses have not been incurred yet. This is why we have two main objectives for the months to come. The first one is to continue – thanks to your support – to push optimization and savings even further, behind the scenes, avoiding any risk for the Games delivery.

“And the second objective is to maintain the level of ambition, to best showcase your sport’s athlete performance and send to the world the best possible image of the Olympic Movement.”

The Paris 2024 budget is currently set at €3.98 billion (~$4.28 billion U.S.), with a sponsorship target of €1.1 billion, which is on track to be met. The French supermarket giant CarreFour was announced as a new, top-tier sponsor of Paris 2024 this week.

Nothing is easy. In the Milan Cortina situation, the management of the organizing committee is now a central focus and Novari had been rumored to be excused in May, but that did not happen. But the regional governments which came together to win the Winter Games do not want to make a request for public funds for the 2026 effort, and certainly do not want to fund the Games themselves any further.

Covid. Ukraine. Perhaps a global recession? Even after the ordeals of Tokyo and Beijing, still no time to relax for the International Olympic Committee and its organizing committees.

Rich Perelman
Editor

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● One of the cruelest reasons to miss a chance for a world championship is getting injured while beating up on a thief trying to break into your car.

That’s what happened to Poland’s three-time Olympic hammer gold medalist Anita Wlodarczyk, who stopped the attacker, but severed a left thigh muscle and had to have surgery last week (13th). CBS reported:

“The 36-year-old Olympian said she was able to take care of the thief all by herself and then handed them over to the police when the arrived on the scene.”

While her season is over – she stands no. 2 on the world list at 78.06 m (256-1) – she posted on Instagram that she had knee surgery ahead of the Tokyo Games and recovered to win, and expects to do so again.

The USATF national championships are on this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, with the meet to select most of the team for the 2022 Worlds to be held in Eugene in July. It should be great: the U.S. currently has 11 world-leaders – four men and seven women – in the events to be contested this week.

In addition, the U.S. has 14 athletes with a direct-entry into the World Championships based on their performances at the prior Worlds in Qatar in 2019 (if you can remember back that far!).

The meet will be broadcast:

24 June: 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Eastern on CNBC
25 June: 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Eastern on NBC
26 June: 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Eastern on NBC; 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Eastern on USA

The U.S. national junior championships will also be going on concurrently.

● Beach Volleyball ● Great excitement from Volleyball World, the global promotional partnership of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and CVC Capital Partners, announcing that the just-concluded 2022 World Beach Volleyball Championships in Rome (ITA) had drawn 16 million fans to the event’s digital platforms.

There were 17 rights-holding broadcasters televising the event, including ESPN, who saw Norway’s Olympic champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum win their first men’s title by 21-15, 21-16 over Renato Calvalho and Vitor Felipe (BRA), with Brazil’s Andre Stein and George Wanderley taking the bronze over Chaim Schalk and Ted Brunner of the U.S. (15-21, 21-17, 15-11).

Brazil’s Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia won their first women’s title, defeating Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson (CAN), 21-17, 21-19. Germany’s Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann won the bronze.

The tournament was held from 10-19 June at the Foro Italico in Rome, and the tournament-long audiences were described as record-breaking. For comparison, a check of the U.S. television ratings from last week showed that the individual NBA Finals games nos. five and six between Golden State and Boston drew 13.0 and 14.0 million viewers, respectively. On Sunday (19th), the top-rated show was the final day of the U.S. Open golf tournament, at 5.3 million viewers on TV alone.

Mexico was announced as host of the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships, to be held sometime in the second half of the year, with the site(s) to be announced later.

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale announced a significant change in its transgender eligibility rules, stiffening the rules from its March 2020 standards:

“The latest scientific publications clearly demonstrate that the return of markers of endurance capacity to [the normal] ‘female level’ occurs within six to eight months under low blood testosterone, while the awaited adaptations in muscle mass and muscle strength/power take much longer (two years minimum according to a recent study).

“Given the important role played by muscle strength and power in cycling performance, the UCI has decided to increase the transition period on low testosterone [for gender change to women] from 12 to 24 months. In addition, the UCI has decided to lower the maximum permitted plasma testosterone level (currently 5 nmol/L) to 2.5 nmol/L. This value corresponds to the maximum testosterone level found in 99.99% of the female population.”

This puts the UCI in line with the 2.5 nmol/L level endorsed by the International Aquatics Federation (FINA). Look for more announcements of this level of testosterone by other federations that could include World Athletics, the International Tennis Association and World Rowing.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team has arranged for its final two FIFA World Cup warm-up matches in September, both to be held in Europe and both against other World Cup teams.

The first match will be against Japan on 23 September, at a location still to be announced. The second will be in Murcia (ESP) against Saudi Arabia on 27 September. The U.S. met Japan as recently as 2006 and Saudi Arabia way back in 1999.

The U.S. will open World Cup play vs. Wales on 21 November in Qatar, in Group B.

In its warm-up matches so far, the U.S. defeated Morocco, 3-0, on 1 June and played Uruguay to a 0-0 draw on 5 June. In the CONCACAF Nations Cup, the American men stomped Grenada, 5-0, in Kansas City on 10 June and then played to a 1-1 draw at El Salvador on 14 June. Alexander Larin scored for the home team in the 35th minute, and then both teams suffered red cards in the 70th and 79th minutes. Jordan Morris got the equalizer for the U.S. on a header at 90+1 of stoppage time on a night where the Americans had 64% of the possession and a 10-5 edge on shots.

● Skating ● If you’re interested in skating, watch for new action from a federation on the cusp of possibly serious change.

Korean Jae Youl Kim, 53, was elected as the 12th President of the International Skating Union on 10 June, promising in his 26-page election brochure his focus on expand skating popularity, revenues and growth. The President of the Samsung Global Strategy Group, he served as the Executive Vice President of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games organizing committee.

He won on the first ballot, with 77 votes, to 24 for American Patricia St. Peter, 13 for Susanna Rahkamo (FIN) and five for Serbian Slobodan Delic. Kim is the first ISU President from outside Europe and the fourth straight to come from the speed skating side of the federation.

Kim’s concept is clear: “My vision for the ISU is centered on what I call the ‘ISU Cycle of Growth.’ Revitalizing skating’s popularity drives revenue opportunity, which enables development investment, which increases the quality of skating worldwide, and eventually produces more revenue and opportunity for the members of the ISU.”

Look for a renewed emphasis on marketing. The ISU Council approved new regulations which expand the number of advertising “markings” on the uniforms of both figure skaters and speed skaters (including helmets) for the future; this could create a much different look in competitions.

And while the ISU is a financially-well-off federation – with reserves of CHF 275.1 million – its new budget plan for 2022-24 needs help. The annual revenue from television rights sales to ISU events was CHF 15.1 million in 2021 and is expected to grow only modestly to CHF 17.6-19.4-18.2 million for 2022-24.

In addition, the share of IOC television rights from the Beijing 2022 Games is expected to be less than for PyeongChang in 2018 and more on the order of Sochi 2014 – about CHF 36 million in total – vs. CHF 44.2 million for 2018.

Expenses for championship events and prize money are scheduled to increase and the budget projects losses for each year from 2022-24 of CHF 4.95-1.90-3.78 million or a three-year total of CHF 10.6 million.

Two-time U.S. Pairs champions Ashley Cain-Gribble (26) and Timothy LeDuc (32) confirmed in a video last week that “For now, we’re saying goodbye to the competitive side of skating.”

They won national titles in 2019 and 2022, finished eighth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and competed in three World Championships, finishing ninth in 2019 and 2021. They were standing second at the 2022 Worlds after the Short Program, but Cain-Gribble fell three times during the Free Skate and had to stop and withdraw from their program.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Swimming ● The 2022 World Aquatics Championships are sailing on in Budapest, with five finals on Wednesday and Canada the big winner.

Summer McIntosh, 15, won her first world title with a stirring back-half performance in the women’s 200 m Butterfly, taking the lead on the third lap and finishing in a World Junior Record of 2:05.20. That was enough to hold off a charging Hali Flickinger of the U.S. (2:06.08) and China’s Olympic champ, Yufei Zhang (2:06.32). American Regan Smith was fourth (2:06.79).

Fellow Canadian Kylie Masse, the 100-200 m Back silver medalist from Tokyo, got a gold in the women’s 50 m Back, out-touching five others within 0.16! Masse’s 27.31 was just ahead of American Katharine Berkoff (27.39), with Smith finishing in a tie for fifth (27.47), just 27 minutes after her 200 Fly swim.

The men’s 100 m Free was a triumph for Romanian teen David Popovici, who won in 47.58, ahead of Maxime Grousset (FRA: 47.64) and Canada’s Joshua Liendo (47.71). American Brooks Curry was fifth (48.00).

American superstar Caeleb Dressel, who had earlier won the 50 m Fly and had swum the second-fastest 100 Free prelim time (47.95), withdrew from the meet on Wednesday in view of an undisclosed medical situation.

France’s Leon Marchand continued his sensational season with a 1:55.22 win in the 200 m Medley, taking control on the third leg and then racing home ahead of American Carson Foster (1:55.71; his second medley silver) and 2019 world champ Daiya Seto (JPN: 1:56.22). Chase Kalisz of the U.S., the 2017 World Champion, ended up fourth (1:56.43).

The U.S. had no trouble romping to a gold-medal win in the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle relay in 7:41.45 to 7:43.86 for Australia and 7:44.76 for Canada. Katie Ledecky blew the race apart with the fastest split of the day at 1:53.67 on the third leg and Bella Sims followed at 1:54.60 on anchor.

With three days to go, the U.S. now leads the swimming field with 26 medals (11-6-9) to eight for Australia (2-5-1).

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THE BIG PICTURE: FINA’s substitute Worlds in Budapest making quite a splash: 45% in and two world records, 14 world leaders and 22 U.S. medals? Crazy!

American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky: now a 17-time World Championships gold medalist!

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Let’s be clear, the international sports world is still reeling from the coronavirus and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021. But in swimming, where the top athletes only see each other three times in four years, the 2022 FINA World Championships at Budapest’s Duna Arena are proving to be a showcase.

Remember, this event was supposed to be held in Fukuoka (JPN) in May, but the continuing pandemic knocked the event out, only to be quickly picked up by Hungary, trying to re-build its own tourism standing with more major events.

With just 19 of 42 swimming events completed (four days of eight), the quality of swimming measures up with Tokyo, or any other meet for that matter. Consider that so far, in individual events on both the Tokyo and Budapest programs::

Men: of 6 completed events so far, five were faster in Budapest.
Women: of 7 completed events so far, two were faster in Budapest.

Now look at the times from Budapest that are world-leading performances for 2022, and their rank if in the top-10 all-time performances list:

Men/100 m Free: 47.60, David Popovici (ROU)
Men/200 m Free: 1:43.21, Popovici [no. 5 performance ever]
Men/400 m Free: 3:41.22, Elijah Winnington (AUS) [no. 10]
Men/800 m Free: 7:39.36, Bobby Finke (USA) [no. 7]
Men/100 m Back: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) ~ World Record [1]
Men/50 m Breast: 26.45, Nic Fink (USA) [no. 5 performer]
Men/100 m Breast: 58.26, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA)
Men/50 m Fly: 22.57, Caeleb Dressel (USA) [no. 4 performer]
Men/200 m Fly: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN) ~ World Record [1]
Men/400 m Medley: 4:04.28, Leon Marchand (FRA) [no. 2]

Women/1,500 m Free: 15:30.15, Katie Ledecky (USA) [no. 6]
Women/100 m Back: 57.65, Regan Smith (USA) [no. 6]
Women/100 m Fly: 55.64, Torri Huske (USA) [equal no. 5]
Women/200 m Medley: 2:07.13, Alex Walsh (USA) [no. 10]

So of the 16 individual events at least partially contested so far, there have been 2022 world-leading performances in 14 and top-10 all-time performances in 12! There were two individual-event world records in Tokyo; there have been two already in Budapest:

Men/100 m Back: 51.40, Thomas Ceccon (ITA); old, 51.95, Ryan Murphy (USA), 2016
Men/200 m Fly: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN); old 1:50.73, Milak, 2019

(And just for good measure, there have also been two American Records:

Men/800 m Free: 7:39.36, Bobby Finke
Women/100 m Fly: 55.64, Torri Huske)

This is crazy!

New stars like Romania’s 17-year-old Popovici are emerging, and there will be continuing focus on Canada’s 15-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh, who won a women’s 400 m Freestyle silver behind Ledecky and set a World Junior Record of 2:06.79 in the 200 m Fly semis.

Italy’s Benedetta Pilato – age 17 – scored an impressive win in the women’s 100 m Breast in 1:05.93, with American superstar Lilly King fourth in 1:06.07, suffering from the impact of a recent bout with Covid-19. This stuff happens in championships.

But the American team performance is another impressive show of domination by veteran and new swimmers. Yes, some of the top Australian and British swimmers are skipping the meet – the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) is a target for several – and there are the usual injuries and mishaps. But the continuing greatness of Ledecky and Dressel – who withdrew from the men’s 100 m Free semis with a medical issue, but might be back for other events – is being balanced by the youngsters like Katie Grimes (16: women’s 1,500 m Free silver), Claire Curzan (17: women’s 100 m Back bronze), Torri Huske (19: women’s 100 m Fly gold) and Alex Walsh (20) and Leah Hayes (16), who went 1-3 in the women’s 200 m Medley, sandwiching Australia’s triple Tokyo gold medalist Kaylee McKeown.

After 19 of 42 total swimming events, the U.S. already has 22 medals; next best is Australia with seven. The U.S. team record is 38 total medals from 2017.

It’s an impressive show of swimming strength in a year in which everything still seems a little off-kilter. And the 2023 meet in Fukuoka (JPN) should be even better.

Four more days to go in Budapest.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo 2020 cost $10.4 billion (could have been worse); Spain 2030 bid ends; USOPC review commission funded!

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Plus: On Screen: Modest interest in NCAA Track, NYC Grand Prix on TV = International Federations: governance report shows improvement = Basketball: Griner hearing off to 2 July = Boxing: failure of aggressive new programs led to AIBA corruption; IBA board to consider new elections Friday = Weightlifting: Ajan and Vlad banned for life for doping violations ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

It cost a lot more than it was supposed to and a lot less than it could have.

The final cost of the Tokyo 2020 Games to be announced publicly was confirmed on Tuesday at ¥1,423.8 billion or approximately $10.431 billion U.S. (at current exchange rates), for the first-ever Games to be postponed.

At the final meeting of the Tokyo Organizing Committee, some of the details were revealed and the Official Report of the Games – first since London 2012 – was handed over to the International Olympic Committee. A review of the total Games cost budgets over time showed:

● 2013/Bid: $5.38 billion U.S.
● 2016/Dec.: $14.0 billion U.S.
● 2018/Dec.: $12.6 billion U.S.
● 2019/Dec.: $12.6 billion U.S.
● 2020/Dec.: $15.4 billion U.S.
● 2022/Jun.: $10.4 billion U.S.

Compared to the bid projection of ¥734 billion, the final total of ¥1.42 trillion was up by ¥690 billion, or 48.5%, and was a disaster. Compared with the ballooning costs forecast in 2020 and then due to the pandemic, it could have been much worse. (The IOC’s announced figures are different, using an old, agreed-on exchange rate.)

On the revenue side, the Japanese organizers set an all-time record of $3.4 billion in domestic sponsorship revenues, which accounted for 59% of its revenues of $5.8 billion. It also received $1.3 billion from the IOC, $500 million in insurance due to the Covid-19 delay and $600 million in licensing and other revenues.

Costs related to the pandemic were ¥38 billion ($278.2 million).

The division of costs for the Games included 44.9% for the organizers (¥640 billion), 41.9% (¥597 billion) for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (including the new stadia) and 7.68% for the Japanese national government (¥187 billion).

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The Spanish bid for 2030 has ended and will be reformed into a bid for 2034 or beyond.

A plan for a Games to be held in the Aragon and Catalonia regions dissolved into unsolvable bickering between the two, with no resolution possible in time to make a credible bid against Sapporo (JPN), Salt Lake City (USA) or Vancouver (CAN).

This is good for the other cities, which are pressing ahead with detailed bids, especially in the case of Sapporo and Salt Lake City.

● International Federations ● The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) published its fourth governance review, with 32 of 33 members meeting the minimum expected scores.

The goal was for the 27 full members to score 130/200 across the 50 indicators and 120/200 for the six associate members. All but one made it.

The top-scoring federations scored 175 or higher and included the federations for badminton, equestrian, football, cycling, table tennis, track & field and rugby. Another 10 scored from 150-170, and 12 between 130-149. The World Dance Sport Federation – an associate member – was the only one below 120.

All but one are publishing financial statements and 27 of the 33 had term limits on officials. Gender balance on boards of directors continued to increase, but slowly, with 18/33 having women comprising at least 25% of these bodies.

A clear observation is how small most of the federations are:

=> Employees: the 27 full-time members saw nine with less than 20, and nine with 20-49 – that’s 18/27 – then five with 50-119 and four with more than 120.

=> Finances: eight of the 27 full-time members had CHF 8 million or less in annual revenues, seven were from CHF 8-20 million, seven from CHF 20-50 million and five above CHF 50 million.

Small, indeed.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The long wait for the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is just about over. Word has come that the Commission, co-chaired by former USOPC Athletes Advisory Council chair Han Xiao and University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller has its funding – requested at $2,078,860 in the FY2022 budget cycle with a 15-month timeline – approved.

The 16-member group was created by the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 and is designed to review all aspects of the organization and evaluate its effectiveness. At least one hearing will be held.

This may sound like the ultimate insiders conference, but there are many sharp agendas-in-waiting and possible fireworks ahead. At the core: how does the USOPC spend its money? Stay tuned.

● On Screen ● Some interest in track & field viewership over the last week or so:

=> 10 Jun.: 263,000 NCAA Champs on ESPN2 (men)
=> 11 Jun.: 603,000 NCAA Champs on ESPN (women)
=> 12 Jun.: 835,000 NYC Grand Prix on NBC

No other meets, or the FINA World Championships, drew an audience of 200,000 or more through last Sunday (19th); this would include the first two days of the NCAA Track & Field Championships from Eugene. .

The other Olympic-sport event to be mostly ignored was the USA at El Salvador 1-1 draw in a CONCACAF Nations League match on the 16th, which drew 394,000 on FS1.

NBA Finals games five and six both drew almost 14 million viewers each, on ABC.

● Basketball ● Double Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner continues to languish in Russian detention and now will not have her case heard until 2 July at the earlier. She has been held since mid-February after customs officials found hashish oil in a vape cartridge she was carrying.

● Boxing ● Corruption was allowed to creep in and take hold of the organisation because of the senior management’s excessive focus on finding investments for unrealistic ventures. Insufficient attention was paid to the administration of the sport and its officials. When those enterprises never materialised, the sport suffered a huge financial burden that nearly caused its collapse. The singular focus of management became finding funds to repay the loans and pay the staff. The combination of attrition and the lack of financial resources ultimately resulted in the organisation being left with a skeleton staff to run itself.”

That’s the central finding of the 114-page report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions, investigating the implosion of the AIBA, now re-named as the International Boxing Association.

The federation’s downfall was laid at the feet of former President C.K. Wu (TPE), elected in 2006 and only dismissed in an internal revolt in 2017. Wu created aggressive new boxing programs and a marketing arm and then, when they were failing, drove AIBA into debt to continue to support them. In short, “The market thought to exist for fans to watch franchised boxing bouts as outlined in the business plan was in fact illusory and highly optimistic.”

Some $39 million was borrowed in all, and the federation likely would have collapsed without the Gazprom sponsorship – a gift, really? – that Russian President Umar Kremlev arranged after election in late 2020.

Along with the financial issues came pressure for favors and competition manipulation in refereeing and judging. The report suggests multiple future fixes, including education about bout fixing, very strict access to the field of play, an independent integrity unit and so on.

The report did not believe the situation in boxing is irretrievable, but a culture change is mandatory.

Last week’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, upholding the appeal against the IBA Extraordinary Congress election disqualification in May of Dutch Boxing President Boris van der Vorst also included candidates for the IBA Board, including Michael McAtee (USA), Steven Hartley (NZL) and Per-Axel Sjoholm (SWE):

“The CAS Arbitrator in charge of the matter found that the Appellants had committed only a minor breach of the regulations governing the IBA elections (early campaigning) which would have deserved a light sanction such as a warning or even no sanction, but not an exclusion from the election; furthermore, the Sole Arbitrator noted that the incumbent President had committed the same minor violation and had not been sanctioned for it.

IBA chief Kremlev asked the federation Board to authorize new elections; the Board will meet on 24 June.

● Weightlifting ● Worth noting that in the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week against former International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ajan (HUN) and former long-time coach and official Nicu Vlad (ROM), both received the same penalty” lifetime bans.

For Ajan, his list of offenses included “tampering, which includes engaging in any fraudulent conduct to alter results or prevent normal procedure from occurring and complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation.” For Vlad, it was “only” the single charge of “complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation,” but it was the “seriousness of the ADRVs and the length of time over which they were committed” which made the sanction appropriate.

As the prosecutor of the cases, the International Testing Agency noted:

The ITA was hampered by the depth and breadth of the IWF’s past years of inaction, which resulted into 29 unsanctioned doping violations being impossible to prosecute due to statute of limitation and/or destruction of evidence. The reasons why these cases were unprocessed and/or unsanctioned, ranged from mere administrative oversight, poor record keeping, chaotic organisational processes, or jurisdictional errors – on one end of the spectrum – to indifference, outright negligence, complicity, or – at worst – blatant and intentional cover-ups.”

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ATHLETICS: Steiner rolls to 21.80 collegiate record; Hall second in 400H and wins hep; Florida adds women’s title at NCAA Champs in Eugene

NCAA heptathlon winner and 400 m hurdles runner-up Anna Hall (Photo: University of Florida)

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The rainy final day of the 2022 NCAA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene was all about the women’s events, with another world-leading performance.

Kentucky junior Abby Steiner equaled the NCAA Championships meet record in the semis (22.02) and had more to give in the final.

She got off well, but stomped on the gas to pass LSU’s Favour Ofili – the collegiate record holder at 21.96 – into the straight and ran away from the field to win in a world-leading 21.80 (wind: +1.3 m/s). That’s a collegiate record and now puts Steiner in position to challenge for the U.S. Worlds team in two weeks on the same track.

Ofili (NGR) couldn’t handle Steiner, but was strong on the straight to finish second in 22.05, with Ohio State’s Anavia Battle third in 22.33.

Then Steiner took the stick in the 4×400 m relay about 25 m back on the third leg, but she blazed a 48.92 split to take a 5m lead (yowsah!) and then handed off to Alexis Holmes, who finished off a 3:22.56 victory over Texas (3:23.35).

The next-most-amazing performances came from Florida’s Anna Hall, who breezed to the heptathlon title, but also contested the open 400 m hurdles final just 22 minutes prior to the heptathlon 800 m!

In the 400 m hurdles final – at 3:57 p.m. – it was Arkansas sophomore Britton Wilson, the collegiate leader, who took the lead right away and finished strong to win clearly in 53.86. Hall stormed down the straight and ran into second in 54.76, ahead of Lauren Hoffman (Duke: 55.58).

Hall then lined up for the 800 m at 4:19 p.m. and loped to a 10th-place finish in 2:21.23, finishing with a brilliant 6,385 points to 5,939 for Washington’s Ida Eikeng (NOR). Wow.

The rest of the meet was pretty good, too.

Julien Alfred (LCA) had the fastest time of the season at 10.81 and the Texas sophomore did not disappoint, holding off Kemba Nelson (Oregon/JAM) at the line, as both were timed in 11.02 (+0.2). Steiner was third in 11.08.

Florida’s Talitha Diggs looked like the favorite in the 400 m, but she was trailing Kentucky’s Holmes coming into the final straight. But she pumped her arms hard and took the lead with about 75 m left and finished in 49.99, no. 4 in the world for 2022.

That was just enough to beat Jamaica’s Charokee Young (Texas A&M), who surged at the end to pass Holmes, as did Texas junior Kennedy Simon, 50.65-50.69-50.71.

Baylor’s Aliyah Miller led the 800 m final for 700 m, but was passed by Boise State’s Kristie Schoffield in the home straight and – to her own surprise – won in 2:01.09, a lifetime best. Villanova’s McKenna Keegan and Gabija Galvydyte (Oklahoma State/LTU), 2:01.71-2:01.76.

LSU sophomore Alia Armstrong didn’t let the rain concern her, taking charge from the gun and leading from wire-to-wire, winning in 12.58 (-0.2). USC soph Jasmine Jones got a lifetime best of 12.66 for second.

BYU’s Courtney Wayment, fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year, demolished the collegiate record in the Steeple, running away in 9:16.00. That moves her to no. 5 all-time U.S.! The record had been 9:24.41 by New Mexico’s Courtney Frerichs from 2016.

Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin (JAM) stood second on the world list coming into the meet at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), and won at 1.95 m (6-4 3/4).

Jasmine Moore (Florida) won the triple jump with her third-round jump of 14.32 m (46-11 3/4), and moved to no. 9 on the world list for 2022. She’s the 2022 NCAA indoor and outdoor champ in the triple jump, to go along with her indoor and outdoor long jump titles in 2022!

North Carolina State’s Katelyn Tuohy took over the 5,000m with 600 m to go, winning in 15:18.39. Florida frosh Parker Valby finished second and clinched the team title for the Gators, finishing second in 15:20.10, a huge lifetime best.

Florida finished with 74 points to top Texas (64), Kentucky (50) and LSU and Texas A&M (39).

Next up for many of these athletes will be the U.S. Championships, again in Eugene, in two weeks.

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ATHLETICS: Cunningham improves world lead to 13.00, Fahnbulleh 10.00/19.83, plus collegiate records for Rogers and Aquilla at NCAA Champs

World leader Trey Cunningham (Florida State) is also the 2022 NCAA 110 m hurdles champion! (Photo: Seminoles.com)

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This was it for the men at the NCAA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, and as usual, the racing was hot despite overcast skies. And no one was hotter than Florida State’s world leader in the 110 m hurdles, Trey Cunningham.

Cunningham came into the NCAA meet as the favorite at 13.07, but he was trailing LSU’s Eric Edwards over the first hurdle, but he didn’t panic. Edwards stayed strong, but Cunningham drew even by hurdle four and had the lead by hurdle eight, then stormed to the finish to win in a sensational 13.00 (wind 0.0 m/s), not just the world lead, but equal-23rd all-time and no. 14 all-time U.S.

Edwards also ran a lifetime best of 13.15 for second and Michigan’s Josh Zeller claimed third at 13.26.

In the 100 m, Florida’s Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBR) always gets out poorly and he did so again, but his late-race surge carried him to the line first in 10.00 (+0.6), ahead of Tennessee’s Favour Ashe (NGR: 10.08) and Javonte Harding (North Carolina A&T: 10.08).

But Fahnbulleh was even better in the 200 m, only in third off the turn, but then he turned on the top-end speed that no one could match, winning by 5 m in 19.83 (+0.6), a national record and equal-third in the world for 2022. He will be a contender at the World Championships in Eugene in July; asked when he feels confident during a race that he can win, he said “If I’m even, I’m leavin’.”

Georgia’s Matt Boling was second in 2013, with Stanford frosh Udodi Onwuzurike (NGR) third (20.15).

North Carolina A&T’s Randolph Ross was the defending champion, but drew lane eight. But he had a plan, pushed hard down the back straight and came off the final turn in the lead, with Florida’s Champion Allison trailing. Ross was smooth to the finish and won decisively in 44.13, no. 3 in the world for 2022. Allison was strong in the final 30 m to get second over Elija Godwin (Georgia), 44.41-44.50. Asked afterwards about the time – he won in 43.85 last season – Ross just said, “awful.” Wow.

Texas Tech’s Mouad Zahafi (MAR) came into the 800 m final as the world leader, but only took the lead with 220 m to go. But he was strong to the finish and won comfortably in 1:44.49. Brandon Miller (Texas A&M) had the lead for most of the race and then came back on Zahafi on the final straight, but could not catch him and was passed in the final 5 m by Navasky Anderson (Mississippi State), 1:45.02 (lifetime best)-1:45.09.

In the 400m hurdles, defending champ Sean “Squirrel” Burrell was trailing around the final curve, but accelerated over hurdles eight and nine to take the lead and won in 48.70. Malik Metivier (Texas Tech/CAN) held on for second in 49.13.

In the triple jump, TCU senior Chengetayi Mapaya (ZIM) took control of the event in the third round at 17.26 m (56-7 1/2), a lifetime best and now no. 4 in the world for 2022. He knew it and added a wild celebration once he was out of the pit.

Florida won the men’s team title before the 4×400 m relay, but the quartet of Jacory Patterson, Ryan Willie, Jacob Miley and Allison ran a meet record of 2:58.88 to put the finishing touch on the meet. Florida finished with 54 points, to 38 for Texas and 34 for Tennessee.

Thursday’s women’s semifinals – and a few finals – were exciting, starting with another collegiate record in the hammer, as Canada’s Cam Rogers (California) got out to 77.67 m (254-10) to improve her grip on no. 4 in the world this season and set another Canadian record. That was just enough to beat Alyssa Wilson (USA) of Texas State, with a lifetime best of 74.78 m (245-4), now no. 7 on the year list.

That wasn’t the only collegiate record on the day, as Ohio State’s Adelaide Aquilla, a Tokyo Olympian and the defending champ, got out to 19.64 m (64-5 1/4) to smash the 19.46 m (63-10 1/4) throw by Maggie Ewen (Arizona State) from 2018. Aquilla moved to no. 4 on the world list.

In the sprint semis, Texas soph Julia Allred (LCA) ran 10.90 (+0.6) to win semi one, as did Kentucky junior Abby Steiner in semi two (+1.0), with six women in all under 11 seconds! Steiner was on the gas in the 200 m, winning in 22.02 (+0.5) for a lifetime best, but keeping her at no. 6 in the world. LSU’s Favour Ofili (NGR) ran 22.13 (-0.2) to win semi two.

Florida’s Talitha Diggs won the first semi in 50.08, no. 5 in 2022 and a lifetime best, ahead of Stacey Ann Williams (Texas: 50.18, also a personal record).

LSU’s Alia Armstrong posted the fastest 100 m hurdles time at 12.55 (+0.2), a lifetime best and now no. 7 in the world for 2022. Florida’s Anna Hall, already the U.S. national champ in the Heptathlon this season, had the fastest time in the 400 m hurdles at 54.48, no. 9 in the world for 2022! Arkansas star Britton Wilson won her semi in 54.72.

The women’s finals will be on Saturday.

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ATHLETICS: Mu and Morris among four world-leads at Rome Golden Gala; Jackson upsets Thompson-Herah at 200 m; Kerley wins 100 m!

Another win for two-time World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris of the U.S. (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

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More magic at the fifth Diamond League meet of the season, this time in Rome’s famed Stadio Olimpico for the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, with four world-leading performances and a lot of drama beyond. The world leaders:

Men/5,000 m: 12:46.33 Nicholas Kimeli (KEN)

Women/800 m: 1:57.01, Athing Mu (USA)
Women/100 m hurdles: 12.37, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR)
Women/Pole Vault: 4.81 m (15-9 1/4), Sandi Morris (USA)

We hadn’t seen much of Olympic women’s 800 m champ Mu this season, with just a modest 2:02.07 win in April so far. But she took over the race in Rome on the third turn and raced away powerfully to destroy a good field in a world-leading 1:57.01, her fourth-fastest time ever. Renelle Lamote (FRA) was the next strongest over the final 200 m to get second in 1:58.48, followed by Elena Bello (ITA) with a lifetime best of 1:58.97. Jamaican star Natoya Goule was sixth in 1:59.54.

Olympic champ Camacho-Quinn was already the world leader for 2022 at 12.39, but she faced a tough field that included World Champions Danielle Williams (JAM: 2015) and Nia Ali (USA: 2019). But Camacho-Quinn had control of the race early on and could not be caught, winning in a world-leading 12.37 (wind: +0.1 m/s), ahead of Britney Anderson (JAM: 12.50) and Ali (12.71). The time equals Camacho-Quinn’s winner in Tokyo last year and is her equal-fourth fastest ever. Wow.

Morris racked up another pole vault win – her ninth this season, without a loss – by clearing a world-leading 4.75 m (15-7) on her second try and then 4.81 m (15-9 1/4), also on the second try. She actually won at 4.70 m (15-5), but Italy’s Roberta Bruni cleared 4.60 m (15-1) and passed a third try at 4.70 and had one miss at 4.75. Bruni and Britain’s Holly Bradshaw tied for second, and Olympic champ Katie Nageotte (USA) tied for fourth at 4.60 m.

The men’s 5,000 m field included Olympic 10,000 m champ Selemon Barega and two-time World Champion Muktar Edris – both from Ethiopia – and many more, but it was two-time World Indoor 3,000 m gold medalist Yomif Kejelcha who took charge of the race by the 3 km mark. He led Jacob Krop and Nicholas Kimeli (both Kenya) away from the field and appeared to have control of the race, but by the bell, any of the three could win it.

Krop and Kimeli finally passed Kejelcha off the final turn and then Kimeli had the most left to win in a world-leading 12:46.33, a lifetime best, ahead of Krop (12:46.79, also a PR) and Kejelcha (12:52.10). Barega came up for fourth in 12:54.87 as the top eight all finished under 13 minutes! This was a fast one: Kimeli and Krop moved to nos. 7 and equal-9th on the all-time list with their sensational times.

Now for the rest of the drama:

The women’s 200 m was supposed to be a battle between Olympic gold medalists Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM: 200 m) and Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH: 400 m). Instead, it was Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson – the Tokyo 100 m bronze medalist – who grabbed the lead off the turn and stormed home in 21.91 (+1.3) to edge a fast-closing Thompson-Herah (22.25), then Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (22.27) and Miller-Uibo (22.48). American icon Allyson Felix finished seventh in 22.97. Jackson’s mark moves her to no. 2 on the 2022 world list and is her no. 3 time ever. Thompson had won four 200 m finals in a row, with her last loss at the 2021 Jamaican nationals.

Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley had only won three of his last 10 races in the men’s 100 m, since making the U.S. team last June, but he took control of Thursday’s race by the 40 m mark and stormed home in 9.92 (-0.2 m/s), equaling his seasonal best and well ahead of Americans Kyree King (10.14) and Cravont Charleston (10.17). Kerley remains no. 5 worldwide for 2022 and the no. 2 American behind Oregon’s Micah Williams (9.86).

Although not a Diamond League event, the men’s 200 m featured Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek and he won convincingly in a seasonal best of 20.01 (-0.1), ahead of Luxolo Adams (RSA: 20.33) and Italy’s Filippo Tortu (20.40).

Grenada’s 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James continued his solid running this season, taking over in the men’s 400 m by halfway and then holding off a charge from Americans Vernon Norwood and Michael Cherry to win, 44.54-44.81-45.24. It’s James’ third win in four races this season.

The men’s Steeple was a runaway for Tokyo silver winner Lamecha Girma (ETH), who took over with three laps to go and was unstoppable, winning in 7:59.23, the no. 3 performance of the year and the third time he has been under 8:00 this season (and it’s June!). Behind him were Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot (8:06.74), Getnet Wale (ETH: 8:06.74) and two-time Olympic champ Conseslus Kipruto (KEN: 8:08.76, his fastest since 2019). American Hillary Bor was eighth in 8:12.19.

The men’s high jump took shape at 2.27 m (7-5 1/4), with the field of five was narrowed to two, as JuVaughn Harrison (USA) and Norbert Kobielski (POL) were the only ones to clear. Home star Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) cleared 2.24 m (7-4 1/3) and ended up third. And then no one could clear 2.30 m (7-6 1/2) and Harrison got the win by virtue of his first-time clearance at 2.27 m, while Kobielski needed two.

Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs (USA) won the men’s shot, reaching 21.85 m (71-8 1/4) in the third round. That was good enough to hold off Filip Mihaljevic (CRO), whose best was 21.18 m (69-6) in round four.

In the men’s discus, red-hot Kristjian Ceh (SLO) led the competition throughout, but got his best throw in the sixth round at 70.72 m (232-0) for the win. Austria’s Lukas Weisshaidinger was second at 68.30 m (224-1), ahead of Tokyo Olympic winner Daniel Stahl (SWE: 65.87 m/216-1).

In the women’s 1,500 m, Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha won impressively in Rabat last Sunday (3:57.30) and she did it again in Rome, taking control of the 1,500 m on the final lap and moving away from teammate Axumawit Embaye – third in Rabat – to win, 4:03.79 to 4:04.53. Britain’s Laura Muir was a clear third in 4:04.93 and American Cory McGee finished fifth in 4:05.69.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Femke Bol (NED) dominated the women’s 400 m hurdles, taking the lead immediately and storming to the finish in 53.02, her best of the season and moving her to no. 2 in the world for 2022. Jamaica’s Olympic fourth-placer Janieve Russell came on late to get second in 54.18, ahead of Tokyo fifth-placer Anna Ryzhykova (UKR: 54.50).

Germany’s Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo got out to the early lead in the women’s long jump, but Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR) scored a seasonal best of 6.85 m (22-5 3/4) in the fifth round to win. Mihambo reached 6.79 m (22-3 1/2) on her opening jump, but could not do better. American Quanesha Burks was third at 6.77 m (22-2 1/2), a seasonal best.

This is pretty good stuff and there is more to come. Next up on the Diamond League calendar is the famed Bislett Games in Oslo (NOR), on 16 June.

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PANORAMA: IOC creates “Road to Paris” qualifiers promotion; Michael Johnson on the future of T&F; Biles and 90 others ask FBI for $1 billion

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Plus: Los Angeles 2028: Sambo on the program? = Winter Games 2030: Gu joins Salt Lake City bid as ambassador = Athletics: Lasitskene bitter over Russia’s ban from competitions; skating star Trusova might try track! = Football: FIFA’s Blatter and UEFA’s Platini on trial in Switzerland = Skating: Russians unimpressed with ISU’s raise in minimum age = Swimming: Russia’s Popov says sanctions won’t last much longer = Volleyball: Arrest made in theft of Poulter’s Tokyo gold = SCOREBOARD => Athletics: Strong marks in Wednesday’s NCAA men’s semis = Cycling: Van Aert leads Criterium du Dauphine halfway through; Wiebes claims second straight win in Women’s Tour = Fencing: U.S. tops PanAm Champs medal table = Wrestling: Stars Burroughs and Maroulis head Final X winners in NYC = COMING: Look for coverage of Thursday’s Rome Diamond League meet after its conclusion at www.TheSportsExaminer.com! ●

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

During the opening reports of Wednesday’s General Assembly of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, Executive Director Andrew Ryan (GBR) noted a concern of the membership:

“There’s been mention made of the Olympic Urban Series and the Olympic Virtual Series and they’re good examples, that they raise concerns amongst the federations about the IOC moving from being the single rights-holder to the Olympic Games to start to become the primary rights-holder for individual qualifying competitions for certain IFs and certain sports. We’re also aware that that has raised concerns amongst, let’s say, the sports that have chosen, or have not been invited, or not been part of that because they see this as a trend.”

This question and the expanding role of the International Olympic Committee was explained and explored during an hour-long presentation by IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL). He had answers to a lot of questions that the federations wanted to ask.

Is the IOC’s new initiative in creating qualifying events in 2024 for Breaking, BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding and Sport Climbing, step one to an IOC takeover of the qualifying process for the Games? Not exactly.

“[ASOIF President] Francesco [Ricci Bitti (ITA)] and Andrew have also talked about the Olympic Urban Series or the Olympic Qualifier Series as it’s now known. This has been built on the back of this goal of promoting the Olympic qualification towards Paris.

“Again, we’re not looking to take over Olympic qualification processes. Those are your properties, let’s be very clear about that.

“What we have done with the Olympic Urban Series and the Olympic Qualifier Series is seize again an opportunity where we had new disciplines coming into the Olympic program, new sports coming into the Olympic program where the calendars of events were still developing, where the federations did need financial support and so we brought together four sports and disciplines that are on the program for Paris and brought those together and planned three stops – three stops only in terms of series – as a pilot in the first half of 2024.”

What McConnell was selling was a different IOC program designed to raise the profile of the qualification phase of the sports to be contested in Paris in 2024:

“How can we seize the opportunity that the Olympic qualification processes give us? There are thousands of events, there are tens of thousands if not a hundred thousand of your athletes that are participating in a pathway to Paris. Now, only a small number of them ultimately become Olympians, but they’re all on an Olympic journey. And you are delivering those events and we want to find ways of adding benefits and value to that process for you, for the hosts of your events, the athletes themselves and to everyone involved.”

● “What we’re looking to do is … to make a wider promotion with you around the qualifiers themselves, for everyone’s benefit. … We’re looking to build around the theme of the ‘Road to Paris 2024′ in terms of the Olympic qualifiers over a two-year period, starting this month and have two versions of a brand that we can offer you. The two versions, obviously, one with the Rings, which has more value, but on the other hand has more restrictions, and another version without the Rings, which we believe we can adapt into most of the circumstances that you have, including those with commercial associations different to our commercial partners.”

“What this is not is the IOC mandating you to use an Olympic brand around your own events. It’s an opportunity, it’s not compulsory and it’s not mandatory. We want to be very clear on that.”

● “And hopefully that will add value back to you, again with an Olympic association on top of all of your communications. And it certainly adds value to us, because as you can imagine, we have a huge peak around interest on our own platforms around the Games, but then – naturally – a huge drop-off afterwards, because people are looking for fresh content, and what we have is content that is Olympic, content that is your sports, and it’s about sport, and it’s about athletes, and it’s about fresh content related to events every single week between now and the Games in Paris.”

It’s an interesting program; let’s see how many federations buy in. McConnell was also peppered with questions about the situation with Russia and Belarus as Olympic qualifying begins in earnest this year.

“I think I won’t be able to give you a definitive answer; you won’t be surprised by that. I think it is too early to make a decision regarding Paris 2024 and as I think we’ve all found, setting deadlines now for a final decision becomes quite dangerous, because that becomes the focal point rather then the actual situation. We know as time goes by, it becomes more challenging in terms of the qualification process, but equally, it’s very hard for us to set a timeline when no one is in control of what’s happening on the ground there.”

The qualifying questions extended to multi-sport Games, and on this, ASOIF chief Ricci Bitti was very clear about his view of whose events should be used to qualify for the Olympic Games:

“On the multi-sport Games, I believe we spend too much time for what we can get through this. The idea, and the culture of our counterpart, basically the people organizing continental Games is very far from our mentality. …

“They want the continental Games being valid for [Olympic] qualification, but is not feasible, because as soon as you say, ‘what do you give us in exchange,’ and they never were available in my time [with them] to give even a recognition to the effort that they ask the International Federations in any way. Because they ask to support these Games and they only want the good of the Games, the cream. So it is, to me, very difficult item, I would not be very optimistic and I would limit the time spent on this particular method of return-on-investment.

“I have nothing against [multi-sport Games]; I am also an NOC person, as all of us, but I believe these people, the regional NOC organizations are a little bit dreaming.”

The Olympic Council of Asia (Asian Games), PanAm Sports (Pan American Games), Commonwealth Games Foundation and others will not be happy to hear this, but at least they know where they stand with ASOIF. That’s being transparent, right?

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● Russia may be persona non grata in international sport, but the Russian-favored wrestling style of Sambo is working toward being added to the LA28 sports program.

According to International Sambo Federation President Vasily Shestakov (RUS):

As you know, Sambo was recognized by the International Olympic Committee at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Today we are negotiating with the organizing committee of Los Angeles. They are interested in our proposal.

“Perhaps we will consider Combat Sambo there, because such organizations as [Ultimate Fighting Championship], Bellator, are very popular there, and mainly Combat Sambo wrestlers perform there. Combat Sambo is one of those disciplines that can be interesting.”

Really?

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games announced Wednesday that Beijing 2022 double gold medalist Eileen Gu – who was born in San Francisco but competes for China – will be a “global ambassador” for the Salt Lake City bid.

Gu was one of the stars of the 2022 Winter Games, winning the Freestyle Big Air and Halfpipe and scoring a silver medal in Slopestyle. As to her nationality, she has said, “When I’m in the U.S., I’m American, but when I’m in China, I’m Chinese.”

Said bid chief executive Fraser Bullock, “Our bid for 2030 or 2034 will focus on using our Games as a catalyst to energize winter sport worldwide. Eileen has been effectively aligned and engaged in this same vision. As a global ambassador, she can carry that message to millions worldwide.”

● Athletics ● Atlanta 1996 immortal Michael Johnson (USA) joined the debate on Twitter on track & Field in the U.S., posting on Tuesday:

Track & Field spreads limited resources too thin. Maintains amateurism.

“Wimbledon: $35m prize money. 250 athletes. Tournament does not cover athlete expenses.

“T&F World Champs $8.5m prize money. 1,772 athletes. WA covers athlete accommodations and meals and partial flight.”

And from last week:

“1/7 I asked what sport represents a successful example of what track & field could be or should be. In the thread below I have listed my response to some of the replies, and end with my opinion what the sport needs to achieve it’s potential.

“2/7 F1. Liberty Media conducted extensive research to develop a long term growth strategy that is still in process. This is critical to long term success in track. Drive to Survive helped an already popular sport. A similar series would only help T&F if part of a larger strategy.

3/7 Cricket. Created new formats departing from the traditional. Not popular with purists, but it has grown the sport tremendously. Many charged with growing T&F are purists, or afraid of purist fans and athletes. Creating a fear of radical change to an antiquated sport.

“4/7 Tennis/Golf. Individual sports, most comparable to track. 4 ‘Majors’ every year serve as the pinnacle. T&F calendar is confusing & crowded. Olympics, World Champs, 14 Diamond League events. All presented as major, but Olympics is ‘The Major’, and not controlled by the sport.

“5/7 Team sports. Make T&F a team sport. Sports fans identify with teams. NFL, NBA, EPL, etc. To successfully transition to a team sport or add a team element requires a well orchestrated approach that won’t create more confusion with athletes sometimes team and sometimes not.

“6/7 @ByTimLayden said ‘I don’t think there’s another sport….with the breath of events and skill sets of T&F. Which is its greatest strength and biggest challenge.’ He’s right. And why the solution isn’t simple quick fixes, or relying on Usain Bolt, or emulating another sport.

“7/7 The solution in my opinion requires:
“1) research what it takes to attract new fans
“2) develop creative solutions based on the findings
“3) commit long term to a strategy for success
“The many replies confirmed the problem is bigger than any one simple solution or quick fix.”

Hard times for Olympic high jump champ Mariya Lasitskene (RUS), who has cleared 1.94 m (6-4 1/4) in domestic meets this season. Previously outspoken on Russia’s continuing suspension by World Athletics, she told the Russian news agency TASS:

“I don’t follow what is happening inside the federation now. I used to pay a lot of attention to the inner life in athletics, but now very little. I try to occupy my head with pleasant thoughts, which is very difficult.

“When will enough be enough? I ask myself this question and tell myself that I have become too embittered.

“You can’t be like that, but it happened over the years. This topic is very difficult for me. I would like it all to be in 2016, 2017, in the fall of 2019, when we were once again condemned, and we were sitting, not understanding what will happen. Now I’m going into the negative, and it’s all difficult for me.”

Remember the tantrum thrown by Beijing Olympic figure skating silver medalist Alexandra Trusova after the end of her competition? That she hated skating?

Turns out the 17-year-old might be considering track & field. She is apparently entered in the Athletics Week meet in Moscow continuing through the 13th, trying the long jump and possibly the 100 m!

Said Russian federation head Irina Privalova: “This is a very good idea to popularize athletics. Maybe this will help Sasha Trusova as well.”

● Football ● The trial of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (SUI) and former UEFA President and French star Michel Platini is underway in a Swiss court, with both men loudly proclaiming their innocence.

Reuters reported: “Swiss prosecutors accuse the pair, once among the game’s most powerful figures, of unlawfully arranging a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.08 million) in 2011 from FIFA to Platini.”

The Swiss Office of the Attorney General filed this case as one of 25 involving corruption in football. Blatter, 86, was charged with fraud, misappropriation of funds, criminal mismanagement and forgery. Platini, 66, has also been accused of fraud, misappropriation, being an accomplice to criminal mismanagement and forgery.

The case is scheduled to conclude on 22 June, with verdicts due by 8 July. Jail terms are possible for both.

● Gymnastics ● A massive group or more than 90 former gymnasts made filings against the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation for botching the Larry Nassar investigation, allowing his abuse to continue for more than a year.

CNN reported that “Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, claimants are required to give notice to the federal agency before a lawsuit is filed in federal court. The agency then has six months to either reach a settlement or deny the claim before the lawsuit can be brought.”

The total prayers for damages totaled more than $1 billion, with Olympic and World Championships stars Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols asking for $50 million each; gymnasts Kaylee Lorincz and Hannah Morrow each asked for $42.5 million and most of the claimants asking for $10 million each.

But it will be months before anything happens.

● Skating ● TASS reports that the Russian view of the International Skating Union’s raising of the minimum age for elite-level competitions is unimpressive at most.

Sochi 2014 Olympic Pairs champion Maxim Trankov told the news service:

“I wouldn’t raise anything at all. I’m not interested in looking at those women who are being promoted by everyone, at their performances. They were never interesting to watch, and it became interesting only after our girls began to jump quads. Women have always been the most uninteresting before that. It’s a fact. Watching people for 20 years collect five triple jumps, I’m tired. Watching how they struggle with triples.”

Dmitry Svishchev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports said:

“The decision of the ISU is aimed primarily at Russian athletes. Our school is the strongest in the world, and it is clear that many do not like it. But I am sure that our athletes and coaches, those with the highest qualifications will adapt to the new rules. I have no doubt that Russian figure skating will remain in the same high positions.”

And coach Tatyana Tarasova told TASS that figure skating without Russia is nothing:

“Our athletes are protected by their country, we show our honor, our professional qualities at competitions, collecting all the medals. The best protection for athletes is the opportunity to participate in competitions. ISU is not their grandparents, although they themselves are aged. So it is necessary to protect figure skating as such, because without our country it will not exist.”

Russian skaters remain banned under an emergency ISU Council decision.

● Swimming ● Russian Alexander Popov won Olympic golds in the 50 m and 100 m Freestyles in Barcelona ‘92 and Atlanta ‘96, and nine total medals. He thinks it won’t be long before Russians compete again on the international stage. TASS reported:

“Popov is sure that such bans will be short-lived, since the organizers of competitions in various sports suffer material losses due to the absence of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the tournaments. ‘Unfortunately, the postulate that sport is out of politics has lost its force,’ he said. ‘We are waiting for common sense to prevail. I am more than sure that this is short-lived. Have you watched the men’s World Ice Hockey Championship? Instantly.”

● Volleyball ● Anaheim Police made an arrest in the theft of U.S. Olympic volleyball setter Jordyn Poulter, but her Tokyo 2020 gold medal was not recovered.

The Los Angeles Times reportedJordan Fernandez, a 31-year-old Anaheim resident, was arrested Friday, jail records show. He was charged Tuesday with first-degree residential burglary, second-degree vehicle burglary, felony identity theft and felony possession of narcotics, according to the Anaheim Police Department.”

The theft was apparently made on 25 May and Poulter is offering a $1,000 reward for its safe return.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● /Updated/The NCAA Track & Field Championships started Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, with the men’s semifinals of most of the track races and a few finals.

In the sprints, Oregon’s Micah Williams had the fastest semifinal time at 10.03 and Javonte Harding of North Carolina A&T smoked the 200 m in 19.96, moving to no. 8 on the 2022 world list. Defending champ Joseph Fahnbulleh (Florida/LBR) won semi three at 20.10. (Update: Harding was later disqualified; thanks to ATFS Treasurer Tom Casacky for the follow-up.)

Three men went under 45 in the 400 m, led by a lifetime best for Champion Allison of Florida in 44.29, no. 6 for 2022. He finished just ahead of defending champion Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T (44.43) and Jonathan Jones (Texas/BAR: 44.97).

World leader Moad Zahafi (Texas Tech/MAR) qualified for the 800 m final with a breezy 1:46.66 to win semi two. Florida State’s Trey Cunningham, the world leader in the 110 m hurdles, won his semi and led all qualifiers at 13.21.

The most noteworthy field-event final was the men’s shot, where Texas’ Adrian Piperi won his second career NCAA outdoor title at 21.52 m (70-7 1/4).

The women’s semis are Thursday.

● Cycling ● The fourth stage of the 74th Criterium du Dauphine in France was an Individual Time Trial on a flat, 31.9 km course. No surprise then that 2020 and 2021 World Time Trial Champion Filippo Ganna (ITA) was the winner, in 35:32.

More important for the overall race standings was Belgian Wout van Aert, who finished second in the Time Trial (35:34), ahead of Britain’s Ethan Hayter (35:49). With four stages remaining, van Aert leads by 53 seconds over Matteo Cattaneo (ITA) and Slovenian superstar Primoz Roglic (+0:56).

At the Women’s Tour in Great Britain, Dutch star Lorena Wiebes won the third stage, a hilly, 107.9 km course with a flat run-in to the finish, in 2:51:57 at the end of a mass sprint. It was the second stage win in succession for Wiebes, who now leads the race by 13 seconds over Sofia Bertizzolo (ITA) and Alexandra Manly (AUS). American Coryn Lebecki is 16 seconds back in sixth, with three stages left.

Manly and Labecki went 2-3 on Wednesday’s stage as the top 47 received the same time.

● Fencing ● The Pan American Championships concluded in Asuncion (PAR), with another gold for the U.S. women, this time in the Team Epee.

Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, Kat Holmes, Hadley Husisian and Anna van Brummen took the Epee gold, with a 35-23 win over Venezuela in the final. Holmes won the silver in the individual women’s Epee, with Isabel Di Tella (ARG) taking the gold, 15-9, in the final.

Venezuelan star Ruben Limardo Gascon, the London 2012 Olympic Champion, took the men’s Epee title, 10-9, in the final against countryman Grabiel Lugo. The Venezuelans, of course, won the Team Epee gold, 32-31. over Colombia.

The final medal table showed the U.S. the leader with 15 total medals (7-4-4) to finish ahead of Canada (11: 2-5-4) and Venezuela (6: 2-2-2).

● Wrestling ● The second session of the “Final X” selection matches for the 2022 World Championships was held in New York on Wednesday as part of a fund-raiser for the Beat the Streets program, with the results assuring the U.S. of a powerful squad in Belgrade (SRB) in September.

In the men’s Freestyle finals, 2012 Olympic champ and five-time World Champion Jordan Burroughs was a popular winner at 79 kg, but had to go to three matches to defeat Chance Marsteller, 4-0, 2-2 (loss), 5-0.

Three-time World Champion Kyle Dake swept Jason Nolf at 74 kg, 4-2 and 2-1, and Tokyo Olympic champ David Taylor won 4-2 and 10-0 at 86 kg over Zahid Valencia. Yianni Diakomihalis will return to the Worlds for the U.S. at 65 kg by defeating Evan Henderson, and Hayden Zillmer will make his first Worlds appearance with an upset win over two-time Worlds bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, 0-5, 4-3 and 5-5 on criteria.

Four women’s Freestyle bouts were held, with Rio 2016 gold medalist and three-time World Champion Helen Maroulis defeating Alexandra Hedrick at 57 kg, by 10-0, 10-0. Same for 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, who made the team at 50 kg via 10-0, 10-0 wins over Alyssa Lampe. Teen star Amit Elor, 18, also scored 10-0, 10-0 wins to take the 72 kg title over Skylar Grote. Dominique Parrish (53 kg) made her first Worlds team by beating Felicity Taylor, 7-2, 8-2.

The Greco-Roman matches resulted in four World Championship veterans making the 2022 team: Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Kamal Bey (77 kg), Alan Vera (87 kg) and G’Angelo Hancock (97 kg). Tokyo Olympian Alejandro Sancho will make his Worlds debut in 2022 at 67 kg.

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LANE ONE: The bells are ringing in Paris, but not for joy: finances are officially tight for the 2024 Olympic Games

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet (at right) addressing the ASOIF General Assembly on Wednesday (Photo: Livestream screen shot)

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At the end of a detailed – and well-received – presentation before the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, the President of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, three-time Olympic canoeing gold medalist Tony Estanguet (FRA) told senior executives of 27 federations which they did not want to hear:

Paris 2024 is progressing well, and along with the team are fully committed to deliver fantastic Games in 2024. In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the main challenge that we will be tackling in the second half of ‘22: the budget.

“As [ASOIF President] Francesco [Ricci Bitti (ITA)] mentioned, the health, economy, the geopolitical crises that have occurred over the last two years pose new challenges for Paris 2024. And without going into too many details, the Covid crisis and the terrible conflict in Ukraine have caused major breakdowns in production, and supply chains. They have also generated an inflationary environment that was impossible to anticipate a few months ago.

“As a result, even though we have already secured most of our revenues, this challenging context puts the Paris 2024 overall budget at risk, since most of our expenses have not been incurred yet. This is why we have two main objectives for the months to come. The first one is to continue – thanks to your support – to push optimization and savings even further, behind the scenes, avoiding any risk for the Games delivery.

“And the second objective is to maintain the level of ambition, to best showcase your sport’s athlete performance and send to the world the best possible image of the Olympic Movement. We don’t want to choose between responsibility and ambition. This is why our project remains attractive for the stakeholders and the general public, with 82% of public support, according to the last survey.

“And we will need your help to successfully address this challenge. Together, we can work on some sensible optimizations on many aspects of the Games delivery, because you are the ones who know best what can be done in your respective sports. If we share the same goal and work in close collaboration, I am convinced we will be able to find solutions together.”

The organizing committee’s budget is currently set at €3.98 billion (~$4.28 billion U.S.), comprised primarily of funds from the International Olympic Committee, domestic sponsorships and other marketing programs, and ticket sales.

The budget difficulties, an echo of past strains at Rio 2016 and with the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games to 2021, were underscored by ASOIF Executive Director Andrew Ryan (GBR):

“I think we have to accept we are in an era, as we were with Rio and Tokyo, where [the ASOIF] Council strongly believes … there will be a great deal of emphasis of the optimization of how we deliver these Games, in an efficient way, to the highest service level possible.

“What that means, in blunt speech, is there will be very tight financial constraints. But against that, we also have to then make everyone aware – all of us, the organizing committee, the IOC – that delivering these Games therefore will be about a cooperation. That means total transparency, total openness, full consultation and as we go very close now into the two-year period for the Paris Games, that’s something which is going to become very important.

“Because it’s also certain that Paris will rely – we know this from much of the feedback we get from you – on the cooperation of the International Federations to find savings, cost savings, and so on which will make the Games possible, for Paris to deliver their dream, even within, Tony, the constraints of the financial conditions we face due to a number of things. We know the Covid pandemic era, also now against the background of inflation and economic impacts, at least in part but often fully associated with the war in Ukraine.”

That sounds easy enough, but then there was this exchange between FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis (GRE) and Estanguet over the highly contentious question of venues for the group-stage games in basketball, as well as the 3×3 tournaments:

“We fully respect that the Olympic Games may not [any] longer be able to offer conditions equal to some of the world championships – in our case, the basketball World Cup – but I think everyone is ready to accept this because this is about the experience of the Olympics. It’s about the Opening Ceremony, it’s about the Olympic Village, it’s about the feeling of belonging to the no. 1 sporting event on the planet, and in this case, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. …

“[But] we don’t feel that our athletes should be subject to the conditions that we currently have on the table. I’m talking about being able to accommodated in Paris, in the Village, to have transportation up to one hour, not three hours to the venues, and a venue which complies with technical requirements. For example, guarantees on the safety of play during the hottest days of the summer, and conditions that we can take care of the recovery and the meals of the athletes.

“We’re happy to fill up the big venues, to help the organizing committee generate ticketing revenue, but we feel some basic conditions for our players, like in all previous Olympics, should be respected since the athlete experience is at the heart of the Games.”

Estanguet replied, quite diplomatically, in pertinent part:

“I agree with you that it’s thanks to your support since the beginning that this project is still right on track, because we all know in this room that we haven’t been in an easy situation with all the different crises, and the level of ambition is very high, the level of expectation is very high.

“Everyone would like to play in the center of Paris, in the best arena, in the best location, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and since the beginning globally, you all assist and support [the] Paris 2024 vision to be spectacular, ambitious, but also popular, and putting the sport out of stadiums also when it’s feasible to marry the best of France, the iconic landmarks, with the sport emotions was key for us. It was a promise and we are still on track to deliver it. …

“We have to adapt, we have to optimize, we have to find solutions to maintain the level of ambition as much as we can with our budgetary limits, and that’s why we are together studying, optimizing and finding the best optimization, compromise. I know it’s not easy for you and I really appreciate the effort you made already, in the past – in the recent past and recent years – to stand where we stand today. We will still have challenges and probably beyond basketball. We don’t know exactly what will happen in the coming two years, but we have to be ready to adapt, to be flexible, to find collective solutions acceptable – and when I say acceptable, it’s acceptable for you first – but it’s also acceptable for all our stakeholders.”

And then – ominously – Estanguet added:

“The public opinion is so far very in support of the Games. But we also know that it could be some kind of fragility where we will continue this very difficult context to increase the budget, so that’s why we need to find solutions. You can count on our side to really try to give the best to basketball, to the athlete’s family in basket, and trying to find a solution to, again, optimize the athlete experience.

“It won’t be easy and for us, it’s really difficult on a daily basis – you all know that – but we are here to try to maintain a kind of balance, also, among the sports and offer to the French audience very good capacity for basketball, for instance, and that’s also a balance we’re trying to look to at at the moment.”

Observed: Every organizing committee, no matter how well intended, talented or managed, goes through this situation. Russia’s war against Ukraine has serious economic implications for Europe and inflation fears are only stoking concern.

However, for future organizers, Zagklis’ assertion that the Olympic Games may not be at the standard of some of the more gaudy world championships – like FIBA’s World Cup – is a welcome admission of reality that can be taken to the bank. It’s worth wondering how many of his fellow federation executives agree with his comment.

The Paris 2024 discussion was only part of a day-long meeting of the ASOIF General Assembly, mostly in-person in Lausanne (SUI), but also with some guests online. On the agenda was a discussion of the distribution of the $540 million provided by the IOC from its Tokyo 2020 television rights sales, which is distributed by ASOIF.

The federations agreed in 2013, and have since maintained, a distribution formula with five groups, with Aquatics, Athletics and Gymnastics at the top, then Basketball, Cycling, Football, Tennis and Volleyball in the second tier and then eight sports in the third tier, nine in the fourth and three in the fifth (28 total).

There was a request from some of the sports in tiers 3-4-5 to equalize the payments, since they were fairly close anyway – with $1-2 million each – but the IOC was not amenable to a raising the payout. And as Ricci Bitti noted, “It’s not our money, it’s the IOC’s money.”

The role of the federations in governance was also discussed at length, including what will happen to the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), which pre-dates the ASOIF, but is now on the verge of dissolution, to be voted on in September.

Essentially, the roles that GAISF played over the years have been taken up by other organizations, making it irrelevant. However, the long-time role of GAISF in vetting and recognizing new international federations continues to be important with the explosion of new sports, and a new structure is needed.

Ricci Bitti stated that, in the end, this is all about trying to get onto the Olympic program and so a new committee that includes the IOC as well as the associations of (1) summer Olympic federations, (2) winter Olympic federations, (3) recognized federations and (4) non-recognized federations is suggested. This would include strict regulations on admission and veto powers for existing federations which could be challenged by new organizations.

There is a lot going on in the Olympic Movement behind the scenes, but the question of Paris and money has taken center stage with 778 days to go.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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THE TICKER: ISU agrees to increase age limit to 17; Canada’s men’s football team on strike over money; new gymnastics code of conduct!

(★ Friends: Thanks for your help in keeping this site going. Please donate here if you would like to assist; your support is our inspiration ★)

Plus: Tokyo 2020: Japanese cities that hosted delegations to get funds for more outreach = Aquatics: FINA announces Athletes’ Committee candidates; only one American = Athletics: Interesting research on the effect of carbon-plate shoes on all events; it’s not easy: Stockholm’s wrong-way marathon and world U-20 record disallowed over no timing-system test = Cycling: LeMond diagnosed with leukemia = Surfing: 2022 World Surfing Games coming to Huntington Beach = Wrestling: new Hall of Famers include four Olympic medalists = SCOREBOARD => Cycling: Van Aert leads at Criterium du Dauphine; Copponi leads Women’s Tour in England = Fencing: More U.S. medals at PanAm Champs = Golf & Tennis: the “medal winners” at the U.S. Women’s Open and French Open ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“The ISU Congress voted in favor of the ISU Council Proposal 22 to gradually increase the age limit for Senior Skaters from 15 to 17 years for the sake of protecting the physical and mental health, and emotional well-being of the Skaters. There will be no change for the season 2022/23. An increase to 16 years for the season 2023/24 and an increase to 17 years for the season 2024/25 and subsequent seasons will then be implemented.”

As a follow-on to the circus surrounding the doping case of Russia’s 15-year-old star, Kamila Valieva in and around the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the International Skating Union voted Tuesday to modify its age rules. The 58th ISU Congress, with more than 250 delegates in attendance, is meeting this week in Phuket (THA) and had multiple proposals on raising the age limit, which had been championed by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER), among many others.

The new rule applies not only to figure skating, but also to speed skating and short track, meaning that the age limit for all ISU events will be 17 by the time of the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina (ITA). There are penalties for cheating:

“In case of violation, the ISU Member concerned may lose the right to send Skaters the following season to all Senior and Junior (as the case may be) ISU Championships and International Competitions.”

In response, famed Russian figure skating coach Tatiana Tarasova told the TASS news agency, “They have upped the age and let it be. However, we will continue winning and I see nothing negative about it. However, I see no positive sides as well. It’s just another set of new regulations.”

Beyond the age limit proposals, there were plenty of political questions being considered in Phuket:

● Three Ukrainian proposals to bar or remove Russian and Belarusian delegates from the Congress all failed on secret-ballot votes. A two-thirds majority was required, but was not reached.

● A proposal to increase the age limit for ISU office holders to 80 at the time of election, and that would specifically allow 77-year-old ISU First Vice President Alexander Lakernik (RUS) to be elected to another term, was defeated in a secret-ballot vote.

● Urgent Matter 2 was a proposal to amend the ISU Constitution to allow the ISU Council to impose suspensions on member federations or on individuals specifically in the case of civil unrest or war or other events which impede the activities of the ISU or its member federations. This was defeated, but no change in the status or Russia or Belarus was made, since the ISU’s ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors was based on the existing “exceptional circumstances” provision of Article 17.1.q of the ISU Constitution.

A series of proposals to allow advertising patches on skating outfits was sent back to committees for further debate, but to return for a vote on Friday.

The Congress continues through Friday, when elections will be held for multiple offices, including for ISU President.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXII Olympiad: Tokyo 2020 ● Even with Covid, 250 Japanese cities and towns hosted about 8,000 athletes and staff prior to the Tokyo Games, and 35 actually hosted delegations after the Games were completed.

On Monday, Kyodo News reported that these cities and towns “will be eligible for new subsidies aimed at promoting people-to-people exchanges with their respective partner countries” according to government sources.

The new program is expected to start in 2023 and be administered by the Japan Sports Council, using funds from soccer lotteries.

The idea is to extend the legacy of the Tokyo Games and connect the towns with their guests, with whom they had limited contact due to the pandemic.

● Aquatics ● FINA announced the candidate list for its Athletes’ Committee, with 29 individuals running for 20 spots.

There are plenty of familiar names, including swimmers Katinka Hosszu (HUN), Alia Atkinson (JAM) and Matt Sates (RSA), divers Tingmao Shi (CHN) and Jack Laugher (GBR) and open-water stars Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) and Ferry Weertman (NED).

Only one American is running: four-time World Championships medalist Bill May in Artistic Swimming.

Voting will take place at the upcoming FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest (HUN); swimmers will vote from 16-25 June and all other disciplines from 16-28 June.

● Athletics ● Veteran British coach and educator Peter John L. Thompson created a fascinating study of the impact of carbon-plate footwear on performance, using world-list data from 2015-21. Published by Track & Field News, the data shows:

“Carbon-plated track & field spikes specifically provide a fatigue-resistant performance enhancement to athletes through two potential sources:

“1. An external, metabolic-sparing kinetic energy return
“– most relevant to improving Running Economy in Endurance: 800m – Marathon

“2. Power amplification through the timing of an external kinetic energy return
“– most relevant in the force production phase of the ‘Power’ events: Sprints, Hurdles, Jumps, Throws and Combined Events.”

So all events are affected, not just endurance. But Thompson’s research shows a significant impact for races from 800 m to 10,000 m on the track, and impacts in the sprints for women (but not men) and in the hurdles for both men and women.

In the field, no clear advantage is shown in men’s jumps, but there is a performance increase for women. Same for the throws, with women showing marked improvements on the Shot and Hammer and less in the others.

The bottom line: “There is no disputing the significant impact of Carbon-plated spike technology on the running events. The other event groups show some impact but not such a consistent picture.”

It isn’t easy managing a track meet or a road race.

At the Stockholm Marathon on Saturday (4th), men’s race leaders Felix Kirwa (KEN), Tesfaye Lencho Anbesa (ETH) and Merhawi Kesete (ERI) were at about the 30 km mark, when they continued to follow the lead car instead of motorcycles who were supposed to lead through a viaduct where automobiles are not allowed.

The mistake was recognized about a minute later and the trio had to backtrack and re-join the course, by which time they had lost the lead. But Kirwa surged again and won in 2:11:08, followed by Kesete (2:11:45) – both running about an extra 1,000 m – but Anbesa dropped out.

Race director David Fridell explained that the communications between the lead car, the motorcycles and the course marshals got fouled up. “We have to think further about how we ensure that the critical situations are not only double- and triple-checked in the future, but also quadruple-checked.”

On 30 April, Botswana’s 18-year-old Letsile Tebogo won the men’s 100 m on home soil at the Gaborone International, running 9.96 with a legal, +1.9 m/s wind to break the World U-20 Record of American Trayvon Bromell (9.97) from 2014.

Nope.

World Athletics did not ratify the mark, citing Rule 31.7.3: which requires that a record application must include “In the case of a Track World Record where Fully Automatic Timing was in operation, the photo finish and zero control test images”

No zero control test images, a procedure to ensure that the timing system is functioning correctly prior to the race, so the mark was not approved. From the Botswana Weekend Post:

“In an interview, Oabona Theetso, the vice president of the [Botswana Athletics Association], said that the association is responsible for the technical issues that occurred during the event. He also noted that no one will be held accountable for the negative effects of the issue. ‘It’s a lesson learned, so we shall avoid repetition of such adversities going forward,’ Theetso noted.”

It’s not easy.

(Thanks to reader Brian Russell for the reminder on the record issues with Tebogo’s mark.)

● Cycling ● Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, 60, revealedI have been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Fortunately, it is a type of cancer that is treatable, and it is a type of leukemia that is not life-threatening or debilitating.”

He found out about the diagnosis after feeling fatigued. “Following a series of tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which was completed last week, I received my formal diagnosis last Friday. My doctors at the University of Tennessee, with consultation from a team at the Mayo Clinic, have outlined a chemotherapy protocol which will begin this week.

“The long-term prognosis is very favorable. I am fortunate to have a great team of doctors and the full support of my family, friends and colleagues at LeMond Bicycles.”

LeMond was the first American to win the Tour, in 1986 and then again in 1989 and 1990. He remains the only official American winner after wins by Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis were disallowed for doping.

● Football ● One of the shocking results of the weekend was that a game was not played.

Sunday’s Panama vs. Canada friendly in Vancouver was canceled two hours prior to kickoff as the Canadian men’s National Team refused to play in a continuing contract dispute with the Canada Soccer governing body.

Sound familiar? Yep, this is the northern sequel to the now-settled tug-of-war between U.S. Soccer and its men’s and women’s teams.

The Canadian men posted an open letter, noting the team’s historic qualification for its first FIFA World Cup since 1986, and asking “Where is the money?” Calling relations with the federation “strained for years,” the letter states, “It’s time we take a stand for the future of soccer in Canada.”

In specific, the team is asking for details of the federation’s marketing agreement with an outside firm, better sponsorship sales, an equal contract with the Canadian women’s team, 40% of the FIFA prize money for the upcoming World Cup and other items.

The Canadian women’s team is also in negotiations with the federation, since January, and objects to the men’s proposal of equivalent shares of FIFA’s World Cup payouts, since the women’s prize purse is much, much smaller. (The U.S. teams solved this issue by combining the men’s and women’s FIFA payments into a pool and taking an equivalent percentage; a gift by the men’s team to the women.)

So now the rift is out in the open and the next question is whether the Canadian men will show up for their CONCACAF Nations League games on 9 June vs. Curacao in Vancouver and 13 June at Honduras. Both sides say they are open to negotiating, but what about Canada’s preparation for its first World Cup in 36 years?

● Gymnastics ● The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique adopted a new, seven-page Code of Conductaimed at promoting a positive culture based on fundamental principles of integrity, respect, honesty and fairness in the sport of Gymnastics.”

FIG President Morinari Watanabe (JPN) explained: “We cannot change years of bad practice in the sport overnight. While in some parts of the world, new generations of practitioners, coaches and executives developed approaches based on respect and wellbeing, abusive training methods still prevail in some places, with the strong conviction that it is part of the path to success. That cannot prevent us as the governing body from setting up standards applicable everywhere, and by so doing, reminding everyone that they have rights, duties and responsibilities.”

The new Code covers everyone involved in a gymnastics event, right down to any accredited person or volunteer. Starting with a commitment to “Behave with courtesy and politeness,” there are 10 prohibitions that apply to all:

“● Refrain from unsportmanslike language or conduct.

● Strictly refrain from any behaviour that could constitute, encourage or incite any form of
harassment, violence, abuse or otherwise cause harm. This includes physical, sexual and
psychological misconduct.

“● Abstain from any bullying or abusive language or behaviour towards others in person,
electronically or on any social media platforms, whether in a private or public form.

“● Abstain from any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda in any
Gymnastics competitions.

“● Proactively address abusive, bullying, manipulative or threatening language or behaviour and report any concerns of abuse or neglect of a Participant to the appropriate authorities
promptly.

“● Uphold the highest principles of fair play on and off the training and competition field and accept the results of competition with dignity.

“● Refuse any bribes.

“● Abstain from any betting activity, any attempt to manipulate results, or participate in any other form of dishonest, fraudulent or illegal activity.

“● Refrain from any abuse or misuse of your position of trust, power or influence.

“● Uphold the values of clean sport and never assist, advocate or condone the use of illicit drugs or other banned performance-enhancing substances or methods.”

There are additional sections relating to athletes, coaches, judges and officials and executive officers of federations. The “Coach-specific Principles” include, in part:

“● Never overrule medical and paramedical experts, and to respect medical advice regarding athletes suffering from any illness or injury, mental health conditions, or in prescribed treatment, in a recovery protocol or who are returning to training.

“● Refrain from any inappropriate, insensitive, hurtful, mocking or critical comments or behaviour regarding the athlete’s physical appearance, body shape or weight.

“● Treat all athletes with equity, respect, and fairness and avoid any kind of conflict of interest, impropriety, or favouritism.”

Cynics will observe that the proscription against challenging medical experts could leave the door open for abusers like Larry Nassar, who committed his crimes while acting as a team physician for USA Gymnastics.

● Surfing ● The International Surfing Association announced that the 2022 World Surfing Games will return to Southern California and Huntington Beach from 17-24 September.

It will be the fourth time that the event will be held in the cradle of surfing, after editions in 1984, 1996 and 2006. And it will be an important event for the Los Angeles 2028 organizers to see and evaluate; surfing was one of three sports added to the LA28 program which were not part of the bid package when Los Angeles was selected in 2017 (boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting were included, but are not currently on the program for 2028).

So a site for surfing must be found, as well as for skateboarding and sport climbing; the World Surfing Games experience will help with that selection, but the placement in Huntington Beach is no guarantee that the 2028 events will be held there.

● Wrestling ● The National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted 10 new members over the weekend, including four Olympic medal winners.

The inducted medalists included Clarissa Chun, the 2008 World Champion at 48 kg and the London 2012 Olympic 48 kg bronze medalist; Sara McMann, the 2004 63 kg Olympic silver medalist and a three-time World Championship medal winner in 2003-05-07; Andy Rein, the 1984 Olympic Freestyle silver medalist at 68 kg, and Jake Varner, the London 2012 96 kg Freestyle gold medalist.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Cycling ● At the Criterium du Dauphine in France, the 169 km stage three – with a major mid-race climb and an uphill finish to Chastreix-Sancy – proved to be a mass sprint to the finish, with David Gaudu (FRA) getting the win over Wout van Aert (BEL) and Victor Lafay (FRA), with the first 27 riders timed in 4:09:38. Van Aert is the overall leader, sex seconds up on Gaudu and 12 seconds ahead of Lafay.

At the Women’s Tour in Great Britain, the second stage was a fairly flat, 92.1 ride in and around Harlow and Dutch star Lorena Wiebes got the line first in the mass sprint to the line. It’s her fifth Women’s World Tour win this season, with Italy’s Barbara Guarischi and Shari Bossuyt (BEL) close behind. American Coryn Labecki was fifth.

France’s Clara Copponi remains the leader, by 0:03 over Maike van der Duin (NED) and 0:04 over Wiebes.

● Fencing ● The U.S. continued its strong showing at the Pan American Championships in Asuncion (PAR), winning two golds and two silvers in the men’s and women’s Foil events.

Rio silver medalist Alexander Massialas won his first PanAm Championships title after four silvers and a bronze between 2010-15, defeating Canada’s Maximillien van Haaster in the final by 15-13. Americans Gerek Meinhardt and Nick Itkin – both members of the Tokyo 2020 Team bronze medalists – won individual bronzes in Asuncion.

That trio, and Chase Emmer, won the men’s Team title, defeating Canada, 45-25, in the gold-medal match.

Canada’s Eleanor Harvey scored an upset win in the women’s Foil final, edging Olympic gold medalist Lee Kiefer of the U.S., 15-11. American Jacqueline Dubrovich and Canadian Jessica Guo won bronzes. Guo, Harvey, Sabrina Fang and Kelleigh Ryan won the Team title, turning back Kiefer, Dubrovich, Zander Rhodes and Maia Weintraub, 45-37, in the championship final.

The PanAms continue through Wednesday.

● Golf ● Lots of coverage of Minjee Lee and her four-stroke win in the U.S. Women’s Open at Southern Pines, North Carolina over the weekend, but it’s worth looking at the nations who had golfers in the top 10.

Australia’s Lee grabbed the lead and held it with rounds of 67-66-67 before a final-round 71 (-13: 271). She finished comfortably head of American Mina Harigae (275) and Koreans Hye-jin Choi (277) and Jin Young Ko (278) and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (279).

The U.S. got two more places in the top 10 with Nelly Korda and Megan Khang tying with Ireland’s Leona Maguire for eighth (282); Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and England’s Bronte Law tied for sixth (280).

● Tennis ● The big wins by Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Iga Swiatek (POL) at the French Open were widely publicized, but there were other medals handed out.

While Nadal defeated Casper Ruud (NOR), 6–3, 6–3, 6–0, the “bronze medals” went to Alexander Zverev (GER) and Marin Cilic (CRO). This was Nadal’s 14th French Open title and 22nd win in a Grand Slam tournament, the most ever.

Swiatek extended her winning streak to 35 matches by defeating Coco Gauff of the U.S., 6–1, 6–3, with the “bronze medals” to Daria Kasatkina (RUS) and Martina Trevisan (ITA).

The men’s doubles was won by Marcelo Arévalo (ESA) and Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) over Ivan Dodig (CRO) and American Austin Krajicek, 6–7, 7–6, 6–3. The semifinalists were Marcel Granollers (ESP) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG) and Rohan Bopanna (IND) and Matwe Middelkoop (NED).

The home team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) won the women’s Doubles over Gauff and Jessica Pegula (USA), 2–6, 6–3, 6–2. The semifinal losers were
Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend (USA) and Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT).

In the mixed doubles, Ena Shibahara (JPN) and Wesley Koolhof (NED) won over Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) and Joran Vliegen (BEL), 7–6, 6–2. The semifinalists were Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) and Kevin Krawietz (GER) and Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) and John Peers (AUS).

If scored as an Olympic-style medal table, the U.S. would have scored four medals to lead all countries, with semifinal losers earning a tie for the bronze.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: World leads for Duplantis and Ealey in Hengelo; Johnson’s Olympic Oak monument process advances; Phelps leads USOPC Hall selections

A Hall of Famer, no doubt: American swimming superstar Michael Phelps at the 2016 Olympic Games (Photo: Agencia Brasil via Wikipedia)

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(For our Highlights of the weekend’s top competitions, click here. For coverage of the Rabat Diamond League meet, click here.)

Plus: Paris 2024: Worries over security after UEFA debacle = Winter Games 2030: “Hard for the IOC to award back-to-back Games” to U.S. in ‘28 & ‘30; Sapporo will not hold a referendum = Athletics: Warholm’s injury “probably a cramp’; McLaughlin’s 51.61 included misplaced hurdles?; Jamaica loses women’s 4×100 U-20 record due to doping error! = Basketball: Griner does getting messages in prison; Nigerian government ban removes team from FIBA Women’s World Cup 2022; FIBA approves glass floors! = Cycling: UCI and Aigle arrange for Afghanistan women’s nationals later this year! = Football: U.S. Soccer CEO Wilson to resign prior to World Cup = Modern Pentathlon: UIPM asks athletes to 10 June meeting to explain new discipline = SCOREBOARD: Cycling: Criterium du Dauphine underway in France and Women’s Tour starts in Britain = Shooting: Hancock bags third gold in Mixed Team Skeet = Weightlifting: world records for Pizzolato in European Champs = AT THE BUZZER: U.S. leads May rankings in World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport! ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

Two outdoor world leads from Monday’s excellent Fanny-Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo (NED):

Men/Vault: 6.01 m (19-8 1/2), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
Women/Shot: 19.98 m (65-6 3/4), Chase Ealey (USA)

Duplantis made four straight bars and won easily, with Rutger Koppelaar (NED) second at 5.70 m (18-8 1/4). Ealey came in with a seasonal best of 19.76 m (64-10) but reached 19.98 m (65-6 3/4) on her fourth throw, her best-ever outdoors. She remains no. 2 all-time U.S. with her March indoor best of 20.21 m (66-3 3/4) indoors. She beat Portugal’s Auriol Dongmo, the World Indoor Champion, who threw 19.68 m (64-6 3/4).

A special 10,000 m race was held on Sunday, with Olympic champ Selemon Barega (ETH) leading three other countrymen under 27 minutes at 26:44.73, making him the no. 20 performer in world history (and no. 3 for 2022). He was trailed by Tadese Worku (26:45.91, no. 21 all-time), Berihu Aregawi (26:46.13, no. 22) and Yomif Kejelcha (26.49.39). Fantastic!

On Monday, Kenya’s Kumari Taki – the 2016 World Junior 1,500 m champ – won the men’s 1,500 m in an impressive 3:34.77 to move to no. 10 on the 2022 world list. Michal Rozmys (POL) was second in 3:35.40.

The men’s javelin was highlighted by another huge throw by world leader and 2019 World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN), at 90.75 m (297-9), trailed by Julian Weber (GER: 89.54 m/293-9) and London 2012 Olympic champ Keshorn Walcott (TTO), still just 29, at 89.07 m (292-2).

The women’s 10,000 m was a start-to-finish masterpiece by British star Eilish McColgan, who beat an excellent field in a lifetime best of 30:19.02 – no. 2 in 2022 – ahead of Ethiopian stars Letsenbet Gidey (30:44.27) and Ejgayehu Taye (30:44.68) and six more under 31 minutes. Among those was 2016 Olympic champ Almaz Ayana (ETH), now 30, who was eighth in 30:48.48. The race was so good that 15 of the top 20 performers of the season are from this race!

Tokyo 400 m hurdles bronze winner Femke Bol (NED) moved to no. 5 on the 2022 world list, winning in 53.94.

In the other sprints, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake won the men’s 100 m in 10.11 (-0.3 m/s) ahead of American Kyree King (10.23). Vernon Norwood of the U.S. won the 400 m in 45.28, with Christopher Taylor (JAM) second in 45.45 and Trevor Stewart of the U.S. third (45.93).

Britain’s Daryll Neita won the women’s 100 m in 11.19 (+0.8), with Kayla White of the U.S. fourth (11.31). Cuba’s Roxana Gomez won the 400 m (51.18), with American Wadeline Jonathas sixth (52.17). Jamaica’s Britney Anderson won the 100 m hurdles in a speedy 12.51 (+0.4), ahead of Americans Nia Ali (12.69), Tonea Marshall (12.70) and Tia Jones (12.71).

Kenya’s 1,500 Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon stepped down in distance and won the women’s 800 m in 2:00.36, beating 2019 World Champion Halimah Naakayi (UGA: 2:00.87). Olympic Steeple champ Perth Chemutai (UGA) won the Steeple at 9:14.00.

The Diamond League circuit resumes in Rome on Thursday (9th).

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

(Thanks to sharp-eyed reader Jim Bendat for noting an error in Thursday’s story on the after-life of Olympic venues, where a reference to the Los Angeles 2028 Games listed “1932″ instead. This has been corrected.)

● Games of the XI Olympiad: Berlin 1936 ● The story of high jump gold medalist Cornelius Johnson’s Olympic Oak took another turn last Thursday as the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Heritage Commission agreed by a 5-0 vote to consider designating the Johnson home and the oak for monument status.

There was no discussion against the proposal, but the current owner of the property, identified on the Zoom screen as Bleu Kim of KLD Investment, LLC, asked the panel what he was supposed to do now. He purchased the 6,220 sq. ft. property in 2019 for $927,000 with no knowledge of its historical significance and created plans for four units of housing, and is for sale for $1.29 million. He asked the Commission:

Can someone tell me what to do with my property? Just keep the property and then? You know, the building is not in living condition, so I don’t know what to do. Is there anyone who can help me? How I handle this, you know, the money? Is there anyone who can help me?”

Shannon Ryan from the City’s Office of Historic Resources explained that the process will take some months and any designation recommendation from the Cultural Heritage Commission would have to be agreed to by the City Council: “During that time, there is a freeze on permit activity, but [we] would be happy to meet with you and discuss what could go on during this time, if anything, and potential options for you if the house does get nominated, what you could do.”

Kim was urged to water the oak, which is in distressed condition, but his financial situation on this property may be in as bad a shape as the home and the tree. The LA84 Foundation and others are fundraising to try and buy the property and ensure the future of the property and especially the oak. It may take some quick action to keep the tree alive, quicker than the Commission may be able to manage.

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● The crowding, crime and disorganization around the Stade de France in Paris around the UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and Real Madrid on 28 May already has the birds chirping about repercussions for the Paris 2024 Games.

The International Olympic Committee’s 16-year marketing chief, Michael Payne (GBR), was one of the first to sound the alarm. Commenting on Wednesday’s upcoming meeting of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), he tweeted:

“If meeting is to be focused on #Paris2024 preparations – it could be a very long meeting. A Games with such incredible potential is at serious risk of not fulfilling that potential.”

And following a report that French President Emmanuel Macron was angry over the use of tear gas on spectators:

As previously stated – one massive event screw up, can be a massive boost for Olympic preparations, dragging everyone out of their malaise & creating sense of urgency, crisis & oh s**t. Good to see French leadership realising they have a problem. #paris2024″

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● “As we look at the dynamics of the other cities versus us, we recognize that back-to-back Games are challenging.

“Geopolitically, it’s hard for the IOC to award back-to-back Games in the U.S., for ’28 and for ’30. We know that that’s hard. But we also recognize there are opportunities through back-to-back Games, through collaborations. We’re continuing to work through those issues and present our case.”

That’s Fraser Bullock, the Chief Operating Officer of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee and the chief executive of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, the bidding group to being the Winter Games back, preferably in 2030, speaking at a public meeting last week.

So, the arrangements are being made for 2030 and 2034 at the same time. It was further reported that a small group will go to Lausanne to meet with the International Olympic Committee on 15-16 June. This will include Bullock, Bid Chair Catherine Raney Norman, Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs director Nubia Pena, event management consultant Darren Hughes and three-time Olympic alpine medalist Lindsey Vonn.

The Sapporo City Assembly rejected a motion by the Japanese Communist Party to hold a referendum on the area’s bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games. The proposal was easily defeated by the majority Liberal Democratic Party.

There is some opposition to the Sapporo bid on the grounds that the event will cost too much, given the inflation that plagued the Tokyo organizers for the 2020 Games, even without the complications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sapporo’s plan is well advanced and is considered a co-favorite with Salt Lake City to be awarded the Games next year.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame will welcome 14 new members on 24 June, with the Class of 2022 announced on Monday:

Olympians:
● Natalie Coughlin (swimming)
● Mia Hamm (football)
● Michelle Kwan (figure skating)
● Michael Phelps (swimming)
● Lindsey Vonn (alpine skiing)

Paralympians:
● Muffy Davis (alpine skiing & cycling)
● David Kiley (alpine skiing, athletics & basketball)
● Trischa Zorn-Hudson (swimming)

Teams:
● 1976 Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay (swimming)
● 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team

Legends:
● Gretchen Fraser (alpine skiing)
● Roger Kingdom (track and field)

Coach:
● Pat Summitt (basketball)

Contributor:
● Billie Jean King (tennis)

The group represents a combined 127 Olympic and Paralympic medals, including 86 golds. Voting was done by Olympians and Paralympians, members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family, and an online vote open to fans, with more than 432,000 votes received.

● Athletics ● It’s probably a cramp in my hamstring. It’s not fun to start like this, but hopefully I’ll come back stronger. I just need to fix this, see what’s going on . It’s not something I expected, I felt very, very good, so very sad that this happened.

That was Norway’s Olympic 400 m champ Karsten Warholm, speaking after he quit Sunday’s Diamond League race in Rabat (MAR) after one hurdles, grabbing his right hamstring. The race was his season opener, with American Khallifah Rosser going on to win in 48.25.

Meanwhile, there was more drama concerning Sydney McLaughlin’s sensational 51.61 400 m hurdles win at the Music City Track Carnival at the Vanderbilt University track in Nashville. Tweeted coach and commentator P.J. Vazel (FRA):

“Problem with hurdle positioning 5th one at 290m instead of 285 ??? @GoSydGo lost in her rhythm due to hurdles on wrong marks… Missed a possibility of a huge @WorldAthletics record in the process”

There were other tweets that hurdles five and six were in the wrong spots, and McLaughlin chopped her step at the sixth hurdles and at hurdles nine and 10. Could this have cost her a world record; she’s already the world-record holder at 51.46 from the Tokyo Olympic final. Possibly, very possibly.

The mark itself should stand, however, as she gained no advantage from the misplacement of any hurdles. Indeed, her ability to finish the race and run the no. 3 time in history is a testament to how amazing she is.

In the meantime, hurdle crews beware! A.T.M.D.

Very considerable irritation in Jamaica as a World U-20 Record in the women’s 4×100 m relay will not be recognized by World Athletics due to an error by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.

The team of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Brianna Lyston, and Tia Clayton won the CARIFTA Games final on 17 April in Kingston, Jamaica in a record time of 42.58, but Clayton was not tested following the event. Said the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association in a statement:

“It is a fact that all 4 (four) athletes were notified by the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission (JADCO) officials and presented themselves to the anti-doping station within the required time window to be tested.

“Unfortunately, JADCO took the decision, unknown to the JAAA and the NACAC’s Anti-Doping Delegate, not to test the athlete based on a JADCO standard. This was in direct contradiction to oral and written instructions by the JAAA.”

The JADCO Chair, Alexander Williams, took responsibility for the error:

“The international standard for testing does not bar JADCO from testing an athlete twice within a 24-hour period. This was a directive that exists in JADCO, unbeknown to me until this moment that if you test one time, you don’t test within 24 hours, and apparently, this is what led to the decision not to test this particular athlete on the 17th, after she was tested on the 16th.

“This is an explanation and not an excuse. JADCO dropped the ball on this, and JADCO is at fault.”

● Basketball ● CNN reported that two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is receiving some communications while imprisoned in Russia on drug-importation charges:

“Griner receives hard copies of letters that have been printed out. Emails to Griner are printed out by her attorneys and then submitted through the Russian mail system at the detention center, a source with knowledge of the arrangement tells CNN.”

She has been detailed since 17 February; the U.S. State Department considers her wrongfully held and continues to work on her release. A hearing may be held as soon as 18 June.

The Nigerian women’s basketball team was withdrawn from the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup as a result “of the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) from all international basketball competitions and activities for a period of two years.”

The internal ban was imposed on 12 May: “Following the unending crises that have plagued and nearly crippled basketball development in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has today approved the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all International Basketball Competitions for a period of two years.

“Government intends to utilize this period of break to address all contentious issues among stakeholders.”

Mali will take Nigeria’s place in the Women’s World Cup and further sanctions by FIBA for governmental interference may be imposed later.

This will change everything. Really, it will. SportsProMedia reported that FIBA has approved glass courts for tournament use, allowing the entire playing surface to be used as a screen.

The implications of an LED-covered floor are obvious and ominous, clearly offering in-arena graphics, box scores, tracking arrows and much more. It could also pave the way for sensors that will determine whether a shot is from behind the three-point line or on it, and so forth. The story noted:

“Fiba currently approves two types of glass floor, both made by German-based manufacturer ASB.

“The ASB MultiSports offers LED marking lines under the floor, while the ASB LumiFlex floor is a full video floor that enables interactive training applications and enhanced show staging with additional options for advertising.”

The manufacturer insists that the safety of the floors is of the same standard as wooden surfaces.

● Cycling ● This is fairly amazing:

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that the Women’s Road Championships of Afghanistan can take place in 2022. They will be held on 23 October in Aigle (Switzerland).

“It had become impossible to stage the event due to the consequences of events in Afghanistan in August 2021 for part of the population, in particular women.”

About 50 riders in the Elite and U-23 classes will compete over a 57 km course, comprising two laps, each with a 72 m change in altitude. The event is being jointly jointlyorganized by the UCI’s World Cycling Centre, the Afghan Cycling Federation, the organizers of the Tour du Pays de Vaud and the Commune of Aigle. Impressive.

● Football ● A surprise from the U.S. Soccer Federation, announcing that chief executive Will Wilson will step down as of 31 October, ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He joined in March 2020, working with President Cindy Parlow Cone and during his tenure, the notable conclusion of collective-bargaining agreements with the men’s and women’s National Teams were concluded.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne announced a special meeting with athletes on 10 June “designed to give athletes an opportunity for open dialogue about the New 5th Discipline.”

The message emphasized the prior coordination with the UIPM Athletes Commission, but also recognized the near-mutiny of many other athletes concerning the removal of riding from the sport:

“We heard you loudly, we listened to the feedback and we tried to give further explanation through all available communication channels, especially via the UIPM Athletes Committee – which is made up of athletes who were elected by their peers in June 2021.

“But sometimes that’s not enough, and we know it was never going to be enough to satisfy the demand for information about such a historic decision as this.

“That’s why we need to have this direct dialogue now, before the process goes any further, to provide athletes with as much context as possible and to gather information to help us understand and address your concerns.

“Change is hard for everyone, and especially when it involves something that stirs passion as much as sport. At UIPM we understand that, but we also understand we have an obligation to make decisions that will move the entire sport forward for the sake of future generations.

“We know that current athletes are being asked to make a major adaptation in their sporting lives – this is not easy. For many of you, it will be painful and emotional to give up on equestrian after many years of training and competing to become the best possible riders. But we have a stark choice: either we adapt or we are out of the Olympic programme.

“We want to work with you and to build the future of Modern Pentathlon with you.”

The response from the PentUnited athlete group on Twitter (format edited for readability) was swift and unimpressed:

“Reminder: IOC never asked @WorldPentathlon to remove our equestrian discipline. UIPM decided this. And now we are removed from the Olympic Games. Most athletes think that our best chance to stay in the OG is with a reformed equestrian discipline #savepentathlon”

“Athletes believe in a better future with a reformed riding discipline. @WorldPentathlon why you don’t listen to them?”

“‘But we have a stark choice: either we adapt or we are out of the Olympic programme.’

“WE ARE ALREADY OUT OF THE OLYMPIC PROGRAMME. Out. No MP is being planned for LA28. Nothing. Why are you perpetuating this myth? @WorldPentathlon”

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Cycling ● One of the watched-for previews of the Tour de France is the eight-stage Criterium du Dauphine in France, which started on Sunday.

The hilly first stage of 191.8 km was a win for Belgian star Wout van Aert, finishing with a final surge to sprint for the win over Ethan Hayter (GBR) and American Sean Quinn, in 4:37:31. Monday’s 169.8 route was another hilltopper, with Alexis Vuillermoz getting his second career UCI World Tour race victory in 4:03:04., beating a group of four others to the line, with Anders Skaarseth (DEN) second and Olivier Le Gac (FRA) third and American Kevin Vermaerke fourth.

The six-stage Women’s Tour began on Monday in Great Britain, with France’s Clara Coppini winning the flat, 142.1 route in 3:40:15 at the head of a mass sprint. Italians Sofia Bertizzolo, Elena Cecchini and Arianna Fidanza were 2-3-4.

● Shooting ● The final events of the ISSF World Cup in Baku (AZE) saw Olympic champ Vincent Hancock of the U.S. win his third gold, as he teamed with Austen Smith for a 6-2 win in the final of the Mixed Team Skeet event over Germany.

The men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol final was a 17-13 win for Korea against Ukraine, which had an excellent tournament.

The final medal count showed the Ukrainian with the most medals – nine – with two golds, four silvers and three bronzes. Korea and the U.S. had eight medals each, with Korea picking up the most golds (5-0-3) and the U.S. at 4-3-1.

● Weightlifting ● World records at the European Championships in Tirana (ALB) in the men’s 89 kg category, as Italy’s Antonino Pizzolato claimed new marks for the Clean & Jerk at 217 kg and for the total at 392 kg.

Pizzolato won the Snatch segment at 175 kg and then made all three of his Clean & Jerk lifts, topping out with the world mark of 217 kg.

Georgia’s super-strongman Lasha Talakhadze won the +109 kg category at 462 kg in total, winning his sixth European Championship gold, to go along with five World Championship wins and two Olympic titles in Rio and Tokyo.

≡ AT THE BUZZER ≡

Count yourself among the elite, super-fans of sport worldwide if you follow the World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport (WRCES), an “annual ranking measuring accurately the performance of all the countries having National Olympic Committees based on their international results in all the sports recognized by GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and in other sports, not yet part of GAISF, but having high popularity and universality.”

The rankings for May 2022 were announced, with the United States continuing to lead all nations; the top five:

1. 95,305 United States
2. 81,282 Norway
3. 80,179 Canada
4. 72,193 Sweden
5. 71,660 Austria

This is for only nine of 115 sports to be contested during the year, but it’s a start. This is the eighth year of the rankings, previously in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. The U.S. has won every year; in 2021, American athletes and teams piled up 1,642,250 points to 934,534 for Great Britain and 924,042 for France.

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ATHLETICS: Warholm pulls up, Thompson 10.83, El Bakkali 7:58.28 in Rabat Diamond League; McLaughlin screams 51.61 400H in Nashville!!

Double Olympic gold medalist and world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin (USA) (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

(★ Friends: TSX is a free site, but we need your help to cover our technical costs. Please donate here if you can assist. Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance. ★)

The fourth stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit was the Meeting Mohammed VI in Rabat (MAR) – begun in 2008 – on Sunday, with the focus on the seasonal debut of Olympic 400 m hurdles star Karsten Warholm of Norway.

The world-record holder, running from his favored lane seven, got off well and led over the first hurdle and was accelerating when he shot up in his lane and grabbed his right hamstring. He was done, ending a streak of 18 straight finals wins from May 2019 to September of 2021.

Inside him in lane six was American Khallifah Rosser, who has been running strongly this season, and no. 3 on the world list at 48.10. He powered into the lead on the turn and came into the straight with a lead he continued to extend to the finish in 48.25, ahead of Rasmus Magi (EST: 48.73). Wow.

The second feature was Jamaican Olympic sprint superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah, who was a clear winner in the women’s 100 m, running her no. 2 time in 2022 in 10.83 (+0.3 m/s), just 4/100ths behind her Pre Classic time last week. She ran away from Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV: 11.04) and Natasha Morrison (JAM: 11.22) in mid-race and was not challenged.

Britain’s Jake Wightman made a statement in the men’s 1,500 m, taking the lead with 200 m to go and powered away from the field to win in an impressive 3:32.62, no. 2 in the world for 2022! He zoomed past countryman Jake Heyward, who held on for second (3:33.54) and appeared to have more in the tank if he needed it. Morocco’s Abdellatif Sadiki was left standing at the start and then had to make up 50 m, but he not only got back in the race, but sprinted down the home straight to get third in an amazing 3:33.93.

The final event was the men’s Steeple, saluting Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), with Tokyo silver winner Lamecha Girma (ETH) and bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen (KEN) also in the race. It was Girma and El Bakkali 1-2 after 2,000 m and it became a two-man race to the finish, with Ethiopia’s Hailemariyam Tegegn the closest pursuer.

Girma led with two laps to go and a lap to go, with El Bakkali close, but then the Moroccan star blew by with 250 m to go and ran to the line in a world-leading 7:58.28, with Girma a game second in 7:59.24, and Tegegn third in a lifetime best 8:06.29. The home crowd went wild, with El Bakkali falling, face-down on the track in exhaustion. Worth noting: two-time Olympic champ Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) was fourth in 8:12.47 (his fastest since 2019) and American Hillary Bor finished sixth in 8:13.12.

American half-lap star Kenny Bednarek, the Tokyo silver medalist, won the 200 m with a strong turn, in 20.21 (+2.0), ahead of South Africa’s Luxolo Adams (20.35).

The men’s 800 m was headlined by the Tokyo gold and silver medalists, Kenyans Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich, but it was Collins Kipruto of Kenya who had the lead going down the final backstraight. But he was challenged by 17-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) on the turn and than Wanyonyi sprinted to the lead on the straight and won in 1:45.47. London 2012 silver medalist Nigel Amos (BOT) won a duel for second over the final 50 m with France’s Gabriel Tual, 1:45.66-1:45.71. Kipruto was fourth (1:46.29).

Greece’s Tokyo Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou won the men’s long jump with his 8.27 m (27-1 3/4) in the fourth round, ahead of Swiss decathlete – and long jump world leader – Simon Ehammer (8.13 m/26-8 1/4). American JuVaughn Harrison finished seventh, at 7.64 m (25-0 3/4).

The men’s discus was another win for world leader Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia, who reached 69.68 m (228-7) in the final round, after already leading at 69.42 m (227-9). Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) managed 67.16 m (220-4) for second and Matthew Denny (AUS) got a lifetime best of 67.07 m (220-0) for third.

In the women’s 400 m, world leader and Olympic silver winner Marileidy Paulino (DOM) put down the pedal at the 200 m mark and passed Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM) for the lead coming into the straight and won in 50.10. Sada Williams (BAR) passed McPherson in the final 60 m for second, 50.74-51.37. The non-Diamond League 800 m was won by Mary Moraa (KEN) in 1:58.93.

The women’s 1,500 m came down to a four-way fight with Ethiopians Axumawit Embaye, Freweyni Hailu and Hirut Meshesha, plus Australia’s Georgia Griffith. It was Meshesha who took charge on the third lap, taking a 7 m lead into the bell, with Embaye leading Hailu. No one could touch the leader, but Hailu passed Embaye on the turn and made a charge for the lead on the home straight. Meshesha had the best finish and crossed in 3:57.30, no. 3 this season, ahead of Hailu at 3:58.18 (no. 4) and Embaye in 3:58.80 (no. 6) and Griffith in a lifetime best of 4:00.16.

Kenyans Gloria Kite and Mercy Cherono led the women’s 3,000 m with two laps to go, with Medina Eisa (ETH) close, but then Britain’s Amy-Eloise Markovc moved up ahead of Cherono and into second, among a group of six at the bell. Markovc took the lead on the backstraight and led around the final turn, but Cherono surged on the final straight and won in 8:40.29, to 8:40.32 for Markovc and 8:41.42 for Eisa.

Ukraine went 1-2 in the women’s high jump, with Olympic silver winner Yaroslava Mahuchikh winning at 1.96 m (6-5), ahead of Iryna Gerashchenko (1.93 m/6-3). The women’s vault was won by World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris of the U.S., who cleared 4.65 m (15-3) and beat Nina Kennedy (AUS) on misses. Olympic champ Katie Nageotte (USA) missed all three tries at the opening height of 4.30 m (14-1 1/4).

Thea LaFord of Dominica, fourth in the World Indoors in March, won the women’s triple jump at 14.46 m (47-5 1/4) in the fifth round, just getting past Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts (14.43 m/47-4 1/4) and Neja Filipic (SLO: 14.42 m/47-3 3/4).

Also on Sunday was the annual Memorial Janusz Kusocinski in Chorzow (POL), celebrating the winner of the 1932 Olympic 10,000 m in Los Angeles who was imprisoned and executed by the Nazis during World War II.

Poland’s Wojciech Nowicki, the Tokyo Olympic champion, claimed a world-leading 81.58 m (267-8) to win the men’s hammer, ahead of a lifetime best by France’s Quentin Bigot (80.55 m/264-3).

On the track, the Poles were strong as well.

Poland’s Patryk Dobek moved to no. 7 on the year list in the men’s 800 m, winning in 1:44.49, just ahead of Benjamin Robert (FRA: 1:44.53, no. 8) and Alvaro de Arriba (ESP: 1:44.85). In the men’s 400 m, Alexander Ogando (DOM) won in a lifetime best of 44.68, no. 12 on the season.

Polish sprint star Ewa Swoboda won the women’s 100 m in a season’s best of 11.08 (-0.4), and countrywoman Natalia Kaczmarek won the women’s 400 m over American  icon Allyson Felix, 50.40-50.71.

Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, 20, won the women’s 800 m in a speedy 1:58.28, a lifetime best, making her the no. 4 performer in 2022. She edged Britain’s Jemma Reekie (1:58.44) and Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui (1:58.98).

World 100 m hurdles leader Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) continued to star, winning at 12.43 into a headwind of 1.4 m/s! She was way ahead of runner-up Pia Skrzyszowska (POL: 12.73); American Jade Barber was fourth (12.93).

The men’s shot was another win for New Zealand’s 2017 World Champion Tom Walsh over 2015 and 2019 world champ Joe Kovacs of the U.S., 22.31 m (73-2 1/2) to 22.00 m (72-2 1/4). American Chris Nilsen got a second win in Poland in three days in the men’s vault at 5.92 m (19-5), ahead of 2012 Olympic gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie (FRA: 5.81 m/19-0 3/4).

In Nashville was the Music City Track Carnival, with strong fields and a world leader for Olympic 400 m hurdles gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin.

She stormed to an almost unbelievable 51.61 victory, the no. 3 performance in history behind her 51.46 win in Tokyo and Dalilah Muhammad’s second in 51.58! Andrenette Knight (JAM) was well back in second in 53.39, ahead of Gianna Woodruff (PUR: 54.63).

This was McLaughlin’s second race of the year, after a 12.75 win in the 100 m hurdles at the Penn Relays. Amazing; what’s next?

American sprinter Marybeth Sant Price, who showed so much promise during the indoor season, set a lifetime best of 10.95 in the heats (+1.4 m/s), but it was Tamari Davis of the U.S. who won the final, getting a personal best of 10.91 (+0.8), ahead of Price, in 10.96 and, veteran Morolake Akinosun (11.00) in third.

Brittany Brown, the 2019 Worlds silver medalist, won the women’s 200 m in 21.99 (+0.5), way ahead of Candace Hill (22.60). Alaysha Johnson of the U.S. had another solid win in the women’s 100 m hurdles in 12.59 (-0.6); veteran track and bobsleigh star Lolo Jones was fifth in 13.73.

In the men’s 200 m, Josephus Lyles won and equaled his lifetime best of 20.03 (0.1), while 2019 Pan Am Games silver winner Freddie Crittenden beat World Indoors bronze medalist Jarret Eaton in the men’s 110 m hurdles, 13.31-13.40 (+1.5).

What a weekend!

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HIGHLIGHTS: Richardson 10.82w and 10.73w in Florida, three preps (!) go sub-4:00; Grimes wins four at Tyr Pro Swim!

Olympic women's 68 kg Freestyle wrestling gold medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock of the U.S. in action! (Photo: Larry Slater via USA Wrestling)

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Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/Updated/:

● Athletics ● It’s been a busy week on the track, starting with the Memorial Irena Szewinska held in Bydgoszcz (POL) on Friday.

The home team claimed three wins, starting with hammer stars Wojciech Nowicki and Anita Wlodarczyk. Nowcki, the Olympic champion from Tokyo, won the men’s competition at 80.28 m (263-5), just ahead of teammate (and four-time world champ) Pavel Fajdek (80.19 m/261-1). Wlodarczyk, the three-time Olympic champ, won with a modest 74.13 m (243-2) toss in the fourth round; she had two other throws that would have won the event.

Poland got a third win in the men’s high jump, from Norbert Kobielski (2.24 m/7-4 1/4).

The U.S. had a good showing, with wins from Elijah Hall-Thompson in the men’s 100 m at 10.02 (wind: -0.3), Jamal Britt in the 110 m hurdles (13.35; -0.9), Khallifah Rosser in the men’s 400 m hurdles (48.23), Chris Nilsen in the vault (5.80 m/19-0 1/4), and Tia Jones in the women’s 100 m hurdles, in 12.79 (+0.2), beating Tobi Amusan (NGR: 12.80).

Shot star Joe Kovacs finished second to New Zealand’s Tom Walsh in the men’s shot, 21.80 m (71-6 1/4) to 21.76 m (71-4 3/4) with Brazil’s Darlan Romani third (21.45 m/70-4 1/2).

Tokyo Olympian Tony van Diepen (NED) moved up to no. 4 on the 2022 world list in the 800 m with an impressive 1:44.31 win, a lifetime best. He barely edged South Africa’s Tshepo Tshite and Swede Andreas Kramer, both timed in 1:44.59.

Britain’s Adelle Tracey won the women’s 800 m in 2:01.57, ahead of Poland’s Anna Wielgosz (2:01.79).

More fast, wind-aided sprinting on Saturday at the Star Athletics Sprint Series in Montverde, Florida, especially in the 100 m.

In the women’s 100 m heats, Sha’Carri Richardson stormed to a windy 10.82 win (+3.5 m/s), ahead of Jenna Prandini (10.89w), Twanisha Terry (10.91w), Teahna Daniels (10.94w) and others. In the final, the wind picked up to 4.3 m/s and Richardson won in 10.73w, followed by Prandini (10.75w), Terry (10.85w) and Daniels (10.94w).

Canada’s Aaron Brown won his men’s 100 m heat in a very windy 9.87 (+5.5 m/s), followed by Isiah Young (9.97w) and Marvin Bracy won his heat in 9.91w (+2.6). Bracy took the final in 9.80w (+2.9), with Brown second at 9.91w and Mohamadu Fall (FRA) at 9.91w.

The 200s were also quick, with Prandini winning in 22.01w (+3.1) over Shania Collins (22.17w) and Brown winning race one in 20.15w (+3.5) and Fall winning race two (20.17w; +3.4 m/s).

On Sunday, the Pure Athletics Global Invitational in Clermont, Florida, saw two-time Olympic 400 m champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) win her 100 m heat in 10.92w (+5.5), but then skipped the final. Instead, It was Terry who won in a wind-legal 10.94 (+1.3), with Jamaica’s Briana Williams second (11.03).

The men’s 100 m started with Kyree King and Noah Lyles 1-2 in heat five in 9.90w for both (+3.9). Lyles skipped the final, but King was there to win in 9.98 (1.3) over Jerome Blake (CAN: 10.00).

Lyles came back in the men’s 200 m and scored a win in 19.86 (0.8), well ahead of Jereem Richards (TTO: 20.06) and younger brother Josephus Lyles (20.20.

More amazing high school miling, as three preps dove under 4:00 on Saturday.

For the first time ever, two high schoolers finished sub-4, at the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis on Friday, as Gary Martin (Warminister [PA] Archbishop Wood) was fourth in 3:57.89 (his second) and Connor Burns (Ashland [MO] Southern Boone) was fifth at 3:59.53. U.S. road mile runner-up Paul Ryan won the race in a lifetime best of 3:55.95.

Meanwhile, at the Golden South Series no. 2 at Tarpon Springs, Florida, Reinhardt Harrison of Ponte Vedra Beach [FL] Nease HS won the mile in 3:59.33! So, Burns and Harrison are the nos. 15 and 16 high schoolers – indoors and out – to break 4:00.

That’s four sub-4 prep milers in a single season, with Colin Sahlman (Newbury Park [CA]) running 3:58.81 indoors and Martin going 3:57.98 on 14 May. No other single year had more than two sub-4 high schoolers. Wow.

At the Sparkassan Galan in Regensburg (GER) on Friday, the German national men’s 4×100 m team ran a world-leading – and national record – 37.99. The team was Kevin Kranz, Joshua Hartmann, Owen Ansah, and Lucas Ansah-Peprah, with lifetime 100 m bests – in order – of 10.18, 10.14, 10.08 and 10.11.

That’s a combined 40.51 and they ran 6.2% faster for 37.99. So, if an American quartet of Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles and Trayvon Bromell – with lifetime bests of 9.76, 9.84, 9.86 and 9.76 for 39.22 combined – could duplicate Germany’s technical proficiency, they would run 36.78, right? World Record!

● Beach Volleyball ● The third Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 tournament of the season was in Jurmala (LAT), with tight, three-set matches for both the men’s and women’s championships.

Italy’s Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava (ITA) came from the no. 13 seed to score a dramatic, come-from-behind upset win over Qatar’s top-seeded Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan – the Tokyo bronze medalists – by 16-21, 27-25, 15-12. It’s the first win, and second medal of the season for the Italian duo.

Third-seeded Andre Stein and George Wanderley (BRA) ended up third, as they won the bronze-medal match from Kusti Nolvak and Mart Tiisar (EST) by 21-17, 18-21, 15-13.

The women’s final saw 2019 World Champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) claim a hard-fought win by 21-19, 20-22, 15-7 over Barbara Seixas and Carol Salgado (BRA). It’s the first medal of the season for the Canadian stars and their first tour victory since 2019.

In the women’s third-place match, eight-seeds Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos (BRA) won in straight sets over fourth-seeded Sara Hughes and Kelley Kolinske (USA), 21-19, 21-17.

● Fencing ● The Pan American Championships are underway in Asuncion (PAR), with the Sabre competitions swept by the U.S.

The men’s final was an all-American match-up, with Rio 2016 silver medalist Daryl Homer defeating Eli Dershwitz, the 2018 Worlds silver winner, 15-11. American Andrew Mackiewicz and Argentina’s Pascual Di Tella shared the bronze.

The women’s Sabre final was another American gold, this time for Eliza Stone, the 2018 Worlds bronze medalist, who defeated Canada’s Gabriella Page, 15-11. Canada also scored a bronze medal with Madison Thurgood; Shia Rodriguez of Venezuela won the other bronze.

The U.S. men – Homer, Dershwitz, Mackiewicz and Khalil Thompson – won the Team Sabre title, 45-37, over Canada, and the U.S. women – Stone, Honor Johnson, Tatiana Nazlymov and Elizabeth Tartakovsky – won their Team title final against Canada, 45-34.

The Pan Am Champs continue to Wednesday (8th).

● Football ●/Updated/The U.S. Men’s National Team has another friendly, this time against Uruguay in Kansas City, after both teams won impressively in friendlies during the week.

Uruguay came out as the aggressors, but the U.S. had the best of the match for the remainder of the first half. But neither side could score and while the Americans had 57% of the possession and a 7-4 edge on shots, it was 0-0 at the half.

The second half was better for Uruguay and they had two excellent chances, but could not score. In the 63rd minute, U.S. keeper Sean Johnson made an excellent save from close range on midfielder Federico Valverde’s strike that looked like a goal and then, at 90+3 in stoppage time, the U.S. was caught in a 1×2 counter with midfielder Facundo Pellistri sending a cross to star striker Edinson Cavani, who simply missed wide on a shot from the box to the right corner of the goal.

The U.S. finished with 54% of the possession, but Uruguay’s 8-2 advantage on second-half shots (12-9 for the game) accurately reflected their stronger offensive effort in the final 45 minutes.

/Updated/The U.S. was highly interested in the outcome of the World Cup play-in match in Cardiff (WAL) between Ukraine and Wales, with the winner joining England, Iran and the U.S. in Group B in Qatar in November.

A tightly-played first half turned in Wales’ favor in the 34th minute as a Gareth Bale free kick rebounded off of the head of Ukraine midfielder Andrii Yaromolenko for what was scored as an own goal. Ukraine had the better of play, with 63% of the possession and an 8-5 lead on shots, but the scoreboard was 1-0 for Wales.

And that’s how it ended. Ukraine controlled the ball, but could not score and Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey made nine saves. Ukraine ended with 68% possession and a 22-9 edge in shots, but it was enough. Wales will go to the World Cup Finals for the first time since 1958.

● Gymnastics ● The fifth and final stage of the FIG Rhythmic World Cup for 2022 was in Pesaro (ITA), one of the true homes of the sport. And the home fans saw the Italian team perform brilliantly.

Sofia Raffaeli, 18, won her third World Cup All-Around title of the season with a 126.800-120.950 win over teammate Milena Baldassarri, 20, a member of the 2021 Worlds Team silver squad. Bulgaria’s Stiliana Nikolova took third at 119.100. Alexandria Kautzman was the top U.S. finisher at 111.300 for 17th.

Italy also won the Group title at 68.350, followed by Bulgaria (62.250) and China (60.650), and the 5 Balls final, scoring 34.800 to 31.750 for China.

In the apparatus finals, Raffaeli claimed three of the four. She won in Hoop (32.800) over Nikolova (31.300), then on Ball, beating Ekaterina Vedeneeva (SLO), 33.650-31.150, and in Clubs, scoring 33.400 to 32.250 for Eva Brezalieva (BUL).

In Ribbon, it was Ukraine’s Viktoriia Onopriienko who scored a 30.900-30.500 win over Raffaeli, with Vedeneeva third (29.550).

● Judo ● The IJF World Tour Tbilisi Grand Slam drew 278 judoka from 36 nations and the home team was ready to perform.

Georgia scored a 1-2 in the men’s 60 kg division, with Temur Nozadze winning the final over Giorgi Sardalashvili, a 2-3 at 66 kg, as Giorgi Tutashvili won silver and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Vazha Nargvelashvili won the bronze, and a 1-3 at 73 kg from Tokyo silver winner Lasha Shavdatuashvili (gold) and Giorgi Terashvili (bronze). Tato Grigalashvili won silver at 81 kg.

On Sunday, the Georgians continued, winning with Beka Gviniashvili taking the 90 kg title, Onise Saneblidze and Giorgi Beriashvili going 1-2 at 100 kg and Gela Zaalishvili winning the +100 kg class. All together, Georgia won 12 medals in the men’s classes (5-4-3).

In the women’s division, Kosovo’s Tokyo 48 kg winner Distria Krasniqi moved up to 52 kg and won the final over Reka Pupp (HUN). Olympic bronze medalist Sanne van Dijke (NED) won at 70 kg, and 2021 World Champion Anna-Maria Wagner (GER) won at 78 kg. France was the only two-class winner on the women’s side, with Melanie Legoux Clement winning at 48 kg and Julia Tokofua winning at +78 kg.

Overall, Georgia piled up 14 total medals to six for France (2-0-4).

● Sailing ●/Updated/The Hempel World Cup Allianz Regatta off Aimere (NED) was the center of attention for nine of the ten Olympic Classes, with Dutch sailors prominent on the podium.

Bart Lambriex and Floris de la Werken (NED) – the 2021 World Champions – won the 49er class by 35.0-56.0 over Ireland’s Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, with Benjamin Bildstein and David Hussl (AUT) third (74.0). The Dutch stars won seven of the 13 races, were second once and fourth once to run away with the trophy.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Annette Duetz, now with Odile van Aanholt, took the 49er FX title, but in a tight, 53.0-55.0-60.0 battle with Isaura Maenhaut and Anouk Geurts (BEL) and Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine (AUS). Duetz and van Aanholt won three races, and while the Belgians won four – including the medal race – the Dutch were right behind them in the medal race in second to preserve their lead.

In the Nacra 17 class, Laila van der Meer and Bjarne Bouwer won eight of the 12 races and finished as a decisive, 33.0-40.0 winner over Joao Siemsen and Marina Arnot of Brazil. Laura Farese and Matthaus Zochling (AUT: 43.0) were third.

In the women’s Laser Radial, Olympic ninth-placer Vasileia Karachaliou (GRE) won a tight battle among six sailors, especially two-time World Champion Emma Plasschaert (BEL), 68.0-71.0, with Denmark’s Anna Munch third (75.0). Karachaliou won one race and was never lower than 12 in her scoring races, where Plasschaert won twice, had a second and a third, but also had scoring races of 17th and 22nd.

In the mixed-crew 470, Swiss Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler (fourth in the women’s 470 in Tokyo) won with 26.0 points to 30.0 for Chris Charlwood and Amelia Catt (AUS) and 34.0 for Japan’s Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka. The Swiss pair won three races and were third in the medal race to maintain a small lead to the end.

The Kiteboarding classes finished on Sunday, with Gomez Benoit (FRA) winning the men’s division easily, capturing 11 wins in the 17 total races and winning the final. Italy’s Lorenzo Boschetti and Riccardo Pianosi finished second and third. Annelous Lammerts (NED) also led the racing with nine wins, but then took the final to earn the class victory, ahead of Gisela Pulido (ESP) and Gal Zukerman (ISR).

The winds were insufficient for the IQFoil final races, so the Dutch celebrated a 1-2-3 sweep of the men’s division, with Huig Jan Tak winning over Max Castelein and Joost Vink, 16.0-19.0-28.0. American Noah Lyons was fifth (54.0). Peru’s Maria Belen took the women’s title, winning on a toe-break with Lilian de Geus (NED), as both won six of the races. German Lena Erdil (26.0) finished third.

● Shooting ● The massive, 29-event ISSF World Cup continued all week in Baku (AZE) and will conclude on Monday.

The U.S. was strong in Skeet, as always, with triple Olympic Champion Vince Hancock winning the final, 34-29, over France’s Nicolas Lejeune, with Jesper Hansen (DEN: 25) third. The women’s Skeet winner was France’s Lucie Anastassiou, who got by American stars Caitlin Connor – the 2018 World Champion – and Austen Smith (just 20!), 36-31-24.

In the men’s Skeet team final, the U.S. trio of Hancock, Phillip Jungman and Adam McBee were 6-0 winners over Greece. The U.S. got close in the women’s team final, but Connor, Smith and Dania Jo Vizzi lost to Germany, 2-1 in the shoot-off, after a 5-5 tie in regulation.

The men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol final was a match-up of the last two Olympic champions. France’s Jean Quixquampoix – the Tokyo winner – triumphed against Germany’s Rio winner, Christian Reitz, 32-26. Clement Bessaguet (FRA) was third (23). The Mixed Team final saw Korea score a 16-10 win over Ukraine.

The women’s 25 m Pistol final saw Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Kostadinova – the Tokyo 10 m Air Pistol silver medalist – win over Veronika Major (HUN), 32-27, with Anastasiia Nimets (UKR: 18) third. Ukraine won the team title, 17-11 over Thailand.

Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish, the Rio 2016 silver medalist in the 10 m Rifle, won the men’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions gold over India’s Swapnil Kusale, 16-10. Croatia took the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions team event, 17-7, over India.

Denmark’s Rikke Ibsen won the women’s individual 50 m Rifle/3 Positions, 16-12, in the tight competition with Anjum Moudgil (IND). The women’s team event for the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions went to Norway, 17-15, over Kazakhstan. India won the Mixed Team final, 16-12, over Ukraine.

In the 10 m team events, Iran edged Italy, 16-10 for the men’s Air Pistol title and Korea defeated Thailand, 16-8, for the women’s Air Pistol win. In the Air Rifle team finals, Korea beat Australia, 16-8, for the men’s gold and India swamped Denmark, 17-5, in the women’s final. In the 10 m Mixed Team events, Greece defeated Ukraine for the 10 m Air Pistol gold (16-6) and Korea defeated Serbia (16-10) for the 10 m Air Rifle title.

In Men’s Trap, Tokyo Olympic champ Jiri Liptak (CZE) was the winner over Kuwait’s Talal Al-Rashidi, 35-33, in the final. Daniele Resca (ITA) was third (23) and American Derrick Mein got fourth (13). Finland’s Noora Antikainen won over Olympic Mixed Team gold winner Fatina Galvez (ESP), 31-29, with Australian Laetisha Scanlan third (22).

Al-Rashidi got a gold in the men’s Team Trap, as Kuwait defeated the U.S. trio of Mein, William Hinton and Casey Wallace, 6-0. The American women, however, won their Team Trap event, with Aeriel Skinner, Kayle Browning and Rachel Tozier edging Australia, in a shoot-off after a 5-5 tie in the five regulation rounds. Australia’s Scanlan teamed with James Willett – they were the 2019 World Champions – to win the Mixed Trap title, 6-2, over Portugal.

● Swimming ● The Tyr Pro Swim Series continued in Mission Viejo, California, with a few members of the U.S. Worlds team for Budapest stealing the show.

No. 1 on the star list was 16-year-old Katie Grimes, who will swim the 1,500 m Free, 400 m Medley and the 10 km Open Water events at the Worlds. In Mission Viejo, she claimed wins in the 400 m Free (4:05.77 lifetime best), 800 m Free (8:27.72), 200 m Backstroke (2:09.52 lifetime best) and the 400 m Medley (4:36.77)! Grimes finished ahead of fellow teen Bella Sims (17) in the 400 m Free and the 400 m Medley, but Sims also mined silver in the 100 m Free, 200 m Free and the 100 m Back; she’ll swim on the 4×200 m Free relay in Budapest.

Poland’s Kasia Wasick was the only other multiple winner on the women’s side, taking the 50 (24.70) and 100 m (54.57) Freestyles.

In the men’s racing, Will Licon won the 100 m Breast (1:01.46) and 200 m Breast (2:12.28), while Trenton Julian doubled in the 200 m Free (1:48.01) and 100 m Fly (51.78). David Johnston won a tough distance double in the 1,500 m Free (15:18.32) and the 400 m Medley (4:19.54). Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash won the 400 m Free (3:51.12) and the 800 m Free (8:00.74).

Ryan Held edged Justin Ress in the 100 m Free, 48.64-48.90, but Ress came back to win the 100 m Back in 53.80.

None of the times were noteworthy, as the Worlds are coming up quick on 18 June and the tapering in training is only starting,

● Volleyball ●/Updated/The annual FIVB Women’s Nations League has started for 2022, with 16 teams competing and the top eight teams advancing to the championship round in July.

The U.S., the reigning Olympic champs, started play on 31 May in Pool 1 – being held in Shreveport, Louisiana – and defeated the Dominican Republic by 3-0, followed by a 3-0 win over Canada on 3 June and another 3-0 shutout, this time of Brazil on Saturday (4th).

On Sunday, the U.S. was handled – in straight sets – by undefeated Japan, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-20. Japan ended the first pool as the only undefeated team in the tournament; the U.S. was one of seven teams at 3-1.

● Wrestling ● The first of two “Final X” showdowns to determine the U.S. World Championships team for 2022 was held in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday, with 15 spots on the line: five each in men’s and women’s Freestyle and five in Greco-Roman.

The men’s Freestyle finals were headlined by victories by 2016 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder, two-time World Champion J’Den Cox and 2021 World Champion Thomas Gilman.

Snyder, the two-time World Champion and Tokyo silver medalist, defeated former Ohio State teammate Kollin Moore by 11-0 and 12-2 to make his eighth straight national team. Cox will try for a third world title at 92 kg, after defeating Nate Jackson, 4-2, 2-3, 3-0 in three tight matches. Gilman will defend his title as he raced past Virto Arujau, 12-2 and 14-2.

The other men’s Freestyle winners were Zain Retherford at 70 kg and Seth Gross, who scored an upset over 2021 Worlds silver winner Daton Fix, winning the last two bouts by 5-4 and 9-5.

Tokyo Olympic champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock will try for a second world title at 68 kg after beating up on Sienna Ramirez, 14-3 and 10-0. Tokyo quarterfinalist and 2019 World Champion Jacarra Winchester is on her way back to the Worlds at 55 kg after Jenna Burkert had to retire with an injury after winning the first bout, 6-4.

At 65 kg, Mallory Velte and Forrest Molinari met in a match of past Worlds bronze medalists. Velte won the first match by 9-1, but Molinari won the second, 3-1. The decider was a surprising 10-0 rout in just 1:33 for Velte, who won a Worlds bronze in 2018. New members of the U.S. Worlds team will be Abigail Nette at 59 kg and Dymond Guilford at 76 kg.

The men’s Greco-Roman clashes produced four familiar winners, including Olympians Jesse Thielke (63 kg) and Ben Provisor (82 kg). In addition, prior Worlds team members Max Nowry (55 kg) and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg) won their classes and will be joined by Benji Peak (72 kg), who defeated past Worlds team member Pat Smith at 72 kg: 3-5, 3-2 and 6-2.

The second “Final X” matches to complete the U.S. team will be held on 8 June (Wednesday) at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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PANORAMA: IOC now insists, “We don’t want anything to be built for the Games”; Jamaican coach Mills: time for track & field to become “fully professional”

Key slide from the IOC's presentation on its new approach to bidding for the Games (Photo: Screenshot of IOC presentation)

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Plus: Munich 1972: Massacre survivors may not attend 50-year ceremonies until compensation “clarified” = Los Angeles 2028: World Sailing commits to maintain Paris program for 2028 = Winter Games 2030: IOC technical team in Sapporo = World Games: IWGA expanding into between-Games events and eSports! = Athletics: Bolt coach Mills says sport needs to be professional, establish Worlds as the biggest prize, not Olympics = Cycling: UCI agrees to help train 30 African riders in advance of 2025 Worlds in Rwanda = Swimming: Thomas graduates Penn, eyes Olympic Trials slot, even with tougher transgender testosterone limits = SCOREBOARD => Football: U.S. dominates Morocco on way to 3-0 win in Cincinnati; Ukraine shocks Scotland, 3-1, to advance to World Cup play-in match with Wales Sunday ●

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

While the International Olympic Committee’s recent release of the Olympic Studies Centre report, Over 125 years of Olympic venues: post-Games use, provided a detailed accounting of the post-event use of hundreds of sites used for the modern Games, it’s worth asking: why go to all the trouble of compiling it?

The answer came during an online discussion with reporters Thursday morning in which IOC staff leaders dealing with sustainability, legacy and future hosts, explained that planning for the future required more knowledge of the past.

And with the IOC’s 180-degree change in attitude toward sustainability – especially in the areas of costs and environment – the fact that 85% of all permanent venues ever used for the Games are extant and still in use is a signal for the future.

Jacqueline Barrett (GBR), a 27-year veteran of the IOC staff and now the Future Olympic Games Hosts Director, explained what is expected now:

As a result of Olympic Agenda 2020, we re-imagined how future Games and future hosts would look and how Games are organized in the future. And I think the really fundamental thing to take away from that is a change in the whole philosophy. …

“[W]hat we’re trying to do with the future hosts is to make sure that their Games project meets the needs of their community, and that there is no construction specifically for the Games. So, if there is construction, if a venue is being built, we’ve got to be sure that this is something that the community is doing for itself anyway, whether it’s a private initiative, whether it’s a government initiative, but that venue, or those venues are going to be there irrespective of hosting the Games or not. …

“We look at the global needs of the community and do those venues match the needs of the community for the future? It’s not up to us to determine how a venue should be run. If it’s already there, that’s for the community to decide. But anything that is potentially being built, we need to make sure that it’s being built anyway, irrespective of the Games, but we want to make sure that there is going to be good use and that that has been thought of, and that the various stakeholders are around the table and aligned with that use for the future. That’s there’s a plan for it, that’s it’s going to be used after the Games and that’s it’s going to be successful so it won’t be a ‘white elephant’.”

Barrett further detailed the five “Flexible requirements to ensure sustainable Games”:

● Maximum use of existing venues
● Only existing mono-functional venues for Winter Games
● Robust legacy plan for any new construction
● No minimum capacity
● Sharing opportunities

She explained that in some discussions, potential future hosts sometimes have a hard time really believing some of these points, especially on suggestions to use existing sites that are outside of the host city or even the host region (or country).

“The other thing is no minimum [spectator] capacity and that’s a new thing that we’re having a little bit of a hard time making people realize there’s no longer a full requirement. There is no minimum capacity requirement. And we’re very clear on that, because, again, it’s contextual. Is a given sport or discipline popular in that country? Is it going to be well used? If it’s not, let’s look for other creative solutions. If it is, then great.

“So the capacity then is contextual and needs to meet the local context.

“And we also encourage sharing opportunities and here we are also doing great work with our partners, the International Federations in that, to look at more creative solutions of how venues can be shared.”

The coming Games illustrates the success of the Olympic Agenda 2020 approach, as Paris 2024 plans to have 95% of its sites as existing or temporary, followed by 93% for Milan Cortina in 2026, 100% for Los Angeles in 2028 and 84% for Brisbane 2032.

So what happened with Brisbane? Said Barrett:

“This is purely contextual; in Brisbane’s case, Southeast Queensland is the fastest-growing region in Australia, big demographic growth over the next 20-30 years and infrastructure needs to be in place to accommodate that demographic growth. So venues are needed there; Brisbane identified six venues that it needs to construct to meet the growing socioeconomic needs of the region. We explored, very closely and very robustly, existing solutions which do exist, but Brisbane was able to show us also good legacy plans of the venues that were constructed for the [1982] Commonwealth Games and how successful they are today.

“So, we were convinced that there are good, existing plans for these venues to be built, but we also identified existing, backup solutions – if, by any chance, they are not [built] – elsewhere, perhaps not all in Queensland, but they exist. So again, this really fits into our sustainability and legacy approach.”

The bottom line:

“[W]e are not – and I want to emphasize that – we’re not against construction. Of course, sustainability and legacy is the DNA of it. What we’re saying is, we don’t want anything built for the Games. We’re not asking for anything to be built for the Games. We don’t want anything to be built for the Games. But it’s not up to us to say what a community needs to do for itself. So we just want to see that those plans exist, a community is building something for itself because it needs it, because it’s thinking of its own future. If it’s there, great, we can use it, but certainly don’t build it for the Games.”

One of the themes that the IOC is also exploring is the alignment between a Games plan as it develops and the reason why a city, region or country wanted to host an Olympic Games in the first place. The IOC’s Head of Legacy, Tania Braga (BRA) explained:

“This is part of our work with [organizing committees], our conversations. There is a monitoring system in place, ongoing dialogue with them, to make sure that when they put operational plans [together], these are always aligned with the ‘why’ they defined, and we work together with them in partnership to make sure that the [North Star] of their project, it’s really what’s guiding them every step of the way. This is really important for us.”

It’s a different approach, for sure, from just 10 years ago, when detailed requirements spanning hundreds of pages were handed to bid committees, with the expectation that each and every listed item for each and every venue would be fulfilled … or exceeded.

Today’s approach is not only saner, but has saved the Olympic Games itself.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XX Olympiad: Munich 1972 ● The Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeiting reported last Saturday that relatives of the victims of the Palestinian terrorist massacre of Israeli team members at the Games are considering skipping the memorial ceremonies which are planned for September.

None of us will come unless the question of compensation is finally clarified,” said Ankie Spitzer, spokesperson for the families; her husband Andre was one of the 11 murdered.

The German government paid $2.98 million in compensation in 2002, about 10% of what was asked and less than what has been paid for other terrorist disasters. The report noted that the German government considers the compensation issue closed.

The 50-year anniversary program includes remembrances of the attack and the victims as an integral part of the exhibits and events.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● World Sailing confirmed at its weekend Council meeting in the UAE:

“[W]ith the goal of providing certainty and stability for sailors, Member National Authorities (MNAs) and Classes over the next six years, Council approved retaining the current slate of Olympic Sailing events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

This includes:

● Men: One Person Dinghy (ILCA 7: Laser)
● Men: Skiff (49er)
● Men: Windsurfer (iQFoil)
● Men: Kiteboarding

● Women: One Person Dinghy (ILCA 6: Laser Radial)
● Women: Skiff (49er FX)
● Women: Windsurfer (iQFoil)
● Women: Kiteboarding

● Mixed: Multihull (Nacra 17 Foiling)
● Mixed: Two Person Dinghy (470)

In fact, sailing had been in some rough water with its events for Paris, asking for a daring but expensive keelboat offshore race for 2024, but this was rejected for accessibility and cost reasons and ideas for a mixed kiteboarding event also ran into trouble. In order to ensure that sailing was not further reduced from its 10 medal events from Tokyo, the decision was made to stay the course for Los Angeles that has been agreed to for Paris.

Whether the IOC and LA28 will agree, of course, is another matter. The report also noted:

“Council also approved measures to address the cost and quality of the Nacra 17 Class equipment following concerns over the expense incurred by MNAs in competing in the event, and recognised the potential of Wingfoiling for inclusion in future Olympic programmes. The opportunities presented by Wingfoiling were also discussed in detail by the World Sailing Board.”

Perhaps for Brisbane 2032?

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The three-member technical team from the International Olympic Committee has been in Sapporo this week to visit the proposed sites for a 2030 Olympic Winter Games there.

Sapporo was the host in 1972 and the bid for 2030 is well advanced, with a detailed budget and master plan. The IOC technical team has already visited Salt Lake City and Vancouver, but will not be visiting Spain as that bid continues to be caught in a political tug-of-war between the Aragon and Catalonia regions.

● World Games ● The 2022 World Games are coming soon, opening on 7 July in Birmingham, Alabama, with 108 nations confirmed to compete in 223 events n 34 sports. But what is coming next is just as interesting.

First held in 1981, the World Games has been a once-every-four-years island of sports and events not on the Olympic program. But at last week’s International World Games Association meeting, the IWGA announced a new concept:

“The World Games Series, a new multi-sport format under the patronage of the IWGA. The world-class invitation event – with top athletes and teams – will provide an additional platform for The World Games sports. It will be scheduled twice a year from 2023 onwards. The goal is to strengthen the TWG brand and to raise awareness in the years preceding editions of the Games, which are held every four years.”

Also coming into the program are eSports:

“Three sports, Archery, Baseball and Racquetball, will present their virtual games to the visitors [in Birmingham]. Up to the 12th edition of The World Games in 2025 in Chengdu, Peoples Republic of China, the IWGA in cooperation with its federations wants to expand the circle to ten eGaming sports. [IWGA TV and marketing and coordinator] Hagen Bossdorf [GER] described eGaming as a promotional tool for TWG and their sports. He even sees the possibility in the future of organising e-Gaming competitions at The World Games.

A more aggressive IWGA will be an interesting future player in international sports, which is already overrun with multi-sport events of worldwide, regional, national and local flavors. Is there room for more?

● Athletics ●Track and field in its semi-amateurism continue to miss the boat and it is time for track and field to become a fully professional sport.”

That’s from Glen Mills, the famed coach of Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt and many others, speaking to the Jamaica Gleaner about the condition of his sport today.

“Track and field need to create its own Mecca and not depend on competing at the Olympics as the main endorsement for the sport and its athletes. All the other major sports have their Mecca competition … golf has the Masters and tennis has its grand slams. Football — I wouldn’t even mention the World Cup or Champions League. For these sports, getting to the pinnacle, winning at their own top event supersedes any Olympic medal and that is where track and field needs to go if it is going to survive.

“The World Championship is not serving that purpose, it is still amateur in its function and the championship needs to be revolutionised into a real super event with super prizes and so on to capture the world.

“You should create an atmosphere where people go every year to defend their title in order to keep the sport at the pinnacle of relevance and excitement.”

Mills also pushed for making the Worlds smaller, concentrating the events and eliminating preliminary rounds to keep athletes fresher, and allowing athletes to monetize spaces on their uniforms to earn more money.

And of Bolt, the sport’s dominant force for a decade? “One of the things I will lament is that both locally and internationally, with a star performer of Bolt’s level, the sport did not capitalise on it in the way it should.”

The Prefontaine Classic on NBC drew a respectable national television audience of 977,000 on Saturday. Other sports programming in the same time slot included the UEFA Champions League final (CBS: 2.761 million), the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament (Golf Channel: 983,000) and the NCAA women’s Softball Super Regional between Texas and Arkansas (ESPN: 1.018 million).

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale made a major commitment to develop cycling in Africa with the selection of Kigali, Rwanda as the site of its 2025 World Championships. What that commitment will be is now taking shape.

The UCI and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) announced Tuesday:

“The parties agreed on a UCI Cycling Development Strategy supporting African athletes so they can be competitive by 2025, notably in the Junior and Under 23 categories.

“The strategy begins this year with the identification of athletes from African countries to be chosen for a training camp at the UCI [World Cycling Center] Satellite in Paarl, South Africa. Selected athletes will then be able to train at the UCI WCC in Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe where they will gain appropriate race experience over the next three years, in the lead-up to the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in the Rwandan capital.

“It is envisaged that some 30 athletes (male and female) will be targeted through the UCI WCC’s established physiological testing, results at international races and recommendations from UCI certified coaches.”

African riders are making inroads already, most recently with the Giro d’Italia stage win of Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay, who to retire from the event due to a freak injury from an exploding wine cork after his victory. He is expected to be back in action later this month.

Observed: Look for more of these kinds of targeted, direct-development programs in multiple sports, especially in Africa. The International Olympic Committee is already deeply involved in sporting and environmental programs on that continent and is encouraging more activity, of which the UCI is an early entrant.

● Swimming ● Lia Thomas, the former University of Pennsylvania men’s swimmer who transitioned to female during the pandemic and won the NCAA women’s 500-yard Freestyle title this spring, discussed her situation with ABC News and ESPN in a story published Tuesday.

As for the furor about her competing in the women’s division:

“Trans women competing in women’s sports does not threaten women’s sports as a whole. Trans women are a very small minority of all athletes. The NCAA rules regarding trans women competing in women’s sports have been around for 10-plus years. And we haven’t seen any massive wave of trans women dominating.

She explained that she began hormone therapy to reduce her testosterone levels in May 2019 and was able to compete in the NCAA Championships by meeting the NCAA’s standard for testosterone of not more than 10 nmol/l.

Her view, simply, is that “Trans women are women.”

She graduated from Penn and will be attending law school, but she also noted, “I intend to keep swimming. It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic Trials for a very long time, and I would love to see that through.”

In order to do so, she will have to meet USA Swimming’s more stringent testosterone requirement, which are 5 nmol/l for 36 months prior to the date of application to swim in the female category. That means she is likely not going to be eligible for the 2024 Trials in Indianapolis, but the USA Swimming rules are subject to future rules issues by FINA which could be different.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Football ● With temperatures in the mid-80s in Cincinnati at the start, the U.S. Men’s National Team came out hot against visiting Morocco in the first of six matches for the Americans prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The U.S. started well, but couldn’t score, then had to defend repeated Moroccan attacks, including a point-blank save by U.S. keeper Matt Turner.

But Christian Pulisic got loose in the Moroccan end in the 26th minute and his cross to the middle of the field in front of goal found Brenden Aaronson, whose left-footed shot whistled into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Another well-thought-out American attack ended with Tim Weah sending a laser from right to left that whizzed by Moroccan keeper Bono for a 2-0 lead in the 32nd minute. And Jesus Ferreira had a golden chance for a third goal right before halftime, but Bono was equal to the challenge and kept the ball out of his net to end the half at 2-0.

Both sides had good chances to start the second half, but neither could score and Turner was sharp on Moroccan chances by midfielder Adel Taarabt and striker Tarik Tissoudali.

In the 61st minute, the U.S. had Haji Wright running free on the right side and while he could not score, his pass resulted in a shot that was blocked by Bono. But the rebound ended up with Pulisic, who was double-teamed and fouled at the left of the goal and a penalty was called.

Wright, in his first game with the U.S. team, took the penalty and slotted the ball into the left side of goal with a right-footed shot following a stutter step for a 3-0 margin.

Then, what appeared to be a normal attempt at a tackle in front of the U.S. goal by defender Joe Scally on substitute striker Soufiane Rahimi in the 75th minute was called a penalty, potentially opening the door for Morocco. But substitute midfielder Selim Amallah’s penalty shot hit the post and went for nothing and the game ended 3-0.

The U.S. had 48% of the possession in the first half, but ended up with 53% for the entire game, a demonstration of its second-half prowess. But Morocco had more shots, 21-11, but many sailed high or wide and none could get past Turner.

This was a promising performance for the U.S., which had never beaten Morocco previously (0-3), and with three goals against a very defensive-minded team that had reached the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals and will be competing in Group F in Qatar.

The U.S. plays another World Cup qualifier, Uruguay, on Sunday in Kansas City.

At the World Cup, the U.S. will play in Group B, with England, Iran and another European team, which will now be either Ukraine or Wales.

That’s because Ukraine stunned Scotland, 3-1, in Glasgow, on Wednesday and will play Wales in Cardiff on Sunday for the final spot in the group.

Andriy Yarmolenko scored the only goal of the first half in the 33rd minute on a pop-up shot into the goal off of a long-lead assist from Ruslan Malinovskyi. And it became 2-0 in the 49th minute on a header by Roman Yaremchuk that suddenly made a Ukrainian win seem not only possibly, but likely.

The Scots got back into it with 79th-minute goal by Callum McGregor with a left-footed laser that got into the Ukraine goal after a bad clearance. But the home team could not get closer.

A final goal came at 90+5 for Ukraine, from Artem Dovbyk from the middle of the box on a breakaway that unleashed a big celebration for an underdog team which is now one step away from Qatar.

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THE TICKER: Russian Athletics interim head Privalova dealing with internal mutiny and endless World Athletics suspension threat due to Ukraine war issues

If Interim Russian Athletics Federation chief Irina Privalova looks troubled, she has good reason to be! (Photo: Wikipedia)

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Plus: Milan Cortina 2026: Study estimates economic impact of OWG ‘26 at $3.2 billion = World University Games: North Carolina ‘27 bid debuts own apparel line! = Athletics: four candidates for 2025 Worlds revealed; retired Kynard hit with doping suspension = Equestrian: FEI Tribunal dismisses Russian appeal of ban = Fencing: Russia’s Sabre star Pozdnyakov removed as European confederation head = Football: UEFA undertaking inquiry into Champions League Final debacle in Paris; U.S. men back in action Wednesday vs. Morocco = SCOREBOARD => Athletics: Girma takes world Steeple lead to highlight Ostrava Golden Spike = Gymnastics: U.S.’s Webster wins rare FIG Trampoline World Cup gold in Rimini = Sailing: France’s Bernaz out-duels former World champ Kontides in Laser Worlds in Mexico ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

If you think you have problems, you should consider what Irina Privalova is putting up with.

Now 53, Privalova is the interim head of the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), which is trying to come out from under a suspension by World Athletics imposed in 2015. The 1992 Olympic bronze medalist at the 100 m and the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 400 m hurdles (!) as well as being a mother of three, she spoke with the Russian news agency TASS about the current situation in Russian track & field (edited computer translation from the original Russian):

All leading athletes have plans for the season, which are strictly followed; no one has the right to force them to perform at one or another meet. But it seems to me that some of them did not come to [the Russian Team Championships in] Sochi because of certain opposition within the federation; we have a certain struggle for power.

“There is no full-fledged head coach in the national team, and I only fulfill his duties. It is hard for me to work in conditions when not a single one of my orders is executed by a number of employees who practically do not appear at work and whom you have no way to influence.

“I still do not understand how the situation can be normalized, and I am very afraid that all these internal squabbles may have a very negative impact on the restoration of the ARAF. To achieve this goal, huge public money was previously spent, we must continue to follow the same course.

“The question of the new head coach of the Russian athletics team continues to remain open, my candidacy in the Ministry of Sports raises, as I understand it, some questions, so everything is in limbo.”

But it gets even more complicated. Privalova was asked about a request from the “Donetsk People’s Republic” – from an area of Ukraine forcibly acquired and currently held by Russia – to compete in Russian meets!

“Yes, in early April, a letter came from the Athletics Federation of the Donetsk People’s Republic with a request to allow their athletes to compete at domestic competitions. However, according to Russian sports legislation, only citizens of the Russian Federation who have been delegated by regional federations can take part in them.

“Moreover, in conditions when the ARAF has been under sanctions for seven years, only domestic athletes can compete in competitions held in Russia. And if we allow other athletes to participate in these meets, then our [World Athletics] restoration [process] will be ended. And ARAF Secretary General Alexander Cherkashin clearly explained in his response letter why we cannot now include Donetsk athletes in the list of participants in domestic competitions.

And quite recently, a second letter appeared, which, for unknown reasons, came only to some members of the presidium. For example, I didn’t get it. And in this letter, grievances were voiced against the ARAF, which allegedly reacted improperly to the request of the athletes of the [Donetsk People’s Republic]. I do not rule out that the second letter was born only in order to overthrow our general secretary, who is working very hard to ensure that our federation is quickly restored. And organize a bureau of the presidium in order to be able to manage the finances of the federation. Everything is very difficult, and if the situation inside our federation worsens, then I see no reason to continue working in it.”

Privalova then went off on the situation with Russian athletes, who can only compete domestically:

The state spends a lot of money on training members of athletics teams. I really want to get information from the head coaches of the national team, where and when their athletes will perform, to analyze how many athletes came to the training camp and how many competed. There are those who sit at the training camp all year round, but practically do not perform anywhere. Where does the money go, what is the output from public funds spent on centralized training?

I have already regretted ten times that I decided to take on the functions of the head coach of the Russian national team.”

Privalova said that the World Athletics program for reinstatement will continue in the fall, as the expected March meetings were canceled in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And so what of the future now?

“[T]he current situation is very difficult, and most of our athletes are sympathetic to this. And I am very glad that our leading athletes managed to compete at the Tokyo Olympics and high jumper Masha Lasitskene managed to win the main medal of her life. Because we don’t know what’s next for us. I am also referring to the prospects for the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. We must always tune in to the worst case. But sanctions can be lifted earlier, so you need to keep yourself in fighting shape.”

And you have trouble?

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXV Olympic Winter Games: Milan Cortina 2026 ● The Italian National Olympic Committee – known as CONI – announced a study by the Guido Carli International Free University of Social Studies in Rome that the 2026 Winter Games could create as much as €3.0 billion in total economic impact (~$3.21 billion U.S.)

The government’s investment, primarily in construction, was estimated at €1 billion; the Milan Cortina organizing committee’s budget is set at €1.7 billion (~$1.82 billion).

The new estimate is in line with that for the Milan Cortina bid from 2019.

CONI President Giovanni Milago added, “These figures are purely economic, but they do not reveal the other impact impact of the Games, the cultural and social value of sport, but also the prestige of the nation.”

● World University Games ● It’s not all that often than an apparel line is announced for a bid, but the North Carolina 2027 bid organizers have unveiled – based on requests – a limited line-up of shirts and sweats.

There are T-shirts in up to 13 colors ($25-30), polo shirts in three styles ($30-60), tank tops ($25-30) and hooded sweatshirts in three styles and up to five colors ($30-60). All feature the “triangle” logo of the 2027 WUG bid, an attractive representation of what is known as the “Research Triangle” area of Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill. The area includes three major research universities that would play key roles in the 2027 WUG: Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State.

The committee also released its motto: “Many Teams, One Dream.” The decision between North Carolina and a South Korean bid by the Chungcheong Megacity area is expected to be announced in October.

Observed: Having enough demand to create an apparel line for a bid is pretty impressive. There are lots of color choices, but the items in light blue are the clear winners as they show off the logo best.

● Athletics ● FrancsJeux.com reported that during the Tokyo visit by the World Athletics review team, Council member Antti Pihlakoski (FIN) mentioned that there are four candidates for the 2025 World Championships. Those would be Tokyo (JPN), Nairobi (KEN), Singapore and a city in Poland (likely Chorzow, site of the 2021 World Relays).

That decision is expected to be made this summer, before or during the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon. The 2023 Worlds will be held in Budapest (HUN).

American high jump star Erik Kynard, now the Olympic gold medalist at London 2012 after 2021’s doping disqualification of Russia’s Ivan Ukhov, was himself hit with a doping suspension.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency reported on 27 May that Kynard “has accepted a six-month period of ineligibility for use of a prohibited method reported to USADA via its tip line.” The details:

USADA opened an investigation and determined that on January 14, 2022, Kynard, 31, posted an image on social media depicting himself receiving an intravenous infusion. USADA’s investigation revealed that Kynard received an intravenous infusion of saline solution with no prohibited substances at an infusion clinic in a volume greater than 100 mL in a 12-hour period without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

“As a Specified Method, intravenous infusions or injections in a volume greater than 100 mL within a 12-hour period are prohibited at all times— except for those legitimately received during hospital treatments, surgical procedures, or clinical diagnostic investigations …”

It doesn’t mean much, as Kynard, now 31, is essentially retired and has not jumped since 9 July of last year, after finishing fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials and missing the Tokyo team. He finished sixth at the Rio 2016 Games.

● Equestrian ● The FEI Tribunal dismissed an appeal against exclusions from competitions by the Federation of Equestrian Sports of Russia. The three-member panel from Canada, Colombia and the U.S. found that the 2 March 2022 decision of the FEI Board that “prohibits Russian Athletes, Horses and Officials from participating in FEI Events until further notice” was valid.

The discussion came down top whether the Russian invasion of Ukraine constituted an “emergency situation”! The Russian federation contended:

There is no evidence that the alleged invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces constituted an ‘emergency basis’ because there is no evidence that the equestrian sport in Ukraine has been shut down, Ukrainian Athletes face risks to their lives or are restricted from practising the equestrian sport.”

Wow. The decision continued:

“In contrast, the FEI stated the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces met (and still meets) the definition of an Emergency Situation because it was (and remains) a serious situation or occurrence that happened unexpectedly and required immediate action even when only viewed in the context of equestrian sport.

“The Russian military invasion of Ukraine has been widely reported on different media platforms. It is difficult to ignore what is happening in real time such as a cluster bomb landing on an apartment building in Mariupol or a school in the Luhansk region. These images are real and enough for this Panel to state that a reasonable person would conclude that Russian military forces invaded Ukraine and the war is ongoing.”

This was enough for the panel to dismiss the Russian appeal. But it added:

“Article 1.6 of the Statutes discusses another FEI objective, which is to foster harmonious collaboration among NFs, Athletes and Officials. The Panel agrees that the potential for boycotts could arise if FESR Athletes, Officials and teams were permitted to compete in FEI Events. Boycotts were a potential reality at the Winter Paralympic Games and the 2022 World Championships until the IPC and FINA respectively reversed their decisions, which initially allowed Russian athletes and teams to compete.

“Any boycott at FEI Events would seriously challenge the goal of harmonious collaboration. If, for example, FESR Athletes, Horses and Officials were permitted to compete at the upcoming 2022 FEI World Championships and other nations boycotted this Event, there would be no point to a world championship. The goal of harmonious collaboration would cease to exist and the Event’s integrity, significantly damaged. At the hearing, the FESR did not present any solutions on how the FEI could handle boycotts if FESR Athletes and Officials were allowed to participate.”

and

The Resolution may not seem fair to FESR Athletes who condemn this war, but the Panel did not receive a straight answer from the FESR at the hearing on whether the FESR would allow these Athletes to compete.”

Next up will no doubt be an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

● Fencing ● The newest push against Russian officials has come from the European Fencing Confederation, which, on Tuesday announced:

Stanislav Pozdnyakov has today been removed as President of the European Fencing Confederation during a virtual Extraordinary Congress. This Congress was convened with a near 85% turnout – thirty-seven of the forty-five member federations were in attendance.

“The vote was held after an EFC Executive Committee recommendation and was carried with twenty-three members voting in favour of Pozdnyakov’s removal. There were ten votes against and four abstentions.

“As per the Statutes of the Confederation, the EFC’s Secretary General, Jacek Slupski assumes the position until a new President is elected.

Pozdnyakov, 48, is also the President of the Russian Olympic Committee (since 2018), and was elected as the European Fencing Confederation in 2016 and unanimously re-elected in 2021. He was a star Sabre fencer, winning the individual Olympic gold in 1996 and Team golds in 1992-1996-2000 and a bronze in 2004 in five Olympic appearances, not to mention five individual World Championships golds.

Said Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin:

“Such decisions by the leadership of sports federations destroy the integrity of the international sports family. Representatives of many sports are subject to political influence, and fencing, unfortunately, is no exception. Such actions harm the sport itself – one cannot negate the contribution of Stanislav Pozdnyakov to the development of fencing by removing him from the post of head of the EFC.”

It is worth remembering that Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was serving a fourth term as the President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), but stepped down in March to battle European Union sanctions against him and his business interests.

● Football ● UEFA has today announced it has commissioned an independent report into the events surrounding the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on Saturday 28 May. The comprehensive review will examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final.”

The French Ministry of Sports issued a statement which included:

“In addition, the exchanges made it possible to establish that 2,700 spectators with tickets were unfortunately unable to attend the match. UEFA has undertaken to provide individualized compensation to these spectators in the near future. …

“The Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Minister of the Interior have also agreed to strengthen the management of major sporting events, with the priority areas of improving flow management (especially near public transport), the prevention of the risk of delinquency, the generalization of electronic ticketing, better prevention of ticketing fraud, greater public order for high-risk matches and, with regard specifically to competitions played at the Stade de France, the necessary improvement of traffic and barrier issues in and around the stadium.”

The 15th-ranked U.S. Men’s National Team will be back in action on Wednesday in a friendly against Morocco in Cincinnati, Ohio at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. On ESPN2, UniMas and TUDN.

Morocco is a 2022 FIFA World Cup team and ranked 24th worldwide; the game is one of four this month. The U.S. will play Uruguay, third in the South American qualifying and ranked 13th on Sunday (5th) in Kansas City. The American men will play their first two games in the 2022 CONCACAF Nations League on 10 June vs. Grenada in Austin, Texas, and on the road on 14 June in San Salvador against El Salvador.

The U.S. is 0-3 all-time vs. Morocco, with the last meeting a 1-0 loss in 2006.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● The 61st Golden Spike meet in Ostrava (CZE) on Tuesday (31st) – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet – saw a world-leading win from Ethiopia’s Tokyo silver medalist in the men’s Steeplechase, Lemecha Girma.

Still just 21, Girma ran away from teammate Hailemariyam Amare to win in 7:58.68 to set a national record, take the world lead for 2022 and become the 13th man to break 8:00 in the event and he now ranks 12th all-time.

Amare finished in a lifetime best of 8:07.70, ahead of Italy’s Ahmed Abdelwahed (8:14.53).

British sprinter Reece Prescod – the 2018 European silver medalist – won the men’s 100 m in a strong 9.93, a lifetime best, and into a 1.2 m/s headwind! He beat a strong field including 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake (JAM: 10.05), Zharnel Hughes (GBR: 10.05) and South Africa’s Akani Simbine (RSA: 10.06). American Elijah Hall-Thompson was sixth in 10.08.

Canadian Jerome Blake won the men’s 200 m at 20.14, with Hall-Thompson second, also in 20.14 (-0.2). Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the first men’s 800 m race in 1:44.15 to move to no. 2 on the year list, with Slimane Moula (ALG: 1:44.19, no. 3) and Britain’s Max Burgin (1:4.54) right behind. Collins Kipruto (KEN) won the second 800 m in 1:44.58.

Italy’s Olympic co-winner Gianmarco Tamberi won the high jump at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); American Joe Kovacs beat New Zealand’s Tom Walsh in the shot, 22.25 m (73-0) to 21.68 m (71-1 1/2) and Anderson Peters (GRN) had another strong performance in the javelin, winning at 87.88 m (288-4).

Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji won a tight women’s 1,500 m from two countrywomen, Ayal Dagnachew and Netsanet Desta, 3:59.19-3:59.87-4:00.84; they now stand nos. 5-8-12 on the year list.

American icon Allyson Felix was second in the women’s 200 m to Aminatou Seyni of Niger, 22.21-22.78 (-0.2) and Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) won the 100 m hurdles in 12.56 (+1.0) with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali of the U.S. third (12.69).

Tokyo Olympic 400 m hurdles bronze medalist Femke Bol (NED) won the 300 m hurdles in a world-best time of 36.86, crushing the old mark of 38.16 by Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) from 2015.

In the field, Greece’s Elina Tzenggo moved to no. 2 on the seasonal world list with a lifetime best of 65.40 m (214-7).

● Gymnastics ● The 2022 FIG Trampoline World Cup last weekend in Rimini (ITA) was a good one for the U.S. as Sarah Webster earned a rare gold, scoring 53.400 to out-duel Leonie Adam (GER: 53.240) and Anano Apakidze (GEO: 53.170). It’s the first U.S. World Cup win since 2014 and only the second ever since the discipline became an Olympic event in 2000.

Two-time Japanese Olympian Yasuhiro Ueyama won the men’s Trampoline at 58.250, ahead of teammate and Tokyo Olympian Ryosuke Sakai (57.960), with Americans Cody Gesuelli fourth (57.290) and Ali Shostak sixth (56.920).

In the women’s Synchro, Webster and Nicole Ahsinger placed second to Apakidze and Teona Janjgava, 46.430-45.860. Sakai and Hiroto Unno won the men’s Synchro for Japan (51.650), with Gesuelli and Elijah Vogel eighth (5.700).

● Sailing ● The annual ILCA 7 (Laser Class) men’s World Championship regatta concluded last weekend, with France’s Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, a four-time Olympian, winning the title with 51 net points to best two-time World Champion Pavlos Kontides (CYP: 68).

Bernaz finished sixth in Tokyo and fifth in Rio, but competing in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, he won one race and was in the top three in six of the 12 total races. Kontides won twice, but had only two other top-3 finishes. Croatia’s Filip Jurisic was third with 75 points. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) finished fifth (81).

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: L.A. commission to consider monument status for Johnson house and Olympic oak; Russia worries over 2024 exclusion mount

The former Johnson Family home and Olympic Oak (at right) in Los Angeles, now being considered for monument status (Photo: mls.com from a City of Los Angeles filing)

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Plus: Paris 2024: Worries over crowd control and security at Stade de France after UEFA Champions League Final fan debacle = Los Angeles 2028: World Skate wants scooter or inline skating or both added = Deaflympics: Vendors unpaid as organizers ran out of money = Athletics: Sprinter Richardson’s “abuser” revealed and talks = Ice Hockey: IIHF wants 3×3 hockey as future Winter Games event = Skiing: FIS chief Eliasch pushing change, but national federations are pushing back = Swimming: U.S. butterfly star Dahlia retires at 27 = Volleyball: U.S. star setter Poulter loses Olympic gold to car theft = AT THE BUZZER: India’s Batra removed by Delhi High Court as NOC President ●

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

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

The drama over Berlin 1936 Olympic high jump gold medalist Cornelius Johnson’s Olympic oak tree at his family’s former home at 1156 South Hobart Street in Los Angeles continues on multiple fronts.

The home – with the tree still standing tall – was sold by the Johnson family in 1994, and then again to the current owner in 2019, who had plans made to replace the house and the tree with a four-unit townhouse.

But the normal development process has been upended by the tree and the widening interest in preserving it. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission will hold a preliminary hearingto determine whether to take the proposed designation of a Monument under consideration” for the former Johnson Family home and the oak itself.

If the Commission agrees, a more in-depth hearing will be held later. Rina Rubenstein, the Communications Director for the West Adams Heritage Association explained:

We’re pretty hopeful that the city will agree about the importance and uniqueness of the Olympic Oak, although there is a chance that recent changes to California housing law may preclude further efforts to stop the development plans. The next challenge will be to find a way to purchase and sensitively reuse the property. …

“The tree undoubtedly requires serious conservation efforts as well, and besides the purchase price, any project would probably require significant funding. But the first step is the preliminary hearing this Thursday.”

The presentation to the Cultural Heritage Commission will be made by Susan Anderson of the California African American Museum, and artist Christian Mayer, who were working in parallel with the West Adams Heritage Association, and then joined forces on the research, with both submitting documentation to the Commission.

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning staff report recommended that the Commission take the property under consideration for Monument designation, noting that it “appears to be one of the earliest extant residences built and lived in by an African American family in Los Angeles. …

“Cornelius Cooper Johnson (1913-1946), planted in the rear yard an oak tree he was gifted by the German government after winning a [high jump] gold medal in the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin. Cornelius resided at the subject property until 1945, one year prior to his passing, and the Johnson family continued to live at the residence until it was sold in 1994. The oak tree is one of 25 known remaining oaks worldwide that the German Olympic Committee presented to all 129 gold medalists at the 1936 Olympics.”

Two other 1936 Olympic Oaks were brought to Los Angeles, both to USC: one survives and one died and was replaced; both are memorialized with special plaques.

A 28 May update posted on esotouric.com stated that “the LA84 Foundation and Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust are fundraising in hopes of buying the property, which presumes the property owner who failed to care for the tree while struggling to find a buyer for the proposed redevelopment site will sell to them.” Great concern for the health of the tree was noted.

The next step comes Thursday. Rubenstein added:

“Comments are welcome, and can be emailed to [email protected]. Any communication should reference the case number: CHC-2022-3207-HCM. … [E]ven brief expressions of support are extremely welcome.”

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● Considerable concern about the crowd-control problems and the 36-minute delay in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France outside of Paris.

There are claims and counterclaims about what happened, including a statement from French authorities of thousands of fake tickets that caused unnecessary crowding to get in on the Liverpool side of the venue. The BBC reviewed a series of incidents which contributed to the mess, including a train line which was out of order so many more fans were concentrated at a single exit stop, local muggers and pickpockets who were attacking spectators, multiple searches of spectators that slowed everything down and an unprepared, overwhelmed police presence.

The French Ministry of Sports met on Monday “[t]o identify very precisely the dysfunctions with UEFA, the French Football Federation, the Stade de France, the Paris Police Headquarters, the Seine-Saint-Denis Prefecture and the town hall of Saint-Denis” in order to “draw all the lessons to prevent such incidents from happening again for our future major international sporting events.”

The FrancsJeux.com site noted the differences between a football final between Real Madrid and Liverpool and the 2024 Games:

“The public, first. Football has never really been able to contain the outbursts of supporters, inside and outside the stadium. The Olympic Movement has never known any. It’s hard to imagine groups of fans trying to climb the gates of the Stade de France or another competition site to attend, without a ticket, an athletics session or a handball final.

“Second difference: the preparation. LREM-Renaissance deputy Aurore Bergé recalled it on Sunday May 29 on RMC: France organized ‘in barely three months’ a final of the Champions League initially planned in Russia, in Saint Petersburg.”

But it’s a warning, no doubt.

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● While the jockeying to be one of the added sports for the LA28 Games is ongoing, sports already on the program are lobbying to add new events and add athletes, which will have to be subtracted from some other sport to meet the 10,500-athlete quota.

One of the sports looking to flex its newly-found muscles is Skateboarding, which has been incorporated into the LA28 sports list already. Skate debuted in Tokyo with popular events in Park and Street for men and women, which included several 13-year-old girls.

Now, Francesco Zangarini (ITA), sports director at World Skate, told Agence France Presse last week:

We are currently discussing with the International Olympic Committee. Our DNA is an advantage because it’s an urban DNA, and with the help of host cities like Los Angeles (2028) or Brisbane (2030), we have a good chance of having other sports in the future.

“There are millions of young people around the world and it has exploded since last year. This is the reason why the scooter could be recognized by the Olympic Movement. We have already presented it to the IOC and we have already talked about Los Angeles with them.”

Scooter as a competition event is not as well developed as inline skating, another possibility for World Skate and a discipline with a long background – especially in the U.S. – including as the outdoor equivalent of speed skating and a favorite of American stars like Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia.

These are just two of dozens of proposals for added events for Los Angeles from the 28 already agreed-on sports; the actual program won’t be completely finalized until after the Paris 2024 Games are concluded.

● XXIV Deaflympic Games: Caxias do Sul 2022 ●The Deaflympics, which ended last Sunday (15th) after two weeks of competitions in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, cannot pay suppliers.

“The event did not receive financial support from the federal government, despite being used politically by it.”

That’s from the Brazilian site, UOL.com.br, reporting that the organizing committee has apparently run out of money and that vendors are looking for payment anywhere they can.

“The financial situation, which was already difficult, became unsustainable. A hotel in Caxias do Sul even opened a police report against [organizing committee chief Richard] Ewald, claiming that, of the R$470,000 combined [~$98,866 U.S.], only R$200,000 was paid [~$42,071 U.S.]. The hotel, which hosted South Korea, threatened to withhold travelers’ luggage if the amount was not paid. The report found that several hotels did not receive payment, as well as companies in areas such as food and event broadcasting.”

A report is due on 3 June, detailing the financial situation. The UOL story emphasized that most of the event revenue came from entry fees and that sponsorship marketing was well below expectations.

Brazilian politics were heavily involved in the Deaflympics, which the government wanted to see in Rio de Janeiro, using the 2016 Olympic facilities. But for political reasons within the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), the event was placed in Caxias do Sul, a city of 517,000 in southern Brazil. Held from 1-15 May, it had 2,349 athletes from 71 countries participating in 226 events in 18 sports.

Covid issues plagued the Games and the Japanese delegation withdrew with five days left to avoid further exposure to the virus after 10 athletes and one official tested positive, blaming the organizers for not having enough money to provide sufficient countermeasures.

● Russia ● Concern in Russia that it will be barred from the Paris 2024 Games is rising. Said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday:

“The desire to remove Russian athletes, who have become hostages of the political ambitions of the United States and its allies, from participation in the Olympics is a gross violation of their rights. Thomas Bach‘s clearly biased and politicized decision contradicts IOC statutory documents, the Olympic Charter, and UN General Assembly resolutions on sports.”

Zakharova was commenting on IOC President Bach’s statements that Russian entry Paris 2024 qualifying competitions will depend on the political situation (i.e., the war against Ukraine). There is considerable worry, and good reason for it.

● Athletics ● U.S. sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson advised her followers in mid-May on Instagram that she had been in an abusive relationship with a Jamaican hurdler that derailed her return to stardom after being banned for a month last summer for marijuana use that kept her off of the U.S. Olympic Team.

Her abuser turned out to be Jamaican star Janeek Brown (PR: 12.40 in 2019), the 2019 NCAA champ for Arkansas. In an Instagram interview, Brown said:

I was abusive once that there’s physical evidence of. And we moved on, and even after then I was trying to move on from that, we still got nowhere. …

“We just keep on fighting, blaming each other and the regular relationship problems.”

Richardson returned to competition in May, and had a good outing at last weekend’s Prefontaine Classic, finishing second in the women’s 100 m to double Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah in 10.92, equal-6th on the world list for 2022.

● Ice Hockey ●The framework of what will be a new Strategic Plan was presented to the IIHF membership under the brand ‘ICE26′. It will operate with three goals: Innovate, Collaborate, Expand.”

Amid the 2022 men’s World Championship in Finland, the International Ice Hockey Federation met for its annual Congress and unveiled its plan for the 2022-26 timeframe. Stakeholder surveys, including with fans, demonstrated enthusiasm for more innovation, further development in women’s hockey and in grassroots programs.

The commonly-heard theme of “digital transformation” was heard, along with environmental concerns and raising the profile and importance of the IIHF’s top events. Look for 3-on-3 ice hockey – included in the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games – as a new discipline and brand, with its own tournament schedule and as a possible Olympic Winter Games event.

The bottom line, per IIHF Council member Anders Larsson (SWE):

“We must grow the game but how do we do it? We need to reach more players and fans through stronger member national associations and more offerings by building a targeted development program for the member’s growth and success. The path looks different for each of you.”

● Skiing ● In June 2021, Johan Eliasch (SWE), the chief executive of the HEAD Sport, was elected as the President of the Federation Internationale de Ski with 65 votes out of 119 on the first ballot.

He was re-elected last week, unopposed, but with 47 of the 117 delegates at the FIS Congress walking out in protest. In an interview with the Associated Press, Eliasch noted:

“I was elected FIS President with a clear mandate for change including that FIS should be a federation for all our members. …

“I think everybody realizes that it would be bad for them to be seen to stand in the way of change. We will get through this.”

Eliasch wants to bring all of the marketing and media rights to the federation’s World Cup events in-house, rather than the multi-party arrangements which have been in place for many years. That has national federations, event operators, already-contracted broadcasters and FIS’s right-holding joint venturer for the last 13 years, Infront Sports & Media, concerned. But not Eliasch:

“The longer we wait, the more we miss out.”

● Swimming ● Thank you swimming [hearts icon] this sport has given me all I could dream and more, and I’m so thankful for my last 20 years in the water. The people I have met along the way are what have made the blood, sweat, and tears all worth it.”

With that at the top of an Instagram post last Saturday, U.S. star butterfly swimmer Kelsi Dahlia has retired from competitive swimming at age 27. She was one of the world’s best Fly swimmers, winning an Olympic gold in 2016 on the U.S. 4×100 m Medley team as a prelims swimmer after winning the U.S. Olympic Trials and reaching the Olympic semifinals in the 100 m Fly.

Dahlia won eight World Championships medals (5-1-2), with seven relay medals and a bronze in the 100 m Fly in 2017. She also won the World 25 m Championships gold in the 100 m Fly in 2018 among 15 career Short-Course Worlds medals (10-4-1), mostly on relays.

She finishes ranked no. 13 all-time in the 100 m Fly – and no. 4 U.S. – at 56.20 from 2017 and as American Record holder and no. 13 all-time in the 50 m Fly at 25.48, also in 2017.

● Volleyball ● Lock your car and close your garage. Or you may lose an Olympic gold medal as American Olympic volleyball setter Jordyn Poulter did last Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Poulter “had parked the rental car in her garage on Wednesday afternoon and went inside to shower and get ready for a Zoom meeting, leaving the car unlocked and the garage door open.

“When she came back later, she saw that someone had rummaged through the car and taken the black shoulder bag that held her passport, which she had left on the passenger seat. The center console, where she had left the gold medal, sat open and empty.”

Poulter and her teammates won the U.S.’s first-ever gold in women’s volleyball last summer in Tokyo. She reported the theft to Anaheim police, and is hopeful that the medal will be returned. As she told reporters last week at the team’s practice facility, “It’s not pure gold, so if you try to melt it down, it’s not going to get you very far. The inside is made of recycled computer parts and then plated. So it’s not worth much in that sense.”

≡ AT THE BUZZER ≡

Anyone who observes the Olympic Movement for even a short time is amazed by the collection of offices that certain individuals seem to obtain, in multiple sectors and seemingly without any concerns over conflicts of interest.

One such multi-office holder was Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra, who is also the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and became an International Olympic Committee member in 2019 by virtue of his IOA Presidency.

But last week, the Delhi High Court removed Batra from his IOA post since his nomination for the position was based on his status as a “life member” of Hockey India. But:

“The Government of India cannot grant recognition to a [national sports federation] whose constitution is not in consonance with the [India] Sports Code. The posts of Life President, Life Member in the NSF are illegal so is the post of CEO in the Managing Committee. These posts are struck-down.”

IOA Senior Vice President Anil Khanna has replaced Batra as its acting head; Batra issued a statement that he will not seek re-election at the IOA and will concentrate more on his role at the FIH:

“At a time when world hockey is going through an essential development phase, with the promotion of Hockey5s, the creation of a new competition this year – the FIH Hockey Nations Cup – and the launch of fan-engaging platforms and activities, my role as President of the International Hockey Federation requires more time for all these activities.”

Batra has been a leading proponent of an India bid for a future Olympic Games, but will lose his IOC membership since it was linked to his IOA status. Now what of the bid?

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LANE ONE: IOC study of Winter Games venues shows extensive building, but excellent re-use right until today!

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(For our Highlights of the weekend’s major competitions, click here)

April’s Olympic Studies Centre report, Over 125 years of Olympic venues: post-Games use, provided a fascinating snapshot of what has happened to the hundreds of sites used for Olympic competitions from Athens 1896 to the PyeongChang Winter Games in 2018.

Our look at the Olympic Games data showed that the majority of venues were still in use today and overwhelmingly so in the 21st Century. But what about the Winter Games sites? Time to take a look at those, with the number of competition venues, the percentage of existing and new competition sites (not temporary) and the percentage of those still in use:

● 1924 Chamonix [3]: Existing & new: 67% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1928 St. Moritz [5]: Existing & new: 60% ~ Still in use: 33%
● 1932 Lake Placid [6]: Existing & new: 83% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1936 Garmisch [6]: Existing & new: 67% ~ Still in use: 100%

● 1948 St. Moritz [8]: Existing & new: 75% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1952 Oslo [11]: Existing & new: 91% ~ Still in use: 90%
● 1956 Cortina [8]: Existing & new: 75% ~ Still in use: 67%
● 1960 “Palisades Tahoe” [6]: Existing & new: 57% ~ Still in use: 50%
=> (Site known as Squaw Valley at the time, but recently renamed)
● 1964 Innsbruck [9]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1968 Grenoble [9]: Existing & new: 89% ~ Still in use: 78%
● 1972 Sapporo [13]: Existing & new: 85% ~ Still in use: 69%
● 1976 Innsbruck [9]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1980 Lake Placid [7] : Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1984 Sarajevo [8]: Existing & new: 88% ~ Still in use: 75%
● 1988 Calgary [10]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 70%
● 1992 Albertville [10]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1994 Lillehammer [10]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 1998 Nagano [14]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 79%

● 2002 Salt Lake City [10]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 2006 Turin [13]: Existing & new: 92% ~ Still in use: 92%
● 2010 Vancouver [9]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 2014 Sochi [10]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 100%
● 2018 PyeongChang [12]: Existing & new: 100% ~ Still in use: 92%

That’s 23 Winter Games and 12 have all of their existing and new-construction competition sites still in use today and two at 90% or more. Another three have 75% still in use, so that’s 17 of 23 (74%) that have at least three-quarters of their competition venues still active. That’s pretty good.

That’s a bit better than for the Olympic Games sites; of the 28 Games from 1896-2016, 19 have 75% or better current use of their competition sites, or 68%.

It’s also worth noting that relatively small number of competition sites at all of the Winter Games. The largest number of sites was in Nagano in 1998, with 14. Even as recently as 2010, Vancouver had only nine competition venues.

Who built the most? Here are the Winter Games sites ranked by the percentage of venues constructed new for their Games:

1. 90% ~ Lillehammer 1994 (9)
1. 90% ~ Sochi 2014 (9)
3. 89% ~ Grenoble 1968 (8)
3. 89% ~ Innsbruck 1976 (8)
5. 88% ~ Sarajevo 1984 (7)
6. 83% ~ Lake Placid 1932 (5)
7. 77% ~ Sapporo 1972 (10)
8. 70% ~ Calgary 1988 (7)
9. 67% ~ Chamonix 1924 (2)
9. 67% ~ Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 (4)
9. 67% ~ Vancouver 2010 (6)
12. 60% ~ Albertville 1992 (6)
13. 57% ~ Lake Placid 1980 (4)
14. 56% ~ Innsbruck 1964 (4)
15. 50% ~ Palisades Tahoe 1960 (4)
15. 50% ~ Nagano 1998 (7)
17. 50% ~ PyeongChang 2018 (6)
18. 46% ~ Turin 2006 (6)
19. 40% ~ St. Moritz 1928 (2)
19. 40% ~ Salt Lake City 2002 (4)
21. 13% ~ Cortina 1956 (1)
22. 9% ~ Oslo 1952 (1)
23. 0% ~ St. Moritz 1948 (0)

And the recycling champions, for the use of existing venues:

1. 82% ~ Oslo 1952 (9)
2. 75% ~ St. Moritz 1948 (6)
3. 63% ~ Cortina 1956 (5)
4. 60% ~ Salt Lake City 2002 (6)
5. 50% ~ Nagano 1998 (7)
5. 50% ~ PyeongChang 2018 (6)
7. 46% ~ Turin 2006 (6)
8. 44% ~ Innsbruck 1964 (4)
9. 43% ~ Lake Placid 1980 (3)
10. 40% ~ Albertville 1992 (4)
11. 33% ~ St. Moritz 1928 (1)
11. 33% ~ Vancouver 2010 (3)
13. 30% ~ Calgary 1988 (3)
14. 17% ~ Lake Placid 1932 (1)
15. 12% ~ Sarajevo 1984 (1)
16. 11% ~ Grenoble 1968 (1)
16. 11% ~ Innsbruck 1976 (1)
18. 10% ~ Lillehammer 1994 (1)
18. 10% ~ Sochi 2014 (1)
20. 8% ~ Sapporo 1972 (1)
21. 0% ~ Chamonix 1924 (0)
21. 0% ~ Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 (0)
21. 0% ~ Palisades Tahoe 1960 (0)

It’s worth noting that the Salt Lake City (USA) bid team for 2030 is proposing no new venues, but re-use of the existing sites from the 2002 Games, even with 36 more events on the program for 2026!

(Some of these percentages do not correspond to the graphics shown in the study, which were incorrect for several Games; the above figures are in line with the written description of each Games in the study.)

What does this tell us about the Winter Games? That these events are often the springboard to the development of ski and winter-sport resorts, with the public after-use often planned well in advance. This was certainly the case in Nagano in 1998 and Sochi in 2014, for example, but also for existing winter-sport destinations like Grenoble in 1968 and Innsbruck in 1976.

The Winter Games is not as big or complex as the Olympic Games and given the conditions in which they are held, that’s a good thing. Given the excellent re-use history of the Winter Games section documented in the IOC’s survey, perhaps the summer Games would benefit from going on a sport-and-venue diet as well.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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HIGHLIGHTS: Hindley makes history with Giro d’Italia win; Oregon’s Williams goes 9.86, FSU’s Cunningham 13.07; climbing world Speed record for Miroslaw!

Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw with another Speed world record at Salt Lake City (Photo: IFSC-Daniel Gajda)

(For coverage of Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic, click here.)

Headline results of noteworthy competitions around the world/updated/:

● Archery ● USA Archery’s second national qualifier, the Easton Foundations Gator Cup, was on in Newberry, Florida with U.S. stars Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold maintaining their grip at the top.

Ellison, the 2019 World Champion, won the men’s Recurve Division, taking down fellow Tokyo Olympian Jack Williams in the semis, 6-4, and then defeating Matthew Requa, 6-0, in the final. Williams won the bronze over Trenton Cowles, 6-4.

Kaufhold, still just 18 and the 2021 Worlds silver medalist, defeated Catalina Noriega in the final, 7-1. Mexico’s Aida Roman, the London 2012 silver winner, won the bronze by 6-0 over Savannah Vanderweir.

● Athletics ● Beyond the Pre Classic, attention was focused on the NCAA Division I opening rounds, held in Bloomington, Indiana (East) and Fayetteville, Arkansas (West).

In the East, Florida’s Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBA) used his usual fast close to post the fastest men’s 200 m quarterfinal time of 19.85 mw (+4.4) and defending NCAA 400 m champ Randolph Ross of North Carolina A&T overwhelmed everyone with a 44.23 quarterfinal win to move to no. 4 on the 2022 world list.

Florida State’s Trey Cunningham impressed by winning the 110 m hurdles in a world-leading 13.07, into a 1.5 m/s headwind!

The women’s action was also in the sprints, with Kentucky’s Abby Steiner running 10.99w (+2.5) and 22.19 (+0.6) in the first round, then won her 100 m quarterfinal in 11.04 (-0.2). Nigeria’s Favour Ofili (LSU) won the first quarterfinal in 11.02 (-1.3). Steiner won her 200 m quarter in a wind-aided 22.01 (+2.1), while Ofili won hers in 22.08 (+0.7).

In Fayetteville, a sensational mark came from Oregon soph Micah Williams, who won his quarterfinal in 9.86 (+0.7), moving him to equal-second on the 2022 world list and equal-second on the all-time collegiate list!

Texas’ Jonathan Jones (BAR) had the top 400 m mark at 44.85 to lead all of the quarterfinalists. World leader Mouad Zahafi (MAR-Texas Tech) led all qualifiers in the men’s 800 m in 1:44.65. Quivell Jordan-Bacot of Houston posted the fastest 400 m hurdles quarterfinal time of 48.72, moving him to no. 8 on the year list.

TCU’s Chengetayi Mapaya (ZIM) jumped 17.07 m (56-0) to lead all triple jump qualifiers; he’s now no. 7 on the 2022 world list.

In the women’s sprints, Texas’ Julien Alfred (LCA) had the fastest first-round 100 m mark of 11.00 (+0.5) and then a super (but wind-aided) 10.80 in the quarters (+2.2). Texas Tech’s Rosemary Chukwuma (NGR) won her quarter in 10.82w (+2.6), just ahead of Kemba Nelson (Oregon), in 10.85w. USC’s Celera Barnes won quarter no. 2 in 10.89w (+2.7).

Texas A&M’s Kaylah Robinson posted the fastest time in the 100 m hurdles with a wind-aided 12.57 (+3.5). World leader Britton Wilson (Arkansas) easily led the 400 m hurdles quarters at 54.87.

California’s amazing Cam Rogers (CAN) got another collegiate record in the hammer, reaching 76.46 m (250-10) to lead all qualifiers. That makes her no. 4 on the 2022 world list and is another Canadian national record.

At the famed Hypomeeting in Gotzis (AUT), Canada’s Olympic champion Damian Warner moved to no. 2 on the seasonal world list with a convincing 8,797-point decathlon victory.

He won the 100 m (10.14) and the 110 m hurdles (13.48) and was second in the long jump and the discus to win by 350 points over Grenada’s Lindon Victor, the 2018 Commonwealth Games winner (8,447), who moved to no. 6 on the 2022 world list.

Emerging Swiss star Simon Ehammer was third with a national record of 8,377 and took the world lead in the long jump with his best of 8.45 m (27-8 3/4). Seven men cleared 8,000 points; Hunter Price was the top American in eighth at 7,996.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Anouk Vetter won the heptathlon with a world-leading 6,693 score, a lifetime best and four points better than she scored at the Games in 2021. She won the long jump and javelin and was second in the 100 m hurdles.

Poland’s Adrianna Sulek (6,429) and Germany’s Vanessa Grimm (6,323) both scored lifetime bests in second and third. Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the 2019 World Champion, was seventh at 6,174.

● Beach Volleyball ● The second Volleyball World Pro Beach Tour Elite tournament was in Ostrava (CZE) for men and women, with Tokyo Olympic champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum back on top.

They won their 15th career FIVB World Tour/Pro Beach Tour gold with a come-from-behind 15-21, 23-21, 15-13 victory over top-seeded Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner (CZE). Mol and Sorum were third in the first Pro Beach Tour Elite event of the season in Mexico in March.

Third-seeded Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen (NED) ended up winning the bronze medal, defeating 16th-seeded Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira (ESP), 25-23, 21-19.

The women’s final saw 13th-seeds Svenja Mueller and Cinja Tillmann (GER) came through the qualifying round to reach not just the main draw, but the top of the podium by defeating Talita Antunes and Rebecca Cavalcanti (BRA), 21-18, 21-16! It was the first-ever World Tour/Pro Beach Tour medal for the German duo. Antunes and Cavalcanti were also third in the first Elite event in Mexico.

In the all-Swiss third-place match, Tanja Huberli and Nina Brunner defeated Joana Heidrich and Anouk Verge-Depre, 21-16, 21-18.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The second ICF Sprint World Cup of the season was in Poznan (POL), with challenging, windy conditions making the racing difficult. But that did not stop either Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta or Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys.

The versatile Pimenta, a two-time Olympic medalist, including the K-1 1,000 m in Tokyo, collected wins in the K-1 500 m, K-1 1,000 m and the K-1 5,000 m individual events and then teamed with Teresa Portela to win the Mixed K-2 500 m!

Cirilo Duboys won two medals at the 2021 Worlds in the C-2 200 m and 500 m events and in Poznan, she impressed with a win in the C-1 200 m over Canada’s 2021 World Champion, Katie Vincent, and then joined Katherin Nuevo Segura to win the women’s C-2 200 m and C-2 500 m races.

Vincent was on the winning Canadian C-4 500 m squad and picked up silvers in the C-1 5,000 m and in the Mixed C-2 500 m final.

Tokyo superstar Lisa Carrington (NZL) won the K-1 500 m final and was second on the Kiwi K-4 500 m squad, with Poland the winners.

Two-time World Champion Martin Fuksa (CZE) won his specialty, the C-1 500 m and doubled back for a second gold in the C-1 1,000 m. Tokyo bronze medalists Sebastian Brendel and Tim Hecker (GER) won the C-2 1,000 m.

● Cycling ● The 105th Giro d’Italia ended on Sunday with a historic win for Australia’s Jai Hindley, moving up from second in 2021 to become the first from his country to win the Giro.

He entered the final day with a 1:25 lead on Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz and 1:51 on Mikel Landa (ESP), the only possible competitors over the 17.4 km Individual Time Trial in Verona.

On Saturday, the final mountain stage – 168 km from Belluno to the top of the Passo Fedaia in Marmolada – saw a breakaway by Italy’s Alessandro Covi on the second climb, with about 54 km to go and no one could catch him. Just 23, he won his biggest race ever and cruised home in 4:46:34, with a 32-second edge on Demon Novak (SLO). Italy’s Guilio Ciccone was third (+0:37).

Ecuador’s Carapaz, the leader for six stages, faltered and finished 11th, some 3:58 behind the winner. That opened the door for Hindley, who was sixth (+2:30) and took over the lead with just the Time Trial to go.

On Sunday, Italy’s Matteo Sobrero won the Time Trial in 22:24, ahead of Thymen Arensman (NED: +0:23) and Mathieu van der Poel (NED: +0:40). Carapaz finished 10th, 1:24 behind the winner and Hindley was 15th (+1:31), easily securing the overall victory.

Hindley, 26, finished in 86:31:14, 1:18 up on Carapaz, 3:24 up on Landa and 9:02 ahead of Italian icon Vincenzo Nibali, a two-time winner of this race.

The UCI Women’s World Tour was in Great Britain for the fifth edition of the three-stage RideLondon Classique and the first since 2020 thanks to Covid-19.

Dutch riders had won three of the four races previously held and Lorena Wiebes entered as defending champion from 2019. She picked right up where she left off by winning the hilly, 136.5 km first stage in a sprint over Italy’s Elisa Balsamo, Emma Norsgaard (DEN) and Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky.

Wiebes then won the second stage (141.7 km) with another sprint, this time over Marta Bastianelli (ITA), then Norsgaard and Kopecky again. With the placement bonuses, Wiebes entered Sunday’s finale with an 18-second lead over Balsamo, 19 seconds on Norsgaard and 25 seconds on Kopecky and Bastianelli.

Sunday’s flat, 85.3 km stage in and around London completed the sweep for Wiebes, who got to the line first again in a sprint ahead of Balsamo, Kopecky and Chiara Consonni (ITA). Over the three stages, Wiebes finished in 9:10:02, 19 seconds up on Balsamo, 28 seconds ahead of Norsgaard and 31 seconds ahead of Kopecky.

The UCI BMX Racing World Cup opened in Glasgow (GBR), with a new face at the top of the men’s podium on Saturday as Colombian Diego Arboleda won in 33.868, beating 2018 World Champion Sylvain Andre (FRA: 33.996) and Tokyo bronze winner Kye Whyte (GBR: 34.450).

Sunday’s second round saw a French 1-2, with Jeremy Rencurrel, a Rio 2016 Olympian, getting to the line first in 34.070, ahead of Andre (34.887) and Australia’s Izaac Kennedy third (41.168); Arboleda was fourth.

Four-time World Cup champion Laura Smulders (NED) won the first women’s race in 37.451, over Tokyo semifinalist Zoe Claessens (SUI: 37.806) and two-time Worlds medal winner Judy Baauw (NED: 39.439)

Smulders doubled her pleasure on Sunday, but it wasn’t easy. She finished in 38.326, barely edging Olympic champ Beth Shriever (GBR: 38.365), with Saya Sakakibara (AUS) third in 39.181 and Baauw fourth.

The UCI’s BMX Freestyle World Cup also opened its season, at Montpellier (FRA), with many of the Olympic medal winners from Tokyo back for more.

All three of the women’s medal winners – Charlotte Worthington (GBR: 1), American Hannah Roberts (2) and Swiss Nikita Ducarroz (3) – were in, but it was Colombian teen Lizsurley Villegas, 19, who scored best and won at 90.3.

Germany’s Lara Lessmann, the 2017 Worlds silver medalist, took silver (88.6) and Ducarroz got third (87.2). Roberts was off the podium in fourth (86.1) and fellow American Angie Marino was eighth (70.2).

On Sunday, the men’s Park final saw 2019 World Cup champ Rimu Nakamura (JPN) outscore Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Logan Martin (AUS), 95.30-94.50, with France’s Anthony Jeanjean third (94.20). Americans Nick Bruce (93.30), Marcus Christopher (93.14) and Brian Fox (90.80) went 4-5-6.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Cup circuit was in Tbilisi (GEO) for the men and Katowice (POL) for the women in the Epee discipline.

In Tbilisi, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Stankevych, 27, won his first career World Cup with a 15-9 victory over Mate Tamas Koch (HUN). Stankevych won a World Cup bronze in 2017, and this is his second-ever international medal. Japan’s Inochi Ito and Ukraine’s Igor Reizlin shared the bronze.

In Katowice, Korea’s no. 1-ranked Injeong Choi defeated Alberta Santuccio (ITA) in the women’s final, 15-12, winning her second international tourney of the year. She also won the Cairo Grand Prix at the end of April and now has a career total of five Grand Prix or World Cup golds. Santuccio, ranked ninth, won her first World Cup silver; she won bronzes in 2014 and 2018.

Hungary’s Anna Kun and France’s Marie-Florence Candassamy shared the bronze medal.

● Gymnastics ● The second of three stages of the FIG Rhythmic World Challenge Cup was in Portimao (POR), with Israel showing off a new star in Adi Asya Katz, who won the All-Around with 123.600 points, ahead of Darja Varfolomeev (GER: 120.500) and Eva Brezalieva (BUL: 119.550).

American Evita Griskenas was fourth at 117.900 and Lili Mizuno was 12th (111.750).

Katz won the Hoop final, 31.150-31.100 over Varfolomeev, but the German came back with wins in Ball (32.550 to 31.150 for Katz) and Clubs (32.100 to 30.250) for Katz. Brezalieva (31.600) won in Ribbon, with Griskenas getting the bronze (29.300).

Griskenas was seventh in the Hoop final, eighth in the Ball final and sixth in the Clubs final, in addition to her Ribbon bronze. Mizuno also won a bronze, in Ball, and was fifth in Clubs.

/Updated/The season’s first FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup was held in Varna (BUL), with France’s 18-year-old Tokyo Olympian Aline Friess the star.

In the men’s finals, France’s Benjamin Osberger won on Floor at 14.100 over American Taylor Burkhart (14.050); Nikita Simonov (AZE) won on Rings (14.750); Gabriel Burtanete (ROU) won the Vault, scoring 14.400, with Burkhart second at 14.350, and Marios Georgiou (CYP) won on Parallel Bars (14.850), Pommel Horse (14.500) and Horizontal Bar (14.350)

In the women’s events, Freiss was tops on Vault (13.850), Uneven Bars (13.450) and Floor (13.000), with Ana Derek (CRO) winning on Beam (13.300), with Friess third.

● Ice Hockey ● /Updated/The IIHF men’s World Championship in Finland concluded with a happy home crowd in Tampere as the host team won its fourth world title with a 4-3 win in overtime against Canada.

The first period was scoreless but Canada took the lead with the only goal of the second period on a power play, with Dylan Cozens scoring just 35 seconds into the penalty period.

Finland got aggressive in the third period, scoring the equalizer on a 5-on-3 power play, with Mikael Granlund scoring at 4:13 of the period. Then the Finns went ahead on another power play – and again from Granlund – at 5:57 of the period. And things appeared to be on cruise control when Joel Armia scored with 5:56 to go and a 3-1 lead.

But Canada got a goal from Zach Whitecloud with 2:12 to go and an extra attacker and tied the game at 3-3 with 1:24 left thanks to a Max Comtois goal. So, overtime.

But the Canadians got in trouble at 5:36, with Thomas Chabot called for hooking. Just 66 seconds later, it was Sakari Manninen with the winning goal, with assists from Granlund and Miro Heiskanen. The Finns had a 5-0 shots advantage in overtime and their aggressive play earned them the trophy.

In the semis, Finland won a tight battle with the U.S., 4-3. The Americans got a goal just 1:04 into the game from Nate Schmidt, but the Finns tied it by the end of the period. Manninen and the U.S.’s Sean Farrell got goals in the second period, but Sami Vatanen broke the 2-2 tie at the 9:40 mark of the period and gave Finland a 3-2 lead. Armia extended Finland’s lead to 4-2 at 5:03 of the final period and that was the game winner. Adam Gaudette got the U.S. close with 2:51 to play with an extra-attacker goal, but it ended 4-3.

Canada routed the Czech Republic, 6-1, to get to the final. After a 1-1 first period, Adam Lowry (power play), Kent Johnson and Matt Barzal (power play) scored within 3:19 of each other to give Canada a commanding 4-1 lead midway through the period. Cozens scored his second goal of the game at 12:50 of the final period for the 6-1 margin.

The Czechs crushed the U.S. in the third-place game, 8-4, coming back from a 3-2 deficit after two periods to out-score the Americans by 6-1 in the final period.

Karson Kuhlman scored twice for the U.S. in the first period, along with Gaudette for a 3-1 lead, but the Czechs scored once in the second to draw close. Then the roof fell in, with the Czechs scoring three times in the first 3:37 of the final period to go up 5-3 and then 6-3 on a short-handed goal at 14:42. An empty-netter and a late power-play goal completed the third-period meltdown for the U.S. David Kampf and David Pastrnak both had two goals in the third for the Czechs, along with Tom Bordeleau of the U.S.

For Finland, this was their fourth world title and second in the last three tournaments. It was also the third straight time that Finland and Canada had squared off for the championship and the sixth time in all, with the Finns winning for the second straight time after four losses.

● Rowing ● The first of three World Rowing World Cup competitions was in Belgrade (SRB), with British boats dominating the regatta.

Great Britain won the Men’s Pairs, Men’s Fours, Men’s Eights, the Women’s Pairs and the Women’s Fours, plus the Lightweight Double Sculls. The Dutch also did well, winning the Women’s Single Sculls (Karolien Florijn), the Women’s Double Sculls and the Women’s Eights.

Olympic champions in the Men’s Pairs, Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic won the Men’s Double Sculls impressively. Germany’s 2019 World Champion, Oliver Zeidler, won the Men’s Single Sculls.

American Mary Jones won the Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls in 7:58.57, well ahead of Martine Veldhuis (NED: 8:05.49).

● Rugby Sevens ● The eighth of nine stages in the 2021-22 Sevens Series season was in London (GBR), with Argentina, South Africa and Australia tightly bunched at the top of the standings.

Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and Samoa all went undefeated in pool play, but Australia ousted the South Africans in the quarterfinals and then stomped Samoa, 28-14, in their semifinals. Fiji and New Zealand advanced to the semis, with the Kiwis winning, 22-19 to advance to the final. There, it was the Australians reversing their loss in pool play and winning a tight, 19-14 match for the title.

Fiji out-lasted Samoa, 31-26, in the third-place game.

With one round to play, it’s now South Africa on top of the standings with 124 points, to 122 for Australia and 118 for Argentina. Fiji is fourth with 104 and Ireland fifth at 92.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Cup in Baku (AZE) began on Sunday with four finals in the 10 m events, with two medals each for Serbia, Poland and France.

The men’s 10 m Air Pistol final had Serbia’s Olympic silver medalist Damir Mikec sail past Kaloyan Stamenov (BUL), 17-9 in the gold-medal final, while Poland’s Klaudia Bres took the women’s gold with a 16-14 win over Camille Jedrzejewski (FRA).

In the 10 m Air Rifle finals, Lazar Kovacevic (SRB) defeated Miran Maricic (SLO) for the men’s gold, 16-14, while France’s Olympic fifth-placer, Oceanne Muller edged Aneta Stankiewicz (POL), 16-12, for the women’s title.

● Sport Climbing ● /Updated/The IFSC World Cup for Bouldering and Speed was in Salt Lake City for a second straight week, with another world Speed record for Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw.

Already a two-time world-record setter, she zoomed up the 15 m climb in her qualifier in 6.53, taking 0.11 seconds over her 6.64 time at the Seoul World Cup early this month. That brought her into the final against American Emma Hunt, and Miroslaw just missed her qualifying mark, winning in 6.54, while Hunt fell. Poland’s Aleksandra Kalucka got third.

Former world-record holder Veddriq Leonardo (INA) won each of his three qualifying rounds to reach the final